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OKC isnt getting a walk in the park to the WCF either
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
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
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
Can this by my sig. for the duration of the series?
Splitter will check Aldridge, hopefully it won't take Pop 6 games for him to throw Green on Lillard...
you don't really worry about Matthews, he doesn't really create
Right lets just play..
pretty good matchup for spurs tbh, id say spurs in 5 or 7 or blazers in 6.
Sure, why not? Lets hope I'm right.Can this by my sig. for the duration of the series?
Sure, why not? Lets hope I'm right.
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....
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.
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.
Worried about this series...only chance is if spurs win both game. 1 and 2 at home. Blazers will look to steal a game.
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 slapped OKC or something.
Spurs in 6 tbh
Portland has always been a pain in our ass. It's Blazers in 6 or Spurs in 7.
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.
Last edited by wildchild; 05-04-2014 at 08:21 PM.
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.
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.
Last edited by 3 Legged Dog; 05-04-2014 at 08:12 PM.
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."
Well lets hope im wrong about that 2nd round exit
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-.
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