NBA Playoffs 2015 - the Wild, Wild Western Conference (come and get 2 pts closer)
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Burningleviathan
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Brewer has been awesome. Jones has stepped up as well, especially with Dwight in foul trouble.
J Shuttlesworth
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Yeah your right, you've totally changed my mind!
J Shuttlesworth
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In terms of a player getting good numbers on a good team that's likely to get paid big $ and then maybe not be all that great anymore when not on a good team?
In my opinion, yeah it could be the case. Of course it may not be as well, but i'm not Nostradamus.
Let's hope it's not the case for whoever he goes too, If he stays in GS then all well be well.
Oliver King
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I think (assuming in this instance that he doesn't stay with us) that how he fares depends largely on which team he goes to. Can't really see him being able to carry a team, but could definitely make a difference on a team with the right players.
Whatever ends up happening, he's going to get paid. Hopefully it's with us.
peternorth
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peternorth
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i also feel that green suits the system. if he becomes the no 2 guy he'll falter
Great team effort by the Rockets. If we are going to advance, we need consistent efforts from 5-6 players like today
Burningleviathan
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If Dirk doesn't flop like a bitch their feet wouldn't have tangled and most likely no foul called. If we are honest, Dirk was in full Ginobli-esque flopping form today.
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Interesting...
Kind of reminding me of Pacers Lance, not as bad but, buyer beware
Dubs were +23 with him on the court today.
Thought he and Bogut were great.
J Shuttlesworth
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He is great at the Dubs and for the Dubs.
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Agreed, although I'd liken him more to an Igoudala type than anything - a versatile defensive gun who can do a bit of everything and won't hurt you at the other end because he can shoot and pass a little.
Lance is... a weirdo. I feel for you guys, as his head pretty clearly wasn't with you - seemed to sign as much to spite Indy as anything. At least it wasn't a five or six year deal or anything, you'll be rid of him sooner rather than later.
Look2Me4Guidance
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Interesting...
Dubs were +23 with him on the court today.
Thought he and Bogut were great.
That's Australian superstar Andrew Bogut thanks
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4. Portland Trail Blazers vs 5. Memphis Grizzlies
Head-to-head: Memphis leads Portland 4-0
28/11/14 Memphis 112 @ Portland 99
17/1/15 Portland 98 @ Memphis 102
22/2/15 Memphis 98 @ Portland 92
21/3/15 Portland 86 @ Memphis 97
Record: 51-31 (8th in NBA)
O Rating: 9th
D Rating: 10th
Leading scorer: LaMarcus Aldridge 23.4ppg
Leading rebounder: LaMarcus Aldridge 10.2rpg
Leading assists: Damian Lillard 6.2apg
Starting line-up: Damian Lillard / Aaron Afflalo / Nic Batum / LaMarcus Aldridge / Robin Lopez
Key bench contrbutors: Chris Kaman, Steve Blake, CJ McCollum, Meyers Leonard
Injury list: Wes Matthews (season) Dorrell Wright (4 weeks) Aaron Afflalo (questionable) Chris Kaman (questionable) Alonzo Gee (questionable)
Season recap: What began as a season of opportunity for the Blazers is beginning to look like a write-off.
The Blazers followed the blue-print from their breakthrough 2013/14 season, racing to an impressive 30-8 record by the turn of the year. However a series of niggling injuries to the likes of Aldridge, Batum and Lopez hampered their momentum mid-season. Then just as the team appeared set to a return to form bolstered by the acquisition of Aaron Afflalo, Portland was hit with a further wave of injuries, the most important of which was the loss of tough gunner Wes Matthews for the season with an Achilles. Several key players, including Aldridge, Batum, Afflalo and Kaman enter the playoffs under injury clouds as an air of pessimism has set in over the Pacific North West.
