I think they will have an elite defensive game plan with elite execution. I expect more double digit scores than triple digit scores for the teams in this series. Albeit, you make a good point about HCA.
I don't understand being afraid of the Thunder & simultaneously believing you have a shot at being the Warriors.
Blame NBA scheduling. How can you give teams a back-to-back on a day that means so much?!? I love it though, bring on the Thunder in round 2 and make no mistake: Spurs, Pelicans and Blazers are no joke! Spurs can slow the game down and strategically win. Pelicans match the Warriors at least somewhat in threes, are athletic, have some great hustlers and Warriors have no answer for AD. Blazers also long, tough defenders, 3pt shooting, no answer for Nurkic and Dame could take a hobbling Curry.
I know they'd had some entertaining games in the past, and it could be even closer than I think with Curry a little rusty - I hope this is the case. I just don't think Portland can stop the Warriors enough to truly worry them.
Its most likely going to be min->okc->gsw->cavs. OKC is 3-1 vs Jazz gsw should be able to beat kwahiless spurs. If they get curry back they should beat Portland.
all 3 of OKCs wins came in november-December. This was back when the Grizzlies were owning us, for reference
Jazz absolutely beats OKC. I feel like people are a bit over their heads lately. Jazz and Portland are both stronger than OKC. The schedule isn't bad at all. There is a good chance the Rockets will face two teams that they swept in the regular season. You can't ask for more than that.
Utah with Rubio and Mitchell as there backcourt to rely upon are not beating okc. No clue why some people are really trying to convince themselves that's going to happen.
In the Playoffs, I'm really placing much more confidence in a battle tested champion than a Blazers squad who will let them score 120 a game, and are much more prone to poor games when you shut down one of two players.
if you start with the premise that GSW will beat everyone because playoffs....then your original complaint about cakewalk bracket rings hollow. every bracket alignment then becomes a cakewalk.
Oh he's a good player. But right now, not nearly good enough to lead a team to beat a expierence filled squad consisted of wb,pg13,melo,Adams. It's a whole different animal he's about to encounter.
