Preferred first round opponent

[PtldPlatypus]

Assuming the West's top 4 are Phoenix, Utah, Denver, and the Clips (in whichever order they finish), who would you prefer to see your Portland Trail Blazers match up against in the playoffs?

 

[illmatic99]

I dont see us winning more than one game. Even if we do get there in the first place

 

[Mr. Robot]

if the blazers keep playing like shit, theyre gonna lose in the 1st round, no matter who they face, but if they keep improving like they did in these past three games, they might have a chance

those teams are really good and have playoff experience, except phoenix suns, as they are inexperienced playoff team, sure, theyre really good and sure, they have veterans cp3 and crowder, but young guys like booker, ayton and bridges never played in playoff and that could be their downfall, so maybe them, although i havent analysed who would be best or worst matchup for the blazers

 

[kjironman1]

I'm gonna watch the games and watch the team continue to improve. One game at a time. Hoping they can avoid the play-in. That would get them playing #3 or #4 whomever that ends up being?

 

[Mr. Robot]

I'm gonna watch the games and watch the team continue to improve. One game at a time. Hoping they can avoid the play-in. That would get them playing #3 or #4 whomever that ends up being?

i would much rather risk not getting into the playoffs in order to get easier opponent, then to get into the playoffs and play the clippers

of course, it could be nuggets that end up 3rd, but its risky... i think lakers will want to win remaining games in order to avoid clippers in the 1st round and lebron and davis are back, so they should win a lot

 

[wizenheimer]

 

[Strenuus]

So far 7 people have answered correctly with doesn't matter.

 

[Labinot41]

remember OKC fans celebrated that they got to play the Blazers in the 1st round, two months later they went full rebuild lmao

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Just gonna selfishly bump my own thread here. Any new takes on this? The "couldn't care less" crowd still completely indifferent to the Blazers in the playoffs?

 

[kjironman1]

Just gonna selfishly bump my own thread here. Any new takes on this? The "couldn't care less" crowd still completely indifferent to the Blazers in the playoffs?

I Personally want the Blazers to get the 6th seed and I'm hoping they draw the Clippers. The Blazers can beat that team. After the first round it's all about who is healthy.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Id like us to face the nuggets. I think if we beat them in another series we will own them for years. They are banged up and i could see us taking it in 5-6 games if we can sustain our current play over the last couple weeks.

 

[TBpup]

Id like us to face the nuggets. I think if we beat them in another series we will own them for years. They are banged up and i could see us taking it in 5-6 games if we can sustain our current play over the last couple weeks.

They are banged up and missing the most explosive player. A series win is a series win....even if they are not a full strength.

 

[Orion Bailey]

They are banged up and missing the most explosive player. A series win is a series win....even if they are not a full strength.

exactly. Needed for confidence in the post season. Plus gives zach more of a chance to be back in time to possibly be another body to use against potential bigger teams in the second round.
Another 5 fouls to use on gobert or ad or whoever is always a plus.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The Kings!

 

[Tince]

While we're not going to be favorites in any series, I believe Denver is clearly the best match up for any opponent who will have to face a top 4 team. Denver is going to have the MVP, who is 7' tall, so that's a major negative against wanting to play them. However, they have no other all-stars on their roster and do not have elite defensive versitility. These are the reason the Clippers & Lakers are nightmare matchups (when healthy). Utah & Pheonix have multiple all-stars and a bunch of good defenders who are also offensive threats.

1. Denver

2. Phoenix
3. Utah






4. Clippers

 

[Natebishop3]

I would say whichever team doesn't have the refs on their side. Maybe Utah?

 

[wizenheimer]

I'd say Denver is the obvious choice as the most favorable 1st round matchup...mostly

but I'm thinking that for a reason not mentioned yet. That reason being that out of the top-4 seeds, I think Denver is much less equipped to be able to consistently employ the 'double-&-trap-Dame-all-over-the-floor' defense. They don't have back-court length or good defensive guards. And in Blazer P-n-R situations, Jokic does not have the mobility to be very effective as the trapper/doubler. Clippers, Jazz, Suns would all be better at this than the Nuggets

 

[Scalma]

You don’t wanna play this game

 

[Phatguysrule]

Doesn't matter who we play first. Have to beat everybody to prove anything to anybody.

It's NBA finals or nothing this year.

 

[JoshuaHall]

Nuggets are better without Murray since it allows MPJ to actually play like the bad mf he is.

They’re still the best matchup but...

I prefer when Jokic / Murray / MPJ was the pecking order.

I wonder if Murray will take a step back when he returns. MPJ is clearly better.

 

[THE HCP]

I dont see us winning more than one game. Even if we do get there in the first place

But we knew this in December though right? No surprise.

 

[Strenuus]

Just gonna selfishly bump my own thread here. Any new takes on this? The "couldn't care less" crowd still completely indifferent to the Blazers in the playoffs?

Yep. It doesn't matter.