Quote Originally Posted by NateVest View Post
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.