Blazers in 6...

[apalisoc_9]

horrible match-up for the spurs IMO..I don't know if people even notice, but the Portland starting 5 play 40 like it's 20..They have crazy stamina, endurance etc..

-Robin Lopez is one of the best big man defenders in the league..Not only will he take duncan out of the game, he's also great at defending and covering Lillard in the pick and roll.

-Parker has always struggled against Batum.

-Wes Mathews is not Calderon or Ellis, the dude can defend..Something tells me Ginobili will play like he's 37 in 5 of the six games they're going to play

-The team can exploit Lillard on the post, but we all know Pop loves to stay within the system and hates calling post up plays for third year players.

- I think Tiago and Boris are going to defend Aldridge well enough to stop him from scoring over 40's, that said, it won't be offense.

Blazers in 6.

[100%duncan]

Kawhi just announced he'll be leaving the Spurs to have a longer vacation.

[jkid12456]

cannot believe you didnt mention leonard.

[hater]

If Blazers are going to win, they will have to do it in 5 or 6 games. Spurs just need to survive the blows and try to extend the series to 7.

toss up series IMO

[slick'81]

Well if we thought dirk and monta were tough lillard and Aldridge will be no walk in the park.guess we're gonna need splitter in full force vs la

havent thought too much about this series yet but it's gonna be tough Portland has a good young team I'll still say spurs in 7 but that's the homer in me right now

[TampaDude]

Blazers have no bench.

Spurs in 5.

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[apalisoc_9]

Blazers have no bench.

Spurs in 5.

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

[TampaDude]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

We'll see...

[xtremesteven33]

Key to this series is defense. Can the Spurs defend the Blazers as well as they will defend them? Lillards defense is still very suspect and this series like the Dallas series may take the Spurs 7 games to finally figure out the Blazers and get in their head. Blazers should be favored IMO, but they may not be ready yet to knock out the champs.

[RD2191]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.

[Raven]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

sort of true, but what if they get in foul trouble?

[BatManu20]

Blazers in 6 or Spurs in 7. This is a toss-up series imo.

[Mal]

Spurs got this. Probably all games will be shootouts.

[cjw]

cannot believe you didnt mention leonard.

Or mention Green on Damian.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

I think Dallas is better than Portland. Dirk is a smarter, tougher, but slightly less athletic Aldridge, so I think Splitter will do fine on him. Duncan vs Lopez, that's nothing. Duncan is too smart and intelligent, he'll make Lopez nothing. Parker on Matthews is fine since Matthews isn't an offensive player anyways. Leonard on Batum, Leonard will shut him down especially since most of his movement comes off ball. Then that leaves Green on Lillard, and I think that's perfect for Green. If Green can shut down Ellis then he can guard Lillard well. Plus, as it's been said before, Blazers have no bench, so if the Spurs attack, use the PnR effectively, and get the Blazers in foul trouble, then Spurs can do it.

[apalisoc_9]

Or mention Green on Damian.

Green didn't even average 25 minutes in a series he should have average 30 :lol

No need to mention something pop won't bother doing

[timtonymanu]

I think Dallas is better than Portland. Dirk is a smarter, tougher, but slightly less athletic Aldridge, so I think Splitter will do fine on him. Duncan vs Lopez, that's nothing. Duncan is too smart and intelligent, he'll make Lopez nothing. Parker on Matthews is fine since Matthews isn't an offensive player anyways. Leonard on Batum, Leonard will shut him down especially since most of his movement comes off ball. Then that leaves Green on Lillard, and I think that's perfect for Green. If Green can shut down Ellis then he can guard Lillard well. Plus, as it's been said before, Blazers have no bench, so if the Spurs attack, use the PnR effectively, and get the Blazers in foul trouble, then Spurs can do it.

Matthews is dangerous. He's had a career year for the Blazers. Green will have his hands full guarding between Matthews and Lillard.

[xtremesteven33]

Spurs cant let these guys rough them up. They have got to show that they are not a team you can just push around. Dallas played tough and rough and it got them to 7 games. Spurs are hard to get pissed off and will let you push them around for awhile. They believe in maintaining composure under all circumstances and play at am even keel. I just think we shouldnt play that way against these guys. The Mavs surprised the fuck out of everybody by playing a very physical style of play and showed no fear, but as we saw today if the Spurs are focused and play angry they are tough to beat.

