(4) Blazers Vs. (5) Rockets

This should be Blazers/Mavs, but in a top 4 situation, the division leader gets the higher seed, even if they lose the tie. Anyway, aside of the Blazers' conference finals chances going from about 40% to 4%, this shouldn't make too much of a difference. Houston is better than Dallas, but Dallas is hot while Houston is not. Ultimately, I think that this one will come down to homecourt advantage with my Blazers winning in 7 and taking their first series win since 2000.

Agreed. Yao will make Oden his bitch, but Roy, Aldridge and the Blazers' backcourt will be enough to overrun the Rockets.

Rockets in 6, with a side of traded Tmac after the playoffs

IMO Rockets are a better team. More experienced and more matured players that are patient enough to take the challenge. Blazers sure does have talents but defensively, Artest, Battier and Yao, these trios will be hard to score against for Roy and young guns. Even if he gets his numbers, I doubt other players will also get their. Slow paced games and I think the Rockets will prevail to move on to a second round finally. Extra thanks to Tracy McGrady for finally not getting in the way. In the end mental collapse is what I'm expecting from the Blazers.

Agreed. Yao will make Oden his bitch, but Roy, Aldridge and the Blazers' backcourt will be enough to overrun the Rockets.

Blazers backcourt of who? Steve Blake? Sergio Rodriguez? Rudy Fernandez? Jerryd Bayless (lol)?

Id say POR in 7, with each team winning their respective home games.

Agreed. Yao will make Oden his bitch, but Roy, Aldridge and the Blazers' backcourt will be enough to overrun the Rockets.

Blazers backcourt of who? Steve Blake? Sergio Rodriguez? Rudy Fernandez? Jerryd Bayless (lol)?

and Roy... Blake 42% from 3 this year, Number 5 in A/TO ratio among all. Rudy fernandez 40% 3 shooter. Rookie record holder with 159 in a season.

Agreed. Yao will make Oden his bitch, but Roy, Aldridge and the Blazers' backcourt will be enough to overrun the Rockets.

but Blazers have Przy as well. hopefully Yao will be figured out during the series. yao is pretty darn good but he is always going to have a strong 7 footer on him everytime. especially przy great Def

Blake 42% from 3 this year, Number 5 in A/TO ratio among all. Rudy fernandez 40% 3 shooter. Rookie record holder with 159 in a season.

(Say the Rockets let Roy do his thing) Artest, Battier.

i'd go with Blazers in 7! i think they should be too much to handle for houston at guard position and Oden, Aldridge, Frye can create a lot trouble for yao in offence and D, and as all knows Yao's intelligence, i don't think he can handle these guys!

Rockets in 6. How can the Blazers match up with Yao at the post? Oden is still to young.. Let's say that Houston allow Roy to do his thing. Still, experience will be the factor. Just my opinion...

pelayo14, how about Joel Pryz defending let's see if Yao's still unstoppable ,i go with blazer in 7

Yao can handle him. At least in defense.

Yeah but if Houston does make it to the second round,I will be tough for the Lakers espacially for Kobe who will be defended by Battier and Artest and in the inside there's Yao,if they win this series it's gotta be the defense

Yeah it's true. Even though the Lakers swept their meetings with Houston in the regular season the Rockets will be a different team come playoff time. Season standings doesn't matter when playoffs arrive.

Going with Blazers in 6, mostly because of their amazing home court.

I reckon Blazers in 6 games really hoping LaMarcus Aldridge has a big playoffs. I hope to have my LaMarcus Aldridge swingman jersey to wear on Sunday just before playoffs start so I will be rocking my LA12 and MV3 jersey going for Heat and Blazers.

I go with Blazers in 6 as well.

I see the both teams winning every home game in the series... So with Portland having home court advantage, I say they'll win it in 7 games...

Blazers in 4!


Yeah, sweeeeeeeept and is T-Mac Fault

Rockets in 6
Yao would baptize Oden while Ron Ron would kick everyone's ass

Id say POR in 7, with each team winning their respective home games.

I'll pick Portland in seven as well, but I'll say that each teams wins a road game before the Blazers ultimately take the series at home.

rockets in 6 roy will have a tough time against battier and artest but i think aldridge will have a good 1st round but their inexperience is just gonna kill them

Blazers in 7. These are probably going to be the most intense first round series this year and with the home court advantage and houston not having a go-to-guy, portland should win these in a tight battle.

Blazers got dumped at Portland big time. Wow! What happened? Most people said that this would be a tough series and can go seven games but judging from the first game box scores, oh my..