Why Portland Trail Blazers Are Going Nowhere in the 2014 Playoffs

[Hobbesarable]

One of those wins by the Rockets were based off of having an extra 6 seconds in regular time in favor to Houston. Harden and Howard are both statistical anomalies when it comes to how many free throws they shoot per field goals taken. Howard has a reason behind it (having a bad FT% at 55%), but Harden does not (87%). Seriously, you can look at all the other shooting guards in the NBA this season and see where they take their shots from (thanks to basketball-reference.com) and mathematically show (through regression) how Harden's FTA/FGA ratio is your textbook example of an outlier in the world of statistics. Durant doesn't look so great either by the way.

I see this series having a lot of fouls called against the Blazers. Hopefully Stotts expands his rotation to throw some bodies on these two to collect fouls and keep the starters out of foul trouble.

Speaking of fouls.

http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/player/_/stat/fouls/sort/avgFouls

Howard and Beverley are high on the PFPG list and collected several technical fouls.

 

[PDXFonz]

We don't need to stop Harden (because you can't stop a player from getting flop calls), just the other Rockets from scoring. We just need to have someone from the bench to absorb all the "foul" calls against Harden so our starters can play more.

I think Stevenson is right though. Lock down harden and let Dwight get his. Dwight won't be able to play the 40+ minutes per game that harden can.

 

[ebott]

This Houston Rockets team is a poor man's Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Maybe they're not so great in the regular season but they're so thoroughly built for the playoffs. The grind it up, drag it out physical style that would get you fouled out in the regular season is gonna be the Rockets' bread and butter. The minor favoritism towards "superstar" players becomes a way of life in the playoffs.

Luckily for us it's not like the refs just flip a switch when the playoffs start. It's a bit of a gradual change. As the playoffs progress the refs allow more physical play. It might not be so bad in the first round.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I still think the Blazers have shown another dimension. If we see this, there will be a lot of knowitalls scratching their heads.

One thing that is encouraging, as Jason Quick alluded to, LA seems prepared to be that MVP again. If he is ready to flip the switch that direction. I think it's very possible this team can push teams and series.

 

[PDXFonz]

This Houston Rockets team is a poor man's Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Maybe they're not so great in the regular season but they're so thoroughly built for the playoffs. The grind it up, drag it out physical style that would get you fouled out in the regular season is gonna be the Rockets' bread and butter. The minor favoritism towards "superstar" players becomes a way of life in the playoffs.

Luckily for us it's not like the refs just flip a switch when the playoffs start. It's a bit of a gradual change. As the playoffs progress the refs allow more physical play. It might not be so bad in the first round.

I have a hard time considering any team that utilizes flopping as much as the rockets do a "grind it out" "physical" or "hard" team.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

This is going to be really simple to figure out in the first game. Win or lose doesn't matter as much as how the game goes. Does the team look totally lost and timid or does Lillard take the step I think he might and lead this team.

If they give Houston freebies on turnovers or LMA launching 20 footers all game we all might as well watch something else.

This is about a team imposing its will on the other team. Damian is the only player on Portland I have faith in.

 

[RoxFan]

Considering Houston had to go to OT to beat Portland in game 4 of the series (in Houston) and it took 41 from Flopper McGee, I'm not as worried as some are.

I doubt Portland wins the series, but it's not as clear cut as the 3-1 series implies. Think Houston would beat the Spurs in the playoffs? They won 3-1 against them too.

Actually we went 4-0 against the Spurs but i agree with you i don't see us beating the Spurs in the playoffs.

 

[riverman]

To beat these guys you have to play decent defense, protect the ball and shoot really well. To do that in a 7 game series is a challenge. I think our recent momentum bodes well for our chances and we are an above average road team

 

[riverman]

Actually we went 4-0 against the Spurs but i agree with you i don't see us beating the Spurs in the playoffs.

People say Pop rested his starters a lot this season but the fact is, as talented as they are, they are still old as dirt. Ginobli looked terrible in the playoffs last season more often than not. The Spurs are a great team with a great system and coach but they are beatable

 

[ripcityboy]

Houston in 5. I change my mind. I may change it too four. Sorry.

