Blazers vs Rockets for the #3 Seed!

[KingSpeed]

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.

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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.

I agree. I think if we win out (doable), we will be the #2 seed. Only three tough games the rest of the way: Memphis, @ Detroit, and @ Denver.

 

[KingSpeed]

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.

We solved Utah over the course of this season. Don't be too scared of Pop. He has lost in the first round many times. As the #1 seed vs Memphis. As the Defending Champions vs Clippers. And last year. He is not some unbeatable god. Spurs or Clippers are our best matchups.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I agree. I think if we win out (doable), we will be the #2 seed. Only three tough games the rest of the way: Memphis, @ Detroit, and @ Denver.

Hosting Denver is also tough. Also, with the way Atlanta has been playing lately, that is certainly no gimme.

 

[illmatic99]

We solved Utah over the course of this season. Don't be too scared of Pop. He has lost in the first round many times. As the #1 seed vs Memphis. As the Defending Champions vs Clippers. He is not some unbeatable god. Spurs or Clippers are our best matchups.

Alvin Gentry coached circles around Terry. It is 100% justified to be worried about how Pop can scheme against Terry.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I’d be good with those.

Hard to root for Westbrick up against Dame?

 

[THE HCP]

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.

HOU and OKC have superstars who will get the benefit of the doubt from the men in stripes, no thanks.

 

[KingSpeed]

Alvin Gentry coached circles around Terry. It is 100% justified to be worried about how Pop can scheme against Terry.

We'll see. Like I said, Pop has been beat several times in first round.

 

[illmatic99]

HOU and OKC have superstars who will get the benefit of the doubt from the men in stripes, no thanks.

That has been proven NOT to be the case year in and year out. Rubio was able to manhandle Russell last season in the playoffs, and Harden has consistently not gotten the whistle as well.

 

[Orion Bailey]

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)

Thats far less than in years past and the end of the season usually has division and playoff potential games heading into the playoffs.

We play denver twice. Gsw plays houston and so on.

No is an outlier. Most of the matchups seem to be playoff teams for most playoff teams.

Though that was just at a glance and not from studying the remaining nba schedule.

 

[wizenheimer]

We'll see. Like I said, Pop has been beat several times in first round.

c'mon man...

sure Pop has lost 5 times in the first round, two of those when Duncan and Manu weren't playing due to injuries. But he's also won 5 championships

and, he's won 38 playoff series compared to 2 for Stotts. That's a mismatch. Yeah, it sure appears Portland is the deeper, better team, but clearly, Popovich is a better coach

 

[CupWizier]

c'mon man...

sure Pop has lost 5 times in the first round, two of those when Duncan and Manu weren't playing due to injuries. But he's also won 5 championships

and, he's won 38 playoff series compared to 2 for Stotts. That's a mismatch. Yeah, it sure appears Portland is the deeper, better team, but clearly, Popovich is a better coach

But the Blazers are a better team.

 

[wizenheimer]

But the Blazers are a better team.

yeah sure....and a year ago, Portland was better than New Orleans

 

[CupWizier]

yeah sure....and a year ago, Portland was better than New Orleans

oh yes. Cause it happened last year then it means it will happen every year. This is a different team and a different year. OKC lost to a lower seed last year. Does that mean they are doomed to repeat it? What about the Spurs? They lost in the first round as well. I guess 3/4's of the first round is already decided.

 

[illmatic99]

Another day, another thread derailment over pedantic detail, another instance of condescension by calling someone 'son.' I really need to gtfo this forum. Ignore list is not helping when the damn button is still there to see ignored content.

 

[hoopsjock]

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.

I'm definitely not going to argue the coach effect, but do you consider the Blazers unbeatable at home?

The reason I ask is that the Spurs are only 1 game ahead of us in home record.

 

[CupWizier]

Another day, another thread derailment over pedantic detail, another instance of condescension by calling someone 'son.' I really need to gtfo this forum. Ignore list is not helping when the damn button is still there to see ignored content.

and this is adding to the discussion how?

 

[illmatic99]

I'm definitely not going to argue the coach effect, but do you consider the Blazers unbeatable at home?

The reason I ask is that the Spurs are only 1 game ahead of us in home record.

Sure.

But if the home team wins the first 6 games in a series, I really don't like our shot of winning game 7 vs Pop, even if it's at home.

