Tons harder. I mean we are playing a team that has maybe the best bench in the league. Also plays together AS a team better than we do. I give us 5 games.
Easier? Hell no. As it has been stated, they have a great team and a fantastic bench. I do think it will be a competitive series. It will also be easier to watch though, that Huston round was like pounding a nail in with your forehead.
To answer the OP: No. We got gifted a two-game head start thanks to two historic games from LMA. We will not get that again.
No, it will be more difficult, but consider this. If Portland was 62-20 and the #1 seed and went 7 games with a 48-win 8th seed led by an aging All-Star, this board would have been in meltdown mode. Hell, if 54-win Portland had to go 7 games with that Dallas team, people would be upset.
Portland needs to come out full blast, little Cobra Kai and sweep the leg action. Take that game 1 and put them on their heels. Not that the Spurs get rattled by such things, cause they don't, but its going to be the best chance for Portland to take this series. Put the pressure on, starters with heavy minutes (cause Pop will go to his rotation) and we need to PUNISH them for doing that. Expose that even though their bench buys into their rolls, they can't ball with our starters. Then when our rotations come we keep at least 2 starters out at all times and dont fall off. Portland needs to learn to WIN WITH A LEAD. We come from behind, almost always. Take a lead, own quarter 1 or 2 and then like no limit poker just lean on the Spurs. You match them scoring and you commit to the defense to get more stops then they get. Patience in the offense, go with the flow. Someone gets hot you hit them to see if there are adjustments. If its set half-court you keep movement going, pass the ball and move off the ball. We can do this, Portland has a game and talent that matches good with the Spurs but we have to get up and stay up. Spurs arn't nearly as comfortable trying to come from behind.