[davi78239]

I agree with blazers in 6 or spurs in 7. Gun to my head, blazers in 6. I think the spurs are exasperated after this series tbh.

[TampaDude]

I agree with blazers in 6 or spurs in 7. Gun to my head, blazers in 6. I think the spurs are exasperated after this series tbh.

The Spurs being exasperated is probably a good thing. I think you meant to say "exhausted".

[Budkin]

Spurs in 7. And this is a series that should go 7.

[Kidd K]

Lopez is smaller an weaker than Dalembert. He's like a slightly taller Blair with less balls and worse hands.

Obviously Lillard, Aldridge, and Batum are gonna kill us. . .and I am worried about Wes Mathiews on Manu but Marion wasn't exactly a bitch on D either and imo he's a better shooter.

But let's talk about what the Blazers have to deal with. Is Lillard going to defend Parker well all series? How often will they leave Green to help defend then get burned by the three ball? Can they deal with this new Splitter who's finally realized he's a big dude with a pair of balls? Duncan may be old but he's still going to make his presence known. Diaw is a matchup problem for a lot of teams. We have depth, they don't. Will Mills pull a "Blair" and play his heart out against the team that didn't want him?

[Malik Hairston]

Big series for my nigga Baam, tbh, Splitter vs. Lopez:lol..

[timtonymanu]

Scary series though, I feel like it could either way.

If the Spurs can play like they did today, they can take this series.

[Brazil]

It depends on what spurs team we are gonna see, game 7 spurs team win this serie.

all will depend on Parker if he play like today Spurs have a good chance but a struggling TP would be the kiss of death

[Johnny RIngo]

Feels like '08 - Spurs worn out and tired after playing two difficult round only to get their ass kicked in the Conference Finals. Whoever wins this series is going to get beat down by OKC.

[313]

Feels like '08 - Spurs worn out and tired after playing two difficult round only to get their ass kicked in the Conference Finals. Whoever wins this series is going to get beat down by OKC.
OKC isnt getting a walk in the park to the WCF either

[sexinthatsx]

Houston played some crappy defense on Blazer's backcourt guards... Lillard will be a non-issue for the Spurs. Although, Spurs have always had trouble defending the 3-pointers as shown in the Dallas series. Wes Matthews is going to be the one lighting it up against the Spurs. Seeing Tiago's defense on Dirk this series, his defense on Lamarcus would be a walk in the park.

At some point during the series, Blazers will go with a small ball lineup that will give the Spurs a run for their money including: Lillard, Mo Williams, Matthews, Batum, and Aldridge.

It's going to be a pretty tough series, but I say Spurs in 6

[KaiRMD1]

Should be a good series, this Blazers team is no joke but Spurs can pull this out. Toss up for me, to be honest. Should be entertaining though

[mclinejr]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.

Can this by my sig. for the duration of the series? :)

[spurraider21]

Splitter will check Aldridge, hopefully it won't take Pop 6 games for him to throw Green on Lillard...

[spurraider21]

Matthews is dangerous. He's had a career year for the Blazers. Green will have his hands full guarding between Matthews and Lillard.
you don't really worry about Matthews, he doesn't really create

[dbreiden83080]

Right lets just play..

[heyheymymy]

pretty good matchup for spurs tbh, id say spurs in 5 or 7 or blazers in 6.

[RD2191]

Can this by my sig. for the duration of the series? :)

Sure, why not? Lets hope I'm right. :lol

[ElNono]

Sure, why not? Lets hope I'm right. :lol

:lol sup rob... we made it to the 2nd round...

[Mugen]

Some early thoughts:

-Lillard is the toughest PG cover for the Spurs IMO. Not one dimensional like Curry, more under control than Westbrook, not a known playoff choker like CP3. I honestly don't see the Spurs being able to slow him down regardless if Green is on him a bunch.

-Aldridge is probably in the top 2-3 worst matchups for the Spurs. He obviously thrives in the areas that the Spurs like to concede defensively. Their really isn't a guy that can guard him as he's a better version of Dirk IMO....

