5-On-5 Roundtable: Conference Semifinals Predictions

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers:
Regular season head-to-head record: 2-2 all

Dunlap: The Spurs being taken to the limit by the Mavericks furthered my opinion that they’re a team that’s coached well and has solid players, but they’re not championship worthy. With that said, Tony Parker continues to impress, averaging 19.9 points with 4.7 assists in the playoffs and Tiago Splitter picked a great time to step up with his 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. They play much more of a team style, which is better suited to the playoffs. Sure, the Blazers will steal one or two games with heroics from LaMarcus Aldridge or Damian Lillard, but they’re just not deep enough, as evidenced by three different players averaging over 40 minutes per game (with Wesley Matthews at 39.8). Prediction: Spurs in 6

Watson: It’s been a nice run for the Trail Blazers. But it’s over. Prediction: Spurs in 5

Bourguet: Since the Spurs lost all four games they played against the Houston Rockets this season, Gregg Popovich and company are probably happy they’ve got the Blazers in the second round. LaMarcus Aldridge and/or Damian Lillard can singlehandedly win you a game or two, but you have to think eventually their lack of playoff experience will catch up to them. The Spurs are a worst-case scenario for a scenario like that, especially since Tim Duncan and company finally looked like the Spurs we’ve watched all season long in their dominant Game 7 yesterday. Portland’s bottom-10 defense was negated by Houston’s equally “meh” defense in the first round; they won’t be so lucky against a San Antonio defense that is sixth in the NBA in points allowed per game. I want some nasty. Prediction: Spurs in 6

Young: This has just as good of a chance to be the series of the century as any of the four matchups we have awaiting.  Damian Lillard is not clutch, he’s godly.  While it’s possible for a snail to escape Houston’s defense for a good look with 0.9 seconds left, it takes an incredible amount of wherewithal to actually get balanced, and knock down a shot. The simple fact that this mid-range killing team in Rip City has no way of being stopped offensively with Lillard and Aldridge on hand, gives them a chance. Although, if you want to know the definition of a nearly perfect game, go watch Spurs vs. Mavericks Game 7.  San Antonio is a different machine when Manu Ginobili is making plays…he doesn’t even have to look to be a scorer. That’s what the Spurs are best at; making other unlikely heroes into scorers, and using their Big 3 as playmakers. Although it’s a huge order to ask San Antonio to match the big-time shot making Portland will shove down your throat, they’ll beat them with defensive discipline, something the Trail Blazers still need another year to grasp. Heck of a run, youngsters. Prediction: Spurs in 6

Giese: Veteran savvy of the Spurs against the youthful exuberance of the Blazers. Damian Lillard trying to come into his own as a star going against one of the best point guards of this generation Tony Parker. LaMarcus Aldridge trying to stick it to Tim Duncan before he calls it a career. Experience and youth. The best stories we can ask for in sports. With that being said, while the Blazers look like a team poised to make that push to the Finals, San Antonio has more weapons than they are accustomed to and have so much prior experience in the playoffs that it may just swallow Portland whole. Cinderella stories are usually reserved for college basketball, and while a Rip City conference Finals appearance would be a great story, the Spurs will once again crush that dream. Prediction: Spurs in 5