Part of the reason for the disappointment lies in the fact that the Blazers appeared to make real strides this season defensively, particularly their already-formidable starting five. Portland has played a conservative defensive style which suits their personnel - they eschew gambling (near last in turnovers forced) in favour of sticking with shooters (the Blazers concede the fewest three pointers in the league). Offensively they are still a handful to guard, although the loss of Matthews coupled with prolonged shooting slumps for Lillard and Batum has blunted their formerly lethal half-court offense. During Lopez's absence Portland was also noticeably less prolific on the offensive boards, an area in which they've fallen off considerably since last season. With the addition of Afflalo and the development of former lottery picks Leonard and McCollum, the Blazers still have enough raw talent to be a dangerous playoff foe - however the loss of form and spate of injuries have arrived at precisely the wrong time for the team. Only adding to challenge is the knowledge that they face a foe who well and truly had the wood on them this season.
Strengths: Shooting (6th in 3Pt shots made, 8th in 3PtFG%, 1st in FT%), Disciplined defense (5th in 2PtFG% allowed, 6th in 3PtFG% allowed)
Weaknesses: Inability to get to the free throw line (27th in FTA/FG), Inability to force turnovers (30th in turnovers forced, 27th in steals)
Record: 55-27 (t. 5th in NBA)
O Rating: 13th
D Rating: 3rd
Leading scorer: Marc Gasol 17.4ppg
Leading rebounder: Zach Randolph 10.5rpg
Leading assists: Mike Conley 5.4apg
Starting line-up: Mike Conley / Courtney Lee / Jeff Green / Zach Randolph / Marc Gasol
Key bench contributors: Tony Allen, Beno Udrih, Kosta Koufos, Nick Calathes, Vince Carter
Injury list: Tony Allen (questionable) Jeff Green (questionable)
Season recap: Memphis did Memphis stuff in 2014/15.
Actually it was crude to simply dismiss their season as a case of 'same old, same old'. Early doors the Griz were yet another team to make a fast start, winning 21 of their first 25 and sitting pretty with a 41-14 record at the All-Star break. Interestingly their offence was ranked ahead of their defence for most of the early part of the season, a most surprising and welcome development from a team that has long had trouble putting the ball in the basket. Having added Jeff Green from Boston without weakening the team's roster in the interim, expectations were high that Memphis would challenge the burgeoning Warriors for top spot in the West.
However whether it was fatigue from an entire calendar year of powerful, exacting basketball (the Griz won more games than anyone in 2014), niggling injuries to Mike Conley and Tony Allen or issues incorporating the mercurial Green into the machine-like Memphis system, the Grizzlies fell off drastically in the latter part of the season. In the process they threw away the South West Division crown and the #2 spot in the ever-competitive Western Conference that they seemed destined to be theirs from the start.
The good news for Memphis is that they lucked into drawing home-court advantage over an injury-ravaged foe who happen to have been their bunnies in season 2014/15.
Strengths: Defense (10th in 2PtFG% allowed, 6th in steals, 4th fewest FT/FGA condeded), Ball control (9th in T/O%)
Weaknesses: Outside shooting (29th in 3Pt shots made, 22nd in 3PtFG%)
What we can expect: A lot of speculation about the future of the team which fails to advance in this series.
It seems cruel, given that neither Memphis or Portland were really expected to become Western Conference powerhouses five years ago. Despite five consecutive playoff appearances from Memphis and back-to-back 50-win seasons by the Blazers, each will have questions asked of it if the fast starts of this season peter out into nothing come May. In the Grizzlies' case, the fact that Gasol, Z-Bo and Allen are the wrong side of 30, coupled with fact that they've sent future assets away in trades to build the current roster means that the pressure will be on to contend for a title now. As for Portland, Matthews's injury and impending free agency combined with the ever-lingering question of Aldridge's future means that keeping their core together in the future will remain a challenge. You only get so many chances to contend for an NBA title, especially in a small market setting like Portland or Memphis.
On the court, it's possible that the Grizzlies may throw multiple defenders (something they have the luxury of doing) at both Aldridge and Lillard in an attempt to wear them down. The Blazers, already running on fumes, will be asking an enormous amount of their two All-Stars. The Blazers for their part will almost certainly try to make the Grizzlies beat them from the outside, something more easily said than done despite the Grizzlies' indifferent form in the last two months.
