Blazers vs Rockets for the #3 Seed!

[TBpup]

After last night's 117-112 comeback win over the Pistons, the Blazers find themselves tied in the Loss column with the Houston Rockets, only 1/2 game out of 3rd place. Currently at #4, they would play OKC in the first round and at #3 they would play the Clippers.

Houston is one of the few teams the Blazers currently have the tie-breaker with so they just have to finish even with them to get the #3 spot. How likely is it that they will catch the Rockets? #5-#8 is separated by a minuscule 1 game so that has plenty of time to change.

What is almost as interesting is that without Curry, the Warriors dropped to #2 so the winner of 3/6 would now play the Warriors and the winner of 4/5 would get the Nuggets. That is getting ahead of myself but I'd still rather play the Nuggets than a healthy Warriors squad in the 2nd round.

ROCKETS..............BLAZERS
@Pelicans....................BROOKLYN
@Bucks........................@Bulls
DENVER......................@Hawks
SACRAMENTO............@Pistons
@Sacramento...............@T-Wolves
@Clippers.....................MEMPHIS
NEW YORK..................@Nuggets
PHOENIX.....................DENVER
@Thunder................... @lakers[/USER]
.......................................SACRAMENTO

Houston looks to have 3-4 losses left on their schedule. The Blazers have to match them in losses with one more game left than the Rockets. It looks like Portland should be favored in all but 2-3 games that they have remaining.

The Blazers have a real shot at #3 and I think the Warriors finish at #1. They have a much easier schedule than Denver to finish the season and host them in Oakland once more before the end of the year.

Then it comes down to who the Blazers get in the 1st round. We aren't looking for the improvement of just a win....they need to win a 1st round series. Who gives them the best opportunity to do just that?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I think the Blazers finish 4. Seems to me theyve got a rougher schedule. 2 games vs Denver, Pistons on the Road. Still a moderate in length Road Trip.
The Rockets play the Bucks, and will probably be favored in the rest of those games.
Also the Blazers dont play Back to Back home games for the rest of the season, while the Rockets do it twice. I think finish 4 and play Utah. Most importantly in my opinion at least is the Blazers need to stay healthy, get CJ back in the mix and dont drop to 5.

 

[CupWizier]

I think the Blazers finish 4. Seems to me theyve got a rougher schedule. 2 games vs Denver, Pistons on the Road. Still a moderate in length Road Trip.
The Rockets play the Bucks, and will probably be favored in the rest of those games.
Also the Blazers dont play Back to Back home games for the rest of the season, while the Rockets do it twice. I think finish 4 and play Utah. Most importantly in my opinion at least is the Blazers need to stay healthy, get CJ back in the mix and dont drop to 5.

Not so sure as Rockets have Bucks, Clippers, Thunder and Kings on the road with a game at home against Denver. All of those games will be tough.

 

[Hoopguru]

I want the Warriors in round two. Because if we upset them Stotts and Neil another 5!

 

[Storyteller2]

Clippers win today to move into the #5 slot. Probably the best matchup for the Blazers of the 4 listed in the poll, but I have to admit that their bench scares me.....

 

[Strenuus]

I want the Warriors in round two. Because if we upset them Stotts and Neil another 5!

Oh god no. No more Neil and stotts pls kthx.

Though that said If we win a championship this year they can come back for one more year. Then fire them because we all know it's because of Damian we won it.

 

[kjironman1]

Oh god no. No more Neil and stotts pls kthx.

Though that said If we win a championship this year they can come back for one more year. Then fire them because we all know it's because of Damian we won it.

Seriously?

 

[kjironman1]

I just don’t see it as rosey for the Blazers as you. Not saying you can’t be right. They don’t have CJ and will struggle on road games without him. They never get scoring from the bench on the road and usually lose the free throw battle. Tough to win that way without arguably your best shot creator.

 

[Strenuus]

Seriously?

We would win in spite of them.

 

[THE HCP]

Clippers win today to move into the #5 slot. Probably the best matchup for the Blazers of the 4 listed in the poll, but I have to admit that their bench scares me.....

I’d love to be matched up with the Clippers, with or without the HCA.

 

[borim69]

We need to win both games against Denver to even get a shot at 3rd. If we pull the Thunder in the first round I doubt we win.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I’d love to be matched up with the Clippers, with or without the HCA.

You just want to go to LA

 

[THE HCP]

You just want to go to LA

That’d be nice, but I’m thinking about the best matchup son.

 

[TBpup]

I just don’t see it as rosey for the Blazers as you. Not saying you can’t be right. They don’t have CJ and will struggle on road games without him. They never get scoring from the bench on the road and usually lose the free throw battle. Tough to win that way without arguably your best shot creator.

Portland was losing a lot of road games WITH CJ....and their Playoff record the last couple of years wasn't exactly stellar with him either.

 

[kjironman1]

We would win in spite of them.

Sounds like you think they are winning now in spite of them

Portland was losing a lot of road games WITH CJ....and their Playoff record the last couple of years wasn't exactly stellar with him either.

well they kinda just blasted through the toughest road trip they had all year. Their road record seems to be fine.

 

[TBpup]

Sounds like you think they are winning now in spite of them

well they kinda just blasted through the toughest road trip they had all year. Their road record seems to be fine.

Yeah....I was talking bigger picture.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Best matchup: Clippers
Most fun matchup: Thunder

 

[BBert]

I'd rather the Blazers play the Warriors than OKC.

