2014 Playoffs: (4) Houston vs. (5) Portland

[Moz]

I see... I don't pay attention on these teams on the regular season so I don't know that it's their habits and not just mental lapses though from what I saw, they only did it like just twice on that 4th quarter stretch and their stagnant offense and poor defensive rotations are more to be blamed ... I reckon they should've let Howard in since he's converting his free throws and if he did miss, they're getting offensive boards from it...

[Lamrock]

Aldridge = GOAT

[Andrew]

Better check to see that I included Aldridge on my All-NBA team predictions...yep.

Certainly overshadows Dwight Howard's night, which started off very well with 25 and 8 in the first half, but with those numbers through 24 minutes, you'd expect a little more than 32 and 14 by the final buzzer. In any event, the Blazers head home up 2-0. I'd say my prediction's toast, though the Rockets could conceivably get the job done in seven. Odds aren't in their favour, though.

[Kevin]

Chandler and Lin 0-3 shooting beyond the 3-point line. Oh well, I guess this is a sweep

[bowdown]

LMA is doing to fans around the world what Dirk did to me in 2011. Respect his fadeaway, jump-shooting game.

[NovU]

Oh my. What is it that LMA is doing right in this series? Is it the favorable match up? Never have i thought he'd elevate his game to this level.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Portland is a good team, but this has got to be the biggest upset of the 1st round, not the Bulls.

[Moz]

Portland is a good team, but this has got to be the biggest upset of the 1st round, not the Bulls.

Upset? Portland holds the number 2 spot in the West for the most of the year... It's just that Aldridge missed some games late in the season that's why they slided down the standings...

[SoF'nAwesome]

Yep, but who expected Aldridge to beast and just crush the Rockets? Most of the people thought that it would go down to game 7 with the Rockets prevailing ultimately.

[Alpha_]

Second straight 40-point game for Aldridge? I'm not surprised with his performance, we saw him do that in the regular season. BEAST!

[bowdown]

Oh my. What is it that LMA is doing right in this series? Is it the favorable match up? Never have i thought he'd elevate his game to this level.

Just playing with confidence and composure. You can tell he means business. He's learned a lot from his past years in the league and stays focused without getting too up or down mentally. He KNOWS he is the real deal.

[[Q]]

what a killer mismatch for Aldridge no matter how you throw at him

[Lamrock]

Portland is a good team, but this has got to be the biggest upset of the 1st round, not the Bulls.

What about the Grizzlies?

[Andrew]

5th over 4th is seldom a huge upset, either. Given the Blazers' play before injuries sent them a few spots down the standings and how evenly matched the two teams are in terms of the competitiveness of the games and their records, their seeding is basically just a formality to decide where the games are played.

[[Q]]

Lin's bad defense has been pointed out many times in the past, but he's actually improved a lot on it but my god Lillard and Matthews are exposing Harden's terrible D which is arguably worse than Lin's

I hope all the games go into OT, this is playoff basketball at its finest.

[Andrew]

What a game! I've got nothing against the Blazers and I won't be sorry to see them win the series if they do ultimately prevail, but I'm glad to see the Rockets win this one as I'd like this one to be a long series. So far, this has been a fun matchup to watch.

Houston almost squandered another game though, leaving the door open for that Blazers run. Some ridiculous circus shots by various Portland players, some big threes on both sides. It was cool to see rookie Troy Daniels hit the biggest shot of the night for the Rockets, having spent most of the year in the D-League. As much as I like to see the stars have big games, I enjoy moments like that as well.

Great Playoff basketball, sloppy at times but that's bound to happen when everyone's emotions are running high and tension sets in. Still, even broken plays were leading to some great shots and entertaining sequences. I picked Houston in six, but I'm hoping it'll go to seven and I'd say it's still anyone's series right now.

[shadowgrin]

Looking at Aldridge's shooting stats over the years it's seems like Aldridge gave a big 'fuck you' to criticisms of his paint allergy by shooting even less inside and making 44% of his shots between 16 feet and the 3-point line this season.
Fuck you to Aldridge.

[NovU]

Good one. Made me chuckle like a crazy man.



Bold move by McHale to contain red hot LMA. Asik got to start and Terrence Jones saw rare minutes.

[bowdown]

Oh man what a game. As soon as Daniels caught that pass I knew that was it. Fucking cinderella story was supposed to happen.

[Alpha_]

Troysanity Daniels. = This year's Danny Green?

[Andrew]

Might be too early for that, but he's probably earned himself a chance for some more playing time.

[Lamrock]

Lot on the line tonight. Portland loses and it's over. Win and they have three chances to eliminate a more talented team. If Aldridge plays like he did in game three (and most of his career), Houston in 6 happens after all.

[Andrew]

You don't think that Portland can get the job done from a 2-2 series tie?

[Lamrock]

No, not really. Houston is better and the first two games of this series were nice because it helped me pretend the team didn't need to rebuild. Oh, who am I kidding? Portland is never winning a title ever again.

[NovU]

Shit, Parson's a difference maker for the Rockets tonight. He's got no fear.

Asik's out, LMA scores right away and again.

This just is a great series. I was kinda bored watching BKN vs TOR game despite being a close game but atmosphere is truly great in this one.