2011 NBA Playoff Preview: Why the Portland Trail Blazers Can Beat Anyone
As the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs draws closer, people are starting to speculate about who they think will advance, what teams might have upset potential and specifically which matchups are the most favorable for each team.
In the Western Conference, most people are talking about the Denver Nuggets and their up-tempo offense as the best lower seed and a potential dark-horse candidate for the conference finals. The Memphis Grizzlies have also been mentioned in the same breath, even without All-Star Rudy Gay.
But what about the Portland Trail Blazers?
They are peaking at the right time, having won five of their last six games. That stretch includes wins over the Thunder, Mavericks, Lakers and Grizzlies, all teams headed to the playoffs this month.
Another key point to mention is that, unlike any other point over the past two seasons, the Blazers are almost completely healthy. Every major contributor other than Greg Oden is back and healthy; even Brandon Roy, who has yet to return to his to return to form on a consistent basis, is making important contributions off the bench every night,
The importance of acquiring Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline from the Charlotte Bobcats also should not be forgotten. He gives the Blazers the versatility, depth and flexibility that they were always meant to have but haven't enjoyed consistently due to health issues.
Look at the head-to-head matchups against the top teams in the West:
vs. San Antonio: 3-1, with the one loss coming way back on Dec. 12,
vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 1-3, although two of those losses were very close, one in overtime,
vs. Dallas Mavericks: 2-2, with the Blazers winning the two most recent games in the season series, and
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: 1-3, with two of those losses coming early in the season when the Blazers were lacking key players and by a combined three points.
The point isn't to say that the Blazers are better than any of these teams, or worse, but to point out that they have been very competitive against the top teams in the league this season, especially after the All-Star break.
This year is a year in which no team in the West is safe; the top teams are struggling with injuries and inconsistency, leaving the door open for a team like Portland. A lot has been made about trying to gain favorable seeding, but the Blazers have shown to the league that with the way they are playing right now, they will be a tough out for whomever they face and will probably end up surprising a lot of people.
With a little luck and a few strong performances on the road, which they are more than capable of, the Blazers could do a lot more than just win their first playoff series since 2000.
