Blazers vs. L*kers in the first round?

by dblieberman on Mar 26, 2009 2:20 PM PDT

I think almost everyone here at BlazersEdge and around the NBA knows that the playoff seeding in the Western Conference is a mess. Only a few games separate the 2nd and 9th place teams, and with the season boiling down to the final weeks, positions are shifting on a daily basis. Most likely we won't know who we are going to play (or, god forbid, if we are going to play) until the last day of the season.

Despite this uncertainty, I know a lot of Blazers fans have been contemplating who would be a better match-up for the Blazers in the first round. A division rival like the Nuggets or Jazz? A proven contender like the Mavericks or Spurs? Or a team searching for its identity like the Suns or Rockets?

I myself have spent a lot of time thinking about this. And while I very much hope for and expect the Blazers to finish above the 8th seed in the West, I have decided that a first round match-up against the L*kers might not be the worst thing for Portland after all.

Yes, the Lakers are 56-14 as I'm writing this post. Yes, they made it to the NBA Finals last Year. And yes, their roster features arguably the most unlikeable player in the history of the NBA. But after watching B-Roy and the boys battle L.A. both at home and on the road over the last few seasons, I can't help but think such a series presents a realistic challenge to the Blazers, albeit a daunting one.

Our last meeting with the Lakers was an emotionally charged one. It was a home game for the Blazers, and obviously the team really got really pumped up for the challenge of playing L.A. while the L*kers sleepily stumbled into the Rose Garden. We came out with more energy and dominated from the tip to the last buzzer. We definitely can't expect to even sniff a 30-point lead against L.A. in a 7-game series, especially with the extensive scouting and preparation that accompanies a playoff match-up. L.A. will come out poised and ready to send the Baby Blazers home with a sportsmanship award and no playoff victories. But I think the team knows and believes that they can compete with the L*kers, with or without their classless antics (yes, I'm talking to YOU Trevor Ariza).

At the very least, I think playing the Lakers could give Portland a valuable experience. Competing with a seasoned veteran team like L.A. could give Portland the confidence it needs to be a contender for the next 5+ years. And I think no Blazer fan could imagine a better feeling than sending a #1 seeded L*kers team home after the first round of the playoffs.

So what do you guy think? To clarify: I don’t expect the Blazers to beat the L*kers in the first round. Heck, I don't even expect us to take it to 7 games. But I don't know if there is any playoff-bound team in the West that I DO expect us to beat. And while I think the Lakers would be a lot to handle in the first round, I think it would at least present a very valuable experience to the Blazers.

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Id rather the lakers than the Jazz or Nuggets

But overall i’d prefer the Spurs i think. They play our pace, and we showed that we can outplay em (Granted duncan coming off an injury).

Either way, as long as we PLAY im a happy camper.

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Mar 26, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions

And no Manu

by Zaig on Mar 26, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions

fair enough

i still like the matchup regardless, but yes they were def not at full strength

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Mar 26, 2009 3:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Hornets, Rockets, Spurs, L*kers, Jazz, Nuggets

in that order. assuming we don’t get the Mavs, which would be a nightmare, but it’s also almost mathematically impossible.

UDOKA!

by CLRNCE. on Mar 26, 2009 2:34 PM PDT reply actions

Hornets would be good

i feel like that’d get heated (przy vs chandler, roy vs west)

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Mar 26, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions

i'd rather not have to play the rockets

they always seem like a tough matchup. Artest + Battier = trouble.

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by prezofdeath on Mar 26, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the hornets are the way to go

double team paul, and have LA shut down West. Tyson’s and Peja’s warranties have already expired, and they are failing fast.

"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams

"and if EVERYONE confronted with a tough, disgusting situation pulled out, I don't think I would have been born." Mortimer

by Fund A Mental on Mar 26, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

Also seems unlikely now

Hornets are looking at the 6-7 seed, 5 at best. That last game really hurt our chances at the 3 or 4 spot, although it’s still possible.

I’d bet on us getting Denver or Houston now, of which I’d rather take on Denver. I think after a game or two the guys would be used to the elevation issues, and I quite frankly I think we’re the better team.

by Zaig on Mar 26, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

whoever they is, bring them on.

Even if we don’t have HCA, we’ll be a burr under their saddle no matter who we play.

But if we do have HCA, we’re winning the first round and we’ll go on to the 2nd. – Elgin

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Mar 26, 2009 3:05 PM PDT reply actions

no way they beat

the lakers,spurs,rockets,jazz,maxericks.nuggets/hornets i give them a chance.

by fatty on Mar 26, 2009 3:06 PM PDT reply actions

I love my team but I don't see them coming out of the first round against anybody

without homecourt advantage. Possible, but doubtful.

by hoopsdreams on Mar 26, 2009 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

great point

hoopsdreams

by fatty on Mar 26, 2009 3:19 PM PDT reply actions

We have problems with any of our possible playoff matchups.

Just makin the playoffs means we have met our expectations for our young team this year. Anything else is gravy.

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 26, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait

a second. Mavericks are “proven” contenders?

by llublazerfan on Mar 26, 2009 3:22 PM PDT reply actions

I was sort of under the impression they were "been there, failed miserably, and declining" "contenders"

by llublazerfan on Mar 26, 2009 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions

like i said below

13-1 in the last 14 meetings something of that vain,mavs own the blazers period !!!!!

by fatty on Mar 26, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Yup 3 years ago sure matters

You could argue this year, but I still say we win the most recent game with Rudy.

by Zaig on Mar 26, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions

i dont know about that

Mavs mess with us big time, we always look slow and stagnant as well as we cant stop them….Dirk kills us.

Im not sure we would beat them.

