Anyone else concerned we couldn't pull away and blow them out in Game 5?

Yes..

 

not really

weve had multiple 10+ point leads this series and have been choking them away....its become a thing

 

Isn't this the story the whole series so far? IIRC we had a double digit lead in at least 4 games if not all 5 games.

I was worried the last 5 minutes but winning by 10 points is the biggest winning margin this series. Keep it going in game 6!

 

tbh with all the O/T's, road wins, and questionable officiating.. it appears the NBA's is trying to stretch the number of playoff games. Seems like anytime there is a sizable lead.. come the calls or non-calls that swing momentum 180.

 

Really, it's just harden I'm concerned with, and I've become mighty concerned.

I actually think the rest of the team is playing extremely well. If Harden plays anywhere near the level we've come to expect we probably would have swept this series, 5 games tops.

It's a superstar driven league and unless Harden comes to the table we aren't going anywhere.

 

We won by ten and we won.

 

Portland is the greatest 3 point shooting team ever.

 

Portland has won 3 games to our 2, and not once have they've blown us out.

 

One thing at a time.

The Biggest concern this series has been our ability to keep a lead. We pretty much kept the lead in Game 5. That's a big thing.

Pulling away is a much lower priority...

 

Harden was terrible. Don't expect us to route the other team unless he really steps up.

 

Evenly matched teams. OT in multiple games. Should be no surprise that neither team has blown out the other. Should it concern Portland fans that they're trying to close out a team that they haven't decisively beat in any game?

 

We could have pushed the lead into the 20s. There was a time when neither team could score - and that was right when we had the biggest leads. We couldn't capitalize on it at the time and ran bad sets that lead to missed shots or turnovers. Have to calm down in those moments and run good sets and not settle for 3s.

 

"Give Portland some freaking credit." -Phil

Lillard and Matthews were amazing, Batum and Lopez were real solid.

Team's just too good to really bury.

 

How many blow outs have you seen in the playoffs this season? For whatever reason, virtually every game is close. When a team does get a big lead (Grizzlies, Raptors, Rockets, Warriors) typically they don't hold their lead.

While a 20 point win would be great, I don't expect it.

 

No not concerned. I think there is a chance that Game 6 will be the game that we build a good sized lead and keep it.

The team is coming together and if we can win this series, watch out.

If Harden regains his confidence the Rockets move on.

 

Yeah Harden is hurting the team right now and he needs to step it up. Whenever your shot attempts and defensive possession can be given to someone else and the team come up VERY POSITIVE, you need to work on your game.

 

it concerns me. the problem IMO is that once we get a big lead, we don't have very good defenders to protect/maintain the lead. So the lead disappears after our players let up on the pedal. hopefully we can get a couple good defenders in the offseason.

 

It's hard for a car to go fast and pull way with a flat tire. The Rockets have played the entire series with a flat tire. Somehow we need to inflate James Harden.

 

Portland is a good team and this is a hellaciously competitive series.

The Blazers haven't won a playoff series since 2000.

You think they're hungry enough?