Regardless if face face Dallas or SA...

[Hey]

...we are very fortunate that we no longer have to face Dwight Howard. The man proved he is back to being the best center of this league, defensively and offensively and he was a headache to watch as he dominated every game. RoLo had some great moments in this series, but overall he was being eaten alive.

Now we'll face either Tiago Splitter or Samuel Dalembert. Either one of them, I think RoLo has the advantage.

I'm feeling very confident in our boys next round. I really believe we beat a Rockets team that could've easily went to the Western Finals if we were not in their way.

Edit - Excuse the title typo.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hear hear! So done with watching Dwight spend 10 seconds in the key and knock our guys out of the way.

 

[BBert]

I said before the winner of this series is capable of going to the finals. That's us.

 

[ripcityboy]

Dallas, San Anto, who cares we are going to kick their butts.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Who the hell guards LA now?! Love it!

 

[EGame]

Hear hear! So done with watching Dwight spend 10 seconds in the key and knock our guys out of the way.

And seeing Harden flop his way to cause an offensive foul on us or getting to the ft line.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Good point. Howard is a beast.

 

[BBert]

Houston was just such a tough, tough matchup and a tough out, excuse me if I fear no team right now.

 

[EGame]

Houston was just such a tough, tough matchup and a tough out, excuse me if I fear no team right now.

One thing is for sure ROLO should perform much better on both defense and offense. Splitter or Dalembert don't exactly strike fear into me. Also if it is Dallas I think Wes/Batum can contain Ellis, afterall they did great on Harden who is better. If it the Spurs, gotta try and limit Parker and Ginobli. Whats scares me most about the Spurs is the wide open 3 point shots they will probably get.

 

[magnifier661]

Who the hell guards LA now?! Love it!

I don't think no team will single coverage him anymore. That's for damn sure

 

[Kamper]

Portland will be facing San Antonio and it reminds me of the 1999 WC Semi-finals facing the Jazz, both great teams (Jazz and the Spurs) but on the downward spiral from stardom. Portland will punch them in the jaw game one and won't look back, they've owned them for years. Oh, and if it's Dallas, it won't even be competitive. Portland would have the best two players, then Dirk, then the rest of the Portland starters. Ensue Confidence!!

 

[MARIS61]

I disagree. Howard was a man on the downside of the hill. Less dominant than in the past, and seemingly an entity separate from the team offense.

LaMarcus was the dominant player of the series. Howard was just a warmup. Now he faces either Duncan or Dirk.

 

[Kamper]

With both of Duncan and Nowitzki in the lodge after a nice mountainous career on the slopes. Portland's going to the WCF. Period. They've had San Antonio's number for years, and this is a pathetic excuse for a Mavs team.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

We can beat either team.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I'm like 70% confident we make it to the WCF but if we get SA next series we are in for the flopfest of the century between Manu and Parker. Harden is the king of the flop right now but Manu invented it.

If we get Dallas... Remember Dirk getting FTAs after phantom calls in 2011? Pepperidge Farm remembers. However, they don't have Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Peja turning back the clock on their team anymore.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'm 100 percent behind this team to make it all the way to the Finals. The only thing that can hurt is the bench. Or the fact we don't have one. But the
Blazers are playing with house money now and they know it. Put this starting five against ANYBODY in the league and I mean ANYBODY. The Blazers are the best young team in the NBA.

 

[B-Roy]

To be honest, I thought Houston was the toughest matchup of all the teams out West. I am SO glad we are done with them. I'm okay facing anyone else at this point.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

To be honest, I thought Houston was the toughest matchup of all the teams out West. I am SO glad we are done with them. I'm okay facing anyone else at this point.

I'm in no rush to see OKC. I just don't like the idea of having to play Durant and Westbrook.

 

[Natebishop3]

I want the Spurs. We have a much better record against that team in the last few years.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

I agree with the OP. Howard was dominant in every game this series. I think the Rockets could beat any of the other contenders out West, but we took them out. We've got a chance at the Finals ladies and gents, and that's fucking awesome.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Didn't watch many rockets games this year, so I was surprised how dominating Howard was, holy shit he was scoring at will pretty much. Why they didn't go to him more often who knows, and who cares!

 

[Natebishop3]

Didn't watch many rockets games this year, so I was surprised how dominating Howard was, holy shit he was scoring at will pretty much. Why they didn't go to him more often who knows, and who cares!

He has definitely improved since his days in Orlando, and you can see the effect that Hakeem has had. There were some moves that had Dream flavor.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Agree with OP. I had no idea how offensively talented D Ho was. At times he was unstoppable.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I thought rolo could at least hold his own with him but it was like playing against a little kid or something, felt bad for the big fella. Tough, TOUGH matchup for him. But as they say, SCOREBOARD BABY!

 

[Natebishop3]

I thought rolo could at least hold his own with him but it was like playing against a little kid or something, felt bad for the big fella. Tough, TOUGH matchup for him. But as they say, SCOREBOARD BABY!

It's tough to defend Dwight when he's A) allowed to camp in the key and B) use his shoulder to dislodge you. They let Shaq get away with the same shit.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

No doubt, dude is a hand full, never realized the extent of it I guess

 

[Prue]

Howard being dominate like that proves to be a weakness for the rest of the team, they arn't engaged and lose their touch. Harden was going crazy in stride and if they didn't feed Howard in the post every single play in the 4th then he could have killed us for sure. THANK GOODNESS they fed their beast for 2 and not killed us outside for 3.

Making it out of this round with Houston...has made us a BETTER team. We STILL haven't played our best basketball. We have yet to string together 48 minutes of 100% Blazer Ball. <---- This is encouraging! LA was asked at the end of the game by Mike "What is the one thing you learned from this series you will take to the next?" LA thought for a second and said "That every possession counts". If we truly play an every possession counts game come the semi's...then it will be in the headlines when we advance to the WCF "Portland destroys the state of Texas en-route to the WCF"