NBA Playoffs

[NateVest]

I got the Blazers plus nine and over 214. Feeling confident so far

Portland is a legitimate threat in the West.



Although I'm nervous because the Blazers remind me of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks team I picked to lose every round. Portland plays beautiful ball but just doesn't have the pieces to be a great defensive team, so I can't envision a Finals run.

As long as LaMarcus Aldridge is playing like Shaq Nowitzki, Portland's opponents have no good options. I suspect Houston -- and whoever's next, should Portland advance -- will continue to play Aldridge straight-up rather than let Portland shoot open 3s, but Aldridge is making that strategy look less tenable daily.

At this point, nobody in the West is in a better position to advance to the second round, and if you get there you're a legitimate threat. LaMarcus Aldridge won't keep up this level of play, but if he stays anywhere close to it the Blazers can beat anyone else.

With all the other Western Conference series close, if the Blazers can continue to return to their early-season form, there's no reason to think they can't contend for the NBA Finals. And with all due respect to the Spurs, the Grizzlies and Clippers might pose the toughest challenges to Portland from a personnel standpoint (remember, we're throwing regular-season records out the window), and both Memphis and L.A. are on the other side of the bracket.

But there are two reasons they could become a threat -- LaMarcus Aldridge and the parity in the West. Aldridge won't continue to score 40 every game and will run into a better defense. But he's becoming a dominant force and is on what could become a magical playoff run. And if teams like San Antonio and Oklahoma City lose early, the West will be wide open.

[CKC1UNV]

Portland is a legitimate threat in the West.



Although I'm nervous because the Blazers remind me of the 2011 Dallas Mavericks team I picked to lose every round. Portland plays beautiful ball but just doesn't have the pieces to be a great defensive team, so I can't envision a Finals run.

As long as LaMarcus Aldridge is playing like Shaq Nowitzki, Portland's opponents have no good options. I suspect Houston -- and whoever's next, should Portland advance -- will continue to play Aldridge straight-up rather than let Portland shoot open 3s, but Aldridge is making that strategy look less tenable daily.

At this point, nobody in the West is in a better position to advance to the second round, and if you get there you're a legitimate threat. LaMarcus Aldridge won't keep up this level of play, but if he stays anywhere close to it the Blazers can beat anyone else.

With all the other Western Conference series close, if the Blazers can continue to return to their early-season form, there's no reason to think they can't contend for the NBA Finals. And with all due respect to the Spurs, the Grizzlies and Clippers might pose the toughest challenges to Portland from a personnel standpoint (remember, we're throwing regular-season records out the window), and both Memphis and L.A. are on the other side of the bracket.

But there are two reasons they could become a threat -- LaMarcus Aldridge and the parity in the West. Aldridge won't continue to score 40 every game and will run into a better defense. But he's becoming a dominant force and is on what could become a magical playoff run. And if teams like San Antonio and Oklahoma City lose early, the West will be wide open.

Live in Portland and a huge Blazers fan here and couldn't have said it better myself. And Aldridge may not contiunue to put up 40 a game but he will put up good numbers for the rest of the playoffs just like he has all season. And if they do start to double him, then you have Matthews, Lillard, and Batum to worry about from 3pt land. This first half Aldridge had 4pts and Portland led by one at the half. Portlands looking good and I agree with the way other teams are playing in the west, it really might just be wide open at this point.

Great post Nate.

Go Blazers.

[CKC1UNV]

2014 NBA Playoffs | Schedules, Brackets, Highlights and Video Recaps | NBA.com

1. Fact or Fiction: The Nets have the Raptors right where they want 'em.
2. Fact or Fiction: The Wizards really are this good.
3. Fact or Fiction: The Bulls' season ends in Washington this weekend.
4. Fact or Fiction: Portland is a legitimate threat in the West.
5. Fact or Fiction: The Rockets' season ends in Portland this weekend.

1. Yes, I think Brooklyn wins this series.
2. Wizards are young and good, and the Bulls can only go so far with Coaching and not enough talent. I'd say this ones up for grabs and goes 7 games. Either way, whichever team advances that's where the road ends for them imo.
3.Fiction
4.Definitely. I know this is playoff ball now, but they proved in the regular season they can beat ANY team, and Aldridge is playing career best ball right now which is clearly the best time for it.
5. I hope so but I think Houston gets a win here and avoids a sweep. But I hope I'm wrong.

[NateVest]

With the Wizards, Blazers and Mavericks pulling off surprising road wins, here are my predictions, given what I know now about each team.

I now see the Wizards and Blazers, both up 2-0, as the favorites to win their respective series over the Bulls and Rockets. Meanwhile, the Spurs will still prevail against the Mavs, but will have a harder time disposing of their Texas rivals than originally predicted.

[NateVest]

Live in Portland and a huge Blazers fan here and couldn't have said it better myself. And Aldridge may not continue to put up 40 a game but he will put up good numbers for the rest of the playoffs just like he has all season. And if they do start to double him, then you have Matthews, Lillard, and Batum to worry about from 3pt land. This first half Aldridge had 4pts and Portland led by one at the half. Portlands looking good and I agree with the way other teams are playing in the west, it really might just be wide open at this point.

Great post Nate.

Go Blazers.

There wasn't any one highlight Wednesday night that explained LaMarcus Aldridge. Maybe he’s beyond explanation.

The Portland Trail Blazers forward is 6-11 but prefers jumpers, steps inside the three-point arc for some of his most efficient shots and needed seven seasons to figure out how to be an elite rebounder. But he’s here now. He’s here, in the NBA playoffs, where the Blazers have won consecutive road games to take a 2-0 lead on the Houston Rockets.

Aldridge is here, and while he’s here after two seasons away from the playoffs, he’s making sure we know it.

That meant 43 points on 18-for-28 shooting, eight rebounds and three blocks Wednesday in a 112-105 victory. And that was a letdown after he posted 46 points on 17-for-31 shooting, 18 rebounds and two blocks Sunday in Game 1.

We don’t see these kinds of games normally.

[trogers]

Putting the bank on the Bulls tomorrow at plus 105

[hkoch7]

With home court advantage regained and a jolt of momentum, the Pacers should cruise past this series in two more games.

[keithwins]

No way the bulls take 2 in dc even with nene out. Wizards will win today and close it out in Chicago.

[CKC1UNV]

Bulls are just not a fun team to watch...

[Cajunaimee]

i just got a text from yahoosports about the clippers owner being banned for life from games. wtf? what did he do?