The Waiting Game: Portland @ Houston

by Josh Tucker on Apr 30, 2009 3:58 PM PDT

Though the time has yet to be announced, we now know that the first game of the Round 2 matchup between the Lakers and the Rockets/Blazers will be Monday. Since our second round opponent has yet to be determined, we're back with the "Waiting Game" thread — and tonight's Rockets-Blazers game may have a significant impact on how the next round plays out.

Though the Houston-Portland game doesn't start until 7:30, we've got some early games in the NBA tonight. Boston at Chicago should be a great game — can the Bulls tie it up? Around the same time, Orlando at Philly is a huge question mark — can the Magic win without The Beast?

In tonight's Feature Presentation, the Rockets have to be favored at home, against a Blazers team that is typically poor on the road. But don't expect any blowouts, as Houston's two home wins have been by a combined total of four points.

And now it's time to play, "Who do you want?" Most of us seem to think we match up better with Houston — and if that is who you'd prefer to face in the second round, then you'll likely be cheering for the Rockets tonight. If Portland can pull off a win in Houston to keep the series alive, they'll be heading home with momentum, a huge confidence boost, and of course, the major home court advantage that they always enjoy in Portland. The Rockets need to end this series tonight, because their odds of winning a Game 7 in the Rose Garden are significantly lower than their chances tonight.

On the other hand, if you're like Lamar Odom, maybe you're not thinking about _who_ the Lakers play in the second round, as much as _what condition they're in_ when they get there. By Monday, the Lakers will have had a week off. If Houston closes out the series tonight, they'll have three days off before Monday's second round tipoff. But if they lose tonight, whichever team wins on Saturday will have only one day off after a grueling seven-game series, before diving right into another one, with an even better opponent.

The advantage of a Rockets win tonight is that we match up better with them. But the advantage of a Rockets loss tonight is that we'll be in better shape than our opponents in Round 2.

Pick your poison, register your vote, and settle in to see who our next round opponent could be.

Poll

Between the Rockets and Blazers who do you want to win tonight?

Houston — I'd prefer to see them in the second round, and I don't like their odds of winning a Game 7

62 votes

Portland — I'd rather see Houston in the second round, but I think they can win a Game 7, and I want them tired

14 votes

Portland — I don't like the matchup with Houston, I'd actually prefer Portland

19 votes

Portland — they may be the tougher matchup, but that's exactly why I want them in the second round

16 votes

111 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Portland

My reasons:

1) Portland matches up quite well with us. They don’t have much of an inside outside game, but they have the penetration necessary to give us fits (Roy) and the three point shooting as well (Fernandez, Roy, Outlaw from the corner, Blake, etc.). They also have legitimate defensive presence inside the paint in two athletic seven footers.

2) Not afraid to admit that the Portland court and crowd scares me. Our team is very capable of getting psyched out as we saw in game 3 and the only thing that keeps this team winning on the road in downright hostile environments is Kobe. I feel like the Rockets know they’re not going to beat the Lakers in seven, but Portland thinks they might be able to. That’s scary.

3) The Rockets are very good defensively, but not good enough to stop the Lakers as we’ve seen throughout the season. They also go flat out stagnant on offense from time to time. It’s been shown that you can’t afford to do that against the Lakers who will keep scoring on you. Artest and Battier may give Kobe a tough time, but the Rockets don’t have the pieces to contain the entire Laker team. Yao is too slow and too foul prone.

4) Bynum seems more likely to me to be able to breakout of his slump going up against the likes of Yao and Scola than Prysbilla and Oden who will be as physical as possible with him.

5) If we do get Portland, I want to see Shannon get some time on Roy.

5) Game six or seven either way we will still have more rest than the other team.

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah two fives, so what???

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

by the way...

if you’re not watching the Bulls-Celtics game right now, you’re crazy. Someone is gonna get their head torn off.

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions

Hey

Some of us aren’t by a TV. ;-)

by Brendan Scolari on Apr 30, 2009 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions

man i love college....