-Portland is the worst defensive team left in the playoffs but I think they're better than Dallas since their perimeter D is much more stout w/ better athletes

Some keys for a series win:

-Kawhi absolutely has to have a great series. He cannot let Batum outplay him. He'll probably see a lot of time with a mismatch on offense as I'm picturing a lot of Matthews on Parker and Batum on Ginobili, in which case Leonard has to dominate unlike he did in the Dallas series.

-Bench has to be dominant. POR arguably has the worst bench left in the playoffs but Mo Williams is a Spurs killer tbh. Can't have a repeat of the first round as unlike the Mavs, the Blazers actually have one of the best starting units in the league.

-Keep POR big. Duncan has to be able to score on Aldridge consistently or TP/Manu have to live in the paint, anything to keep Lopez in the game. If the Blazers can go small for the majority of the series, I think they have a big edge tbh....

[baseline bum]

Scary series though, I feel like it could either way.

If the Spurs can play like they did today, they can take this series.

If the Spurs play like they did today they curbstomp OKC and Miami. Not holding my breath that they'll keep opening games shooting 68% in the first half though.

[3 Legged Dog]

horrible match-up for the spurs IMO..I don't know if people even notice, but the Portland starting 5 play 40 like it's 20..They have crazy stamina, endurance etc..

-Robin Lopez is one of the best big man defenders in the league..Not only will he take duncan out of the game, he's also great at defending and covering Lillard in the pick and roll.

-Parker has always struggled against Batum.

-Wes Mathews is not Calderon or Ellis, the dude can defend..Something tells me Ginobili will play like he's 37 in 5 of the six games they're going to play

-The team can exploit Lillard on the post, but we all know Pop loves to stay within the system and hates calling post up plays for third year players.

- I think Tiago and Boris are going to defend Aldridge well enough to stop him from scoring over 40's, that said, it won't be offense.

Blazers in 6.

Lopez will match up with Splitter. Not Duncan.

Parker will not guard Batum. He'll guard Lillard.

blazers bench is NOT deep.

That said, nothing would surprise me. Portland is a very good team. This will be at least as difficult as the Mavs series.

[apalisoc_9]

Lopez will match up with Splitter. Not Duncan.

Parker will not guard Batum. He'll guard Lillard.

That said, nothing would surprise me. Portland is a very good team. This will be at least as difficult as the Mavs series.

:lmao

[Prose]

Worried about this series...only chance is if spurs win both game. 1 and 2 at home. Blazers will look to steal a game.

[Leetonidas]

Blazers are very good no doubt, but they just took out the most overrated team in the West, so let's not act like they just bitch slapped OKC or something.

Spurs in 6 tbh

[marzbarz]

Portland has always been a pain in our ass. It's Blazers in 6 or Spurs in 7.

[wildchild]

-Parker has always struggled against Batum.

-The team can exploit Lillard on the post, but we all know Pop loves to stay within the system and hates calling post up plays for third year players.

I don't know, in this regular season for most part of the games it was Lillard/Matthews on Parker, and Batum on Leonard.
Not sure if the Blazers translate to playoff their RS defensive rotation but maybe no more favorable matchups against smalls PGs for the "third year player".

Plus. Boylen forgot the kid on the bench vs Portland.

However, Spurs'll be fine next home games. Keep up the defensive intensity and play smart. :flag:

[daslicer]

Spurs will win this series in 6 games. The Blazers are talented young team but their inexperience will cost them this series. They made a lot of boneheaded mistakes against the Rockets but the Rockets were not able to capitalize against them. I think the Spurs experience will prevail against the Blazers. Also its rare a team wins 2 series in a row without HCA. Its only happened 4 times in the last 14 years; Pistons in'04, Miami in '06, Celtic s in '10, and Grizzlies last year.

[3 Legged Dog]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

yes. And they never get hurt and they never ever get in foul trouble.

i forget. What was the blazers record? 70-12? 75-7? To listen to you, you'd think the Blazers were unbeatable.