I'd like to see the Blazers finish with 52 wins. So they'd have to go 7-3? Tough but possible.

 

[illmatic99]

I don't really care about 3rd or 4th as long as we have HCA. GS might as easily drop to 2 to so planning to avoid them in the second round is just a futile exercise right now. And, let's actually get out of the first round before talking about all that stuff. TBH, I hate all our first round matchups.

Clippers are least objectionable. The poll results scare the crap out of me though given our proclivity to jinx this shit. Every single national pundit last year said we'd win against NO.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I don't really care about 3rd or 4th as long as we have HCA. GS might as easily drop to 2 to so planning to avoid them in the second round is just a futile exercise right now. And, let's actually get out of the first round before talking about all that stuff. TBH, I hate all our first round matchups.

I don't see GSW dropping, as Denver's remaining schedule is brutal (I've been harping on this for a while now). Believe it or not, despite still them having a 4-game lead on us and holding the tie-breaker, if Portland can take care of business and win the games they're supposed to win, they still have a legit shot at the 2.



The Nuggets could easily lose 3 of their next 6. If the Blazers are within 2 games of the Nuggs going into their pair of games on April 5th and 7th, the 2 seed is absolutely within reach.

 

[illmatic99]

I don't see GSW dropping, as Denver's remaining schedule is brutal (I've been harping on this for a while now). Believe it or not, despite still them having a 4-game lead on us and holding the tie-breaker, if Portland can take care of business and win the games they're supposed to win, they still have a legit shot at the 2.

View attachment 25306

The Nuggets could easily lose 3 of their next 6. If the Blazers are within 2 games of the Nuggs going into their pair of games on April 5th and 7th, the 2 seed is absolutely within reach.

They got throttled in Indy last night, which was a bit unexpected. Let's see what happens-- I'm still of the mindset that a rested and healthy Dame/Nurk are of more value to us than any seeding change. I'd rather not wear our guys out in pursuit of 2 or 3 just to end up facing a tough Utah or OKC team. There's really not much of a difference in strength of potential playoff opponent if we have the 2nd seed vs 4th (Clippers probably the only exception but they can still land anywhere between 5-8).

This is an annoying thing in the west. Teams can't truly start preparing/scouting until the very last few days of the regular season.

 

[illmatic99]

Found this on reddit via Eric Griffith.

 

[Orion Bailey]

They got throttled in Indy last night, which was a bit unexpected. Let's see what happens-- I'm still of the mindset that a rested and healthy Dame/Nurk are of more value to us than any seeding change. I'd rather not wear our guys out in pursuit of 2 or 3 just to end up facing a tough Utah or OKC team. There's really not much of a difference in strength of potential playoff opponent if we have the 2nd seed vs 4th (Clippers probably the only exception but they can still land anywhere between 5-8).

This is an annoying thing in the west. Teams can't truly start preparing/scouting until the very last few days of the regular season.

Annoying? Im loving it it. Its made the nba great again. Couldnt stand the past when the last 5-10 games were irrelevant and players would sit and teams wouldnt try.

This is like another round or two of playoff basketball if you ask me.

Yes, as a blazer fan it sucks to not get the jump, but id rather have this than the past.

 

[BBert]

I don't see GSW dropping, as Denver's remaining schedule is brutal (I've been harping on this for a while now). Believe it or not, despite still them having a 4-game lead on us and holding the tie-breaker, if Portland can take care of business and win the games they're supposed to win, they still have a legit shot at the 2.

View attachment 25306

The Nuggets could easily lose 3 of their next 6. If the Blazers are within 2 games of the Nuggs going into their pair of games on April 5th and 7th, the 2 seed is absolutely within reach.

Better screw your hat on, those are going to be playoff intensity.

 

[CupWizier]

Annoying? Im loving it it. Its made the nba great again. Couldnt stand the past when the last 5-10 games were irrelevant and players would sit and teams wouldnt try.

This is like another round or two of playoff basketball if you ask me.

Yes, as a blazer fan it sucks to not get the jump, but id rather have this than the past.

Even though there are some close races, there are also lottery bound teams sitting players and looking to lose which sways the standings as well. Is it fair if team A played Team B in the early part of the season and played them at full strength where as another team plays that same team B towards the end of the season where they are sitting 2 or 3 stars (perfect example is NO)

 

[BigGameDamian]

I think I'd rather play the Thunder just for the thrill of it.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Most likely we will get the 4 seed and play OKC and lose in 6. Sad but true

 

[illmatic99]

Most likely we will get the 4 seed and play OKC and lose in 6. Sad but true

No, the most likely scenario based on remain schedules is us getting 3 vs #6, SA. Or we get 4 and UTA gets 5.

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nba/westernstandings.html

 

[THE HCP]

No, the most likely scenario based on remain schedules is us getting 3 vs #6, SA. Or we get 4 and UTA gets 5.

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nba/westernstandings.html

I’d be good with those.

 

[illmatic99]

I’d be good with those.

I don't even know where to start.

SA is unbeatable at home, and Pop freaks me the fuck out. Their young guys will not be intimidated like other young guys in the playoffs. But their defense isn't that great.

Gobert will shut the rim down for Dame in the playoffs and we'd actually have to play Meyers against Utah. Don't like the prospects of that either.

I'd prefer HOU or OKC to be honest.