The first few games here will be very telling. How the Blazers try to deal with Wemby and if their already sluggish offense can handle our top-tier D will be early indicators to watch.
- Wemby will be the X, Y and Z factors. As if by genius strategy, the Blazers haven't faced Wemby 3.0 this year. My guess is that he will cause them some real problems on both ends. Maybe to the degree that they never fully recover. That's my hot take #1.
- I'd expect the Blazers to go to zone D whenever Wemby sits and alternate schemes when he plays. Their size and versatility could cause some problems. Jrue will be his usual disruptive high-IQ self and will add years to the maturity of our backcourt.
- Matching up with Avdija will be an issue, no doubt. If we double him, Camara, Sharpe and even Scoot could cause some real damage.
- If the Spurs stay consistent as a high-level defensive rebounding team, that will negate much of Portland's success.
- If the Spurs run solid, efficient offensive sets and don't turn it over much, Blazers will struggle. Our offense has been better than their defense in the RS and our defense should punish their offense.
- Offensive rating: Spurs 4th Blazers 22nd
- Defensive rating: Spurs 3rd Blazers 12th
- Tiago vs Mitch is an interesting scenario of Spurs products facing each other in their first playoff series. The stability around Mitch gives him an advantage but Tiago is fighting for his job.
- If the Spurs keep their heads on straight and hold onto the leads they will have going into the 4th, we win in 5 or 6 max.
