GAMENIGHT

Portland Trailblazers (6-6) @ Brooklyn Nets (7-4) 

Barclays Center 3:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660AM

Lets get this out the way, Billy King made the right choice in trading the #4 pick last year, which turned into Damian Lilliard for Portland Trailblazers , for Gerald “Crash” Wallace and it has been a gem of a deal since even though some analysts say otherwise.  The intangibles and demeanor that Crash brings every single night is the glue to the Net defense and makes everyones life easier while making up for other players defensive weaknesses.  Having a rookie that can score would be great but NOT for this Nets team that was built over the summer.

Trailblazers have been an up and down team all year as their (6-6) record shows and they are now hitting the road for seven straight against Eastern Conference teams.  This is a great opportunity for the Nets to put the hammer down and take it to a not very good road team which is 2-3 right now on the road.  

The Blazers have won 4-of-5 although their rebounding is not good at all as they are one of the worst in the league in rebounds (39.2 per game) and points per game in the paint (33.3).  Both areas the Nets are tops in the league so something has to give.

In the Blazers last five games Damian Lillard is shooting 57.7 percent from the field – including 15 of 31 from 3-point range while scoring a team-best 23.4 points per game and something tells me Deron Williams will be ready and up for this matchup.

INJURY REPORT:

Tornike Shengelia (sprained left thumb) is OUT

 

Craig Mitchelldyer-US PRESSWIRE

NBA.com