Grizz will win if they can stay healthy. Can't wait for the Marc and LA battle though. Let's see if Lillard can go off. Grizz in 6.
Grizz in 6 . A lot of players banged up/injured on both sides though... will affect the quality of the series Blazers : Matthews ( out) Afflalo Batum Kaman McCollum Wright Grizz : Allen Conley
Yea, both teams are banged up, which is really a shame. Grizzlies have HCA. Portland has been terrible on the road. I think Grizzlies take this in 5, although the games will be close.
Grizz in 5. Portland is just decimated with injuries. No Matthews, no Afflalo, and a bunch of guys banged up including LMA. It's not going to happen for them this year. Next year though watch out. Too bad because this should have been one of the best series in the playoffs.
This game is horrible, for anyone but Grizz fans. Like LJ said, Portland is just too injured, it's a shame.
Portland is going to get crushed. Too bad for Lillard, I like the guy, but Memphis is OK too. Grizzlies in 5-6.
Lillard broke out of his slump and is playing really well today (offensively). Aldridge, though, is struggling. He's short on every shot.
Blazers really need both Lillard and LA clicking to win, seems like they are really missing Matthews too.
Marc Gasol just hit back-to-back shots to increase the lead to 12. Sadly, injuries ruined what would have been a great series. I kind of just want to get to the second round now. Yea, without Matthews, both Lillard and LMA have to be clicking. Some Blazers fans argue that Matthews is their 2nd most important player (not Lillard) because of what he brings to the team.
Thought Batum would fill the role as 3rd option but he fell off this season. This could have been a great series, unfortunately injuries. Same with the Rockets vs Mavs series.
Yeah, on paper this is a heavyweight matchup. Unfortunately with Portland's injuries its way too lopsided to be interesting. Bring on the second round already: Grizz v. GSW should be pretty epic.
Injuries hit more Leastern Conf teams the previous seasons (and the Thunder though) , something which "mattered" less since the level of play wouldn't had been very high with teams at full strength to begin with. This season it already damaged the quality of two series in the West and even the two teams which are going to advance won't have their full roster ( Rockets) or will have some question marks (Conley/Udrih). It sucks .
Damian Lillard's defense has become so poor. I might even say that his defense is on par with 2014 James Harden.
I found a few examples of Lillard's "defense": Lillard plays with his mouth guard instead of playing defense: Lillard keeps falling for feints:
