Blazers Play-in Thread (4 Viewers)

[kjironman1]

Play-In Tournament Tutorial | Portland Trail Blazers

Watch this latest video | Portland Trail Blazers

www.nba.com

Thanks for posting that. I was just having this conversation earlier today.

 

[blazerfan11]

The Pacers are looking focused and energized to start the game in Indianapolis.

The Clippers look a step slow.

Season-high 42 points for the Pacers in the first quarter.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You know what would be awesome?

A tanking thread for discussion of those who believe the Blazers are/should be tanking, and use this thread for discussion of making and succeeding in the playin/playoffs.

But I want us to make the play-in and THEN tank, and I would be excluded from that!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Cling Kong is a budding franchise cornerstone.

He's certainly large and heavy.

 

[wizenheimer]

if Portland isn't focused (like last night), they could slip back down to 10th seed. They are only 1/2 game ahead of the Warriors. Blazers don't want to have to play at Golden State with a healthy Curry

 

[HailBlazers]

if Portland isn't focused (like last night), they could slip back down to 10th seed. They are only 1/2 game ahead of the Warriors. Blazers don't want to have to play at Golden State with a healthy Curry

Unless they want to keep their draft pick.

 

[kjironman1]

if Portland isn't focused (like last night), they could slip back down to 10th seed. They are only 1/2 game ahead of the Warriors. Blazers don't want to have to play at Golden State with a healthy Curry

I don't think it matters much. Just my opinion on it but they don't seem like a team that will make it out of the play in.

 

[wizenheimer]

Unless they want to keep their draft pick.

there is that. I made the mistake of guarded optimism when I knew better. Won't happen again

 

[wizenheimer]

The Blazers have earned the playoffs.

no...they've earned the play-in. 1-6 seeds have earned the playoffs.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

This is a big game tonight, correct?

 

[kjironman1]

This is a big game tonight, correct?

Do any of the games matter any longer? They can't move up or down?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Do any of the games matter any longer? They can't move up or down?

But isn't the opportunity to play a home game for the play in on the line?

 

[RR7]

Do any of the games matter any longer? They can't move up or down?

They can still shift between 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th before the play in games. So I would say that they matter.

 

[kjironman1]

But isn't the opportunity to play a home game for the play in on the line?

I guess that might matter?

 

[BassPlaya]

Do any of the games matter any longer? They can't move up or down?

No offense, but every f****** game matters to me.

 

[BlazerBeav]

In the big scheme of things, it doesn't matter - but it actually does have postseason consequence and given we haven't had a game with that on the line in years, it sure does matter.

 

[wizenheimer]

Pre-Play-In Seeding:

* Phoenix is currently 7th seed. Portland trails Phoenix by 4.5 games with 6 games left. Phoenix owns the tie-breaker (head-to-head) so effectively, they have a 5.5 game lead with 6 games left. All Phoenix has to do is win two of their final 7 games and that would lock Portland out of the 7th seed. Practically speaking, 7th seed in the play-in doesn't look possible

* Clippers have a 1.5 game lead and currently own the tiebreaker 2-0. But those two remaining games are big. If Portland wins both, they'd win the tie-breaker by virtue of a better conference record and secure 8th seed (in play-in). But if Portland loses either game they'd very likely end up in 9th-10th seed. Lose tonight and they would be 2.5 games behind with 5 left, and would need to finish ahead of the Clippers in order to secure 8th seed. In other words, 3.5 games behind with 5 games left

* Blazers have 1.5 game lead over Warriors and own the tie-breaker. Warriors have lost Butler and Moody for the season and Curry's health is questionable. Blazers appear to be holding all the cards, but the Curry factor is the main concern. If he's good to go, he's capable of beating a team on his own

big difference between the play-in 7th-8th seeds and 9th-10th seeds is that all a 7th or 8th seed team need do is win one game at home and they are in the playoffs. 9th and 10th seed need to win 2 games, and at least one must be on the road

 

[THE HCP]

Bring on the thunder!

 

[kjironman1]

Pre-Play-In Seeding:

* Phoenix is currently 7th seed. Portland trails Phoenix by 4.5 games with 6 games left. Phoenix owns the tie-breaker (head-to-head) so effectively, they have a 5.5 game lead with 6 games left. All Phoenix has to do is win two of their final 7 games and that would lock Portland out of the 7th seed. Practically speaking, 7th seed in the play-in doesn't look possible

* Clippers have a 1.5 game lead and currently own the tiebreaker 2-0. But those two remaining games are big. If Portland wins both, they'd win the tie-breaker by virtue of a better conference record and secure 8th seed (in play-in). But if Portland loses either game they'd very likely end up in 9th-10th seed. Lose tonight and they would be 2.5 games behind with 5 left, and would need to finish ahead of the Clippers in order to secure 8th seed. In other words, 3.5 games behind with 5 games left

* Blazers have 1.5 game lead over Warriors and own the tie-breaker. Warriors have lost Butler and Moody for the season and Curry's health is questionable. Blazers appear to be holding all the cards, but the Curry factor is the main concern. If he's good to go, he's capable of beating a team on his own

big difference between the play-in 7th-8th seeds and 9th-10th seeds is that all a 7th or 8th seed team need do is win one game at home and they are in the playoffs. 9th and 10th seed need to win 2 games, and at least one must be on the road

So 9th seed pretty much. 9th and 10th play each other so 9th gets a home game.

 

[wizenheimer]

So 9th seed pretty much. 9th and 10th play each other so 9th gets a home game.

it's not certain that Portland can't beat out LAC for 8th. Blazers have to win both remaining games though

but yeah, the advantage is that the 7th-8th teams only have to win one game at home while the 9th-10th have to win two games, one on the road

 

[kjironman1]

it's not certain that Portland can't beat out LAC for 8th. Blazers have to win both remaining games though

but yeah, the advantage is that the 7th-8th teams only have to win one game at home while the 9th-10th have to win two games, one on the road

They can get one home game from 9th seed at least.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Playoffs are not just like regular season. Players talk about importance of playoff experience. Very few even top superstars won it all their first playoff appearance. Let's start getting the experience. If the draft is that great there will be good players mid first round.
Year after year of tanking. Where is the superstar with whom the Blazers should have been rewarded? The team is finally out of lottery because they accumulated good players and worked to develop them.

100%

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

The Pacers are looking focused and energized to start the game in Indianapolis.

The Clippers look a step slow.

Season-high 42 points for the Pacers in the first quarter.

View attachment 83383

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Clips won that game didnt they KJJinxman?

No offense, but every f****** game matters to me.

End Thread. (Hope you dropped the mic)

 

[kjironman1]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the Clips won that game didnt they KJJinxman?

End Thread. (Hope you dropped the mic)

You quoted @blazerfan11 not me my guy.
I could not tell you who won a game featuring a team that is blatantly tanking and another fighting for the 9th seed.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

You quoted @blazerfan11 not me my guy.
I could not tell you who won a game featuring a team that is blatantly tanking and another fighting for the 9th seed.

Dammit!!! There I go again. Derailing another thread…

blazerJinxFan what have you to say for yourself???

 

[kjironman1]

Dammit!!! There I go again. Derailing another thread…

blazerJinxFan what have you to say for yourself???

Actually don’t stress it too much. The Clippers have way more talent than the Blazers and if they are trying to win the Blazers will not win this game. Now the question is do the Clippers want a lotto pick?

 

[wizenheimer]

where is the evidence that getting that playoff experience really matters? Especially for the Blazers?

* in 2013-14 Portland won their 1st round series and ended up winning 5 playoff games. The following season they won 1 game and looked weak doing so

* in 2015-16, with a mostly new roster, Portland again won their 1st round series and ended up with 5 playoff wins. Over the next 2 seasons, Portland was 0-8 in the playoffs

* in 2018-19, Blazers made it to the WCF after winning 2 playoff series. The following 2 seasons it was two 1st round exits and a 3-8 record

on the other hand, in Portland's first 6 seasons they were 170-322 and no playoffs. In their 7th season, they made the playoffs and won the championship

 

[kjironman1]

View attachment 83455

where is the evidence that getting that playoff experience really matters? Especially for the Blazers?

