With the 2014 NBA Playoffs underway, one of the most highly anticipated Western Conference matchup’s is between the number four seed Houston Rockets and the number five seed Portland Trailblazers. Both teams produce a run and gun style of offense, while each have a set of young superstars who can carry them deep into the playoffs.
Dating back to the regular season, the Houston Rockets lead the season series at three games to one, with all three games won in dominant fashion. The one game Portland did steal was due to the all-star play of LaMarcus Aldridge, who put up 31 points and 25 rebounds and got absolutely no help from his teammates. In this game the Trailblazers as a team shot under 40% from the field and coughed up 14 turnovers, it was nothing short of a miracle on how they got this win.
With game one of the playoff series in the books the Portland Trailblazers were able to steal one on the road and gain home court advantage in the series. This game was nothing short of spectacular high pace, high scoring, and who does not enjoy an overtime playoff game. The Blazers were able to pull out a 122-120 victory, with LaMarcus Aldridge setting a franchise playoff record with 46 points and 18 rebounds before fouling out in the overtime period. Damian Lillard chipped in 31 points, nine rebounds, and five assists and sunk two clutch free throws with 17.0 seconds left in overtime to give Portland the win.
On the opposing side the Rockets struggled from the field, both James Harden and Dwight Howard contributed 27 points apiece. Harden shot just 8-28 from the field and missed a potential game tying basket in the final minute of overtime. Dwight Howard also fouled out in overtime on what seemed to be a questionable call. 
Houston led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter until Terry Stotts implemented the “Hack-a-Howard” strategy, which worked successfully bringing the Blazers back to within four. As this game was viewed as a game of runs the Blazers were able to pull out on top and shock the Rockets fans by stealing game one on the road.
As for my game two prediction, lets just say some big changes need to be made if the Rockets don’t want to go down 0-2 in the series. For starters how about playing some defense, you allow the two most scouted players on the opposing team (Lillard and Aldridge) to put up 77 points between the two of them that just can’t happen. We knew this series would be all about the high octane offense, but I mean come on thats just pathetic. Secondly, James Harden being and all-star player in all he is going to have to shoot a whole lot better than 8-28 from the field and stop chucking up ridiculous shots. Pound the ball inside to Dwight and watch him man handle Robin Lopez like we all know he can. As for the game itself I have the Blazers stealing another one on the road leaving the Rockets with their backs against the wall.
For my series prediction I believe the Rockets will bounce back, but I’m still taking the Blazers in 7 I got to much trust in Lillard and Aldridge. Even though they are looked at as a young and inexperience team as long as each player knows their role I can see them being a sleeper team in the Western Conference.
There's Always Next Year 