Mark Stein's run-down of the series

[mook]

Yes, Houston has more playoff experience than Portland - more experience losing in the playoffs.

BNM

Lol. I was just thinking that Shaq has a lot more experience shooting NBA free throws than Steve Blake.

What doesn't kill you doesn't necessarily make you stronger. Sometimes it just reinforces the sucking.

 

[maxiep]

My prediction: You guys are gonna hate Shane Battier (sp?) with a passion. He is gonna make Roy's life a nightmare.

My personal (viewing)experience: Last year in one of the LAL/HOU games I saw the greatest defense EVER played on Kobe Bryant. Im not talking about a night where Kobe just happened to be off, but where Shane MADE him suck. You guys will see this soon...Shane has an amazing ability to but his hand 2-3 inches away from a players eyes without touching his face or arms when the offensive player is shooting. He is able to do this time and time again without fouling, its rather amazing.

Win or lose...Shane Battier will be in all of your nightmares...especially Roy

I badly wanted us to trade for Shane Battier; I love the way that guy plays. It's tough for me to hate a guy who plays good, legal D. On the other hand, I HATE Bruce Bowen. He's a dirty, cheap player.

Brandon Roy can't win this series for us. It's going to take LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw going for at least 18 per night each. I propose going at this team with Roy at the point, Rudy at the two and Travis at the three. The Rockets have two elite perimeter defenders, not three.

 

[STOMP]

tmac was playing hurt all year. the rockets have been much better since he shut it down. the rockets really have no injury worries at this point.

ohhhhhkay! Missing arguably their best player... no big deal!

it doesn't matter than neither have been a two guard in the past. both guys have consistently defended the other team's best perimeter player regardless of whether that player was a two guard or small forward. the two of them are the best duo in the league to throw at roy to attempt to defend him.

Shane played 2 guard a lot early in his career with the Griz but he's slowed noticeably since. This is not a good matchup for them as neither has the quickness to keep up with Brandon who'll easily be able to get his vs what you deem the best duo in the league to cover him. If that were truly so, I'd feel better about the Blazers championship hopes. Kobe + anyone easily tops Artest and Battier. So does LeBron + anyone and a healthy Spurs club (w/Manu). There are others too.

We shall see the games soon enough...

STOMP

 

[DaRizzle]

Let me guess. You're worried about the Blazers facing off against the Lakers, right?

Heh, heh.

I have strong faith that the Lakers would win that series, but yes, Portland concerns me more than any other team in the west right now...but at the same time I think most teams dont have as much of a problem as the Lakers do with POR...so yes with all due respect and flattery, Im hoping Houston beats you guys to make life easier for the Lakers.

 

[LittleAlex]

I think Houston has FAR more pressure on them then Portland does. The Rockets are a team that has choked in the playoffs for the last several years. It seems to me that a significant percentage of their fans don't believe they will be able to pull it out. That and in what was a hugely important game they had a big lead in they came up empty.

If Portland takes the first 2 games I wonder if doubt will start to creep into the Rockets minds.

 

[rocketeer]

ohhhhhkay! Missing arguably their best player... no big deal!

this season, tmac wasn't anything close to arguably the rockets best player. in fact, it is very arguable that him just being on the floor was a negative for the team this season with his physical state. look at what the rockets did with him and what they did without him. tmac was absolute shit this season.

Shane played 2 guard a lot early in his career with the Griz but he's slowed noticeably since. This is not a good matchup for them as neither has the quickness to keep up with Brandon who'll easily be able to get his vs what you deem the best duo in the league to cover him. If that were truly so, I'd feel better about the Blazers championship hopes. Kobe + anyone easily tops Artest and Battier. So does LeBron + anyone and a healthy Spurs club (w/Manu). There are others too.

We shall see the games soon enough...

STOMP

roy isn't a good matchup for any defender. he's one of the best players in the league. he is going to get his(or get other people their's by drawing tons of attention away from them). but no team in the league has two perimeter defenders the caliber of battier and artest to guard roy(and any perimeter player). both battier and artest are better defenders than kobe and both battier and artest are better defenders over the course of a game than lebron(though his athleticism along with his defensive skills would make him the better choice over a small number of possessions). the spurs with a healthy manu? are you crazy? bowen is slowing down and manu has always been overrated as a defender and never at the level of battier or artest.