The Portland Trailblazers versus the San Antonio Spurs will match the best front courts in the west. This is a battle of the two hottest teams in the Western Conference. San Antonio is playing the best ball in the NBA right now. Portland is not too far behind. Both of these teams stories have been well chronicled. San Antonio is led by superstar Tim Duncan. He is the best player in the NBA. David Robinson has reduced his offensive role and has taken on other responsibilities. He plays tougher defense, trades elbows with centers, hits the defensive boards harder and is the second option on offense. Portland is a collection of lottery picks who have put their collective egos in check, for the sake of the team. Their team is so deep that each position has NBA starting talent two deep. At point guard for Portland, Damon Stoudamire makes this team go. He's a great offensive talent, but gets replace late in the 2nd half by Greg Anthony. Anthony is a team leader, makes smart decisions on the floor a nd is a great defensive player, something Stoudamire isn't. Anthony and Stoudamire make a formidable one-two punch. When one is playing poorly, the other can easily sub in and the Blazers will continue to run smoothly. This is the central theme for Portland. For San Antonio, Avery Johnson makes the Spurs go. He's playing the best ball of his career. He's shooting above 50% from the floor and averaging more than 15 points per game. When he's on, the Spurs are running and getting a lot of easy buckets. AJ can make defenders look foolish with his speed, so it'll be up to Stoudamire and Anthony to try to put a body on him. Antonio Daniels is his backup. He's a bigger body with a good jump shot. He's still raw, but can provide some decent minutes. At the two guard, explosive Isaiah Rider starts, but if he's late for a game, or slacks off just a bit, he's yanked for Jimmy Jackson. JJ can score with the best of them, so there isn't a big drop off of scoring talent when JJ comes in for Rider. This is w here the Blazers have the best match up. The Spurs start Mario Elie. Elie is the fiery leader of the Spurs. He provides the emotion and toughness. He's a good defender and rebounder from the shooting guard position, as well, he's a good shooter, but he's too slow and not strong enough to defend JJ or Rider. Jaren Jackson backs up Elie. Jackson is the best shooter on the team. He made some key shots versus Los Angeles, so the Blazers better watch out where he is on the court. At small forward, the Blazers can bring Rasheed Wallace (when he's not playing power forward), Stacey Augmon or Walt Williams. Each brings a different aspect to the game. Wallace is a scoring machine. He's 6'10", so he's a tough match for most small forwards because of his height. He's a great post scorer and a good weakside defender. He'll have to be at his best if Portland is to beat the Spurs. Augmon is the defensive stopper at the three. Augmon and Anthony, former UNLV Runnin' Rebels, wreak defensive havoc. Walt Willia ms is the designated three point shooter. The Spurs play Sean Elliot at small forward. He is all the way back from his injuries last year. He's an explosive scorer and good defender, but will have his hands full with Wallace. Look for him to play a lot against Rider and Jackson. The Spurs can bring in veteran Jerome Kersey at small forward and power forward. Mario Elie will also get some time at small forward. At power forward, Brian Grant doesn't have to worry about trading elbows with Karl Malone any more. He just has to worry about the best player in the NBA, Tim Duncan. Grant will give up 4 inches against Duncan. For this reason, you'll see some double teams on Duncan and Wallace playing against Duncan as well. Grant has been playing well this year. He'll need to make Duncan work on both ends of the floor. He needs to score to make the Spurs respect his post game and keep the defense honest. If Wallace isn't playing at the power spot, Jermaine O'Neal might get some time as well. The Spurs have Tim Duncan at power forward. What can be said. He's the best player right now. He can do anything he wants with the basketball. He's fast, strong, intelligent. A great defensive players, as well. You know he'll get his 20 and 10, but if he goes for 35-40 like he did against Los Angeles, then the Blazers are in for a short night. Malik Rose offers 6 fouls and a strong body as a backup. At center, Portland has the best passing center in Arvydas Sabonis. In the half court set, the ball usually travels through Sabonis. He sees the court so well. He's a good outside shooter and will make the Spurs, especially David Robinson work. When he's on, the Blazers go. When he's on the block, he is virtually immovable. O'Neal and Kelvin Cato offer the backup here, as well as Grant and Wallace. The Spurs have David Robinson and Will Purdue at center. Robinson's travails have been mentioned. He's not the second option on defense, a latter day "Bill Russell." The Spurs are winning, so I guess it's wo rking. He still can score, but he doesn't have to as much anymore. If the Spurs don't play him hard, he'll kill them. Will Purdue is the backup here, but he'll get plenty of playing time with the large front court of the Blazers. He's a decent defender and a great defensive rebounder. He can give 6 hard fouls as well. All in all, it going to be a great series, but I think San Antonio is playing too well. Tim Duncan is playing great. I think the Spurs will take it in 6.