 

[RoxFan]

I think its going to be a tougher series than most expect. Our D is very inconsistent, especially when Beverley is off the floor. I expect it to go to 6 or 7 and (hopefully) Houston win. You guys need to double Harden from the start and just let Howard get his, and you MUST go at Harden on D to make him work and exploit that advantage. If a team doesn't make Harden work on defense then it usually results in a win for Houston.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I think its going to be a tougher series than most expect. Our D is very inconsistent, especially when Beverley is off the floor. I expect it to go to 6 or 7 and (hopefully) Houston win. You guys need to double Harden from the start and just let Howard get his, and you MUST go at Harden on D to make him work and exploit that advantage. If a team doesn't make Harden work on defense then it usually results in a win for Houston.

I like the idea of doubling Harden, but he manages to have phantom fouls called in his favor. And our perimeter defense did not exactly shine during the regular season. It'll be interesting seeing Stotts defensive game plan in action.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Damian Lillard? You can't touch Damian Lillard!

 

[blue32]

If you watch those two videos and analyze the Defense, you can see the point in the article. We are doing a bad job at communicating incoming screens. It's evident almost every single game I've been able to watch recently. The guards are getting smashed, tangled, screened, slowed-up by the Defensive big man setting the screen. We aren't handling it like Tony Parker does in that video where he sees it before the big guy is even set, thus allowing him to move out of the way much easier.

Now that could have been just poor timing of the offense there, but it worked for the Spurs, and obviously continues to. We however aren't getting the jump on the screen and Lillard and everyone else expends a ton of energy trying to get out of the big's jersey.

I've been bitching about that screen shit for a while now, good to see that someone put some video to it.


That Curry shot w/that perfect Bogut screen was our team's fault for not communicating OR Lillard just didn't hear them because hes too locked in on his man. (this will be a problem against the Rockets..)

 

[Rhal]

Both of our teams are to explosive offensively for these games to not come down to the wire everytime. There will be huge runs all the time but the final minutes are when the game will really be decided. Which team can get stops and step up defensively in the final 3 minutes, if its us we will win the series if its houston they will win it.

 

[blue9]

... but the final minutes are when the game will really be decided. Which team can get stops and step up defensively in the final 3 minutes, if its us we will win the series if its houston they will win it.

If that's the case, that doesn't bode well for us at all.

 

[Eastoff]

Will Robinson be the X-factor? He's improved coming off the bench with his energy.

I think you mean the duo known as Danger Will Robinson? Barton and Thomas are both energy guys!

 

[Rhal]

If that's the case, that doesn't bode well for us at all.

Doesn't bode well for houston either. Its why both teams wont make it out of the second round

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Draco]

How are people comparing Harden to a championship Kobe? Calling him a superstar? Harden is not an MVP level player, he is a borderline all-star. You put Batum or Wes on that team and they could fulfill a large portion of that role. The more I look at it the less and less concerned I am with our Blazers playing against Harden. Harden chocked in the finals and shot 39% against a depleted injured OKC team last year. Players such as LeBron, Durant, Chris Paul, Steph Curry and even at times Paul George have a gear they can go to where they are unguardable and can win games on their own. Harden is not that level of player.

 

[maxiep]

How are people comparing Harden to a championship Kobe? Calling him a superstar? Harden is not an MVP level player, he is a borderline all-star. You put Batum or Wes on that team and they could fulfill a large portion of that role. The more I look at it the less and less concerned I am with our Blazers playing against Harden. Harden chocked in the finals and shot 39% against a depleted injured OKC team last year. Players such as LeBron, Durant, Chris Paul, Steph Curry and even at times Paul George have a gear they can go to where they are unguardable and can win games on their own. Harden is not that level of player.

Seriously? Man, I disagree. Harden can put a team on his back. What's scary about him is not only can he get hot, but he can get to the line better than almost anyone else.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think you mean the duo known as Danger Will Robinson? Barton and Thomas are both energy guys!

I'm sure that's not the first time that's been posted, but it's the first time I've seen it. Repped.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Clearly