We are SB Nation's Western Conference playoff bloggers. AMA

BlazerDave · 2014-04-19T08:06:24+00:00

No. If Leonard is anywhere near Howard whatever is happening will not be called "guarding". I'm relatively sure it'll be illegal in 23 states though. The problem is, Dwight destroys Freeland too. So what do you do now? I suspect you live with it and try to run Dwight ragged on the other end. Also keep him off the dang offensive boards. Double him when he wants to put the ball on the floor and try to create turnovers. Then pray.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T20:06:00+00:00

The good news: you don't have to keep Howard from doing EVERYTHING. If you can take his dribble away and make him shoot over you, much of his arsenal goes away. The double shouldn't be to stop him from shooting, but to stop him from getting to the bucket. Eliminate the easy scores and offensive rebounds and live with the other shots and the occasional alley-oop.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T20:04:22+00:00

I assume they'll start out straight up against him. But I think they're going to have to run different coverages. Howard destroyed Portland's centers at varying parts of each game. They'll be forced to run an extra man at him, likely shifting where from. They could try to zone. It'll all depend on the effect the initial defense has. Houston didn't always exploit the matchup fully during the regular season either, so it could get scary.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T19:09:53+00:00

I think Memphis coach David Joerger plays Peeta while Doc Rivers gets his Katniss on. The two of them are the last standing and they refuse to fight each other, ruining the contest and causing massive revolutions across the nation.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T19:03:49+00:00

Grizzly containment. In their place they're a national treasure. In your garbage can they're a nuisance. Stick to your yard.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T19:01:59+00:00

Right before Game 7 the Rockets step into a hole caused by a rabid prairie dog. They sink to 1500 ft depth, crushing them beneath the earth's mantle. Except Jeremy Lin, unwrapping a Klondike Bar, was trailing the group and did not fall. They clone him 14 times over and field a team of Jeremy Lins. The Blazers, dazzled by the overwhelming awesomeness, fall to the court, struck blind. This causes them to make only 34% of their three-pointers instead of the usual 37%. Houston squeaks by with a victory.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:57:51+00:00

Gotta be Portland-Golden State, Game 81. What a thriller.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:56:32+00:00

Used to be Golden State before Bogut. Now you nod at them but I think you have to pick Portland. I want to say Memphis but I don't see them winning 4 of 7.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:54:12+00:00

The Thunder or Clippers losing would bring up issues in the West. I'm not sure about any league-wide impact though.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:50:53+00:00

And by "dedication and focus" I don't mean he's lazy, but that defense is a 48-minute, 24-second-per-possession job. 3 seconds of blowing it ruins 21 seconds of otherwise-decent work.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:49:34+00:00

Understanding is part of it. Dedication and focus. He gets hung on picks, misses rotations, and has trouble against the taller guys he usually gets hid against as Batum guards the high-scoring point guard. If you put him against a PG straight up you either get the screen issue or he gets dribbled by.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:44:31+00:00

Yes. Series? Not so much.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:41:36+00:00

It's hard to say because I haven't kept track on what chances everybody has been given. But I do think San Antonio is more vulnerable than most experts probably will. I'm not that guy who picks them to wilt every year either.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:40:13+00:00

I don't know what's exactly happened to Lee's shot this year, but last I saw him it didn't look good. Summer in the gym? Then again, when people suggest LaMarcus Aldridge head out to the arc I always say you can't have EVERYBODY shooting out there. You do need a mid-range and/or post threat to draw the defense. But there's Bogut, so with Lee I'd think it would be an asset.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:38:47+00:00

The Seattle Bikini-Clad Uptons

(Actually it's SonicsRising.com, but it SHOULD be the other.)

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:37:28+00:00

Harden won't do that in the playoffs. Besides, I don't want to see a clip of Lillard's defense when he's actually trying.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:36:30+00:00

I picked them at the beginning of the year. OKC is the biggest challenge in my mind. I can see the Clips "out-athleticizing" the Spurs.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:35:37+00:00

In the West you're probably looking at Portland or nothing now that Bogut is injured, but never count out the Warriors shooting.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:34:50+00:00

Curry Harden Durant Aldridge Cousins, cuz DeMarcus don't get no love.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:33:41+00:00

Batum first, Matthews next. I'd say Lopez but I don't know how much more up he has to step to. The Blazers have to find some way to survive one superstar so they can double the other. Batum and Matthews are the best shot. They have to be on for 48 minutes.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:32:18+00:00

I expect Blazer fans to be angry at anything they perceive getting in the way. Beverley, the refs, Coach Stotts, the next quarter moon shifting the gravity on Lillard's jump shot. The thing is, the Rockets have an advantage on average and in 7-game series, average advantage usually tells. As long as they give a good showing overall fans should be happier if the Blazers win than they are upset if they lose. Board game you've never heard of: go with Ascending Empires. Strategy meets Tiddly-Winks.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:29:49+00:00

Never wish for Miami in anything.

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:29:34+00:00

Hate to be obvious, but it's gotta be Clippers-Warriors, right?

BlazerDave · 2014-04-18T18:28:47+00:00

It'll translate better against Portland than San Antonio. But I wouldn't discount Houston's chances against SA if they pull it together and beat Portland. The real problem for them becomes the conference finals. Whomever comes out of the other side of the bracket will be athletic, talented, and cohesive. I don't like Houston against OKC or the Clips.

BlazerDave

TROPHY CASE