4-Game Road Trip.......

[THE HCP]

4 games in 5 nights...that's tough no matter who you play!

Of course we want to come back 4-0, but what would you be happy with?

I honestly think 2-2 winning the middle 2 games against Dallas and Houston. No shame in that. Regardless I hope we make a good showing.

 

[KingSpeed]

I actually see us beating SA and OKC who we have owned this season and in the case of the Spurs, the last few seasons. Dallas and Houston will be the tough games. They have both beaten us at home. Regardless, like you said, I'll be happy with 2-2. I hope the team isn't though.

 

[THE HCP]

The Spurs are killing it right now. You have to realize how tough the 2nd game of a back to back and 4th in 5 nights is regardless of how we have done in those situations so far.

 

[KingSpeed]

We destroyed the Spurs in SA last year. Spurs barely beat the Jazz tonight. Not worried about them at all.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

5-0

 

[THE HCP]

King, you are the only person alive that isn't worried about playing on the road against the team with the BEST record in the NBA and has won 9 of their last 10 and 6 straight!

 

[BillBrasky]

I don't think you can pick your poison. However, at this point, we need to be ready against the Spurs. We need to take that second one in OKC. The other two we could split. I guess to answer your question, I would be okay with 3-1 on the road trip. I would understand 2-2 just because of the level of competition. Less than that, even against good teams, would be a disappointment in regards to this road trip. It doesn't mean I would disown them or anything, but it is simply what I've come to expect from this team.

 

[dreamcloud]

I'd be good with 2-2, would be so ecstatic with 3-1 though ! I hope people don't go crazy if we end up something like 1-3 on close losses, could definitely happen against these teams.

 

[THE HCP]

I just realized we are TWENTY games above .500!!!!! When was the last time that was the case?

 

[BillBrasky]

We would have to go 12-32 just to get to .500.

 

[dreamcloud]

I just realized we are TWENTY games above .500!!!!! When was the last time that was the case?

Hasn't happened since that 08-09 season, when we ended up finishing 26 over .500. That was a fun season, but this one looks even better. Crazy that we're already 20 over .500 this early in season

 

[Rhal]

I'll be happy with 2-2 but any of the possibilities 0-4,1-3,2-2,3-1,4-0 seem like they could happen. I'm expecting us to blow out a team get blown out then have two very very close games that could go either way.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Silver lining:

● Both SA and Portland will have a day rest before they play on Fri, Jan 7th. It will be SA’s 4th game in 6 nights. It will be Portland’s 2nd game in 6 nights.

● The Blazers are playing Dallas on the 1st, 2nd of a B2B. Dallas will also be on the 2nd game of a B2B, flying in from PHX, a game that starts 30 min after Portland’s game in SA.

● Both Houston and Portland will have a day off in between games. It will be Houston’s 4th game in 6 days, same with Portland.

● Portland’s 2nd B2B of the 4 game in 5 night trip will be the 2nd time they have had to play OKC on the road on the 2nd of a B2B while OKC had the previous day off. OKC will be playing their 4th game in 6 nights, and have a game @ SA the next day after playing Portland.


Teams win about 30% on road back-to-back games Road/Road

Teams win about 40% on road back-to-backs games Home/Road


A 4th game in 5 nights, all on the road is almost a guaranteed loss.

http://sportstwo.com/threads/254950-Schedule-(B2Bs)-Record-and-Rankings

Portland has the most wins in the NBA in B2B games played on the road, so if anyone can win these, Portland can. It was definitely good to have a home game (and win) after 3 days off to knock the rust off.

Get greedy! GO BLAZERS!

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Hasn't happened since that 08-09 season, when we ended up finishing 26 over .500. That was a fun season, but this one looks even better. Crazy that we're already 20 over .500 this early in season

This is awesome, and cannot be over-stated.

 

[illmatic99]

.500 on this trip would be amazing. Just win on Friday and I'll be happy.

#30before10

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think the most important game on the trip is the first one. We have much more to gain by beating SAS as well as setting the tone for the rest of the trip. Hopefully they go all out to win that one. If we do go 1-3 I hope the one win is SAS. 2-2 seems about right but there again I want one of them to be SAS. On a hot shooting night DAL and HOU dont stand a chance so hopefully we jump out good with SAS and have a hot shooting night against either DAL or HOU. OKC will be another one of those "tests" for this team. Can you gut out the last game against a really good team on the road?

 

[Boise Blazer]

.500 on this trip would be amazing. Just win on Friday and I'll be happy.

#30before10

Yep, agreed and the 30 before 10 would be a sweet added bonus.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

I just realized we are TWENTY games above .500!!!!! When was the last time that was the case?

Dream cloud got it: Thursday, March 31 2009, in a win over Utah at home they were 20 over .500. Portland finished the season 54-28 (26 games over .500).

- 18 games by seasons end (2009-10) was the closest to 20 games over .500 since then

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Yep, agreed and the 30 before 10 would be a sweet added bonus.

Can we say they are legit then? Elite? Title contenders? And... kidding. They already are!!!

 

[BlazerBeav]

We match up so well with San Antonio that I feel very good about our chances of starting off with a win. Dallas is a worse team than their record indicates - believe they've had the league's weakest schedule to this point. If we can get the first two, we are in business.

 

[Sinobas]

Since they're barely beating below .500 teams at home, we may see them all surprise us on the road. But I'd be glad to just not be swept here.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like our chances against San Antonio and OKC.

Houston is a team that we don't usually play well against, especially in Houston. Dallas always seems to give us fits.

 

[BBert]

We are going to beat SA and OKC. We are better than Dallas. We have a day off before Houston.

Oh, hell, we are going to win all 4.

We need to at least go 2-2. I'll be 'satisfied' with that.

 

[HailBlazers]

I just realized we are TWENTY games above .500!!!!! When was the last time that was the case?

And what was your genius prediction for our record this year?!?!

$hit I wouldn't be surprised if we went 1-4 or even 3-1.

 

[Kaydow]

I wouldn't be surprised if we went 1-4 or even 3-1.

I have to admit that I would be pretty upset with going 1-4 on a 4 game road trip.

 

[Strenuus]

I'll be talking more about this in-depth later today on our podcast (tune in!), but I think we're going 2-2 winning the middle two games (Dal, Hou)... SA is just straight ballin' and @OKC on 4 of 5 when we barely squeaked out of there on the tails of an awesome 4th where Durant went ice cold.... If Minny was any indication of how we are on 4 of 5... 2-2 is nothing to sneeze at... and I think they'll all be close.

 

[maxiep]

I'll be talking more about this in-depth later today on our podcast (tune in!), but I think we're going 2-2 winning the middle two games (Dal, Hou)... SA is just straight ballin' and @OKC on 4 of 5 when we barely squeaked out of there on the tails of an awesome 4th where Durant went ice cold.... If Minny was any indication of how we are on 4 of 5... 2-2 is nothing to sneeze at... and I think they'll all be close.

I'm not familiar with your podcast. Do you have an address and a time?

 

[Strenuus]

I'm not familiar with your podcast. Do you have an address and a time?

Yeah. South East will have the link up later today - look for it mid-afternoon. It'll be at 5 o'clock.

 

[maxiep]

Running the numbers, we're playing teams that are a combined 61-19 at home, for a .763 winning percentage. It will be a good test.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The Heat are on a 3-game losing streak, which makes me feel much less insecure. The Texas trip is always tough and I'm nervous about it again.