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Good News! The Blazers beat the New Orleans Hornets on Monday and saved us from four straight losses.  More good news! The are playing Atlanta this evening and with all the Hawks injuries and inconsistencies, they could win another road game. This game is nationally televised on ESPN and at a time the rest of the country is still awake. Therefore, many people who don’t stay up to watch 10PM East Coast start times will actually see our team play and journalists will likely write about how great or terrible they are tomorrow morning.

The games starts at 5PM on ESPN and Comcast Sports Network. If you do not have television or want a good Portland establishment to enjoy the game with friends, here are several suggestions from our sponsors.

Watch Trailblazers Games in Portland:

Tanker Bar (Se Hawthorne & 48th) | (503) 445-4635 | More info: tankerbar.com
Tanker Bar will be playing all games on their 6 large LCD TVs. $1 Pabst during all Blazers & Football games, and $1 off Nachos during all games. 15 beers on tap, Buckhunter, free popcorn.

Blitz (Ladd, Pearl, Tigard, NW 21) | More info: blitzbarpdx.webs.com
Blitz's FOUR locations will be happening as always with tons of televisions, drinks specials, and games (ping pong, shuffleboard, buckhunters, horseshoes in Tigard, and more).

East Burn (East Burnside & 18th) | (503) 236-2876 | More info: www.theeastburn.com
East Burn will have the game on a large projection screen on their heated patio and also downstairs. Recess discount menu from 3-6PM. They  have daily drink specials (pdf of specials here). 

NE 15th Avenue & Hawthorne Hophouses | More info: oregonhophouse.com
15th Avenue: 1517 NE Brazee | Hawthorne: 4111 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
The Blazers are back and we are ready to make up for lost time. While they dunk, we'll drink. Come watch the Blazers take on the Cavaliers at 6pm at the Hophouse! Dress in Blazer gear and get your first beer for $2.00.

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Preview - Portland Trail Blazers @ Atlanta Hawks: 

By Cain Stoneking

Portland Trailblazers (8-5) @ Atlanta Hawks (10-4)
Wednesday, January 18th, 5:00pm ESPN
Schedule: Portland Trail Blazers 2011-12 Schedule + Win Tickets

Game Notes: On Monday, the Blazers snapped their three game losing streak by beating the Hornets and now head to Hotlanta to face the Hawks. With a win against the Hornets, this team is still capable of having a successful road trip. Atlanta comes in hot with a great record and is poised to make a playoff run. Beating them is a must and will be the hardest game left on this trip.

The Hawks are battling injuries as their backup point guard Kirk Hinrich is out for a good stretch and their big man Al Horford is gone for three months. Horford is an outstanding player and would have caused the Blazers fits. Hopefully the Blazers can take advantage of these injuries and win. Camby is listed day-to-day so he may even play, though he probably won't start. Even without him, this game will be in the Blazers' favor.

The Hawks:

Starting Lineup: Jeff Teague, Joe Johnson, Jason Collins, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams
Bench: Tracy McGrady, Willie Green, Zaza Pachulia, Vladimir Radmonovic, Jannero Pargo

X’s and O’s:

The Blazers are a hustle team that wins games by out-rebounding opponents, getting fast break points, second chance points and getting to the foul line. They have been feast or famine in these categories, but it is no surprise that getting easy baskets have led to victories for this team. When the Blazers have energy, they look unbeatable. When they don’t, they are infuriating to watch. Of course, they aren’t always going to get easy points; they must execute as well. Rolling off screens, attacking the paint, and hitting open jump-shots will easily put this game away for the Blazers.

Advantage Blazers:

Jamal Crawford returns to his old team and will hopefully turn his game around. Crawford has had many big moments in this arena. The streaky shooter that he is, a hot hand right off the bat may mean he does not stop shooting all game. His counter-part will be Joe Johnson, once thought of as an all-star, now just an above average player. These two will do battle all night as both of them can be explosive offensively but lack defensive skills. Nicolas Batum has played two very productive games back-to-back. Hopefully he can make it three and show some much needed consistency.

Last Words:

If the Blazers can work out a victory, then they will be 2-2 on this road trip with two of the weakest Eastern Conference teams left and could easily finish 3-3 or 4-2. They will then play a plethora of games at home and could easily move up in the standings, possibly back to a top four seed. Raymond Felton’s last game was, hopefully, as bad as it gets. Eight turnovers and two points is unacceptable and won’t win games against opponents stronger than the Hornets.

Games this week:
@ Toronto – 20th
@ Detroit – 21st
Sacramento – 23rd
Memphis – 24th
@ Golden State – 25th