Blazers vs Clippers - Preview

What’s worse: Frankie Muniz running the point? A smug Darius Miles? Or “Jeff Van Gundy Revealed” (ewwww)?

Will Brandon Roy play? Or will he not? For Portland few things matter more than their lone All-Star returning from Texas with a healthy hamstring. The earliest signs point to his return, but given the number of false alarms with this particular injury, it’s best to procedure with caution. 

As for the Los Angeles Clippers, where to start? Following the awkward situation that was head coach Mike Dunleavy quitting on general manager Mike Dunleavy, the Clip show is 0-3 under new coach/sacrificial lamb Kim Hughes, and over those three games they’ve lost by an average of 19 points. While the Hughes administration promised a more uptempo offense that would mesh better with Baron “Twitter Beard Tip” Davis, it has yet to work. In the three games without Dunleavy on the bench, Davis is averaging less than 10 points a game with a disappointing 32.2% shooting percentage. But before Portland files this one under “W,” don’t forget that Portland has dropped a pair of games in a row at home, and doesn’t want to make it three (for the first time since 2008).

This matchup is made all the more intriguing by the Blake (Steve Blake,  not Blake Griffin—stop dreaming) trade rumors that involve sending Blakey, Outlaw, and a boatload of cash to Los Angeles for Marcus Camby and hopefully not Sebastain Telfair and his pillowcase full of glocks. I’m still hesitant to believe Portland makes any move, but the Camby rumors are certainly persistent. Sadly, NBA trades take a fair of amount of time to process with the league office, otherwise I’d be praying for a mid-game (or mid-play?) switch from Camby. I know it’s not possible, but don’t take that dream away from me. It’s all I have.

For a more educated perspective that doesn’t mention the kid from Malcolm in the Middle, visit the fine folks at ClipperBlog.

Tip-off: 7pm
TV: Comcast
Las Vegas Line: TBD