Spurs and Trailblazers: NBA Thursday Night Battle

Both the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs have been fighting through injury issues this season. Fortunately, each of these squads have enough talent and depth to keep pace with the division leaders.

The Portland Trailblazers have dealt with more injuries this season that any other team in the league. Starting small forward Travis Outlaw has been out with a foot injury but is expected to return shortly. Portland’s leading scorer Brandon Roy hasn’t played for over a week with a hamstring issue, and their #1 pick in the draft in 2008 Greg Oden, has missed more than half of the games this season.

Despite their unfortunate luck with injuries, Portland still finds themselves just 5 games back of the Denver Nuggets in the Northwest Conference standings. They are 7 games over .500 and are currently in the 7th spot in the Western Conference playoff picture. A win tonight will be a nice boost of confidence as they follow this one up with games against the Lakers, Thunder and Suns over the next week. The Blazers will need to make their move over the next 2 weeks as they will be on the road for 15 of their last 24 games of the season. They certainly have enough talent to get in the playoffs, but will find themselves out quickly if they have to play one of the top 2 seeds.

San Antonio is getting old. Perennial all-star Tim Duncan still has the ability to take over games in the post, but he doesn’t do it on a consistent basis anymore. Scoring 20 points per game, and snatching almost 11 rebounds is generally considered a great year for most power forwards, but Duncan has clearly declined from his championships days. PG George Hill has filled in nicely for the injured Tony Parker, but he will never give the team the type of production that Parker can. Either way, the Spurs find themselves in 2nd place of the Southwest division just 2 games back of the Dallas Mavericks. If they can just hold this position while they try to get healthy, they can be a force in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Expect a slow methodical game Thursday as both of these teams like to play hard nosed defense, and a half court style of offense. Tune in as both of these teams fight for a much needed win in the Western Conference.

Related posts:

1. Red Hot Spurs Take on Cleveland Monday Night
2. Spurs Look to Even Series with Mavericks Wednesday Night
3. Spurs Try to Stay Alive Against Suns in Game 4
4. Portland Trailblazers and Oklahoma City Thunder Fight for 6 Seed
5. Youth against Experience: Spurs face the Grizzlies

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