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

i think the best opening round match-up i have seen was the one between the del harris led lakers back in 1993 (i think) when they played the paul wesphal led suns. that was their first season with charles barkley. the lakers won the first 2 games. they lost the series in 5 games, but every game was marvelous. i still remember sedale threat’s hot hand and james worthy’s inspiring effort.

by chaucer on Apr 30, 2009 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

This Boston-Chicago series is going to go down as the best

If Chicago wins tonight

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

:::new guy comment in 5 ... 4... 3.... 2 .... 1....

You said is Gils_
This IS going down as one of the best playoff series in the history of the NBA… BUT! Either way… Whoever will come outta the east… They’ll be fully dominated by the SHOW, baby!

I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin.
'09, a new era begins in Kansas City.

by R2J_24 on Apr 30, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Welcome aboard

But I wish I was as certain of Laker “domination” as you are!

That’s why they play the games!

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

The chance to redeem himself has inspired Bynum to intensify his preparation this week after averaging a paltry five points and three rebounds against the Jazz. He was last to leave the floor after Wednesday’s light practice, taking part in a spirited game of three-on-three before honing the follow through and arc of his mid-range jumper for another 30 minutes with assistant coach Kurt Rambis.

“It makes me very hungry,” Bynum said. “I can’t wait to go out there against a challenging player like Yao Ming. I know I’m going to play better just because it’s a big guy I’m going to go up against.”

by intuitive on Apr 30, 2009 6:42 PM PDT reply actions

I don't believe anything Bynum says to the media...

until he backs it up on the court. He’s been saying all year that he’s focused on defense and rebounding, but its clear by the way he plays and his body language that he wants to be a scorer first and foremost.

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I think Portland will be easier to beat than Houston.

by Brendan Scolari on Apr 30, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions

here’s a bold prediction fellas. we are sweeping houston. yes, you heard me. we are sweeping the rockets. ron artest just f…s it up for his team. that’s cool, though, he motivates kobe for us. he shouldn’t have said roy was the best. you don’t think kobe is gonna make him pay for it? watch! i picked the celts in 7. i picked the lakers in 5. i picked the cavs in 4. i picked dallas in 7 (a bit off there). i picked portland in 5 (at first) but after 2nd game, changed my prediction. picked the nuggets in 6. picked orlando in 6. picked atlanta in 6.

by chaucer on Apr 30, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions

HOlay MOlay

Chicago Boston triple overtime.

Ray Allen is good. Really good.

Think about team before KG got hurt – three Hall of Famers on one team, three guys who were all the Man at one time on their team.

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 7:43 PM PDT reply actions

I think those of us that read this blog have a pretty good idea of what that team is/was capable of

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions

That being said...

For all its talent and whatnot, Boston looks downright challenged offensively without KG

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 8:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Sure you meant

Defensively, right?

Rondo has been running the offense well, Allen is clutch, Pierce was clutch for one game.

I don’t the Celtics’ problem has been scoring points, it’s getting stops.

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 9:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Nope

I meant offensively. Rondo can rack up some assists, but so can anyone that dominates the ball as much as he does. He still can’t shoot worth a damn and the offense obviously suffers because of it. Paul Pierce, like you said, was clutch for one game but other than that has downright stunk. Ray Allen is Ray Allen of course still and can get hot at any moment.

I dunno I was watching the game today and there were many possessions were Boston couldn’t get any sort of a decent shot. Their offense seems to hinge on whether or not Big Baby can hit jumpers. Not good imo. How often would KG bail them out by making a tough, unblockable fadeaway jumper?

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions

looks like it will be houston

which is good, portland at home is murder. and i dont think Houston matches up well against LA

Bills make me wanna SHOUT!

by silverstreak3k on Apr 30, 2009 8:38 PM PDT reply actions

Game over

Toyota center crowd’s chanting “BEAT LA”

by WaveOcean on Apr 30, 2009 9:03 PM PDT reply actions

can't wait to see some Kobe Artest action

Personally I think Kobe isn’t going to bite in the beginning of the series, but when we go into Houston look for him to go Black Mamba.