[apalisoc_9]

yes. And they never get hurt and they never ever get in could trouble.

i forget. What was the blazers record? 70-12? 75-7? To listen to you, you'd think the Blazers were unbeatable.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2183253/sillynbaplayers.gif

[3 Legged Dog]

:lmao

Im not sure I follow your childish response. Other than an odd swith on a pick, why would Tony (a PG) be guarding a long SF? Wouldn't you think that Kawhi would match up with Batum?

Please explain why you think "Tony will have trouble with Batum."

[RD2191]

:lol sup rob... we made it to the 2nd round...

Well lets hope im wrong about that 2nd round exit:lol

[wildchild]

Parker will not guard Batum. He'll guard Lillard.

Agree, the Spurs defensive assignments in regular season vs POR were:

Tiago on Lopez
Tim/Boris on Aldridge
Kawhi on Batum
Danny/Manu on Matthews
Parker on Lillard.

Took 5 playoffs games...Pop to put Danny on Ellis, I hope this time won't take so long to make up his mind to put Danny on Lillard -or Kawhi on Matthews but Leonard on Batum is really good, too-.

[MannyIsGod]

If you still haven't figured out the Spurs are greater than the sum of their individual parts then you'll probably think the Blazers will simply roll over the Spurs.

[Blizzardwizard]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.

:lol :toast

[The Reckoning]

lol rockets are terrible. spurs in 5 tbh.

[heyheymymy]

yeah not sure if the blazers are on fire or if the rockets just really suck all the sudden

[LarryDavid]

pretty good matchup for spurs tbh, id say spurs in 5 or 7 or blazers in 6.

Or Spurs in 4. Or Blazers in 5.

[alpha_HaZE]

Our bench needs to step up against Portland for us to have a chance.

[gameFACE]

Respect the Blazers. They'll play the Spurs tough at times. But they have no idea what they're going to get hit by. Spurs in 6.

[heyheymymy]

Or Spurs in 4. Or Blazers in 5.

okay fine , spurs in 7 lol

[Beaverfuzz]

Blazers in 2


:lol

[dg7md]

Spurs in 6 tbh imo fwiw

[mavsfan1000]

Spurs will have no answer for Aldridge. But I think the Spurs will get it done in 7. Maybe 6 if they get hot.

[LakerHater]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.

http://i59.tinypic.com/mua7l.gif

[T Park]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

Theyre one fluke shot from Lillard from playing a 7th game today against a mediocre Rockets team.

The Spurs just beat the best offensive team in the NBA since December 31st who has a better bench, better SG than Portland.

[Sean Cagney]

Spurs will have no answer for Aldridge. But I think the Spurs will get it done in 7. Maybe 6 if they get hot.

Another game 7? PLEASE GOD NO! That would be a nightmare. I would hope for 4 games ;)

[T Park]

Spurs will have no answer for Aldridge. But I think the Spurs will get it done in 7. Maybe 6 if they get hot.

Let Aldridge get his, force one on one matchups, limit 3 point attempts, hands in the passing lanes and force turnovers and run the offense.

Pretty much use the same game plan vs Portland that was used vs Dallas.

[Rummpd]

Spurs in 6, good test to get ready to face OKC (probably as that one may go 7)

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

Yes you do. Why, b/c when you have bench like the Spurs (the one that showed up yesterday was the one I was use to seeing pretty all this year) that isn't a steep drop to its starters, its a tall order to ask a team's starting 5 to hang with fresh legs for 40 minutes a night, I don't care how young you are.

Blazer hung with the Rockets b/c they had no bench as well. All the games will be one night off only. No more two days to rest, which the Blazers had 3 games to do so in their previous series. Watching the Blazers, and the Rockets, it was just a chuck fest going on. Hardly any D and just alot shooting and layups. Spurs are going to play D and they are going to move the ball around and make you work on D.

[MVPCues]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.


Who are you and what have you done with the real robdiaz?


(If the Spurs are losing 9 to 4 in the first 3 minutes of game 1, I fully expect the real robdiaz to return.)

[tmtcsc]

There's no way the Spurs are going to underestimate the Blazers. I don't care what anyone on the team says - they did not respect the Mavs and it showed. They played 1 game with "appropriate fear" and it showed. If they play like they are capable of playing, this will be a fun series.

