Evaluating potential 1st round opponents

[RoyToy]

Here are the current 1-8 seeds

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Blazers
4. Clippers
5. Houston
6. Warriors
7. Dallas
8. Phoenix

Right now the Blazers would face Golden State in the 1st round of the playoffs. Who here feels confident in winning that series?

Now positioning will shuffle a little bit, but a 1st round series vs GS, HOU or LAC is probably what will happen. Who would you want to face out of those 3? I'd probably say the Clippers.

It's just going to be really tough for the Blazers to win in the 1st round this year.

It's been a great season so far (3rd best record in the west), but how deflating would a "1 and done" season be at this point?

 

[Natebishop3]

I feel more confident about beating GS than I do Houston or Phoenix.

I think we match up well with Golden State.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Why do i have the feeling that whoever we play in the first round we are going end up hating them. Up to 7 games, at a high intensity. Should be interesting

 

[RoyToy]

I feel more confident about beating GS than I do Houston or Phoenix.

I think we match up well with Golden State.

The thing with GS is they can match the Blazers on offense, but they have a defense that can play on the other end.

 

[RoyToy]

The Warriors are currently 5th in defensive rating

 

[Natebishop3]

The thing with GS is they can match the Blazers on offense, but they have a defense that can play on the other end.

They're a perimeter team. We usually do pretty well at defending the perimeter. Teams like Houston and Phoenix are slashing teams and we have not done well against them. I think we're 2-4 against those two teams this season.

 

[RoyToy]

They're a perimeter team. We usually do pretty well at defending the perimeter. Teams like Houston and Phoenix are slashing teams and we have not done well against them. I think we're 2-4 against those two teams this season.

Just looking it up Portland is 19th in 3pt% allowed

GS 9th
HOU 6th
LAC 2nd

eFG% Portland is 12th

GS 4th
HOU 5th
LAC 7th

 

[chris_in_pdx]

No Houston. Phoenix, GS, Dallas, I think the Blazers could take in 7.

 

[Natebishop3]

Just looking it up Portland is 19th in 3pt% allowed

GS 9th
HOU 6th
LAC 2nd

eFG% Portland is 12th

GS 4th
HOU 5th
LAC 7th

We aren't a good defensive team man. Don't need stats to back that up, but on paper we match up with them very well. I don't like going against Houston in the playoffs with the refs riding Harden's jock. On paper we should destroy Phoenix, but we simply don't play well against that team. If we have HCA, I like our chances against Golden State, and it would be a very fun series to watch.

 

[RoyToy]

No Houston. Phoenix, GS, Dallas, I think the Blazers could take in 7.

Blazers will probably need a top 2 seed to play Phoenix or Dallas in the 1st round

 

[blazedanugz]

I hate to tell yo guys but we are going to be a pretty damn tough team to go through in the first round also. i bet there are a couple teams that dont want to play us in the first round either.

 

[RoyToy]

We aren't a good defensive team man. Don't need stats to back that up, but on paper we match up with them very well. I don't like going against Houston in the playoffs with the refs riding Harden's jock. On paper we should destroy Phoenix, but we simply don't play well against that team. If we have HCA, I like our chances against Golden State, and it would be a very fun series to watch.

We'll see how the next 3 games go against them. I'm not so sure right now.

 

[Natebishop3]

We'll see how the next 3 games go against them. I'm not so sure right now.

Historically we haven't played well on their floor, but if we have HCA that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[blue9]

Drop some games so we can play the Spurs!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I feel more confident about beating GS than I do Houston or Phoenix.

I think we match up well with Golden State.

Golden State's crowd goes absolutely bananas in the playoffs. That's the main reason I'd want to avoid them.

 

[cmeese47]

There is no easy matchup in the west so if we win a playoff series barring a late season injury it is because we earned it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Golden State's crowd goes absolutely bananas in the playoffs. That's the main reason I'd want to avoid them.

HCA my man. HCA.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

HCA my man. HCA.

Yeah, not sure we're going to have it by the time it rolls around. In any case, its still fleeting and can be lost in one game. I'd think that Phoenix, then Dallas, then the Clippers would be the better matchup in first round.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Funny . . . one thread we are talking about if we are contenders for the title and another thread we are wondering who we can play to get past the first round . . .

 

[cmeese47]

Funny . . . one thread we are talking about if we are contenders for the title and another thread we are wondering who we can play to get past the first round . . .

Match ups matter for a borderline team like ours we will need some help in order to win a title.

 

[riverman]

I think Dallas or the Clippers in the first round bodes well for the Blazers, the Spurs too but they're not dropping that far so it's not happening. Phoenix, Golden State and Houston would be tough 1st round matchups.

 

[Jesus Christ Son of God]

Match ups matter for a borderline team like ours we will need some help in order to win a title.

I'll talk to dad about it.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Too soon. Didn't read.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Funny . . . one thread we are talking about if we are contenders for the title and another thread we are wondering who we can play to get past the first round . . .

LoL...Thats what I was thinking to. Maybe we should start another thread asking how far the Blazers will go in the playoffs.

 

[riverman]

Yeah but you don't get to contend until you've beaten someone in the early rounds, so they're actually connected threads.

 

[Strenuus]

Let's get to the playoffs first.

 

[riverman]

Let's get to the playoffs first.

Yeah, I'm all for it, would be great to be the first team to wrap up a playoff spot in the west! :}

 

[illmatic99]

A lot of you guys calling for the Clips.... sigh. Maan, I don't wanna face CP in the playoffs. In terms of head to head matchups, he absolutely owns Dame.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Golden State's crowd goes absolutely bananas in the playoffs. That's the main reason I'd want to avoid them.

And in case people have forgotten, Blazer fans were doing that well before GS became relevant again.

Sure, there are tough matchups everywhere - but those teams have more to be afraid of by playing us than we do by playing them.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Looking at the west this year, I don't think any team is a lock to make the 2nd round. This could end up being the best and most entertaining playoffs in a long time.