Preview: TrailBlazers vs. Hawks (11/3/09, 7:00PM @ the Rose Garden)

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 5:03 PM PST

Discussion on the upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks. Please feel free to comment and participate in the discussion.

Starting Lineups

Portland TrailBlazers (Home)

PG: Steve Blake (6.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, .429 3PT%)

SG: Brandon Roy (27.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, .898 FT%)

SF: Martell Webster (9.0 ppg, 1.8 spg)

PF: LaMarcus Aldridge (13.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, banged knees with Al Green on Nov. 1)

C: Greg Oden (6.5 ppg, 2.75 bpg, 10.0 rpg, .563 FG%)

Other Key Players:

G: Rudy Fernandez (9.5 ppg, 1.5 spg)

G: Andre Miller (9.0 ppg, 3.5 apg)

F: Travis Outlaw (10.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg)

C: Joel Pryzibilla (2.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg)

Atlanta Hawks (Away)

PG: Mike Bibby (10.3 ppg, 4.3 apg)

SG: Joe Johnson (23.0 ppg, 5.3 apg)

SF: Marvin Williams (10.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

PF: Josh Smith (15.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.7 apg)

PF/C: Al Horford (13.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg)

Other Key Players:

G: Jamal Crawford (12.0 ppg, 2.0 apg)

Key Matchups

Brandon Roy (SG), Joe Johnson (SG)

Two great Shooting Guards match up. Brandon's been playing well, scoring 27 points a game. But so has Joe Johnson, who's been scoring 23. Defense is the key to this matchup. Can Roy shut down Johnson? Can Johnson shut down Roy? The game lies in the balance.

Martell Webster (SF), Aldridge (PF), Josh Smith (PF)

Martell's been playing great ball. He's ended up with 2 highlight reel plays in 4 games. But so has J-Smooth (Josh Smith). The strong, athletic Smith will be a challenge for Martell Webster to defend. However, Martell's had experience guarding elite players at the SF position (Carmelo Anthony, Game 2; Kevin Durant, Game 4) and has done a great overall job, even holding Durant to 3 made FGs in the Blazers' matchup with Oklahoma City. McMillan has been emphasizing defense. This is Martell's chance to shine.

(Correction [Thanks, Rudiculous])

Smith is a player capable of playing at the PF position or the SF. Atlanta has been using him at the PF lately. LaMarcus will be hard-pressed to keep up with his explosive speed, strength, and instinct. LaMarcus will be harassed on offense and have to hustle on defense. He will have to scrap and fight during every single ball possession, whether on offense, or on defense. So will Martell if he's covering J-Smooth, and Travis, if he's coming off the bench at PF.

Game Overview

The Hawks just came off a tough loss against the Lakers. Joe Johnson hasn't been playing good defense, allowing Kobe to rack up 42 points. I predict this to be a high-scoring affair, with the Hawks average 110 ppg and the TrailBlazers averaging 95 ppg. Defense is the key to winning this game for the Blazers. If they can stop the formidable two-pronged attack of Johnson and Smith, the Blazers should have this game. Look for Oden to stay hot on defense, and Roy to play well in the fourth quarter, as he's been doing lately. With the game location at the rocking Rose Garden, I would look for the Blazers to pick up a close win.

Final Prediction: TrailBlazers 107, Hawks 100

Poll

Who will win this game?

Portland TrailBlazers

72 votes

Atlanta Hawks

8 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 31 comments | 3 recs |

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Comments

Go Blazers!

Go Blazers! Let the discussion begin. Leave feedback on keys to the game for the Blazers, key matchups, etc.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 5:04 PM PST reply actions

GO hawks Joe johnson for Second team all NBA guard.

by tevisthe4th on Nov 2, 2009 5:19 PM PST up reply actions

Fair enough.

Go Roy for first team!

By your post, I’m guessing you’re a Hawks fan?

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 5:21 PM PST up reply actions

Pretty sure he is just instigating the crowd.

I could be wrong though.

Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Nov 2, 2009 6:19 PM PST up reply actions

Your right, Im not a hawks fan

I dont think JJ is better than Roy, Cpaul and Kobe should hold down the first team spot though. How has kobe looked so far? If roy does better statistically than him but his team is worse will kobe still get it? Will he get it based on reputation regardless of how he does?

by tevisthe4th on Nov 2, 2009 6:30 PM PST up reply actions

Fair enough... Again...

B-Roy, at this moment in time, is not as good as Kobe.

Kobe, however, is getting old.

Old people get injured.

Old people get fat (haha that’s you, Paul Pierce).

Old people die of heart attacks.

Not wishing any of these on Kobe (OK, maybe the second one), but Roy is getting better, and Kobe is falling off his game.

And Dwyane Wade is gonna get injured; he plays so recklessly, with so much passion for the game, that pretty soon, he’s not going to be good for much.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions

oh yeah dwade is>roy right now and if he could prove to be more durable

I might take him over kobe.

by tevisthe4th on Nov 2, 2009 10:38 PM PST up reply actions

Blazers Win

I expect Atlanta to scrap and put up a good battle though.

I think Nate’s defensive assignments/rotations will be important. They have pretty solid offensive talent.

Enjoy the Ride

by DigitalDaggers on Nov 2, 2009 5:25 PM PST reply actions

Agreed

I’m excited to see Martell in this game. How will he do? Will he lock down J-Smooth? Or get overpowered and overwhelmed?

