Team Records: Dallas (19-25) at Portland (22-22)

Game Info: 7 p.m., TV on CSNNW, Radio on 1190 AM and 102.3 FM.

Vegas Line: Portland -2.5

Refs: Monty McCutchen, David Guthrie, James Williams

The Skinny: The Blazers look to close out a crazy January with a win against the aging Mavericks.  Portland has won two of three since breaking out of their six game losing skid.  Dallas has been playing .500 ball as of late but baring a huge push looks out of the playoff race.

Last Time They Met: Dallas broke open a close game early in the fourth and went on to win handily, outscoring the Blazers 31-12 in the final stanza.

Projected Mavericks Lineup:

PF: Dirk Nowitzki (Germany, 15^th season) – 14.2 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG

SF: Shawn Marion (UNLV, 14^th season) – 10.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.6 APG

C:  Bernard James (Florida State, Rookie) – 3.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 0 APG

SG: OJ Mayo (USC, 5^th season) – 17.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.2 APG

PG: Darren Collison (UCLA, 4^th season) – 12.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.1 APG

Image Courtesy of NBA.com

Player to Watch:  Dirk Nowitzki (pictured at right) – Dirk makes no sense as a player, he’s tall but he’s not a great rebounder, nor does he bang inside and his jump shot form shouldn’t be emulated by anyone, ever.  Yet, for many years he has been one of the most consistently successful players in the NBA by realizing that just because everyone else does things a certain one doesn’t mean he has to.  Dirk has a devastating mid-range jumper and his one-legged fadeaway is both unblockable and extremely frustrating when he nails it over you.  He hasn’t gotten back to his usual form yet this year, as Dirk is still clearly recovering from his pre-season injuries but he’s still a damn good player and one you have to watch night in and night out.

Did You Know?: Dirk Nowitzki is 18^th all time on the scoring list, just behind Patrick Ewing. He passed Allen Iverson in 19^th during their last game.

Song of the Day: “You Shook Me All Night Long” by ACDC-A few years ago a Dallas reporter asked Dirk to show him the most played songs on his IPod.  #1 on Dirk’s last was this song.  Dirk explained “That one gets me pumped up.  I listen to it in the gym, especially, and sometimes before a game. AC/DC just has this raw energy that I try to tap into.” (Link:http://www.dallasobserver.com/2006-03-30/music/dirk-s-little-secret/full/).  Enjoy:

Injury Updates:

Portland: Out – SG Elliott Williams (Achilles), Questionable –SF Sasha Pavlovic (Foot).

Dallas: None.

Re-Evaluating Dallas: Fun with Mark Cuban

There may be no more polarizing owner in the NBA than Mark Cuban but, in my view, there may be no more fun owner in the NBA than Cuban.  You may deny it, but Cuban is living the dream.  He made his money and now he’s enjoying the fruits of his labor, hanging out with sports stars, being a true fan and dropping $110k on a celebration at a Miami nightclub the night they won the title two years ago.  He’s mellowed a bit over the years but he is still that fun loving, polarizing, ref baiting figure of old, living life and just enjoying the ride.

The Bottom Line:

Portland wins if: They limit Dallas’s 3 point shooting.  The Mavs live and die by the jump shot.  Make them attack you inside and they become far less effective.  If Portland can do so, they should win.

Dallas wins if: They hold Portland under 90 points.  The Mavs aren’t the strongest offensive team in the world.  They can’t win if Portland tops 100, but they almost certainly should if they can hold the Blazers under 90.

Team Records: Portland (22-21) at Portland (32-13)

Game Info: 6:30 PM-TV on CSNNW, Radio on 1190 AM and 102.3 FM.

Vegas Line: LA Clippers -6.5

Refs: Mike Callahan, Matt Boland, Haywoode Workman

The Skinny: After winning in thrilling fashion Saturday night, Portland travels to LA to complete the back to back home and home vs. the Clippers.  The Blazers will face a Clippers team that has now lost four in a row and is looking for revenge against the reenergized Blazers.

Last Time They Met: The Blazers closed the game on a 10-0 run to erase a 9 point Clippers lead and won a thriller at the Rose Garden.  Batum got his second triple double of his career (and the second in five days) in the win.

Projected Clippers Lineup:

PF-Blake Griffin (Oklahoma-3^rd Season) 18.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.4 APG.

SF-Caron Butler- (Connecticut-11^th Season)-9.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1 APG.

C-DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M-5^th  Season)-8.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, .4 APG

SG-Willie Green (Detroit Mercy-10^th Season)-6.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, .9 APG.

PG-Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky-3^rd Season)-8.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.7 APG.