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter www.twitter.com/PDXBlazersFTW, @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Mar 26, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Well

We’d still only be 1-2 vs them, even if we won the last game. But the 0-3 thing is a bit weird, since having 6 Blazers score is definitely NOT the norm for us.

We had no Oden and no Rudy last time. Hopefully that doesn’t happen again! They’re still be behind a few teams on who I’d want to run into though.

by Zaig on Mar 26, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions

only 2 teams i'd like us to play

are either the lakers because it would be the final step of renewing the rivalry and its a tough challenge for the players.. or the spurs because the team would get a chance to see how a championship calliber team that plays at our pace can execute in the playoffs… i think playing the spurs would be the best learning experience.. playing the hornets/denver/utah would also be a learning experience, just not the same as playing against seasoned vets like SA. And I know a series with the spurs would be a gritty, violent series and would surely inspire the blazers to play with the same level of intensity when such ocasions arise (philly game )

by jbm01 on Mar 26, 2009 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

no but

they own this current group of blazers though what 13-1 in the last 14 meetings with loads of playoff experience.something this blazers group definately don’t have last i’ved checked.

by fatty on Mar 26, 2009 3:25 PM PDT reply actions

doesn't make them either "proven" or "contenders" in these imminent playoffs

by llublazerfan on Mar 26, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

maybe proven against us, but note their record against the F*kers this year, and it looks possible they will play the Lakers first.

Personally, I would love if the Mavs dropped to 9th and the Suns played the F*kers in the first round! Shaq would definitely play angry/inspired. That would be a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge blow to Blowbe fans and the (incomprehensible) argument that it was Blowbe, not Shaq that made the f*kers win (damn I hate saying that: “f*kers win”)

by llublazerfan on Mar 26, 2009 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

The Suns have been the ninth seed for so many weeks

that I hadn’t considered the possibility of them becoming the eighth seed and facing the Lakers. That would be a great matchup, especially since they would have to be on a hot streak even to make the playoffs and Kobe vs. Shaq would be fun to see.

by MiledAnimal on Mar 26, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

i'm on this

rocket ship 1 more time,this gotta be the year for my rockets gotta be.

by fatty on Mar 26, 2009 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

Are they gonna blow it up if they don't get it done this year?

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Mar 26, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Blazers wouldn't pass against the lakers because Portland is not going to win at Staples.

I would like to play against the Spurs personally.

by Kartemax on Mar 26, 2009 3:31 PM PDT reply actions

I believe just playing in these playoffs, period, will give the Blazers valuable experience, no matter who they play.

I think one thing a lot of people forget about is that these Blazers (all the ones on this team that played here last year) have actually had quite a bit of experience in regular season OT games last year, and even some this year. I think that playing in OT games simulates playing in playoff games. The aura and feeling of the pressure, increased effort on defense by each team (usually) and the almost micro-managed plays of OT are a microcosm of playoff-like atmosphere. It may give the Blazers a little something to build on come these playoffs.

by llublazerfan on Mar 26, 2009 3:34 PM PDT reply actions

I've seen this movie

and I already know how it ends

(if you think there was complaining about the refs after the Philly game?…just wait until the Lakers get 39 free throws and Portland gets hosed…again)

What’s the Blazer’s record against LA in a playoff series? 2-11? I remember Portland getting over in ’77 and the “Rodney King” series, but there was a whole lot of discomfort in-between, and since

by two4larue on Mar 26, 2009 3:44 PM PDT reply actions

This new Blazer team will erase the ghosts of our past with the blood of the lake show

LA burns to the ground. Book it!

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 26, 2009 4:51 PM PDT reply actions

I'll take three copies

… autographed by the author, if possible

by T$ 225 on Mar 26, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

No way Kobe is even arguably the least likable player in the history of the NBA.

I heart taxes.

by everett on Mar 26, 2009 11:02 PM PDT reply actions

i think the coaching staff is under rated here

i believe we can beat any of the other western conference teams in a 7 game series, regardless of whether we have home court or not.

heres why:

unless teams are planning to play their starters 48 mins for 7 games, bench strength comes into the equation……….. when the blazers are totally healthy they arguably have the NBAs best bench

blazers can match up against anyone, theoretically we have no glaring weaknesses at full strength.

much has been said about portlands average defense, but has anyone noted the blazers when motivated and prepared can lockdown any team in the league?

we have more players that can make plays. in the playoffs broken plays become normal as playing the same team repetitively shows the opponents our playbook. however when this happens, it is the players individual skill and awareness that makes plays, and i believe we have as many or more than the other western conference teams.

we have already shown we can win at playoff pacing, teams that run a lot are at a disadvantage in the playoffs if they havent got a developed half court game. conversely we have given a good account of ourselves against other half court teams (spurs, cavs)

probably a few more but im a little tired, please note these are only my opinions

by Yawnie on Mar 26, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Anyone who wants to play LA in the first round is crazy. their record speaks for itself.

The reason the NFL playoffs, and the NCAA tournament is so exciting is because it’s so unpredictable. You get ONE shot to advance. that’s it. Have a bad game and your done. In the NBA, with a brutally long series the better team usually wins. I love how our guys step up to the L@ker$ but seriously, they are just a much better team. They would wear us down. I have faith in this squad but not blind faith.

by dario argento on Mar 27, 2009 12:12 AM PDT reply actions

LA whooped us before

remember how many years LA crushed us in the playoffs in a row. People werent saying then we were gaining confidence. the whole giving them confidence thing is a good idea but in reality it won’t work we would get killed against them. Anyone but the lakers id be glad. actually 6th or better ill be really happy 7th ok but please not lakers.

by chrisg88 on Mar 27, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions