Houston forwards Ron Artest and Shane Battier are focused on stopping Portland star Brandon Roy in their first-round playoff series.

Roy is the Blazers' top scorer, and has led them to their first postseason appearance since the 2002-03 season.

"I think that just like they're getting excited about shutting me down, I'm getting excited about not letting them to," Roy said.

Roy is averaging 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

"He has a great understanding of the game for a young guy, and a great feel for the game," Battier said. "When you add his athleticism and his ball control, that's a tough guy to stop. It's going to be a long series for Ron and me."

Game One between Houston and Portland is Saturday night.

Via Yahoo!

Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers

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