Image Courtesy of nba.si.com

Player to Watch-Eric Bledsoe (pictured at right) – Bledsoe has seemingly been in the shadow of others his entire career, beginning at Kentucky, where he was behind John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and in the NBA where he is overshadowed by Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.  However, Bledsoe is a solid player in his own right and given his chance to play more this season, has flourished.  A lighting fast guard with the ability to get to the rim, Bledsoe isn’t the most efficient scorer (although he is shooting a career high 46% this year) but he is relentless, even if he turns the ball over way too often.  His real strength, however, is on defense, where he  has a great feel for the game and can certainly at least make life difficult for the opposing point guard.  He might not be a star but he is one to watch for sure.

Did You Know?: Last night’s game was the seventh all time meeting between Aldridge and Blake Griffin.  Portland is 5-2 in those games.

Song of the Day: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey-If there is an official theme song for this Blazers team it is this one.  Enjoy:

Injury Updates:

Portland: Out-SG Elliot Williams (Achilles), SF Sasha Pavlovic (Foot).

LA Clippers: Out-PG Chauncey Billups (Foot), PF Trey Tompkins (Bone Bruise), Doubtful-PG Chris Paul (Knee).

Re-Evaluating the Clippers: Some Surprising Observations on Offense:

One would think that “Lob City” would be a fast-paced offense focused on accumulating points in bunches via easy lob dunks on fast breaks; however, they would be wrong. One of the most surprising things about the Clippers so far this season is that they are not a particularly fast-paced offense, as they only rank 14th overall. What they are is a highly efficient offense. Their offensive efficiency rating is a sizzling 106.9.  The reason they are able to do this? They pass the ball to the right spot as well as anyone in the NBA, at least when Chris Paul is playing. As long as the Clippers don’t beat themselves by turning the ball over, they are tough to stop, if not exactly fast-paced, on the offensive end.

The Bottom Line:

Portland wins if:  They score 100 points.  The Blazers often struggle offensively on the road and following a thrilling win last night, they can be expected to perhaps struggle again.  Still if they can somehow get to 100 points, it should be enough to get the win.

LA Clippers win if: They make their 3s.   Portland was much more effective and efficient from deep  Saturday night.  If that trend can be reversed, the Clippers should get their revenge and win Sunday.

Team Records: LA Clippers (32-12) at Portland (21-21)

Game Info: 7 PM-TV on KGW, Radio on 1190 AM and 102.3 FM.

Vegas Line: Portland -1.5

Refs: James Capers, Bennie Adams, Josh Tiven

The Skinny: After finally ending their long six game losing streak, the Blazers begin a back to back home and home against the Clippers Saturday night.  The Clippers have been struggling as of late as well, losing three in a row.  The Clippers will be without the services of Chris Paul, but are 3-2 without him this season.

Last Time They Met: The Clippers took control early and cruised home, winning by 13 in a game that wasn’t nearly that close.

Projected Clippers Lineup:

PF-Blake Griffin (Oklahoma-3^rd Season) 18.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.4 APG.

SF-Caron Butler- (Connecticut-11^th Season)-9.6 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1 APG.

C-DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M-5^th  Season)-8.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, .4 APG

SG-Willie Green (Detroit Mercy-10^th Season)-6.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, .9 APG.

PG-Eric Bledsoe (Kentucky-3^rd Season)-8.9 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.7 APG.

Image Courtesy of yougotdunkedon.com

Player to Watch-DeAndre Jordan (pictured at right) – We all know about Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, but the key to the Clippers success this season may well lie with their only legitimate center, DeAndre Jordan. Jordan does a few things very well and almost everything else poorly. He is a phenomenal shot blocker, rebounder and dunker, and he is a strong enough interior defender that most opponents don’t dare attack him directly close to the rim. However, he is one of the worst free throw shooters in the NBA, shooting a pathetic 43.8% from the line for his career. Nonetheless, he will be key for the Clippers if they are to beat Portland. 

Did You Know?: The only team in American or Canadian major pro sports to have played longer than the LA Clippers (who came into existence as the Buffalo Braves in 1970) and never reached their sport’s championship game/round is the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals of MLB (which began play only 1 year earlier in 1969).

Song of the Day: “Lob City” by Tyga-A popular rap/highlights video celebrating the Clippers and their “lob city” nickname.  Enjoy:

Injury Updates:

Portland: Out-SG Elliot Williams (Achilles), SF Sasha Pavlovic (Foot).

LA Clippers: Out-PG Chauncey Billups (Foot), PF Trey Tompkins (Bone Bruise), Doubtful-PG Chris Paul (Knee).