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 5:27 PM PST up reply actions

I actually don't expect to see martell on smith very much

Smith plays mostly at pf for them, and Williams plays most of his minutes at sf. Chalk me down for being excited to watch Martell as well, whoever he is matched up against. I have been loving his energy and intensity so far. He looks healthy(knock knock knock)….

by Rudiculous on Nov 2, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

I prefer LA on Smith and Webster on Williams.

by jksnake99 on Nov 2, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks

Thanks for the correction.

For some reason, I thought J-Smooth was an SF. My bad.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 9:21 PM PST up reply actions

no worries RCM

See what I did there? I gave you a nickname, you are forever a Bedger now. You can’t back down once you have a nickname, you’re stuck whether you like it or not!!!!!! Keep up the good work, RCM….

by Rudiculous on Nov 3, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions

Smith is certainly going to be a challenge for him, but I think he can hang. He has had good practice defending ballers lately.

by dario argento on Nov 2, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions

KD would attest to that

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 6:15 PM PST up reply actions

Three posts in three hours?

Don’t you have studying to do Mike?

(Just kidding)

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Nov 2, 2009 5:36 PM PST reply actions

nothing but net for Mike

RRRIPP CITY!

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. -- Thomas Paine, US patriot & political philosopher (1737 - 1809)

by Love on Nov 2, 2009 5:44 PM PST up reply actions

Haha sadly, no.

My posting sadly won’t be this heavy on nights with a lot of homework.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 6:09 PM PST up reply actions

Welcome to BEdge. You don't seem to be one of the crazies.

I fall in love with tall, long dudes who can stroke it. --- cloudydays

by L-TrainFTW! on Nov 2, 2009 6:22 PM PST up reply actions

Of course only crazies know other crazies, so I could be mistaken. I wouldn't know because I'm probably one of the sanest people on this planet.

Since I have to say something related to this post, I’ll predict that we earn a double digit victory over the Hawks.

I fall in love with tall, long dudes who can stroke it. --- cloudydays

by L-TrainFTW! on Nov 2, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions

says the guy with multiple personalities/identities ;)

by Rudiculous on Nov 2, 2009 6:27 PM PST up reply actions

Hehe

I consider myself sane, but gotta love the so-called “crazies”.

Your personalities are what make Portland… well, Portland. Much love to Rip City everywhere.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks for the welcome, Lex

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 2, 2009 9:22 PM PST up reply actions

Going by last year here the Blazers should dominate

February 2009 game against Atlanta Bibby did go off on us for 27 points but B-Roy outplayed Johnson, Joel outplayed Horford, LMA outplayed everyone and the Hawks lost in shooting (Bibby shot 71%, the rest of the team shot 42%) while LMA. Roy, Joel, Travis and Rudy all shot over 50% while of the four who did not shoot well (Nic, Channing, Sergio and Steve) only Steve is here tonight. Greg did not play in that game and the team had 44 total and 18 offensive rebounds against 8 for Atlanta. Together the missing three were 3-16 with 7 boards, 1 OR. So will Martell, Greg, and Andre improve on the loss of those three? I would say probably so.

Atlanta did add Jamaal Crawford who can score in bunches as well but lost Ronald Murray who shot 6-8 for 17 points with 4 assists in February.

"Either way we have two phenomenal units. I'm excited to play with either one." - Martell Webster

by lee3022 on Nov 3, 2009 2:02 AM PST reply actions

Bibby has indeed made his career off the Blazers.

I would hope that Miller will outplay him, though. I still want to see an lob pass from Miller going down as a dunk.

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 3, 2009 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

Miller to Travis

Game 1 of the season.

It has happened already.

"What happened to Bayless anyway? Did he turn into a pumpkin? Most teams don’t just let #11 picks rot." - Xiane

by MadBlaze on Nov 3, 2009 6:13 PM PST up reply actions

Feedback

I know that Dave does a preview of nearly every Blazers game.

How does my preview match up with his?

I know he does a very in-depth analysis, but it’s aesthetically unappealing, just a clump of words under three headings IMO. Besides, I’d rather just provide the facts and let you guys comment on it. And pictures are always nice. What do you guys all think?

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 3, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions

Like I said in Dave's post, I think Dave's preview is enough

You can post your thoughts on the game/stats in the game preview threads. Just my opinion. Your work is solid.

by jksnake99 on Nov 3, 2009 2:11 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks man

I think he does a great job- if we both collaborated, it would produce great results. Don’t you think?

Go Blazers!

by Rip City Mike on Nov 3, 2009 4:35 PM PST up reply actions

I think the whole site collaborates-- but that it works best if we all do so in one place, namely the comment section of Dave's previews

Again, just my opinion, but I think that’s the best place for your solid work.

by jksnake99 on Nov 3, 2009 5:31 PM PST up reply actions

No need for collaboration

Dave is doing just fine. IMO anyone can do pictures but writing in a coherent and logical manner is a skill that is invaluable to have. Dave does this plus he has a little flair in his writing to keep it interesting.

Your contributions are welcome but Dave is very good at what he does and it will take time for you to be able to write like that. Talking about collaboration comes off as a bit arrogant to me, especially with all the great posters already here that would seem more apt to do that type of job.

"What happened to Bayless anyway? Did he turn into a pumpkin? Most teams don’t just let #11 picks rot." - Xiane

by MadBlaze on Nov 3, 2009 6:20 PM PST up reply actions