No. 3 Phoenix Suns (54-28) vs. No. 6 Portland Trailblazers (50-32)
The No. 3 seed Phoenix Suns take on the No. 6 seed Portland Trailblazers in a first-round, Western Conference playoff series. This is a best-of-7 series.
Portland won the season series against Suns, 2-1.
Without Shaquille O’Neal clogging up the lane, the Phoenix Suns showed this season that behind Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire, they are still amongst the league’s elite teams. This team won 14 of 16 to close out the regular season and went 23-6 since the All-Star break, gutting out victories when it seemed like they never moved in the standings, finally taking over the third seed in the season finale. Coach Alvin Gentry’s motto all-year long has been for his team to work hard and the big payoff will come in the end.
When the Portland Trailblazers found out All-Star guard/forward Brandon Roy was going to miss at least the first round of the playoffs because of knee surgery, they may as well just have been told their season was over. Without Roy, Portland has zero chance of winning this series. Take Dirk Nowitzki off the Mavericks or Kobe Bryant off the Los Angeles Lakers and you get the same effect. Occam’s Razor in effect, people: If it seems like the simplest answer, it’s probably the right one.
The odds makers have the Suns at -8 -point favorites.
Nash and Stoudemire run the show and get much-appreciated contributions from Jason Richardson and forward Grant Hill. Don’t blink. Grant Hill is still in the league and still starts and produces, somehow. With the loss of Roy, you could argue the Trailblazers are missing their three best players headed into the season: Roy, Greg Oden (out for season) and Joel Pryzbilla (out for season).
Prediction: Look for the Suns to win this series in four games. That’s right, a sweep.
Portland vs Phoenix 2010 Playoff Schedule
Game 1: Sun, April 18 Portland at Phoenix 10:30 pm EST on TNT
Game 2: Tue, April 20 Portland at Phoenix 10:00 pm EST on NBATV
Game 3: Thu, April 22 Phoenix at Portland 10:00 pm EST on NBATV
Game 4: Sat, April 24 Phoenix at Portland 4:30 pm EST on TNT
Game 5: Mon, April 26 Portland at Phoenix TBD on TBD*
Game 6: Thu, April 29 Phoenix at Portland TBD on TBD*
Game 7: Sat, May 01 Portland at Phoenix TBD on TNT*
* If necessary
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