[Jimcs50]

Spurs in 6

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Those who watched the Blazers-Rockets series (I live in Eugene, I had no choice) knows how slow those two teams played. Especially towards the end of halves, both teams played extra slow. I wouldn't be surprised to see multiple games where Blazers took a big lead early then the Spurs slowly eliminate that lead and win the game in a fashion that leaves Portland fans wondering how SA won.

[Oh, Gee!!]

spurs in 6 tbh

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmtJzxfGAzw

[Typical London Boy]

Why do people insist on posting these nonsense prediction threads? None of us know how it's going to turn out, so let's just watch and see what happens.

[look_at_g_shred]

a blazer (s)WEEP

[tlongII]

The Blazers will sweep the Spurs.

[UZER]

Posted this downstairs...


The blazers were playing against a Houston team that plays one on one defense and had no real scheme. I know the blasters have been successful against the spurs in recent regular season mach ups, but they're about to find out what it's like to go up against a veteran team that doesn't get rattled in the playoffs.

The Dallas match up was a perfect setup for this series. Not only did it wake them up, they had to deal with a shooting big and quick guard. If pop uses green on lillaird, like he should, I see the spurs taking this in six, with two blowouts (one for each), and four really tough games.

[moisaenz]

premature cliff jumping.. usual...

[Staplepuffs27]

Those who watched the Blazers-Rockets series (I live in Eugene, I had no choice) knows how slow those two teams played. Especially towards the end of halves, both teams played extra slow. I wouldn't be surprised to see multiple games where Blazers took a big lead early then the Spurs slowly eliminate that lead and win the game in a fashion that leaves Portland fans wondering how SA won.You going to any of the Portland games? I got my ticks to game 3 today.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

You going to any of the Portland games? I got my ticks to game 3 today.

Yep, going to game 3. I might try to go to game 4 too but the chances to slim, spent like $290 on my ticket for game 3.

[Staplepuffs27]

Yep, going to game 3. I might try to go to game 4 too but the chances to slim, spent like $290 on my ticket for game 3.It's going to be loud for sure, but MOST blazer fans have been pretty respectful to visiting fans.

[Gummi Clutch]

lol this defeatist leanord throating faggot. Get the fuck out, Spurs sweep.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

It's going to be loud for sure, but MOST blazer fans have been pretty respectful to visiting fans.

I expect it to be loud, we Oregon people know how to make noise for our teams (I'm an Oregon football fan and Autzen can get loud). The one time I went there the Blazers fans were very nice, but their team won by 40 points so it was easy for them. After the Spurs win a big playoff game in their building then we'll see how nice they are.

[Gummi Clutch]

applecock, you wanna make a ban bet?

[SnakeBoy]

They don't need a bench..

These niggas are so used to playing 40..their bodies are more than capable of playing 40..

These niggas bodies are used to fishing this time of year tbh.

[falconqb1234]

this is why timvp doesn't get on here anymore

[xapatan2]

this is why timvp doesn't get on here anymore

You beat me to it !

Xap'

[Strange Love]

this is why timvp doesn't get on here anymore

You do realized he made a similar prediction with Memphis last year right? He picked Memphis to win over the Spurs and Spurs ended up sweeping their asses. :lol

Not that this is an excuse for apocahontas over here with his equally shitty prediction though.

[RD2191]

Blazers ain't shit. Spurs in 5.

:wakeup

[Kool Bob Love]

horrible match-up for the spurs IMO..I don't know if people even notice, but the Portland starting 5 play 40 like it's 20..They have crazy stamina, endurance etc..

-Robin Lopez is one of the best big man defenders in the league..Not only will he take duncan out of the game, he's also great at defending and covering Lillard in the pick and roll.

-Parker has always struggled against Batum.

-Wes Mathews is not Calderon or Ellis, the dude can defend..Something tells me Ginobili will play like he's 37 in 5 of the six games they're going to play

-The team can exploit Lillard on the post, but we all know Pop loves to stay within the system and hates calling post up plays for third year players.

- I think Tiago and Boris are going to defend Aldridge well enough to stop him from scoring over 40's, that said, it won't be offense.

Blazers in 6.

Damn. Thanks for trying.

[DarrinS]

Blazers in 8, tbh