Rockets vs. Trail Blazers, NBA playoff predictions 2014: Opinion split on West’s tightest series

Houston GM Daryl Morey set out to build a championship contender and that's what he's done. The Rockets have torched the rest of the NBA with their transition game on their way to a 54-28 regular season record. Injury concerns surround Dwight Howard's ankle, and with Portland at full strength going into the postseason, the 4 vs. 5 seed matchup in the Western Conference looks destined to be a long series. Despite Houston being the betting favorite in the series with Portland, these teams actually have the same record.

Portland struggled through the month of March, but with LaMarcus Aldridge healthy and a defense that's vastly improved since the All-Star break, it's ready for the challenge of the Rockets. The Blazers struggled with Houston all year, going just 1-3 in regular season play. They aren't a very good team at defending the fast break, so the opportunity to stick to their defensive assignments and reduce the amount of ball-watching by their guards will be a big part of Terry Stotts' game plan. Rip City hasn't experienced the second round for 14 years, and it will be no easier for them against Houston.

Portland defends the three-point line better than almost any team in the league. Unfortunately, the Blazers are middling when it comes to stopping the fast break, which should help the Rockets negate that jump-shot defense prowess. Getting Patrick Beverley and Chandler Parsons out quickly on the arc is what will kill the Blazers. Over the course of seven games it seems the Rockets will have the superior firepower. For two teams notorious for their defensive inequities, that has to tip the balance. Houston in 7.