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

[504ByrdGang]

VS.


@


Moda Center



Pelicans' Starters


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


VS.




Trail Blazers' Starters


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

[Kumar]

Omer confirmed out for tonight per Nakia Hogan

[GeauxSaints53]

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

[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

[504ByrdGang]

Hopefully LMA is out.

[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.

[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.....

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

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

[SeaLegs]

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.

Too soon.

[Pantazis76]

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

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..

[Asteptooslow]

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.....

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

[Perth_Hornet]

Any questionables from Portland out?

[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

[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.

[rt0307]

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

yes... Young is active

[UptownFuz504]

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

Bad news for Ryno if he starts.

[504ByrdGang]

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

[carpo]

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.

[carpo]

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.

[Mythrol]

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

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

[PelsFan2313]

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.

[carpo]

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)

[Bee-Fense]

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

[Perth_Hornet]

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

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

[iNolaNightmare]

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

My thoughts exactly.

Anywho, anyone else pumped?!