Trail Blazers an underdog heading into the playoffs

Brandon Raleigh
the advocate

 

These last couple weeks have been wild in the Western Conference, as five teams had a shot at the No. 2 seed in the West in the NBA playoffs.

The five teams: the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, and Memphis Grizzlies.

In the end, four of those five teams finished within a game of each other. The Rockets and Clippers both finished at 56-26, with the Grizzles and Spurs at 55-27.

The Blazers, on the other hand, had already sealed a fourth-or-better seed in the West in late March with a Northwest Division title.

This left the Blazers with two options: Fight for home-court advantage or rest players for an impending playoff battle.

With a wave of injuries hitting the Blazers to end the year, coach Terry Stotts decided to let off the pedal and rest his beat-up players. It seemed like the right decision, as Stotts’s hands were tied. The result: a 51-31 record and fourth seed.

The Houston Rockets, who won the Southwest Division,  finished with the second seed.

The Clippers ended up with a third seed because the Golden State Warriors, the clear-cut No. 1 seed, had won the Pacific Division title.

The Grizzlies and Spurs both finished four games ahead of the Blazers, but only attained the fifth and sixth seeds, their tiebreaker decided by a season series victory by the Grizzlies.

With the playoffs beginning Saturday, here’s a quick look at the West match-ups, with my picks to win:

 

#1 Golden State Warriors (W) vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans

#2 Houston Rockets (W) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks

#3 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #6 San Antonio Spurs (W)

#4 Portland Trail Blazers (W, to be explained…) vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies

 

All the numbers are pointing toward an early exit for the Blazers this postseason. They are playing a team that swept them 4-0 this season and has given the Blazers and Stotts fits in recent history.

The truth of the matter is that the Blazers are the underdog in this series.

The Blazers are a perimeter team. The Grizzlies are a post team.

Can the Blazers defeat the Grizzlies in a seven-game series?

Yes, and here’s why:

Size: The Blazers possess three seven-footers in Robin Lopez, Chris Kaman, and Meyers Leonard. This size will be vital in slowing the Grizzlies’ inside power duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Gasol and Randolph are rebounding monsters. Lopez, Kaman, and Leonard will need to leave it all on the court for every board and loose ball.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, Baby: Portland’s star duo of Aldridge and Lillard are a challenge for any team to stop when they are rolling. A big series from the two can help lift the Blazers past the Grizzlies.

Batum-Shaka-Laka: I’d be lying if said Nicholas Batum has had a great year. Batum has struggled mightily most of the year. In fact, some of his worst nights came at the hands of the Grizzlies. Not many are expecting too great of a performance from Batum, but I see him as a difference maker against the Griz.

Remember the Houston Rockets series last season? I don’t see much need in going too in-depth into this one. The Blazers have proven the doubters wrong before, and I believe they will once again.

My prediction: Blazers in six games.

The Blazers and Grizzlies first face off Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock, starting in Memphis. The game will be broadcast on KGW-TV 8 and on TNT.

Both teams will then have two days to prepare for Game 2, set for Wednesday at 5 p.m. , also in Memphis. That game also be televised on both KGW and TNT.

The series heads to Portland for games 3 and 4, on Saturday, April 25, and Monday, April 27.