2015 Playoffs: (4) Portland vs. (5) Memphis

[Lamrock]

Portland is the 4 seed, but of course Memphis has homecourt advantage. This one should be rough. If Conley and co. are healthy, I don't see this going more than 5 games. The injuries keep piling up for my Blazers, who have been mediocre since Wes Matthews went down. Oh well, it's nice to make the post-season.

[Andrew]

I'll go with the Grizzlies, thanks to homecourt advantage and the Blazers not being 100%. Nevertheless, I can see them trading wins and going the distance. Memphis in seven.

[JaoSming]

Grizz in 6, dat homecourt

[shadowgrin]

Grizz gonna massacre them iPad toting Blazers in 5 with the one loss because of Zach Randolph not giving a shit.

[Kevin]

No Wes and Aaron. Grizz in 5

[bowdown]

Afflalo and Batum should be back for game 1... but Grizz in 6.

[Mandich]

Let's see how good the crybaby really is. How clutch he really is.

It's going to be hard for Aldridge too, but I can see him getting his usual numbers.

Grizzlies will win.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Blazers in 7, but that's just wishful thinking.

More like Grizzlies in 6.

So long, Wes Matthews, sweet prince.

[JAWSFreelao]

This "crybaby" is one of the most clutch NBA players I've been alive to see. Crybaby could still take you easily, remember that. But insults and disagreeing with him aside, the Grizzlies will win. Too many injuries.

[Mandich]

He' still too fresh in the league to be earning that praise. He has a good record so far though.

He's still a crybaby.

Taking a 6'2 80 kg(whatever that is in lbs) white boy who plays basketball for fun isn't really much a challenge to defend your crybaby.

EDIT: 176 lbs.

There is a reason ne's in the NBA and I'm not.

[Maverick]

Grizz in 6. Just the better team IMO and the injuries of the TBlaze. Although, w/o Conley/Allen to slow down Dame, it's gonna be close.

[NovU]

I will go with Portland in 6 mostly because they're my favorite team in the playoffs now that the Heat are dead.

Keys to win:
+ Aldridge should go last year's good Aldridge where he eradicated Dwight/Asik/Terrence frontcourt. He needs to do it against Fat Gasol and Fat Zach this time. Possible!
+ Last year in Rockets series, Wesley Matthews was non existent. This means they can do it without him. Batum and Lillard need to step up big time again.
+ Luckily the Blazers are deeper this season. The Grizzlies aren't much improved. They got VC and Green but they fail to significantly improve the team.

Let's go Blazers!

[Lamrock]

Drunk posting got me accidentally picking Portland and New Orleans in 5. Oh well I'll roll with it I guess. I like your positivity novu. We don't really have the outside shooting that caused Houston to leave Aldridge to his own devices in the first two games vs. Houston and the grizz dominated the season series, but you still gotta play the games!

I love how everyone turned on Lillard after his asg comments. Really doesn't take much these days, does it?

[Mandich]

Never liked him on the court nor off the court. did that stupid no rings commercial ( I get it it's all jokes) and the dude actually deleted his tweet/post because reasons.
I just love those people who use social media as a personal therapy (not that that's wrong) and then delete their posts after realizing how douchey they were.
But well, that's just me. It's not like I'm offending anyone ( really trying not to do that anymore).

Apart from him, I actually enjoy watching Aldridge and Batum and love Lopez's personality.

[bowdown]

Lillard is trying to establish a celebrity status which means once in a while he will cross the line and make himself look like a douche.

[NovU]

He's not a douche in reality. He's allegedly a team first guy with good family, friendship value off the court. He stays off trouble and gets along fine unlike many other idiots in this league. Yeah, he said couple things on his mind(that are TRUE) on social media, and that makes him douche to people. What douches call him a douche, lelz.

[Mandich]

Adidas and every Portlands media is certainly trying to present him as that.
I care more about what he says in the media than what the media says about him.

I think we should get back to basketball and agree he has to play his brains out in order for POR to advance.

[Andrew]

I think it comes back to what Charles Barkley alluded to in his recent interview: we like honesty, we admire a straight-shooter who doesn't sugar-coat things and whatnot...until they say something that we disagree with. Then we tell them to shut their mouths.

As far as Damian Lillard is concerned, it wouldn't be terrible advice. I can understand him firing a shot back at people who are obnoxious towards him on Twitter. Hey, doing what I do, a hobby that involves a niche gaming community, I've had my fair share of unpleasant correspondence over the years, and there are times when you do feel like tossing a few barbs back. I can only imagine how it would be for people in the public eye, especially now with social media where you can contact someone directly and publicly at the same time, because for some reason people think it's really important that celebrities know just how much they dislike them, or what they think of them, in the rudest manner possible.

Of course, there's something to be said for rising above it, not sinking to that level. Or tossing back a quip with a bit of a smirk, as Drew Carey once did:

dctwitter.png

So while I kind of enjoy the fact that Lillard was quite willing to stand up for himself and take down a couple of obnoxious jerks on Twitter, it does get to a point where it's better to leave it to be.

As far as his comments about the All-Star snub are concerned....I think he could've chosen his words better, and arguably should have. It's not impossible to exercise your right to free speech and be frank, yet also avoid coming off a bit petulant at the same time. That said, I actually found his remarks somewhat refreshing. Some years back, it really seemed like the stars of the time didn't give a damn about the All-Star Game, and viewed it more as a chore than the honour it's intended to be (and for all the problems with selections, still is, in my view). For a rising star to want to be there, to prove their mettle, to want to compete...I like that. He could've expressed himself better, but "crybaby" is a bit harsh in my book. The words may sometimes be rough, but I think the sentiment is valid. It is bound to rub some people the wrong way though, so while I don't dislike him myself, I understand why someone would.

And in basketball terms, he is a rising star, and a really good player with a bright future. He will indeed have to turn in a great performance if the Blazers are to get out of the first round. I still favour the Grizzlies at this juncture, though.

[Alpha_]

Grizzlies in 5.

[bowdown]

Have to wait and see how Portland plays this game. If they play like crap again then I'll say Grizz in 5.

[Lamrock]

Here's a summary of this series:

phpBB [video]

[NovU]

Darn I hate the Grizzlies so much.

[Mandich]

So far Lillard sucked hard cock both on offense and defense.

Gasol is a big impact so far.

[Kevin]

If Memphis sweeps the Trailblazers in this series, it's easy to say Aldridge will leave that piece of shit city and move on to another one in the offseason.

[Stress Fracture]

Wow, how can a canadien talk shit about a US city?