Blazers’ best weapon will soon be rendered completely useless against Spurs

We won't have to wait long for the San Antonio Spurs to start the playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers. Facing the Blazers came as a surprise to many Spurs fans who were expecting the Phoenix Suns to be San Antonio's first-round opponent.

Fortunately, San Antonio is uniquely qualified to shut down several of Portland's strengths. One in particular has to do with Blazers center Donovan Clingan.

He ranks among the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, and he has been crucial to the Blazers' success. After all, they rank only 21st in offensive rating, so any extra possessions he can scrounge up are desperately needed.

Unfortunately for the Blazers, San Antonio is the best defensive rebounding team in the NBA.

Spurs are well equipped to shut down the Blazers' biggest strength

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama ranks as one of the best rebounders in the NBA, finishing third in that category this season. Better still, he is an elite defensive rebounder, ranking third in the NBA in defensive rebounds per game.

It's hard to imagine Clingan having the same effect on the offensive glass against the Spurs. Then again, San Antonio has struggled at times keeping great offensive rebounders off the glass, namely Mitchell Robinson.

We don't want a repeat of the NBA Cup Finals, where he grabbed 10 offensive rebounds off the bench. Fortunately, while Clingan is the second-best offensive rebounder in the NBA, he isn't quite on Robinson's level.

Also, Wembanyama's 3-point shooting could hurt Clingan on the glass. After all, he may spend much of his time guarding Wembanyama, out on the perimeter. Pulling him away from the rim and hopefully keeping him off the glass.

The Spurs could shut down the Blazers' offense

The Blazers aren't the greatest offense in the world. They are a bottom 10 offense thanks to them ranking 30th in 3-point percentage as well as being last in turnovers.

Those two things play into the Spurs' strengths. San Antonio perimeter defenders can stay at home on shooters while the likes of Deni Avdija drive.

Of course, he probably won't be all that effective with Stephon Castle guarding him and Wembanyama at the rim. Cutting off his drives and forcing the Blazers to hit contested threes could make their scoring in the half court next to impossible.

The obvious solution would be for them to try and get out in transition. The problem with that is that San Antonio seldom turns the ball over, so that may be a no-go. That leads us back to offensive rebounding, where they rank second.

But if the Spurs keep Clingan off the glass, then they should have no problem shutting down the Blazers' offensive attack.

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