2014 Playoffs: (1) San Antonio vs. (5) Portland

[bowdown]

Well let's just hope Blazers don't get swept. These Spurs are a raging monster and Blazers have gotten intimidated.

[Andrew]

phpBB [video]

...wow.

I'll admit, while I did believe it was possible, I also thought that my prediction of Spurs in five might be a little bold. Still a half to go in Game 2 and at least a couple of games to be played in Portland, but it might not turn out to be too wild a prediction.

[Stress Fracture]

I think the Blazers don't want to return to San Antonio again because of this.

The Portland Trail Blazers found a surprise when they arrived in the visitors locker room at the AT&T Center before Thursday night's Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals.

Reserve forward Thomas Robinson discovered a snake in his locker a couple of hours before tip-off against the San Antonio Spurs, spotting it when he placed his shoes in the cubby.

"I was scared," said Robinson, who added that he'd only seen snakes on Discovery Channel before. "I ain't gonna lie, I was scared."

[NovU]

Man, this Aldridge sucks. He's no force neither on offense and defense. I also don't like Matthews. He tries bit too hard sometimes and ends up hurting the team. Instead, I'd like to see Lillard calling the shot on offense little more. He's the best playmaker and consistent one at that.

Bigger problem though is the team defense. Too many loopholes. Nearly all Spurs shots were good looks.


But I think the Blazers still have a shot in this series. I can imagine them evening the series 2 apiece. The Blazers' shots were kinda good looks as well but just disoriented at times. Adjust on defensive end and make more open shots at home, and we might have series back after all.

[bowdown]

Just ew.

[shadowgrin]

Aldridge's paint allergy is catching up to him and the Blazers.
While his play is similar to Dirk, Dirk can score from the post or near it and is the better post player.

Blazers don't have a post player that can loosen up the Spurs perimeter defense which is obviously superior than the Rockets perimeter D that the Blazers faced in the first round.

If you think Robin Lopez can get the job done for offense at the post you're thinking of the wrong Lopez. That or you need to be slapped.

Just look at Dirk's gorgeous green Shot Zones in the paint during the regular season:
http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/playe ... 3-2014-REG

Aldridge's meh Shot Zones in the high post (Dirk still shooting better with close to the basket):
http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/playe ... 3-2014-REG

Even Dirk has a better percentage than Lopez with close to the basket shots:
http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/playe ... 3-2014-REG


lol at Aldridge abusing the left baseline against the Rockets while being terrible everywhere except close basket shots and the right wing:
http://vorped.com/bball/index.php/playe ... -2014-POST


Clearly the answer for the Blazers is obvious.
They should sign Andrew Bynum in the offseason.
Continue the Blazer tradition of having big men with career ending knee problems.

[NovU]

Dirk to me is one of the definite top 10 powerforward in history so it's no comparison.

Aldridge's offense is quite limited to Dirk anyway. Look at beautiful Dirk's FTr. He can shoot 1 for 10 and still be a threat by going to the line and getting your defender into a foul trouble. And his game involves extensive range, opens up the lane and draws out your best defender's attention plus the double team. Dirk in his worst season arguably was as good as Aldridge this season.

But Aldridge was out of this world in his first round series. I thought he'd be able to continue what he did in that series against grandpa Duncan and lanky Splitter because Asik and Howard combo arguably are the better defensive players individually and still got owned.

[bowdown]

Aldridge is in a weird funk. Missing dunks and layups last 2 games. There is still hope. Next two are at home atleast.

[shadowgrin]

Doable to pwn good post defenders like Howard or Asik when your bigman can shoot from the perimeter like Aldridge (or as shown by the Hawks bigs against Hibbert) and the weak perimeter defense of Houston also helped; against a Spurs perimeter defense that deny him the ball or bother him every time he touches the ball, not so much.
Tim Duncan is no slouch either and arguably a better defender than Howard or Asik even if Duncan is old.

[Lamrock]

I want to be alone...

[Stress Fracture]

Here you go

[NovU]

Hey, that's my line.

phpBB [video]

[Stress Fracture]

Lamrock needs it now so be a good guy and lend it to him.

[bowdown]

This is just looking bad. Big early deficit for Portland.

[Andrew]

Blazers are just looking really overwhelmed so far in the series. Perhaps the Dallas series was exactly what the Spurs needed to get into gear.

[shadowgrin]

Yeah, playing against Dirk must've made Duncan, Manu, and Parker think of their old young self again. Silly Spurs.

[Andrew]

Spurs have had an answer for every Blazer run. Still enough time for an improbable victory if they go ice cold and the Blazers get red hot, but it's certainly looking like 3-0 right now. It may not end up being a sweep, but I can't imagine Portland being the first NBA team to win four straight after getting down 0-3.

San Antonio's aggressiveness bodes well for them moving forward, particularly the way Tony Parker is playing. Meanwhile, Portland is getting nothing from their bench.

[Lamrock]

Well at least they got out of the first round...

[shadowgrin]

The future is still bright for this Blazers, they could be new Atlanta (Joe Johnson/Josh Smith) Hawks!

[benji]

[SoF'nAwesome]

At least Rockets would have been able to give them a challenge. Now Spurs will get to rest their ass after sweep while OKC and the East teams fight till game 7.

[YaoKnowWhat_I_Ming]

Portland's bad D is just getting exposed, Robin Lopez doesn't have much impact in this series. But who would have knew this would have got out of hand this bad.

[Stress Fracture]

Lucky Lillard shot in Game 6. Seeing the Blazers down 0-3 makes me cry more.

[Kevin]

Guessing this is a sweep

[NovU]

Batum is now guarding Tony?

EDIT: Batum doing solid on both ends. Neat.

EDIT: Damn... with Batum on Tony, Manu and Kawhi are troublesome.