Series Preview: Top 5 Reasons Why the Spurs Will Beat the Blazers

[sexinthatsx]

Like I've said numerous times before, I suspect Marco Belinelli will be huge for this series simply because Belinelli is better at full-court sets than half-court sets. Dallas played a lot of half-court sets, rendering Ferrari useless. Blazers tend to run, so I expect Beli to get a lot of fast breaks and open 3's.

And as other posters said before, Patty Mills is going to be a factor. I'm sure Patty still has some form of disappointment and vendetta against Portland for letting him go in the past.

[DPG21920]

I mean, POR is really a more athletic/aggressive version of Dallas tbh..LA is just as bad as Dirk at defending the PnR and although Tiago will struggle defensively more with LA than he did with Dirk because LA can drive a little better, overall that PnR should be very effective against POR.

Hopefully Spurs aren't stubborn and try to go too heavy Tim 1 v 1 against Lopez too often. It's ok to run offense through him, but Spurs need to run a lot of PnR and get guard penetration vs Tim post up's IMO. Again, due to POR's defensive strategy, Kawhi has a chance to be huge.

Blazers entire defense is centered around defending the 3. As always, taking care of the ball on the dribble on their hard close outs, setting good screens and making crisp passes is key to getting those looks. Kawhi has a chance to be huge this series as he's the best mid-range guy the Spurs have.

[ElNono]

I don't like the bench argument. Pop shouldn't go more than eight deep either. Green and Leonard need to match minutes with Lillard and Batum. I don't want Pop trying to moneyball the situation by playing Beli and Mills big minutes.

Magic Eight Ball says: disappointment is in your future...

[ElNono]

Thanks OP for the writeup

[DPG21920]

Thanks OP for the writeup

No problem.

[Big Empty]

happy we dont have to face houston. spurs in 5

[Chinook]

Magic Eight Ball says: disappointment is in your future...

Early series, I think you're right, which is why it wouldn't surprise me to see the Spurs struggle in the first two games and drop the third before finishing Portland off in five. I think Pop will try to get away with playing 10 players unless Portland stops them.

[ElNono]

No problem.

sup DaPointGuard?

[DPG21920]

sup DaPointGuard?

Oops - wrong account

[Beaverfuzz]

I don't like the bench argument. Pop shouldn't go more than eight deep either. Green and Leonard need to match minutes with Lillard and Batum. I don't want Pop trying to moneyball the situation by playing Beli and Mills big minutes.

Agreed. I bet the Blazers shorten the bench up even more (not counting for the 2-3 minutes of scrub ball at the end)

[hater]

Reasons 1 4 and 5 are pure bull .

Agree with reasons 2 and 3. Coaching and experience. But there are big reasons why Portland could win the series too. They have the best 2 players. Top 5 defense and hungrier stomachs and younger legs.

this series is a tossup and Portland will land the first couple of haymakers

[Malik Hairston]

Reasons 1 4 and 5 are pure bull .

Agree with reasons 2 and 3. Coaching and experience. But there are big reasons why Portland could win the series too. They have the best 2 players. Top 5 defense and hungrier stomachs and younger legs.

this series is a tossup and Portland will land the first couple of haymakers

what?..

[hater]

Out of the remaining teams, Top 5 in the league in opp FG% nigglet.

[313]

Magic Eight Ball says: disappointment is in your future...

[313]

Reasons 1 4 and 5 are pure bull .

Agree with reasons 2 and 3. Coaching and experience. But there are big reasons why Portland could win the series too. They have the best 2 players. Top 5 defense and hungrier stomachs and younger legs.

this series is a tossup and Portland will land the first couple of haymakers

Top 5 defense since when?

Out of the remaining teams, Top 5 in the league in opp FG% nigglet.

Ah okay. That doesn't say much with there only being 8 teams left, though.

[Uriel]

In hindsight, all the reasons stated above ended up being precisely the very reasons why San Antonio was so easily able to dispatch of Portland. Even the arguments that were initially called into question, such as our advantages in bench depth and veteran experience, turned out to be major themes all series along.

[lurker23]

In hindsight, all the reasons stated above ended up being precisely the very reasons why San Antonio was so easily able to dispatch of Portland. Even the arguments that were initially called into question, such as our advantages in bench depth and veteran experience, turned out to be major themes all series along.

Good job, nice predictions.

[DPG21920]

I mean, POR is really a more athletic/aggressive version of Dallas tbh..LA is just as bad as Dirk at defending the PnR and although Tiago will struggle defensively more with LA than he did with Dirk because LA can drive a little better, overall that PnR should be very effective against POR.

Hopefully Spurs aren't stubborn and try to go too heavy Tim 1 v 1 against Lopez too often. It's ok to run offense through him, but Spurs need to run a lot of PnR and get guard penetration vs Tim post up's IMO. Again, due to POR's defensive strategy, Kawhi has a chance to be huge.

Blazers entire defense is centered around defending the 3. As always, taking care of the ball on the dribble on their hard close outs, setting good screens and making crisp passes is key to getting those looks. Kawhi has a chance to be huge this series as he's the best mid-range guy the Spurs have.

Spurs pummeled POR with the PnR & Kawhi was great.