On the NBA pregame show, Avery said that Houston would beat the Blazers if the playoffs began today. Who do you think would have the advantage?
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland They might, but I think it would come down to home court advantage. We are much better at the RG, and we are much better from the last time we played them.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland No surprised, Blazers get no respect from the national media.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland If we win tonights game you have to pick the Blazers in a series.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Cool, more bulletin board material! Thanks Avery. Ric Bucher, you're up. Please tell us how Memphis has a better young core and a brighter future than the Blazers. BNM
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland With Greg and Joe negating Yao, basically tiring him out like we did Shaq, you have to wonder where their offense would come from?
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland No clip, it was on earlier today before the Spurs/Cavs game. It was very matter of fact. One of the other guys showed a graphic of how the playoffs in the west would shake out today, and then asked Avery what was the contest to watch (phrasing may be wrong) and Avery said - Houston has missed the playoffs since 97 and will win that matchup. No body else said anything, they cut to commercial.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Bummer (no clip). I do think in a 7 game series, Portland's bench is more diverse and will tough this series out. Nate will throw out different match-up scenarios and constantly rotate players. As long as Rudy's back stays away from spasms. As long as we find ways to shut down Ming, Artest and Aaron Brooks.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Scola is the x-factor. We must keep him off the glass and stop him from scoring. We know Yao will get his 17-20, same with Artest, but if Scola plays big, Houston is tough to beat. I also think we need to keep Brooks and Battier quiet from 3.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland It is not as much lack of respect as it is history. The Blazers are the youngest team in the league. (When you take Raef off of the roster-is he even in the state?) If you are a betting man, you go with what has been true in the past. Veteran teams do better. True their PG's are inexperienced, but Yao, Artest and Battier are tested Vets. And they do play great Defense. Irritating defense. On paper I can't see how the Rockets are even in the playoffs. But somehow they just keep on winning and playing every game tough. I would give them the slight edge.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland I remember during the all star break, Kenny Smith predicted the Blazers would be the team to miss the playoffs and the Suns and mavs experience would pull them through.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Benches are much less important in a playoff series than in the regular season; almost all teams go to a tight 8 man rotation and play their starters big minutes (40ish).
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland which causes the team to degrade over the run of the playoffs.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Not really. Because of the TV schedules, the play-offs drag on forever. There are no back-to-backs with usually two or three days off between games and longer between series if you win in less than 7 games. If teams do perform poorer as they advance further in the play-offs it's almost always due to the increasingly tougher competition - not fatigue from playing an extra 5 or 6 minutes per game with additional days off to rest between games. BNM
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland I think it's natural that most analysts will look to experience as a deciding factor when things are close... and these two teams are pretty close. Yao and Artest are more mature players. I can see why AJ would pick them. BUT. They're also inconsistent. Yao because of injuries and fouls, and Artest because of an apparent chemical imbalance. Home court is important, but I think that the way Portland is playing the last week or so? I like our chances even if we need to win a game in Houston. Ed O.
Re: Avery - Houston would beat Portland Yeah, you spotted that one and rightfully called them on it here. The Suns quit long before today's debacle. I watched some of that game because I knew what it meant for fans like us, KMD.
