4.) Los Angeles Clippers
Unfortunately, it may take a miraculous surge from the Blazers up to the fifth seed or a continued slump of the Thunder down to the 4th seed for this matchup to happen. If it does, this team is a sitting duck. The Clippers cannot wait to implode.
I understand that Chris Paul continually dominates the Trail Blazers (especially with Lillard in the lineup), but what about the other guard position? In crunch time, who guards McCollum? Jamal Crawford, JJ Redick, Austin Rivers (Nepotism alert!)… Does it really matter? C.J.’s going for 30 a game in that series. Additionally, the Blazers bench is leaps and bounds above what the Clippers have for reserves. This is the best chance for Portland to complete the upset, even if we have to sacrifice an equipment manager’s face to keep Blake Griffin out of the lineup.