Who do we want to play in the first round?

[KingSpeed]

I had another thread like this several weeks ago and most people said Houston. Is that still who everyone wants? I have no idea who I want. I definitely want a top 4 seed, but all of the teams we would be playing look scary as we haven't been able to win in anyone's building besides New Orleans, one of the few teams to beat us in our building. I really have no idea who I want. Looks like we'll probably meet Utah or Denver. They would both be tough matchups for us.

Anyone? Ideas? Explain.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I would like to meet New Orleans with us having home-court advantage if any way possible.

 

[Ed O]

I'll take Denver. New Orleans second.

Houston has one of the few unstoppable offensive weapons in Yao, Dirk always seems to kill us, and the Jazz have better depth than the Nuggets.

The Hornets are a physically fragile team and I think we match up with them reasonably well--except for Paul, and I'm not sure Paul can score his team into the second round.

Ed O.

 

[Kaydow]

Bring on T. Ariza and the Lakers!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Honestly I'd like to see this team play the Spurs; they'd almost certainly have no shot of winning a series, but it would be a great learning experience to match up against Timmy, Manu and Parker and see what a hardcore, veteran contender looks like in a playoff series.

We're not winning it all this year, so I want the team to get a great lesson out of the deal if at all possible. Who knows, they might even steal a couple of games which would be fantastic.

 

[Minstrel]

If Portland has a healthy Oden, I still like the matchup with Houston, if Portland has HCA.

If Oden is not available or hasn't had time to shake off rust, then I'd probably want Denver. Again, with HCA.

Man...there ain't a team out there that I think Portland can beat in a road playoff game. HCA is a must to advance.

 

[whatsmyname]

anyone beside laker/spurs/jazz

 

[Toko]

I think you guys have a decent chance against NOH.

 

[gambitnut]

I'm not sure who I want us to face, but I still say I least want to face Denver or Dallas, Denver because I don't want to keep switching between Portland and mile high Denver, Dallas because I'm not sure they are a good matchup for us. I think the 3rd seed is the best seed for us. It looks like the Nuggets and Mavericks are heading for 7th and 8th, let's let the Laker and Spurs take care of the Nuggets and Mavericks for us. Other than that one game, we seem to play the Spurs reasonably well. If we play the Lakers in the WCF, we'll probably lose in seven, with each team winning on their home court, but we definitely have a chance.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

New Orleans is the best option in my opinion because they don't have a lot of depth, Posey seems to have dropped off a bit, and Chandler always loses his cool in Portland. I don't think Portland can beat New Orleans in New Orleans, but I think they could win a 7 game series with HCA against them.

 

[free_lafrentz]

No Jazz, No PHX (unlikely), No Denver.

Everyone else is fair game to me.

 

[Ed O]

Bring on T. Ariza and the Lakers!!

Let's wait until the WCF, ok?

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

I'll take Denver. New Orleans second.

Houston has one of the few unstoppable offensive weapons in Yao, Dirk always seems to kill us, and the Jazz have better depth than the Nuggets.

The Hornets are a physically fragile team and I think we match up with them reasonably well--except for Paul, and I'm not sure Paul can score his team into the second round.

Ed O.

Exactly what I'd like to see, but New Orleans is a distant second for me because Paul just abuses the Blazers guards. San Antonio is at 3rd on my wish list and Dallas 4th.

 

[Minstrel]

San Antonio is at 3rd on my wish list and Dallas 4th.

San Antonio, really? They are almost the last Western team I want Portland to face...they may have overtaken the Lakers for that distinction, if LA doesn't have a fully effective Bynum back.

Parker kills Portland almost as much as CP3, plus they have Duncan up front. And they're so experienced and disciplined. They're exactly the sort of team that not only would Portland have no chance of beating on their home court but has the focus to potentially take a game or two in Portland.

 

[BengalDuck]

As long as Ginobli is out, I wouldn't mind SA.


1. Houston
2. NOH
3. Spurs
4. Lakers
5. Nuggets
6. Mavs
7. Jazz

 

[rocketeer]

anyone but the lakers, rockets, spurs, or jazz. that leaves the hornets, nuggets, and mavs.

as long as the blazers get home court, they should advance. of course the same can be said of the rockets and jazz.

the spurs and the lakers are by far the best road teams of the bunch, so i think the blazers would want to avoid them. with how the blazers have played against good teams on the road so far, losing a game in portland pretty much means the blazers will be eliminated that round. as for the rockets and jazz, those would be the two toughest(well along with the lakers) for portland to steal a game on the road from. both protect their homecourts as well as portland.

against the nuggets, hornets, and mavs, i would expect the blazers to be able to protect their homecourt and have a better shot at taking a game or more on the road even though that isn't necessary if the blazers have homecourt advantage.

 

[alex42083]

You could make an argument that all eight other teams could be a bad matchup for us, but funny enough, I'd give us a better chance to beat the Lakers on our home floor than any of the other teams.

 

[Moo2K4]

Bring on T. Ariza and the Lakers!!

Feel free to drop to the 8th seed and I'd love to take you guys out in the playoffs.

Other than that, you have no chance at playing us, unless you somehow make the WCF, which is doubtful.

 

[rocketeer]

Feel free to drop to the 8th seed and I'd love to take you guys out in the playoffs.

Other than that, you have no chance at playing us, unless you somehow make the WCF, which is doubtful.

or by winning the 4/5 matchup.

 

[illmatic99]

To be honest, I think we can take on any team in the west if we're healthy and have home court.

 

[Natebishop3]

New Orleans, especially if we can somehow get HCA.

 

[free_lafrentz]

Feel free to drop to the 8th seed and I'd love to take you guys out in the playoffs.

Other than that, you have no chance at playing us, unless you somehow make the WCF, which is doubtful.

Two things wrong here...

1. Lakerfan instantly suggests Portland will be beaten by LA in any series.
2. Lakerfan automatically assumes it's his manifest destiny to conquer his way to the WCF without any resistance.

Don't automatically assume LA is gold in the playoffs just like you automatically assume Portland has no shot to beat LA, especially on the heels of Portland's latest ass-kicking in the Garden.