The Basketball Jones picks the Blazers in 6

I am starting to dislike all the "Blazers in 6" hype were getting. We don't play well as the favorites or with a lead, i'd rather be the underdog. Maybe its just because I feel like we have the best chance to win a series in three years and want us to slide under the radar tell we do it.

 

We don't play well as favorites? When was the last time the Blazers were favored to win a series? 2000/01 season. If that's the case, then we are sitting good because the Blazers vs. Lakers we weren't favored. Up until then we were.

 

I could be wrong, but I think we were favored against the Rockets two years ago.

 

You were wrong. Houston was favored to win in 6

 

Broussard picked POR in 6 on Mike & Mike this morning also. EVERYONE is calling for the Blazers to win this. Our versatility combined with the perception (most of it warranted) of a fragile psyche in Dallas is making us the favorites.

 

That is odd because on the ESPN website for basketball, Broussard picked Dallas in 7? Weird.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2011/matchup/_/teams/trailblazers-mavericks

It is one the side to find the predictions.

 

Yeah, ya know, I kind of agree with you, there is concern. But I have had this feeling all day that I had a hard time placing. This feeling of well being on the Blazer front going into the playoffs. I just couldn't shake it..

And then it hit me. That was the feeling of confidence in this team. Something I had not had in the post season for almost a decade.

Damn it feels good.

 

No, I distinctly remember ESPN's "expert picks", most picked us to win the series.

 

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2009/04/16/nba_20090416_west_preview2.nba/

 

Shit I stand corrected!!!!! My bad, Portland was favored against Houston on ESPN. I can admit being wrong!

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/matchup/_/teams/rockets-trailblazers

 

Confidence what is this you speak of?

I do think we are the favorites to win this series but I keep having flashbacks from 2008-2009 when I think about that. I would rather us go in thinking were the underdogs and give it everything then go in with confidence and not play that great the first game(how many times did we do that vs bad teams this year in the regular season). We did exactly that in 2009 and we got blown out game 1.

 

I don't think the Blazers are overconfident. I think they now understand that playoff basketball is different; slower, more physical, more of a grind. I think they're ready.

 

Difference with that series and this one is we had HCA. Losing game one was a major let down. If we lose game 1 on the road; it isn't as much as a let down as it would be losing HCA.

 

I think were a better team then the 2009 team and have a great chance of stealing HCA, I just don't know what team were gonna see on Saturday. I hope we come out with fire and try and take that game away much like we did game 1 vs Phoenix but i'm almost expecting us to come out lackluster and expect Dallas to roll over and get ourselves in a huge deficient by the end of the first.

 

I don't know man. I really think Portland is really gonna focus in on this one. You almost can feel it, with their interviews and how their demeanor looks.

 

This

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I think they are no longer one dimensional. Its not going to be feed it to Roy and stand around. These guys can run, and I think there are going to be times they will push it a fast as they can for the easy buckets.

 

If we run like we did vs LA oh man i'm gonna love this series.

 

I'd take the Blazers in 7.

The Mavs are a good team, no matter how you slice it. But, I feel Dirk just isn't on his shit nor will they get the D stops they need.

 

Until we take away HCA from Dallas we are the underdogs. We'll probably have to win two at Dallas because we most likely will lose one at home. That is why HCA is so important because then you only have to win one on the opponents court.

Still I think we'll win it in 6.

What sucks is I think I broke my hip and may not be able to go to a game this series.