With the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs about to begin, the Portland Trail Blazers are excited to give the Los Angeles Clippers a challenge.
The 2015-16 NBA regular season is up and the first-round series for the playoffs are set. For the Los Angeles Clippers, they begin by facing one of the biggest overachievers in the league in the Portland Trail Blazers. A team that was written off by almost everyone before last season, supposedly destined for around 20 wins and a finish near the bottom of the Western Conference.
Well, 82 games have passed, and they couldn’t have made all their doubters feel more wrong. Damian Lillard has played with more anger and a heavier chip on his shoulder than ever before, leading his team’s 7th ranked offense with 25.1 points per game after they lost four starters in free agency last summer. The mindset he’s approached this season with has inspired everyone, and head coach Terry Stotts has done an excellent job running a well-balanced team at both ends of the floor.
Erik Gundersen of The Columbian has reported what Stotts had to say following the Blazers’ last game against the Denver Nuggets:
"“It’s been a very rewarding regular season and we’re looking forward to playing the Clippers,” Stotts said after the game."
Lillard also commented on the challenge ahead, emphasizing that a playoff series can come down to all the nitty-gritty details:
"“You just don’t say too much,” Lillard said. “Because at the end of the day it’s still a basketball game. It’s a little more physical, things might get let go as far as fouls go. We’ll have to trust each other. We’ll have to really defend. It’s going to come down to those types of things and we have to be able to execute.”"
Even former Blazers guard and breakout Sixth Man of the Year candidate Will Barton was positive, making it clear that his old team are ready to give the Clippers a challenge.
Caught up with Will Barton tonight. Said he thinks the Blazers will give the Clippers "everything they can handle."
— Blazer Banter (@blazerbanter) April 14, 2016
While this Blazers team is still a good matchup for the Clippers and gives them an easier first-round opponent than they’ve had in recent years during the Chris Paul–Blake Griffin era, this Portland team can’t be underrated.
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They’re going to play with a nothing-to-lose attitude more than ever now, sparking more fire into their offense and the likes of Lillard and C.J. McCollum to attack.
However, the Clippers are heavy favorites in this season for significant reasons. With Paul and DeAndre Jordan, their defense has an obvious edge before even looking into the improved bench unit. And as for Griffin, who is still a threat during his comeback phase, will give the Blazers difficulty from the post.
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Next: Clippers-Blazers: 5 advantages L.A. has for the playoffs
The series begins on April 17 at 7:30 PST.