Portland, Memphis, Denver or New Orleans?

[dream_catcher_9]

In order of preference on who you'd least like to face.....

Portland: They have a ton of talent, and are mentally tough with all their injuries and still staying afloat. We were developing a heated rivalry, but the injuries to Roy and Oden sort of put a stop to that, maybe a grueling 7 game series this year brings back the rivalry?

Memphis: Its no secret they give us massive problems with their size, and with their ability to put 2 excellent defenders on KD to neutralize him.

Denver: They are excellent at home, and are playing very good team ball without Melo. I think we beat them in a 7 game series because we are much more talented, but it would probably go 6 or 7 just because of their home court.

New Orleans: Good team, but Russ always gets up for CP3, and they don't have a ton of talent after CP3, and West. I see this going 6 games max.

thoughts?

[Krodis]

Denver
Memphis
Portland
New Orleans

We match up fine with Portland and New Orleans, so I'm not concerned. I have Denver over Memphis because I'm not entirely convinced that Tony freaking Allen will continue to burn us over the course of a 7 game series, and because we should match up a bit better with Perkins.

Denver has a lot of talent, just not centered in one person. Good interior defense. They're one of the few teams that can match us in bench productivity.

[theokie]

Most like to see Denver.

Least like to see Memphis.

This other two are even in the middle

[HeartSouloma]

Why not face all of them? You can't be afraid of all teams in the play-offs. You just have to work hard and win.

[wiff]

Why not face all of them? You can't be afraid of all teams in the play-offs. You just have to work hard and win.

Well that's a nice rosy thought and all, but in reality some team just match up better than others.

Anyone remember Mutumbo clutching the ball on the Sonics home court after the 1st time an 8 beat a 1 seed?

Coincidentally the Sonics owned the eventual NBA champs Houston and swept them that year and the next going 8 and 0 against the two time NBA champs but never had the chance to meet Houston in the playoffs.

So the just try hard sentiment is swell, but lets be honest, it doesn't always work that way.

Right now Memphis scares me the most out of the teams mentioned. But Perkins could completely change that.

Perkins should be able to play any big straight up, so he and Ibaka should be able to fair pretty well against Gasol and Randolph

[Devilanche]

From least preferred.

Memphis: randolph/gasol inside. Battier/Allen to guard perimeter. If I'm a gm I'll probably create a similar team not on similar wages though. And Allen suddenly play like a scorer on us. That's before gay coming back. Doesn't matter if we have Perkins healthy or not, all depends how much Brooks goes smallball if we get this matchup.Would love if they can meet lakers.

Portland: their wings are stacked. Matthew, batum, Wallace. Plus whatever they can get from roy. Not much bodies inside though. I do think roy will raise his game for the playoff. They probably could do decent on spurs as both don't really have big bigs.

Denver: good value of return from carmelo. Pretty well rounded. Too bad we already got harden/thabo. Would have loved if we could have got afflalo in free agency. I guess this leave them the mavs. High scoring game anyone?

New Orleans. Chris Paul vs Westbrook would be a treat. West is good but I think ibaka match up better with him than green. Okafor isn't a threat offensively either.

[Sinant]

Memphis is the worst matchup by a landslide.

I'd say from best-to-worst:

Denver
New Orleans
Portland
Memphis