Re-Evaluating the LA Clippers: The Importance of the Deep Ball

We all know that the Clippers are known as “lob city” and for good reason because they produce their fair share of amazing lob dunks virtually every game.  Yet, what really separates wins from losses for the Clippers is their ability to open up these lobs by making deep shots, especially 3s.  When the Clippers win, they hit from deep but when they don’t, they lose.  They might have to get hot again Saturday to beat Portland in the first of the home and home.

The Bottom Line:

Portland wins if:  They limit LA’s 3 point makes.  The Clippers are going to get their dunks in but dunks alone will not win them games.  If Portland can limit their 3 point effectiveness, they should win Saturday.

LA Clippers win if: They outrebound Portland.  The Clippers can struggle to outrebound opponents at times, which seems odd given the players they have on their team.  If they can nonetheless manage to outrebound Portland they should be able to win Thursday.

Team Records:  Indiana (26-16) at Portland (20-21)

Game Info: 7 p.m., TV on CSNNW, Radio on 620 AM (moved due to Beaver basketball)

Vegas Line: Portland -1.5

Refs: Derrick Stafford, Derrick Collins, Mark Lindsay

The Skinny: Losing close games is one thing, losing them repeatedly is something else and losing on an off balance 3 at the horn after you had just hit a ridiculous shot to tie the game is about as low as anyone can get about any one game.  The Blazers have gotten in this pattern of falling behind, rallying late and coming up just short.  Hopefully they will be able to get it done this time against a Pacers squad that has won seven of their last nine.

Last Time They Met: The Pacers beat the Blazers into submission, holding Portland at bay for most of the game before a late Blazers run made it close but it was too little, too late for Portland to come back.

Projected Pacers Lineup:

PF: David West (Xavier, 10^th season) – 16.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.8 APG

SF: Paul George (Fresno State, 3^rd season) – 17.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG

C: Roy Hibbert (Georgetown, 5^th season) – 9.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.5 APG

SG: Lance Stephenson (Cincinnati, 3^rd season) – 7.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.7 APG

PG: George Hill (IUPUI, 5^th season) – 14.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.8 APG

Image Courtesy of spokeo.com

Player to Watch: Roy Hibbert (pictured at right) – Although they ended up not actually extending an offer sheet to restricted free agent Roy Hibbert, after Indiana made it clear they would match any offer, Portland made no secret of their desire to sign Hibbert.  Frankly it looks as if Portland lucked out as Hibbert’s career year last season appears, insofar as it goes this year, to be an aberration as his numbers have reverted back down to where he had been performing the first three years of his career.  Hibbert’s rebounding (which was never great to begin with) is slightly down, his shooting is way down, both from the floor and from the line (when a big man is shooting only 41.5% from the floor that’s a very bad thing), his turnovers are up and his PER is at the lowest level of his career.  Hibbert may have the talent to get it together but for now, it appears he has reverted rather than progressed.

Did You Know?: Although the Pacers have won three in a row and 12 of the last 17 over Portland, from 1976 (the year the Pacers entered the NBA) to 1993, Portland won 40 of 60 games vs. the Pacers, including 25 of 31 at home.

Song of the Day: “Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty-This song seems appropriate for the Blazers right now as they have fallen into a six game losing streak and below .500.  Enjoy:

Injury Updates:

Portland: Out –SG Elliot Williams (Achilles), Questionable- SF Sasha Pavlovic (Foot).

Indiana: Out – SF Danny Granger (Left Patella Tendonitis).

Re-Evaluating Indiana: The Non Love of the Fans

The Pacers have a good team but you sure wouldn’t know it by the tepid support of the Indiana fans.  Despite making a thrilling ran through the playoffs last year and playing while despite the absence of their best player Danny Granger, the Pacers 26^th in the NBA in attendance, averaging only 14,452 fans per game, and filling only 75.1% of the seats.  This ranks below such NBA bottom feeders as the Wizards, Bobcats and Suns.  This is largely a historical trend for Indiana, which has always struggled to sell out in a state which is dominated by high school and college basketball.  Basketball might be the unofficial Indiana state sport but not at the professional level.  Hopefully this changes as the Pacers are certainly a team which deserves far more crowd support, here’s to hoping they get it soon.

The Bottom Line:

Portland wins if: They score 100 points.  This is not going to be an easy task but if they can manage to do it, they will almost certainly walk out with a win.

Indiana wins if: They record at least 20 assists. When the Pacers are doing well, it is the result of team offense and not iso one on one play.  If they hit the 20 assist mark, that will be a good sign they are flowing on offense and should come with the win.