Wolves vs Blazers GDT: Game 3 of our 16 game post all-star winning streak

[BloopOracle]

Aldridge is out so it definitely evens things up a bit

I expect us to win by 4

[TAFKASP]

If they win it'll be by six or more, everybody knows they don't win by less.

[all_day_88 [enjin:6666373]]

111-105 wolves win

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't know if we win, but I think we can keep it close...Vegas has it at only 4. On the negative side, we are on the back half of a BTB with three key players missing. Adelman used his bench well last night and minutes were well controlled, but I still worry that at some time the injuries catch up to us.

On the positive side, Portland hasn't played well since LMA went down. They lost to a Spurs team that rested Duncan and Parker, and they struggled to beat the same Utah team we handled easily last night. I would argue that the Spurs without LMA have one of the worse offensive front courts in basketball. Batum hasn't been very good for several weeks, and has been battling some kind of virus for several days.

But Portland does have four guards who shoot 3's at a very high rate, and our perimeter defense will have to be very solid for us to have a chance. Bud finally made some shots last night, but he is really struggling on defense. I'd like to see Shved and Brewer get some minutes guarding Matthews, McCollum and Williams. If Bud gets most of the minutes at the 2, we may be in for a long night.

And Rubio needs to control the game like he has done the last three. I don't know much about Lillard defensively, but the past three games Ricky has been able to beat his man at will...let's hope he can beat Lillard off the dribble too. And let's hope Love continues to be Love.

And of course the bench needs to step up again too. JJ has had three consecutive good games, and it may be too much to ask for another. But I'm asking. And with three guys hurt, Adelman is likely to give the rookies some meaningful minutes tonight and they need to contribute.

Should be fun tonight.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Corey on Matthews. Bud on Batum. Glad that Adelman is finally starting to listen to me!

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

And of course they go right at Bud, and Batum makes his first 2 shots.

[markkbu [enjin:6588958]]

this line up has been playing well

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Wolves shooting 89%...I'm saying if they can keep that percentage up, they'll win!

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

Love at the 5 is unstoppable

[TAFKASP]

That right there is a pretty large IF!