(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been the Cinderella story this playoffs, following their game 6 buzzer beater series clincher against the Houston Rockets. Sadly however, they face the most seasoned and polished team probably in the history of the NBA being the San Antonio Spurs. Led by Gregg Popovich, San Antonio unfortunately had to endure a rough 7-game series against the Dallas Mavericks, but made a statement in game 7 in blowout fashion for the closer.
While the series lasted longer than many of the NBA community envisioned, Coach Pop managed to properly use his team without burning them out, including getting some quality minutes from their bench. No team in the NBA currently has a higher upside than the Portland Trail Blazers. Led by the best big-man in the league in LaMarcus Aldridge and a young point guard Damian Lilard on the verge of becoming a legit superstar, Portland has a lot to look forward to. Unfortunately, their inexperience and youth of Lilard will be the deciding factor in this series. The system San Antonio has in place is one very few can crack in a 7-game series.
This match-up will essentially come down strictly to the depth, which the San Antonio Spurs will obviously have the advantage. Having bench players in the likes of Manu Ginobili, Marco Belinelli, Boris Diaw and Patty Mills (who we feel is the best back-up point guard in the league), should be providing nonstop scoring when the starters get in foul trouble or fatigue kicks in. Aldridge is the best player on the floor, which should be intriguing to the great fans of Portland, but will need some bench help as well from Thomas Robinson and Mo Williams, to keep up with the now speedy Spurs. We expect Ginobili to have a breakout series with the Blazers questionable back-court defense being an issue. Our prediction will be San Antonio heading to yet another conference finals in 7 games.
Game 1: POR at SAS | Tue., May 6, 9:30 PM ET | TNT
Game 2: POR at SAS | Thu., May 8, 9:30 PM ET | ESPN 2
Game 3: SAS at POR | Sat., May 10, 10:30 PM ET | ESPN
Game 4: SAS at POR | Mon., May 12, 10:30 PM ET | TNT
Game 5: POR at SAS | Wed., May 14 | TNT | If Needed
Game 6: SAS at POR | Fri., May 16 | ESPN | If Needed
Game 7: POR at SAS | Mon., May 19 | TNT | If Needed