http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/playoff-notes-trail-blazers-vs-rockets Interesting stuff here. I didn't realize Wes had as much success against the rockets as he seems to have had. The biggest take away for me is that if we are going to advance to the second round we will have to win our first ever playoff game in Houston. Pas we already knew Houston has no solution for Aldridge, the opportunity is there for him to take over this series. I don't put much stock in the fact that we lost 3-1. That first game was the product of a new core figuring out how they play together. And that overtime loss was a team who clearly didn't value the game. I'm most concerned about Houston's role players, not harden or Dwight. They have a lot of play makers on that team.
Wes owned Hardem for most of the last game. Then Harden hit that huge three and dominated the OT. But we led by 13 in the 4th quarter and we are good enough to get another 13 point lEAd on Sunday and not blow it this time.
Harden does hit huge shots, but a lot of the games I've seen Houston play he has gotten relatively open threes, usually off of blown coverage. It's going to be a test for Wes or Batum (whomever stotts puts on him) but if they can manage to stay on him like glue then I don't think he will be able to spark a comeback or push a big lead.
We need LA to just dominate in this series. Unless they put Dwight on LA, he's going to have a mismatch. I'm not really sure what to expect from Dame. He hasn't played well against Beverley. I expect him to elevate his game in the playoffs, but this will be a true measuring stick for him. Can he overcome to mind games and petty bullshit that Bev employs to fuck with him? That will be the mark of a true superstar.
We were one free throw make away by one of our best FT shooters from it being 2-2. For the vast majority of that game in HOU, we pummelled the Rockets.
Agreed. It's Parsons that scares the hell out of me. If he has a couple of games where he gets over 20, we're dead. And if anyone is friends with Terrence Jones, take him out clubbing LATE when he returns to Portland.
In a playoff series, talent tends to come to the fore. I think part of Lillard's problem is he hasn't acclimated himself to Beverley. Once he figures PB out, by playing him repeatedly over a week or two, he'll become accustomed to his tricks and use his superior talent to negate them. Unfortunately, the same goes for Howard over Lopez and Harden over Matthews.
Not if Asik is covering him inside. If they do put Dwight on LA, we need to camp LA out at 16-18 feet. Dwight is strong, but he's not long. LA can turnaround J on DHo.