"This year I want to get to the Western Conference finals and give ourselves a chance to get to the [NBA] Finals," Lillard said. "I think it's possible." http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...es-opportunity-transformed-western-conference
Really? Honestly, I don't. I think they will want paybacks and if they stay healthy they are a top 5 team in the NBA. Combine that with this is probably their last year to try to move deep into the playoffs, I don't think I want anything to do with them in the first round.
People will keep saying that series was a fluke win by the Blazers. And it's hard to disagree that the Blazers got lucky.
And on the flipside, I could see Dame eating that up and wanting them again to prove to everyone it isnt a fluke. Id still prefer to avoid them based on their situation if they are healthy in the playoffs. I cant think of many teams with that much talent for so long that had so much expectations as an all or nothing this year.
We don't match up that well with the Clippers they have our number--I couldn't figure out for the life of me why the team wanted the Clippers last year in the playoffs. Dame struggles mightily against the Clippers. They know how to guard him and I think he still looks up to CP3 as an idol.
Thought Adande left ESPN to teach at Northwestern? Anyways. Good article. First step to getting there is to be able to talk about it and not be ridiculed for it by the general public (about us moving to the WCF and finals, etc). I like that this is out there.
Or we just win 2 series against anyone in the west and that will do the same thing. We don't -have- to face the Clippers. I mean, it's logical... so....
We won't. Both teams will be in the top 4 therefore they can't. Who knows maybe the second round...this time beat them to get to the WCF's...thatd take the smug smile off Docs face
Any team in the playoff whose opponent looses their two stars is lucky, but we already had their number before they got injured...we would have won regardless.
Yea the Blazers got lucky, you can't argue that one, but they also started figuring out how to work passed all the screens that were getting the Clippers all the open jumpers they wanted the first three games and the Clippers stopped getting so many open jumpers by the end of game 3.
I Think it is possible we can do it with presumably more depth on our bench, just need to work on our defense some. We also need to avoid the Warriors in rounds 1 and 2 and we can.
Portland is greatly mismatched against DJ. Griffin is also a mismatch but not as bad. However by the time playoffs roll around, hopefully Turner won't be having the troubles he is now. Plumlee did great making plays, but Turner is an obvious upgrade over Plumlee when Lillard/CJ get trapped. So Clippers would get burnt worse.. Especially if it's Nards pulling DJ out of the paint. Portland missed Nard's shooting so much in that series.
Warriors and Clippers are both in our way. Blazers are going to have to be better than last season. Need Ezeli healthy for the playoffs. And an improved Harkless and Crabbe and Vonleh. It's doable.
I agree. We had already beaten them twice in a row before Griffin took a shit. And by the time the Chris Paul injured himself trying to commit a foul it was late in a game we were already winning. You can say the Clippers MAY have won without them, that is absolutely fair, but to say that was the only reason we won is just horseshit.
I don't know about you guys but I desperately want to send the Spurs packing in the first round this year if possible.