* in 2013-14 Portland won their 1st round series and ended up winning 5 playoff games. The following season they won 1 game and looked weak doing so

* in 2015-16, with a mostly new roster, Portland again won their 1st round series and ended up with 5 playoff wins. Over the next 2 seasons, Portland was 0-8 in the playoffs

* in 2018-19, Blazers made it to the WCF after winning 2 playoff series. The following 2 seasons it was two 1st round exits and a 3-8 record

on the other hand, in Portland's first 6 seasons they were 170-322 and no playoffs. In their 7th season, they made the playoffs and won the championship

Interesting question again.
Certain you can make a case both ways.
Let’s be honest though. Players and Coaches alike have said many times there is nothing like playoff experience.
Maybe that isn’t evidence but maybe more just listening to experience?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

View attachment 83455

where is the evidence that getting that playoff experience really matters? Especially for the Blazers?

* in 2013-14 Portland won their 1st round series and ended up winning 5 playoff games. The following season they won 1 game and looked weak doing so

* in 2015-16, with a mostly new roster, Portland again won their 1st round series and ended up with 5 playoff wins. Over the next 2 seasons, Portland was 0-8 in the playoffs

* in 2018-19, Blazers made it to the WCF after winning 2 playoff series. The following 2 seasons it was two 1st round exits and a 3-8 record

on the other hand, in Portland's first 6 seasons they were 170-322 and no playoffs. In their 7th season, they made the playoffs and won the championship

Im just gonna go ahead and trust the plethora of basketball players/coaches and experts who have repeatedly said there is nothing like playoff experience over stats that can be skewed to fit either narrative.
I am sure if we scour the details of each season pointed out, we will find the reasons why we sucked. Injuries. NO’s door of mediocre players brought in to improve the team. Etc.

The team has to have real talent first for the experience to have maximum value. Playoff experience doesn't matter if the roster keeps changing. Continuity is probably more important than playoff experience.
This team is much much younger than those earlier teams i think? Experience goes further the younger you are in my opinion.

 

[wizenheimer]

Im just gonna go ahead and trust the plethora of basketball players/coaches and experts who have repeatedly said there is nothing like playoff experience over stats that can be skewed to fit either narrative.
I am sure if we scour the details of each season pointed out, we will find the reasons why we sucked. Injuries. NO’s door of mediocre players brought in to improve the team. Etc.

The team has to have real talent first for the experience to have maximum value. Playoff experience doesn't matter if the roster keeps changing. Continuity is probably more important than playoff experience.
This team is much much younger than those earlier teams i think? Experience goes further the younger you are in my opinion.

ok...some players and coaches have a feeling. Maybe they are right; maybe not; maybe they are too close to the situation; maybe they are thinking about the extra money they get for playoff experience

I was just asking for the evidence that the 'first' playoff experience actually pays off. You'd think better playoff results the next season would be evidence, but that hasn't been the case with the Blazers. Higher seeding the following season? That hasn't happened for Portland either

you also have to factor trade-offs. Is getting swept in the first round better for a team in the short and long term than being able to draft a Dame or an SGA or an Avdija or a Haliburton? Would the Blazers be better this season if they had made the playoffs in 2024, been stomped in the 1st round, and didn't have the pick to draft Clingan? Granted, Portland is in kind of a unique situation because of Olshey's idiot trade for Nance. Normally, Portland making or not making the playoffs would probably be the difference between a 17th pick and a 12th pick. That's would be a difference but the significance wouldn't be great. But that's not the Blazer situation at present; that's the difference between no pick and the 12th pick, Stakes are higher

you're right: there are so many factors and variables at work I think it would be next to impossible to demonstrate that early playoff experience consistently matters

as to your question, average age of Blazer rosters:

2013-14.....25.8
2015-16.....24.3
2018-19.....26.2
2025-26.....25.2 (Blazers 10th youngest, same as OKC)

1976-77.....24.5 (Blazers win it all first time in playoffs)

average age.....26.1 (this season)