 

[Phatguysrule]

yeah sure....and a year ago, Portland was better than New Orleans

No. New Orleans was better last year. If they were as healthy during the season as they were in the playoffs they'd have been a top 3 seed.

 

[Chris Craig]

and this is adding to the discussion how?

Your condescension isn't adding to it either. Don't be a smart ass.

 

[Scalma]

I think you have to look at matchups in a very simple way; Can we match up with the other teams superstars?

Thunder: George? No thank you. Westbrook can shoot his teams out of games but he’s also completely capable of dominating Lillard.

Clippers: Do they have one? Not overlooking them, but this would be my first choice.

Jazz: Mitchell can go off, but I feel like Gobert and Nurk would neutralize each other.

Spurs: Nurk did well against Aldridge last time, but this still isn’t a favorable matchup, plus I’d like to avoid Pop in the playoffs thank you very much.

So my order of best matchups would probably be Clippers, Utah, San Antonio, and Thunder.

 

[TBpup]

Pop is as good of a coach as there is....but Aldridge.

 

[riverman]

I think we beat the Jazz in a first round matchup..save the travel time for later in the playoffs...get one early close to home

 

[TBpup]

It makes Nurk's injury even worse that with the Houston loss, Portland moves into the #3 seed at least temporarily. What a gut punch.

My worry is that now even another year of Dame's prime is down the drain and likely most of next if not all of next season. So this may have far more ranging effects than just a lost Playoff run.

I hope they battle as much as they can but it won't take long to where they are just out-manned.

 

[KingSpeed]

Sure.

But if the home team wins the first 6 games in a series, I really don't like our shot of winning game 7 vs Pop, even if it's at home.

Offhand, I remember Pop losing Game 7s vs Clippers, Mavericks, and Heat.

 

[KingSpeed]

It makes Nurk's injury even worse that with the Houston loss, Portland moves into the #3 seed at least temporarily. What a gut punch.

My worry is that now even another year of Dame's prime is down the drain and likely most of next if not all of next season. So this may have far more ranging effects than just a lost Playoff run.

I hope they battle as much as they can but it won't take long to where they are just out-manned.

Keep your chin up. We have the deepest center rotation in the league. We will miss Nurk but that doesn't mean we can't still find ways to win. As for Dame's career, Olshey and Dame don't necessarily have to wait around for Nurk to come back to improve the team. We know that Hood and Curry can cover for CJ so maybe now, Olshey gets aggressive with a CJ/Zach/Picks trade for Anthony Davis.

Dame/Hood/Harkless/Aminu/AD

Not a bad starting lineup.

 

[TBpup]

While Portland is on the road for 4 games, Houston gets DEN, SAC, @Sac, @LaC for their next 4. If the Blazers can somehow go 3-1, I think they can hold their position.

 

[LayneStaley]

I’m calling it...

Por 6-3 the rest of the way

Hou 4-3 the rest of the way

We are getting the 3 seed and will be playing the Clippers in Round 1, Den in Round 2.

We are a Nurk away from making the WCF.

 

[illmatic99]

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

We should have a great idea of if we get #3 by the end of this week.

If HOU loses to Denver tonight, our chances of getting 3 increases to 70%, and we'd pretty much all but be guaranteed to have HCA. A DEN win and if we manage to win in ATL, we'd pretty much seal our spot. I really hope we rest everyone if this happens. Giving Dame a 5 game break before the playoffs would be huge. As it is, our chances of keeping HCA right now before all these games are > 85%.

Also based on these probabilities, it looks like either LA or Utah will be our opponent.

 

[hoopsjock]

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

We should have a great idea of if we get #3 by the end of this week.

If HOU loses to Denver tonight, our chances of getting 3 increases to 70%, and we'd pretty much all but be guaranteed to have HCA. A DEN win and if we manage to win in ATL, we'd pretty much seal our spot. I really hope we rest everyone if this happens. Giving Dame a 5 game break before the playoffs would be huge. As it is, our chances of keeping HCA right now before all these games are > 85%.

On the flip side if Houston beats Denver we'd only be 3 games behind them. It's probably not worth going all out for but the door would still be slightly open for the 2nd seed.

 

[illmatic99]

On the flip side if Houston beats Denver we'd only be 3 games behind them. It's probably not worth going all out for but the door would still be slightly open for the 2nd seed.

Getting 2 also increases our chances of getting OKC round one. If we want LA/Utah in the first round with HCA and try like hell to avoid GS second round, #3 should suffice.