Gallery: 2/9
West: No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 1 Golden State Warriors
Matchup to Watch: Damian Lillard vs. Steph Curry
Outlook: Don't expect the Blazers to challenge the Warriors for an upset. However, you can expect phenomenal guard play. Damian Lillard is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the playoffs. He has a way of rising to the occasion and hitting big shots in crunch time. The Warriors are who we thought they were and that's the best team in the NBA. Portland fans can hope to steal a game or two. The future is bright in Portland with three draft picks in the 2017 NBA Draft. According to Land of Basketball, the Warriors have won the last six games these teams have played including all four games this season. Golden State was able to comfortably hold off the Spurs for the top seed. Golden State should be able to use this series as a tune-up for Kevin Durant to get into playoff form after his long layoff. Lillard could provide NBA fans with a few viral videos and get the Blazers a couple wins. That said, don't expect a close series.
Prediction: Warriors in 5 games (Getty)
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NBA Playoffs 2017: Predictions for All Playoff Matchups