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 9:08 PM PDT reply actions

Here we go

Time to make a mockery of Shane Battier and Ron Artest!

Houston is playing well, they’ll have a nice rest along with the Lakers, so neither team can use the “rust” excuse if the other plays well in Game 1.

Lamar Odom seems like he should have a ball in this series, with Pau and Bynum tied up with Yao Ming, and Kobe occupied by Artest and Battier, so I sure hope LO shows up to play.

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 9:10 PM PDT reply actions

Oh one more thing

I am a little bit scared of Wafer’s Revenge. He’ll be looking for blood from the team that let him go! Hell hath no fury like Von Wafer scorned.

by Gils_Keloids on Apr 30, 2009 9:11 PM PDT up reply actions

he's injured though

I say let the little boy shoot

by Justin N. on Apr 30, 2009 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions

He was a machine against us

I’ll bet he used up all his shots.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 30, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Oh it's on like Donkey Kong.

Bring on the Rockets.

GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!

Lakers vs. Rockets.....Game 1 Monday.

by weazel on Apr 30, 2009 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

All you have to do is run the fast break

Something we never did.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 30, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions

Not to worry

LA is one of the best fast breaking teams in the league, and Gasol, Odom and Bynum are all some of the best big men in the game at running the floor. That’s going to tire Yao out a lot, something the Blazers were foolish for not trying to do.

Portland showed a lot of promise this year, and have a lot of young talent, but that team needs to fix some rather major problems if they really do want to contend for a championship. In addition to learning how to run the fast break, they need to improve their defense, because it was really, really mediocre this year. Also, they are absolutely going to need someone to develop into a consistent post scorer. It’s really fairly shocking that Greg Oden is as bad in the post as he is. If all that guy’s gonna be able to do is rebound and get garbage baskets like wide open dunks and putbacks, then he’s a huge waste. That’s really all Pryzbilla is. Someone on that team has to learn how to play with their back to the basket, cause no team’s ever won a title relying that much on a bunch of jump shots.

Portland’s got a bright future, but I think they may need to do some more personnel shifting before they get that right mix of players.

by WildYams on May 1, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

Lakers should play a high possession game

A high possession game favors the better team.

After all, the more possessions, the more chances you get, the more your advantage has an opportunity to shine, and the less luck and randomness will be a factor.

Think “big sample size”.

by Gils_Keloids on May 1, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, sad finish, but that's show biz...

The Blazers lost the series in game 1, when they came out tight and never came back.

Through 1 Q it was even tonight, then the dreaded 2nd Quarter collapse (with a Channing Frye appearance) and the margin was the dreaded 15 at the break.

Artest went off and I honestly didn’t see that coming.

LMA looked like an All Star and Brandon got his, per usual, but it was a meeting of the bricklayers union outside of that. They got behind and got flustered and stopped taking it to the rack and that was all she wrote.

Oh, well — goal this year was making the playoffs; anything else was a bonus. The window is now officially open.

As for the Rockets, I will prattle on about them in a day or two… I see Lakers in 6 but the Rockets are a more dangerous team than you might realize.

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Apr 30, 2009 10:45 PM PDT reply actions

I think the Rockets shot over 50% FG every game this series

I don’t know if that was bad Blazer D or the Rockets very improved O.

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 30, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Horrendous Blazer D...

Every time I saw Scola open I wanted to kick my teeth in.

"I'm loving the fact we have nothing to lose" -Brandon Roy on national expections of the Blazers.

by randommanthefirst on Apr 30, 2009 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

Portland was not a good defensive team this year, and it really showed in the playoffs (where poor defense always comes back to bite teams). They’ve got to work on that for next year if they want to have any improvement.

by WildYams on May 1, 2009 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Give me your unbiased opinion on...

who would have a better shot against the Lakers in seven. if the series started tomorrow.

By the way let it be known that I wanted to see the Rockets next round, but part of me wants to experience what a Blazers Lakers SB nation fight is like.

by Justin N. on May 1, 2009 3:44 AM PDT up reply actions