For these playoff previews we are going to take a look at each team individually, and then we are going to look at the match-up.

Phoenix Suns

Strengths

What the Suns do well.

• Offense
• Transition Offense
• Three Point Shooting
• Pick and Roll
• Benchplay

Weaknesses

Some problems the Suns struggle with

• Defense
• Big man depth after Amar’e and Channing Frye
• Shot selection
• Open style leads them to blow big leads

Tendencies

Some things you are going to notice when watching the Suns play.

• The Suns love to run and gun, and they will open things up every chance they get.  What makes their style of fast break so difficult to stop is that they are willing to shot a 30 foot three on the break.  The defense can’t just run back to the rim to protect it, because if they do the Suns will shoot the three ball.
• Prepare to see a lot of Goran Dragic.  Steve Nash is going to need his rest, and when he gets it Dragic will be getting the action.

Key Set

• Pick and Roll

We have the pick and roll again.  Like the Jazz, the Suns have a shooter/terrific passer and an athletic roller which makes it hard for the defense to stop everything.  Another factor in the Suns PNR is that there are outside shooters surrounding the three point line.  Concentrate too hard on the pick and roll, and Nash will be able to find an open shooter.

Portland Trailblazers

Strengths

What the Blazers do well

• Execution
• Good Inside/Outside mix

Weaknesses

Some problems the Blazers struggle with

• Depth problems
• Injury to Roy leaves them without a go-to guy late in games

Tendencies

Some things you are going to notice when watching the Blazers play.

• What the Blazers have done this year is pretty special.  With all the injuries they have suffered they have still managed to make the playoffs.  That is because this team plays hard and they really feed off a great home crowd.

Key Set

• C4

I should have probably linked to this earlier, but Ben over at BlazersEdge did a terrific job of breaking this set down.  The reason I like it is because of all the movement before the post up gets the ball in the post without a double team able to come.  Also, there are variations of this (click the link) that work very nicely, so you can’t just sit on one option as the defense.

Key Matchup

Amar’e Stoudemire vs. LaMarcus Aldridge

With Roy gone for the first round, Aldridge turns into the Blazers best option in my opinion.  Over at the other end, Stoudemire’s terrific play in the second half is what got the Suns here.  Whichever big man has the better series, their team will probably take the series.

My Prediction

Suns in 5

Much respect to Nate McMillan and what he has done with his team, but the Suns are going to just run them out of the building.  With Roy out, the Blazers don’t have enough scoring punch to keep up with the Suns (though I do think they will get a game at home).