First Official Matchup of The 2014 Playoffs - Rockets vs Blazers

[Smook A.]

This will be one hell of a series.

Will it be a repeat of the series from 2009?

Who ya got?

[Bibby4Three]

Blazers are pretenders no doubt. they are gonna get dismantled.

[fiddy]

Blazers. Rockets have too much liabilities Harden's defense, Dwight's FT shooting, Lin...

[Inferno]

Lillard vs Beverly
Matthews vs Harden
Batum vs Parsons
LMA vs Dwight

Should be fun

[Smook A.]

Blazers. Rockets have too much liabilities Harden's defense, Dwight's FT shooting, Lin...
Houston is 3-1 against them this season, fyi

[Budadiiii]

I'll take the Rockets but I'm not confident.

Houston in 6

[Milbuck]

The team without Harden will win.

[Smook A.]

The team with Harden will win.
Yep.

[qrich]

Unless Lillard is fire all series, Portland has a 2.5% chance.

[Inferno]

Unless Lillard is fire all series, Portland has a 2.5% chance.

2.5%? :biggums:

Not even 25% for winning 1/4 of their matches this year? :biggums:

[Dresta]

Blazers in 6.

[coolhandsteve]

Well we will see how effective Beverly is gonna be with that knee, won't we? IMO the Rockets are gonna need him..cuz if Lillard goes off in this series I can see Portland taking them in probably 6. Aldridge will get his & and the other Blazers usually get involved well. Howard's health & FT shooting is a question mark here too.

[qrich]

2.5%? :biggums:

Not even 25% for winning 1/4 of their matches this year? :biggums:

I just don't think Portland is ready to make a ton of noise in the playoffs. Their blitzkrieg start was huge, but that is about it.

Then again, the Rockets are led by mental midgets, so I guess I should up it to 4.5% :D

[Railgun]

Houston in 5.

[Eric Cartman]

As crazy as it sounds, I think Portland's young core is going to surprise with the first round exit like Golden State did a year ago.

[zoom17]

Houston in 6

[Bibby4Three]

2.5%? :biggums:

Not even 25% for winning 1/4 of their matches this year? :biggums:

No Asik and still almost lost...

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Well we will see how effective Beverly is gonna be with that knee, won't we? IMO the Rockets are gonna need him..cuz if Lillard goes off in this series I can see Portland taking them in probably 6. Aldridge will get his & and the other Blazers usually get involved well. Howard's health & FT shooting is a question mark here too.
why are people talking about beverley??
he gives up more points to starting PGs than any other PG in the league, has no skills outsideof threepoint shooting on offense:biggums:

[All Net]

Rockets in 6 I reckon. Maybe 5 but would be a close one all the way.

[Im Still Ballin]

Rockets in 6/7

Dwight to have a monster series while Lillard/Aldridge hit some ridiculous clutch shots.

Really exciting match up 2 high scoring teams with quality guards/bigs.

Dwight will average 23/13 on 55-60% FG but his free throw shooting will be suspect at crucial times.

[Uncle Drew]

Rose Garden about to go wild. Nice matchup, for sure.

[YouGotServed]

Houston in 3.

[TMT]

I want the Rockets in the second round. Rockets in 7. Portland will have some fight in them.

[YouGotServed]

3-0, bout to make 4-0 after tonight. :oldlol:

[Dro]

Why are people so overwhelmingly picking Houston? I think Portland matches up great with them. I can see this going 6-7 easily...

[Milbuck]

Why are people so overwhelmingly picking Houston? I think Portland matches up great with them. I can see this going 6-7 easily...
This, you'd think the Rockets were the 2001 Lakers with the way they're talked about in this thread.

They're pretenders, and not really that good. Portland could very well take that series in 7. Especially if Harden disappears like in the 2012 Finals, or shoots 39% like last year's playoffs.

[YouGotServed]

6-1, doe.

[InfiniteBaskets]

I want the Rockets in the second round. Rockets in 7. Portland will have some fight in them.

Haven't the Rockets beaten you guys 3 times this season? Not sure if tonight's game will be any indicator either as McHale may try to rest some of his starters as he seemingly did with Parsons against the Pels last game.

[IncarceratedBob]

Winning in the playoffs is about all about star power.

We have 2 legit mega stars, Portland has...none.

Houston in 5.

[Dro]

Haven't the Rockets beaten you guys 3 times this season? Not sure if tonight's game will be any indicator either as McHale may try to rest some of his starters as he seemingly did with Parsons against the Pels last game.
He should play all his players though if they're healthy...Mental edge means a lot and since they're playing tonight, it would be important to keep that mental edge over Portland(if there is one) and don't let Portland get any confidence by winning tonight with the playoffs just around the corner...

[navy]

Houston in 6. Portland isnt ready.

I expect the three balls to be chucked by both teams but at the end of the day Harden and Dwight will be the difference.