Game Thread: Pelicans (5-3) Vs. Trail Blazers (7-3) 9pm CT Broadcast: FSNO

http://i.cdn.turner.com/drp/nba/peli...?itok=bcH2o3rw VS. http://howmanyarethere.net/wp-conten...h#?1#?1#agtpwd


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Moda Center
http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/team...modacenter.jpg


Pelicans' Starters
http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...ue_holiday.pnghttp://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...ric_gordon.pnghttp://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...reke_evans.pnghttp://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele...hony_davis.pnghttp://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/.ele.../omer_asik.png

PG Jrue Holiday - SG Eric Gordon - SF Tyreke Evan - PF Anthony Davis - C Omer Asik


VS.




Trail Blazers' Starters
http://stats.nba.com/media/players/230x185/203081.pnghttp://stats.nba.com/media/players/230x185/202083.pnghttp://stats.nba.com/media/players/230x185/203459.pnghttp://stats.nba.com/media/players/230x185/200746.pnghttp://stats.nba.com/media/players/230x185/201577.png

PG Damian Lillard - SG Wesly Matthews - SF Allen Crabbe - PF LaMarcus Aldrige - C Robin Lopez

Omer confirmed out for tonight per Nakia Hogan

So who starts? Ajinca? Ryno at the 4? Does Pat Young get to suit up?

Per General Manager Dell Demps, Omer Asik (back) will not play in tonight's contest at Portland.

— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) November 18, 2014

The @PelicansNBA rule center Omer Asik out for tonight's game vs @trailblazers. Lower back is causing him too much pain.

— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) November 18, 2014

Hopefully LMA is out.

I don't know what to do. I guess Anderson and hope to jump on them quick to build a lead. I would play Jimmer a bit earlier so we can rest a starter for the second unit. Don't get anyone else hurt. Especially, with a back to back against good teams.

I say start Withey to keep the Rivers/Anderson connection together and let Ajinca play versus less skilled guards. We will sacrifice rebounding in a big way, but trust Withey's interior defense to be closer (not close, but closer) to Asik than either Ajinca or Anderson. I doubt it will happen, but that's what I'd do.....

FFS can we go 10 games with our starters EVER in a season?

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Originally Posted by Asteptooslow

I don't know what to do. I guess Anderson and hope to jump on them quick to build a lead. I would play Jimmer a bit earlier so we can rest a starter for the second unit. Don't get anyone else hurt. Especially, with a back to back against good teams.

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Too soon.

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Originally Posted by rt0307

Per General Manager Dell Demps, Omer Asik (back) will not play in tonight's contest at Portland.

— Pelicans PR (@PelicansPR) November 18, 2014

The @PelicansNBA rule center Omer Asik out for tonight's game vs @trailblazers. Lower back is causing him too much pain.

— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) November 18, 2014

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By they way they are sounding, his probably going to miss quite a few games, any bet its a inflamed disc and his out for half the season..

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Originally Posted by NOEngineer

I say start Withey to keep the Rivers/Anderson connection together and let Ajinca play versus less skilled guards. We will sacrifice rebounding in a big way, but trust Withey's interior defense to be closer (not close, but closer) to Asik than either Ajinca or Anderson. I doubt it will happen, but that's what I'd do.....

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Sounds good, but can he be effective with so little time in a real game. We do need to replace defense more.

Any questionables from Portland out?

Omer Asik (lower back pain) won't play; Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge expected to play. More: http://t.co/KOkv3fftMJ pic.twitter.com/NQQLC1oxZf

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) November 18, 2014

well drat... looks like LMA is good to go

Ajinca will foul out if we start him. So I have to assume we're activating Young. Or at least I hope we will.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Ajinca will foul out if we start him. So I have to assume we're activating Young. Or at least I hope we will.

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yes... Young is active

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Originally Posted by rt0307

Omer Asik (lower back pain) won't play; Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge expected to play. More: http://t.co/KOkv3fftMJ pic.twitter.com/NQQLC1oxZf

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) November 18, 2014

well drat... looks like LMA is good to go

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Bad news for Ryno if he starts.

Start Alexis, Lopez is not mobile and I rather AD cover LMA. The Blazers are a team that doesn't scores at the rim.

I reckon tonights the night to ignore the other teams lineup.

Put our best 5 out (Davis at the 5, Anderson at the 4). Have AD guard LA and let Ryno do his best on RoLo.

RUN RUN RUN. Lopez isn't the best running Centre in the game, and LA having respiratory problems. Let's gas them both and get their bench on the floor. Crabbe is inexperienced and wether he is on Tyreke, Gordon or Austin I think he may have trouble staying in front of them.

To give our bigs spells when Ajinca inveriably gets in foul trouble, slide Young to the 5 and have Babbit as a small ball 4. Let's run these guys off their own court.

But do it similarly to the Tyreke method with Ryno. Start him, give him a rest at the 6 minute mark and let him come in and play alongside Rivers against a 2nd unit for a bit as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 504ByrdGang

Start Alexis, Lopez is not mobile and I rather AD cover LMA. The Blazers are a team that scores at the rim.

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I could see this working against Rolo. Just shorten Ajinca's minutes to around 20-24.

Ajinca will definitely start. Obviously he won't play starting minutes. I expect a pickup in AD's minutes and Ryno's minutes. Young might get the limited number of minutes Ajinca was receiving when Asik was in the rotation.

I just hesitate giving Alexis starter minutes...

defending the rim vs Steve Blake, Will Barton and CJ McCollum is a fair bit easier than against Lillard, Mathews and LA. Less likely fouling out and forcing Young into big minutes (although I would like to see him a bit, maybe in a blowout win not against a Western Conference contender)

I'd rather just start Anderson. We did last year against Portland and won.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

I could see this working against Rolo. Just shorten Ajinca's minutes to around 20-24.

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You. Think Ajinca could last 20 minutes without fouling out?

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Originally Posted by Bee-Fense

I'd rather just start Anderson. We did last year against Portland and won.

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My thoughts exactly.

Anywho, anyone else pumped?!

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Originally Posted by Perth_Hornet

You. Think Ajinca could last 20 minutes without fouling out?

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I mean he did it last year.

Dam I have nbalp on my dtv and I'm at home. I usually watch all games with no problem. I'm in Seattle area. This game says blacked out on lp and on FSN. Why is that?

Ajinca starting but he wont be in for long

Frenchy starting... which I actually like. Keep Ryno coming off the bench.

Gordon gets elbowed in the face and its a foul

Ad didnt bite on 3 pump fakes wow!!

Gotta make open jumpers man. We made them lastr game.

Ajinca looks God awful.

Not playing with energy

Missing asiks defensive rebounding already

Holiday is gonna need his teammates to communicate so he can get around those screens. Lillard will score 40 if he gets space to.


Also, Ajinca isn't player enough to be starting. So disappointed in Withey's development so far. Thought he'd be our main backup when we drafted him.

Annnd there's ajinca in a nut shell geezus

Ajinca is so SOFT!

Monty just yelled "SOFT" to the team while calling timeout.

We are going to eventually score... right ?

Ajinca is toilet paper out there.

Horrendous start common

I'd love to bring an athletic, bouncy, hustling big off the bench. Is there anyone like that playing like in France or something?

Love me some jrue, thats defense

Ajinca needs to step it up. Wouldn't mind seeing Jeff tonight

Ajinca's hand eye coordination is quite hilarious.

Pels stream just went weird, getting clippers?

Ajinca needs to come out

Reason why I like Asik.. he would never take that jumper ajinca just took .

Dammit Gordon is shooting well now.