Game 22: Portland Trail Blazers vs Orlando Magic + Win Tickets
December 9, 2010 — PDXPIPELINEWe have a pair of tickets tonight thanks to GoRipCity.com. To win, answer the following question in comments below:
- Do the Blazers have a chance of making it past the first round of playoffs this year? Winner will be drawn and emailed today at 5PM so look for the EMAIL.
Also, email GOripCity@comcast.net to get on their last minute free & super discounted tickets list.
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By Andy Popp
GAME 22: Blazers vs Orlando Magic
December 9, 7:30PM; TNT
Related: Portland Trail Blazers Games, Schedule, and WIN Tickets
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The Blazers play host to both TNT and the Orlando Magic tonight. The Magic are 15-6, and coming off a Monday night loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
This is a very interesting game for the Blazers. They've managed to string two wins together against mediocre opponents, and now they get to play an elite team to see exactly where they're at. And it's on TNT.
Things to pay attention to:
1. This will be the Magic's second game of a five game trip, but it's their first game out west. The game will almost certainly start late (~7:45), which means the Magic will be starting this game at nearly 11:00pm and it will run well into the early morning.
2. Historically, Brandon Roy's had some of his best performances on TNT. How will his “grounded” game do on a national stage?
3. Joel Pryzbilla's back. Pryzbilla's certainly not a “dwight-stopper,” but just having another big off the bench is huge for the Blazers with Howard in town.
The Magic on paper.
Starting five: Rashard Lewis, Quentin Richardson, Dwight Howard, Vince Carter, Chris Duhon
Off the bench: Jason Williams, J.J. Redick, Mikael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, Marcin Gortat
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Andre Miller's hit on Blake Griffin prompted the NBA to send out a memo about “foul play.”
As much as I dislike Dwight Howard, his Stan Van Gundy impression is hilarious.
STRATEGY
Dwight Howard gets nothing easy. Use your fouls and put him on the line (he's shooting .541 for the year). The Magic are a good three point shooting team, the Blazers need to close out and/or answer back by knocking down shots from distance also.
LET'S GET RICH
To date: 9-7-1.
Getting my swagger back. Tonight I like the Magic -2.
TRADE ME
Rudy Fernandez.
NEXT 5
@ Phoenix
@ San Antonio
@ Memphis
@ Dallas
vs Minnesota
BOTTOM LINE
A win tonight would not only put the Blazers back at .500 for the season, but wrap up a 3-0 home-stand before leaving for an extremely tough Western Conference road trip.
December 9, 2010 at 14:08
Q: Do the Blazers have a chance of making it past the first round of playoffs this year?
A: They do if they figure out how to play additional 2nd quarters instead of 3rd quarters.
December 9, 2010 at 14:09
Do the Blazers have a chance of making it past the first round of playoffs this year?
YES THEY DO! RIP CITY BABY! :)
December 9, 2010 at 14:10
If they stay healthy, maybe.
December 9, 2010 at 14:11
well, no. that’s because to make it past the first round you actually have to make it_to_the playoffs. sad but true.
December 9, 2010 at 14:14
No matter how much I love my Blazers, I think they have an outside shot at an 8th seed at best, and zero shot at getting past the first round.
With an iso-offense designed for a healthy Roy and Oden in the paint, we’re not going to be able to hang 7 games with anyone in the playoffs. It’s simply too easy to defend. We have an offense that was designed for one type of play, but not the players to leverage it. We have guys that can and should get out and run: Wes, Batum, LMA, Rudy,Dre and Patty. They just don’t do well is a slowed down iso. If we really want to turn the season around, we need to change our approach to the offensive sets and/or make a trade.
December 9, 2010 at 14:18
Healthy and get back that desire to win.
December 9, 2010 at 14:23
As long as they stay healthy and maintain their focus and dedication to win, of course the Blazers can do it!
December 9, 2010 at 14:24
I’m going to stay optimistic and say YES, there is certainly a chance! Our bench has shown amazing skill recently (How bout Patty Mills against those Suns?!) and I think if Nate could just change up his strategy a bit to keep us going stronger in the third and fourth quarters we’d be on our way. GO BLAZERS!
December 9, 2010 at 14:27
No chance at all (as currently constructed).
December 9, 2010 at 14:33
Why not? Miller and Aldridge can hold it down.
December 9, 2010 at 14:47
I’m going to stay optimistic and say YES! Our bench has shown some amazing skill lately (How ’bout Patty Mills against those Suns?!) and I think if Nate could change up his strategy to keep us strong in the 3rd and 4th quarters, we’d be on our way. GO BLAZERS!
December 9, 2010 at 15:13
Sure they do. It’s a relatively young season, and while they haven’t been too strong or had a lot of luck, there’s no telling whether the other teams will have similar setbacks. There’s a lot of games to be played, and they haven’t looked bad, just not at their potential.
December 9, 2010 at 15:17
Yes! Go Blazers!!!
December 9, 2010 at 15:20
yes!
December 9, 2010 at 15:26
of course they do! GO BLAZERS!!!
December 9, 2010 at 15:37
oh yeah. BATUM FTW
December 9, 2010 at 15:37
Of course. They have Joel. Go Przybilla!!
December 9, 2010 at 15:39
yes!
if they can stay healthy, i can see them making it to the conference finals!
December 9, 2010 at 15:48
Definetely Yes! We have a good team overall and are over the recent 4th quarter funk and have remembered how to win! Red Hot and Rollin! Rip City is Baaaaaaaaaaack Baby!!!
December 9, 2010 at 15:49
Of course, show portland love and beat em on TNT! We have what we need now they just need to step it up tonight and they definitely can make it to finals.
December 9, 2010 at 15:51
Despite the slow start, I think they will get there in the end. C’mon… it’s Rip City!
December 9, 2010 at 15:53
I hate to say it, but the Blazers’ chances of winning a playoff series are about as good as Brandon Roy appearing in a rap music video about drugs and money, then morphing into a broken-down Mitch Richmond.
Ohwait.
December 9, 2010 at 16:01
Question: Do the Blazers have a chance of making it past the first round of playoffs this year?
Answer: ONLY if my husband is there to cheer them on.
Reason: My husband broke his femur over Memorial Day weekend. After multiple surgeries and physical therapy, he is still recovering. Two weeks ago, he was in a car accident and his head went through the windshield. 7 stitches and a concussion later, and he is doing just fine.
If my husband can survive two major accidents in the past six months, this team can DO ANYTHING!! My husband would love nothing more than to be there, watching this game and screaming at the top of his lungs. He can raise his crutches high and cheer… and having someone as lucky as him in the audience will help propel the Blazers to victory!!!
December 9, 2010 at 16:43
I don’t mean to be a pessimist (as I’m a huge Blazer fan) but the Blazers need help if they’re going to even make the playoffs this year. They need a play maker – Roy as an 80 million dollar all star was a play maker. Roy as an 80 million dollar role player isn’t going to get the Blazers where they need to be.
Send the expiring contracs of Pryz and Miller somewhere for a big name who can close out games and then we’ll make it past the first round.
December 9, 2010 at 16:45
Never been to a Blazers game but my uncle took me to see the Magic in Orlando once…would love to go to the Rose!
December 9, 2010 at 16:47
Sorry…didn’t see the question:
A: If the Vanilla Gorilla stays healthy and our young guards can step up and be a crutch for Roy I think we have a chance. Rip City!
December 9, 2010 at 16:57
They do. Even in the lower seeds (hopefully not 7 or 8) anything can happen. It’ll still take some great performances though.
December 9, 2010 at 16:58
*(hopefully not 7 or 8 )
emoticons… Go Blazers though!