Key for Portland: Nic Batum - he's going to have to step it up an become an offensive weapon in this series, whatever the the condition of his shooting wrist and natural inclination to play facilitator. Without the long range threat that Matthews provides, Memphis will have more licence to crowd Aldridge unless Batum and others start demanding respect from the defense.
Key for Memphis: Mike Conley - injuries have interrupted his season, and his form fell off over the the latter part of the schedule (perhaps not so coincidentally, so did that of his team). Beno Udrih can provide offence off the bench and Nick Calathes defence, but neither can provide both in the way that Conley does. As Gasol tends to score in spurts and Randolph tends to become less efficient when asked to play heavy minutes, Memphis will need Conley (and Jeff Green) to create some offence in the half-court.
Prediction: This is a series that is set up for an unlikely hero or two to emerge from the bench. CJ McCollum's improved late-season form makes him a candidate for Portland (in fact he may even start depending on Afflalo's status), while Vince Carter is due after a mostly forgettable season in Memphis blue.
Head-to-head: Memphis leads Portland 4-0
28/11/14 Memphis 112 @ Portland 99
17/1/15 Portland 98 @ Memphis 102
22/2/15 Memphis 98 @ Portland 92
21/3/15 Portland 86 @ Memphis 97
Record: 51-31 (8th in NBA)
O Rating: 9th
D Rating: 10th
Leading scorer: LaMarcus Aldridge 23.4ppg
Leading rebounder: LaMarcus Aldridge 10.2rpg
Leading assists: Damian Lillard 6.2apg
Starting line-up: Damian Lillard / Aaron Afflalo / Nic Batum / LaMarcus Aldridge / Robin Lopez
Key bench contrbutors: Chris Kaman, Steve Blake, CJ McCollum, Meyers Leonard
Injury list: Wes Matthews (season) Dorrell Wright (4 weeks) Aaron Afflalo (questionable) Chris Kaman (questionable) Alonzo Gee (questionable)
Season recap: What began as a season of opportunity for the Blazers is beginning to look like a write-off.
The Blazers followed the blue-print from their breakthrough 2013/14 season, racing to an impressive 30-8 record by the turn of the year. However a series of niggling injuries to the likes of Aldridge, Batum and Lopez hampered their momentum mid-season. Then just as the team appeared set to a return to form bolstered by the acquisition of Aaron Afflalo, Portland was hit with a further wave of injuries, the most important of which was the loss of tough gunner Wes Matthews for the season with an Achilles. Several key players, including Aldridge, Batum, Afflalo and Kaman enter the playoffs under injury clouds as an air of pessimism has set in over the Pacific North West.
Part of the reason for the disappointment lies in the fact that the Blazers appeared to make real strides this season defensively, particularly their already-formidable starting five. Portland has played a conservative defensive style which suits their personnel - they eschew gambling (near last in turnovers forced) in favour of sticking with shooters (the Blazers concede the fewest three pointers in the league). Offensively they are still a handful to guard, although the loss of Matthews coupled with prolonged shooting slumps for Lillard and Batum has blunted their formerly lethal half-court offense. During Lopez's absence Portland was also noticeably less prolific on the offensive boards, an area in which they've fallen off considerably since last season. With the addition of Afflalo and the development of former lottery picks Leonard and McCollum, the Blazers still have enough raw talent to be a dangerous playoff foe - however the loss of form and spate of injuries have arrived at precisely the wrong time for the team. Only adding to challenge is the knowledge that they face a foe who well and truly had the wood on them this season.
Strengths: Shooting (6th in 3Pt shots made, 8th in 3PtFG%, 1st in FT%), Disciplined defense (5th in 2PtFG% allowed, 6th in 3PtFG% allowed)
Weaknesses: Inability to get to the free throw line (27th in FTA/FG), Inability to force turnovers (30th in turnovers forced, 27th in steals)
Record: 55-27 (t. 5th in NBA)
O Rating: 13th
D Rating: 3rd
Leading scorer: Marc Gasol 17.4ppg
Leading rebounder: Zach Randolph 10.5rpg
Leading assists: Mike Conley 5.4apg
Starting line-up: Mike Conley / Courtney Lee / Jeff Green / Zach Randolph / Marc Gasol
Key bench contributors: Tony Allen, Beno Udrih, Kosta Koufos, Nick Calathes, Vince Carter
Injury list: Tony Allen (questionable) Jeff Green (questionable)
Season recap: Memphis did Memphis stuff in 2014/15.
