Tank's NBA Western Conference Second Round Preview

Here is part two of the second round preview. Click Below for the Eastern Conference Preview

Warriors in 7

The Houston Rockets have waited a year for this rematch, after losing a hard-fought seven-game series to the Golden State Warriors last season. While this may not be the actual Western Conference Finals this season, it just as well should be as both teams are better than the Nuggets and Trail Blazers. The Rockets have given Golden State fits all season winning three of four meetings, with the only loss being by two points. If any team knows how to take down the two-time defending champions it is the Rockets. The Rockets who had somewhat of a disappointing regular season overall finishing with the four seed, In the first round the Rockets looked like a team on a mission, as they decimated the Jazz in five games. The Warriors meanwhile looked shaky at times as they needed six games to sink the Clippers. Especially concerning is that they lost two games at the Oracle, and Arena that when this postseason is over will close forever as they move across the bay next season to the beautiful Chase Center. Does the Oracle have any magic left? This series should be the best of all the series in the second round and may be the best of the whole postseason. In the end, the key comes down to who makes the big plays. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry or James Harden and Paul. Based on track record I trust Curry and Durant in a Game 7 at home.

Trail Blazers in 6

The Denver Nuggets battled the Golden State Warriors all season for the top spot in the West but tailed off late in the season and settled for the second seed, winning the Northwest Division. However, that division lead had shrunk to one game, as the Portland Trail Blazers were charging up fast behind them. Had the season last another week or two, the Blazers likely would have slipped by them. In their first-round series, the Nuggets in their first appearance in six years struggled with the Spurs needing seven games. The Blazers meanwhile smoked the Thunder with Damian Lillard hitting a cold-blooded assassin three-pointer to win the fifth game. Lillard gave the stare of death after that shot and now focuses those eyes on Denver. The Nuggets won three of the four regular-season meetings with Portland, with the only loss coming in a game in which Nikola Jokic rested. Jokic had a decent series against the Spurs, recording a triple-double in Game 7, but Denver otherwise struggled. Portland meanwhile C.J. McCollum and Enes Kanter each were key factors in the Blazers takedown of OKC. Kanter especially since he will be needed to neutralize Jurkic. What this series may come down to is who will make the big shot in the end, and right now I believe that is Damian Lillard as the  Blazers win in six.