Check out Rafael Barlowe from NBA Draft Junkie’s latest Run The Floor as he and Gerald Glassford from the Lakers Fast Break share thoughts on the NBA Playoffs. Who looks good so far and who has the picks with issues? Find out on the Run the Floor podcast! Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts!
Run The Floor Podcast #7- NBA Playoff Predictions with Rafael Barlowe and Gerald Glassford!
By 
August 19, 2020 2 Comments
Meant to post here awhile back and remembered the other night when Rafael referenced back to it the other night.
While I don’t agree with his prediction of Blazers in 6 (got Lakers in & so we’re really not that far apart) I had thought it worth mentioning how that could come to be. The first, most obvious reason is Dame. The dude plays his best when the game is on the line and finds yet another gear in the playoff crunch time. Secondly, also obvious, is C.J. “unheralded superstar” McCollum. His solid mid-range game and has added to it over the years on both ends.
For me the wild card is Nurkic. When that guys is on he can be dominant on both ends. He’s like a better version of Vlade Divac in his prime Sacramento years, not the scorer we hoped he could be as a Laker but rather settling to an all-around role of defensive stalwart, offensive release valve and tertiary play-maker.
As Raphael mentioned, and we all saw in game 1, the Blazers are in playoff mode. They had to fight and claw their way to the 8 seed like no team before them ever has. The rotations are set, the guys that they are bringing back know the system so there’s no learning curve, and Terry Stotts is hella under-rated as a coach.
Two games, with the benefit of hindsight I can say going forward that losing Zach Collins hurts them. Having him available to bang with Morris, and even AD and stretching the floor, playing his tenacious version of basketball would have given the Blazers another solid contributor in a short rotation. Short rotations can be a double-edged sword
Short rotation means you’re playing your 7, maybe 8, best guys. Everyone’s role is defined, there’s usually not a precipitous talent drop, but the flip side is if you don’t have other options should injury or match ups gum up your game. At this point in both the end of the season and even in the playoffs I personally don’t mind a little roster flexibility.
All in all, this will be a tough series. Both teams have solid complimentary pieces to their superstar tandems, both teams have dynamic super star caliber players, both teams have tough, smart coaches. It’s been fun, going to be more fun.