Quick says Lakers have #2 seed locked up, Crash says the same thing but....

I've explained my position. You're free to disagree; I don't give a shit.

 

Back atcha.

 

The way today's NBA is officiated, with an enormous emphasis on protecting the "best players" is really sad. In a fair game, I think the Blazers would have a decent shot at knocking off the Lakers. No, Portland wouldn't be favored, more like 3:1 underdogs at best. But with the officiating the way it is, the Blazers are more like a 10:1 or 20:1 long shot.

As for the matchup question, Blazers vs. Lakers...?

PG: Miller vs. Fisher - advantage Portland
SG: Matthews vs. Bryant - HUGE advantage LA
SF: Wallace vs. Artest - advantage Portland
PF: Aldridge vs. Gasol - even (perhaps a slight Portland advantage)
C: Camby vs. Bynum - slight advantage LA

Bench: totally depends on what the Blazers can expect out of Brandon Roy. An 80-85% Brandon Roy (or better) gives Portland an advantage, because the Lakers don't have anyone with that kind of star power on their bench. But a hampered Roy, and it's quickly an LA advantage.

Coach: goes to the guy with the fists full of rings.