[Western Conference Playoffs - 1st round] (4)Portland vs. (5)Memphis

Portland had all the makings of a team that was ready to make a deep run in the playoffs but with the injuries and there play over the past 20 or so games I don't see them making it out of this one. The Grizz have been playing average ball down the stretch but that should be enough in this one.

Grizzles in 6.

 

Ahhh I thought Portland had come court, stupid division title gets 4th seed! Now I'm not sure they could come back from maybe down 0-2.

 

Grizzles in 5/6. LMA and Lillard can carry the team for a game or two, but it won't last long. Heck, even with those two carrying a healthy blazer team last year the point differential between them and the Rockets was still very thin. The Grizzles are just in a different class all together than the Blazers are.

 

Yeah he had his career high.

 

Gasol is primed and ready.

We'll see how far the addition of Jeff Green elevates Memphis.

 

You do realize how important Mathews is to that team right? Not only a solid post up player but a great defender!

Mathews (Done)
Afflalo (shoulder)
Mccolloum (ankle)
Batum (knee)
Kaman (back)

Memphis only has to worry about Tony Allen and Conley...

 

ZBo against Portland! Cant wait

 

Blazers just don't have enough health bodies to hand with the inside force of Memphis.

Memphis is 6.

 

Grizz in Six.
Portland has too many injuries
and
I think Memphis is just better
esp inside. I think Randolph makes LA work on the defensive end

Rocket River

 

Wesley Matthews should be the only player to not play. I'm hearing that even Dorell Wright might make a quick return for this game.
Im surprised everyone is writing the Blazers off, seems a lot like what happened last year before people realized how good aldridge and Lillard can be.

 

This feels like a gentleman's sweep of 5 games with the Blazers getting blown out in the series but managing to win one game behind some super hot shooting.

Then the Grizz will get steam rolled in round 2.

 

Man...this series should be more exciting than it is. The injuries and impending sweep from the Warriors for whoever wins really dampens things.

I'll say Grizzlies in 6

 

Memphis is 4-0 against Portland this season, so I go witch 4-0 sweep

 

This would be a tough series if Portland were healthy, but even then I'd give Memphis the edge. But with Portland being so banged up? A Memphis sweep is not out of the realm of possibility. Memphis in 5.

 

Memphis is going to abuse Portland.

 

Memphis in 6 is my vote. If conley was 100% i would have voted Memphis in 4 or 5.

 

I wonder if they'll officiate Aldridge the same way they did in last year playoff's. I swear he pushed off on Asik and Jones on more than half his shots. Should've been an offensive foul every damn time.

 

grizzlies in 5. if both teams were fully healthy, what would y'all predict?

 

Portland in 7. Lillard will own.

 

Totally agree with with.

Ya'll rely far too much on the regular season. The blazers poise significant challenges to the grizzlies.

1. the grizzlies have nobody that can stop LMA. Lamarcus is going to draw marc further and further out of the paint which means that Lillard gets to go one on one with Conley, Allen or Calathes. Lillard's been known to rise to the occasion.
2. The rockets were in giddy about playing the blazers last year (how do that work out?)
3. Beyond that, portland's bigs are probably one of the tougher outs for the grizzlies. Besides Aldridge, Robin Lopez is/ can be and has been a beast defensively to slow down zach, Myers Lenord offensively makes zach uncomfortable, whith his 3 point shooting and then you have Kamen.
4. 3 point shooting. People take about mathews beeing a big loss, but this kid Alonzo Gee I believe is a very underratted player, just not getting minutes. Lillard, Affalo, Mccollum, wright, all can hit 3 pointers.

The grizzlies better not overlook this team, which they are apt to do.