Game Day: Blazers (31-11) @ Suns (25-18), Wed 1/21/15

[carey]

P.J. Tucker tonight: 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

Very nice.

Also played the most minutes and missed a crucial FT. Glad it didn't matter.

[iLLmatic]

P.J. Tucker tonight: 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

Very nice.

Eric Bledsoe: FGM-A 11-22, 33 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals.

We might not all be happy with the contract but he played up to it tonight IMO.

[INFORMER]

P.J. Tucker tonight: 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

Very nice.

Eric Bledsoe: FGM-A 11-22, 33 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals.

We might not all be happy with the contract but he played up to it tonight IMO.

Most definitely.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

I started late to watch the game, what a rollercoaster!!!

Beyond the win, I was thrilled to see everybody watching over their usual blunders: Tucker with no dribbling the ball(0 turnovers), Bledsoe with a two way, all game effort, Thomas distributing (altough he surrender to his dark side late in the 4th after taking over at first), even Green was on his best way, except those moments after a failed dunk, when he tried to force another couple plays. The Morrii were cooled down altough unproductive and almost invisible for long stretches.

I liked that Hornacek was sutile but firm everytime someone got out of line, he succesively take out Bledsoe, Green, and even a red hot Thomas, when they started with their antics. You clearly could see Thomas in the fading minutes of the fourth, totally nervous about being on the bench, but not upset, as if he knew he was there under previous warning and failed to stay straight.

[Cap]

P.J. Tucker tonight: 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers

Very nice.

In retrospect, I'm glad Jeff didn't take him out for IT.

[Nodack]

That was one stressful ending. I wanted a cigarette after that and I don't even smoke.

[Superbone]

I just finished watching the game. Jeez! These guys can't stand prosperity! I didn't need that kind of blood pressure on a Wednesday night! Oh, brother!

It looked BAD when we went down 5 late on that ridiculous 3 pointer from Batum. Dragic with the clutch 3 in response. Wow! Then, Markieff with his usual clutch self and finally Bledsoe finshed his great game strong after missing some late FTs. My heart can't take it!

[Superbone]

That was one stressful ending. I wanted a cigarette after that and I don't even smoke.

Ha ha! I know how you feel! I'm still recovering.

[Nodack]

No Aldridge, yay! I really want us to win this one. We need more wins over quality opponents, injury or no injury. I think the Blazers are not real contenders, myself. They're way up high in the standings, but I don't like their bench at all, and really I don't love most of their roster outside of Lillard and Aldridge. Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez are okay but I don't know if I would trust them in a playoff series.

Their bench is definitely their problem and that is our strength. If we can start hot and not concede 10 points right off the bat I think we have a good chance to take this one.

Bingo!

[Superbone]

Things we need:

-Tucker to grab a few big boards.
-Bledsoe to play better defense.
-Markieff to do anything. Like, at all.

-Check
-Check
-Check

[Superbone]

That was a game saving 3 by Dragic.

Dragic!

[Superbone]

Sigh. Suns made me work for it tonight.

Ha! Man, they sure did! I'm STILL recovering! Don't they know what they're doing to us?

[carey]

No Aldridge, yay! I really want us to win this one. We need more wins over quality opponents, injury or no injury. I think the Blazers are not real contenders, myself. They're way up high in the standings, but I don't like their bench at all, and really I don't love most of their roster outside of Lillard and Aldridge. Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez are okay but I don't know if I would trust them in a playoff series.

Their bench is definitely their problem and that is our strength. If we can start hot and not concede 10 points right off the bat I think we have a good chance to take this one.

Bingo!

I even surprised myself with how on target that was. It was almost like I knew what I was talking about for a wee bit.

[Ring_Wanted]

What do you say about broken clocks?

[carey]

What do you say about broken clocks?

Ouch.

[Mori Chu]

That was a fun win. I got to watch the whole game live from start to finish, something I rarely get to do nowadays it seems like. Bledsoe was insanely good. IT also has been having a stretch of very solid games. I feel like he's doing a little bit better about not hogging the ball as much. Maybe he's getting to know his teammates and the system better; maybe Coach is getting after him to be more of a team player. But either way I liked how almost everybody played tonight. When we're doing our thing, we can hang with just about anybody.

(I need to remind myself of that the next time we suffer a crushing loss.)

[Sunsfan4life]

One of the few games I watched live from start to finish to Mori. Usually I get home in time to just catch the 2nd half or watch the game on tape delay. I feel the same exact way. We have the ability to scare a lot of top seeds, but In the end if I was a betting man I would bet against us to make the playoffs. I think OKC is definitely getting in, so I think its got to be either the Clippers or Mavs we catch. It's going to be tough.

Its funny I think the Blazers last night are similar to what the suns have now. The one gigantic difference is LaMarcus Aldridge. Imagine him here next to Len, flanked by EB and Dragic with Kieff. That would be a title contender. Anyways...I think the team is better then last yrs squad and I'm excited to see them scrap and claw for a playoff berth. Its just going to be really tough..

[Superbone]

That was a good one to watch live from start to finish. It had major drama at the end.

[Sunsfan4life]

Agreed. Kind of sums up the Suns too....Look like world beaters one minute, then frustrate you the next.

[Nodack]

That sums up half the teams in the NBA.