Actually it was crude to simply dismiss their season as a case of 'same old, same old'. Early doors the Griz were yet another team to make a fast start, winning 21 of their first 25 and sitting pretty with a 41-14 record at the All-Star break. Interestingly their offence was ranked ahead of their defence for most of the early part of the season, a most surprising and welcome development from a team that has long had trouble putting the ball in the basket. Having added Jeff Green from Boston without weakening the team's roster in the interim, expectations were high that Memphis would challenge the burgeoning Warriors for top spot in the West.
However whether it was fatigue from an entire calendar year of powerful, exacting basketball (the Griz won more games than anyone in 2014), niggling injuries to Mike Conley and Tony Allen or issues incorporating the mercurial Green into the machine-like Memphis system, the Grizzlies fell off drastically in the latter part of the season. In the process they threw away the South West Division crown and the #2 spot in the ever-competitive Western Conference that they seemed destined to be theirs from the start.
The good news for Memphis is that they lucked into drawing home-court advantage over an injury-ravaged foe who happen to have been their bunnies in season 2014/15.
Strengths: Defense (10th in 2PtFG% allowed, 6th in steals, 4th fewest FT/FGA condeded), Ball control (9th in T/O%)
Weaknesses: Outside shooting (29th in 3Pt shots made, 22nd in 3PtFG%)
What we can expect: A lot of speculation about the future of the team which fails to advance in this series.
It seems cruel, given that neither Memphis or Portland were really expected to become Western Conference powerhouses five years ago. Despite five consecutive playoff appearances from Memphis and back-to-back 50-win seasons by the Blazers, each will have questions asked of it if the fast starts of this season peter out into nothing come May. In the Grizzlies' case, the fact that Gasol, Z-Bo and Allen are the wrong side of 30, coupled with fact that they've sent future assets away in trades to build the current roster means that the pressure will be on to contend for a title now. As for Portland, Matthews's injury and impending free agency combined with the ever-lingering question of Aldridge's future means that keeping their core together in the future will remain a challenge. You only get so many chances to contend for an NBA title, especially in a small market setting like Portland or Memphis.
On the court, it's possible that the Grizzlies may throw multiple defenders (something they have the luxury of doing) at both Aldridge and Lillard in an attempt to wear them down. The Blazers, already running on fumes, will be asking an enormous amount of their two All-Stars. The Blazers for their part will almost certainly try to make the Grizzlies beat them from the outside, something more easily said than done despite the Grizzlies' indifferent form in the last two months.
Key for Portland: Nic Batum - he's going to have to step it up an become an offensive weapon in this series, whatever the the condition of his shooting wrist and natural inclination to play facilitator. Without the long range threat that Matthews provides, Memphis will have more licence to crowd Aldridge unless Batum and others start demanding respect from the defense.
Key for Memphis: Mike Conley - injuries have interrupted his season, and his form fell off over the the latter part of the schedule (perhaps not so coincidentally, so did that of his team). Beno Udrih can provide offence off the bench and Nick Calathes defence, but neither can provide both in the way that Conley does. As Gasol tends to score in spurts and Randolph tends to become less efficient when asked to play heavy minutes, Memphis will need Conley (and Jeff Green) to create some offence in the half-court.
Prediction: This is a series that is set up for an unlikely hero or two to emerge from the bench. CJ McCollum's improved late-season form makes him a candidate for Portland (in fact he may even start depending on Afflalo's status), while Vince Carter is due after a mostly forgettable season in Memphis blue.
J Shuttlesworth
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It's all working for the Grizz so far.
Udrih had a crazy start!
J Shuttlesworth
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This speed painter guys is pretty awesome 
stewie griffen
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Ooooooh gametime
stewie griffen
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Flop City in full force...
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