Is anyone picking the Blazers?

[KingSpeed]

All four guys on The Starters picked the Grizzlies and Steve Smith and Mike Fratello picked the Grizzlies. If any journalist or analyst of any kind picks the Blazers, will you please post a link in this thread?

Believe Harder
Go Blazers!!

 

[Strenuus]

I see no reason other than being a blazer fan to pick the blazers.

 

[stampedehero]

I can see how the sports experts pick the Grizz,especially after our last 5 win loss game record and lack of D. I want us to win but we have no answer for Gasol and we had not played Blazer ball after we won 50.

 

[S550]

Can you blame them? I don't even remember how we play anymore. Its been awhile since we played good ball.

 

[Boise Blazer]

http://sportsglory.com/nba/2015-nba-western-conference-playoffs-breakdown-predictions/39835

The Blazers have a great shot against the Grizzlies this year. Now, usually Memphis is a sleeper in the West with a chance to do some serious damage, but with both Mike Conley and Tony Allen still injured and likely not to return in this series, I don’t see them being able to Damian Lilliard at all, especially if Arron Afflalo and Nicholas Batum are able to play. I see the Blazers taking this one in five; perhaps six at most.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....otations-or-holy-moly-warriors-and-cavaliers/

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Wow--I'm finding more people picking Dallas to beat Houston than I am people picking the Blazers.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Wow--I'm finding more people picking Dallas to beat Houston than I am people picking the Blazers.

With the expection of the one that I found every other one has picked the Grizz in 6 and one said 6 or 7. Not that its impossible for that to happen but it is pretty one sided.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Doesn't matter. Remember this article from last year? All five "experts" picked the Rockets over the Blazers because the Rockets owned us during the regular season.

You may also want to go back and read this article from last year. Almost no one picked the Blazers to beat the Rockets last year. Of ESPN's panel of 18 "experts", only 3 picked the Blazers over the Rockets. Evidently, ESPN was so embarrassed by this, they've taken down the original article. It's nowhere to be found and links to the original article redirect to the main ESPN NBA page.

Moral to the story: Experts don't know anything more than us fans. In fact, in many cases, they know less as they don't follow one particular team with as much focus as a hardcore fan of that team. Also, regular season doesn't mean shit. The Rockets owned us during the regular season last year, but we beat them when it mattered. The playoffs are a different animal.

I may not be an "expert", but I'm picking the Blazers in 6. Part of that is emotional, but I also have my reasons why I think the Blazers will win this series. I'll enumerate them in the Blazers vs. Grizzlies thread.

BNM

 

[Kaydow]

It's pretty similar to the odds we faced heading into last year's playoffs vs Houston. Just about every "expert" had the Rockets winning, with few even thinking it would take more than 5/6 games. We have the formula though. 40/40 LaMarcus for a 2-0 series lead, and Lillard at the Buzzer of Game 6. Book it. I'm just disappointed that we went on that slide at the end of the season that's going to cost us home court against the Cavs in the finals.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Doesn't look like it.

See the roundup:
http://forwardcenter.net/playoff-predictions-its-the-blazers-against-the-grizzlies-and-the-world/

 

[HailBlazers]

Doesn't look like it.

See the roundup:
http://forwardcenter.net/playoff-predictions-its-the-blazers-against-the-grizzlies-and-the-world/

Ofcourse all of the media has picked the Grizz, what's more concerning is the fact that most Blazer fans are expecting them to take it as well.

 

[ThatRandomFan]

As a grizzlies fan who lives in Memphis, I know this series will be very even. Experts know nothing and always root against the Grizz just like they do your blazers, thats what makes being a fan so much fun. I hope we see a long series and true heart from both teams. Warning: grizzlies like to take everygame in the playoffs to overtime so be prepared for 4 hour games...

 

[magnifier661]

Is this true?

http://sportsglory.com/nba/2015-nba-western-conference-playoffs-breakdown-predictions/39835



http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....otations-or-holy-moly-warriors-and-cavaliers/

Conley will most likely miss the entire first round?

 

[magnifier661]

As a grizzlies fan who lives in Memphis, I know this series will be very even. Experts know nothing and always root against the Grizz just like they do your blazers, thats what makes being a fan so much fun. I hope we see a long series and true heart from both teams. Warning: grizzlies like to take everygame in the playoffs to overtime so be prepared for 4 hour games...

Good luck on the series... I hope we have better luck though!

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[BBert]

As a grizzlies fan who lives in Memphis, I know this series will be very even. Experts know nothing and always root against the Grizz just like they do your blazers, thats what makes being a fan so much fun. I hope we see a long series and true heart from both teams. Warning: grizzlies like to take everygame in the playoffs to overtime so be prepared for 4 hour games...

 

[HailBlazers]

Is this true?

Conley will most likely miss the entire first round?

All up in the air my friend.

http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2015/04/memphis_grizzlies_still_unsure.html

 

[ThatRandomFan]

Very small chance conley wont be playing. He was playing through this injury and decided to rest 2 weeks for the playoffs.. I hope everyone on both teams will be healthy and I wish Matthews didnt get hurt either he is hella fun to watch.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Alex Kennedy

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/predicting-the-2015-nba-playoffs/

 

[Boob-No-More]

Warning: grizzlies like to take everygame in the playoffs to overtime so be prepared for 4 hour games...

No problem. We're used to it. Three of the first four games against HOU went to OT last year.

BNM

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Alex Kennedy

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/predicting-the-2015-nba-playoffs/

Finally! He has Clippers over the Spurs as well. Both in 7 games.

 

[riverman]

I'm picking the Blazers in 6

 

[MARIS61]

As long as we don't rely too much on Afflalo, and skip the smallball fiasco, we'll be fine.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Everyone is forgetting the key to our upcoming round 2. Wesley matthews. No, he wont play, but his voice will carry us from the bench.

 

[ThatRandomFan]

Biggest matchup will be Z'bo vs Aldridge. Both are unstoppable on offense, so we will see who steps up on D.

 

[HailBlazers]

Biggest matchup will be Z'bo vs Aldridge. Both are unstoppable on offense, so we will see who steps up on D.

Absolutely agree, huge key to the series.

 

[ripcityboy]

I am a born Oregonian. If I pick the Blazers they would automatically lose. I can't let that happen.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I am...

Am I anyone?

 

[stampedehero]

Good luck on the series... I hope we have better luck though!

Welcome to the forum btw

Welcome. Its great to have a rivalry and I hope this one becomes as intense. I like your attitude and respect for the teams.

 

[stampedehero]

Very small chance conley wont be playing. He was playing through this injury and decided to rest 2 weeks for the playoffs.. I hope everyone on both teams will be healthy and I wish Matthews didnt get hurt either he is hella fun to watch.

+> Matthews is a major loss. No doubt, we are a different team without him. Its like losing one of the "Fantastic Four".

 

[stampedehero]

I really want us to win but the first 2 games are the benchmark. We have to win one or percentages of advancing greatly degenerate.