Getting home court advantage in the first round

[Schilly]

Ok I can see us passing Houston but let's not get carried away. The Flippers would have to lose 8 of their remaining 10 for us to pass them and the Thunder would have to go winless from here on out. On top of that the blazers would have to win out.

 

[Strenuus]

At home. We are simply better than GS, and we're at least equal to the Clippers. We had the Clippers beat in LA before the all-star break until we started chucking up ridiculous shots in the last two minutes.

Well, considering we lost to GS at home.... I don't think it's fair to just say it's a forgone conclusion we are going to win. That's awfully naive.

 

[KingSpeed]

What I want more than seeding is for us to finish the season strong. If we can win out, then NO ONE will want to play us, and we won't fear anyone.

Yep. This^

Ya'll forgetting we still have to play GS and LAC? lol. I'd love to win out, but the chances are really slim.

We play those guys at home and have already beat them. When did you get so negative? Our chances are SLIM? Not all. Only two on road (against losing teams) and no back to backs. It's very possible.

At home. We are simply better than GS, and we're at least equal to the Clippers. We had the Clippers beat in LA before the all-star break until we started chucking up ridiculous shots in the last two minutes.

this ^

Ok I can see us passing Houston but let's not get carried away. The Flippers would have to lose 8 of their remaining 10 for us to pass them and the Thunder would have to go winless from here on out. On top of that the blazers would have to win out.

Clippers only have to lose 5 games for us to tie them and since one of those losses will be to us, we will have the tie breaker.

Blazers 55-27
Clippers 55-27

Well, considering we lost to GS at home.... I don't think it's fair to just say it's a forgone conclusion we are going to win. That's awfully naive.

You don't know what the word naive means. Presumptuous is the word you are looking for.

 

[Strenuus]

Presumptuous works too.

And so, with that being said, if GS has beat us at home, why are they not given a fighting chance? THat's awfully.... well, you know.

And no, I'm not being negative. I have just seen prior results and choose to not ignore them...

 

[magnifier661]

Presumptuous works too.

And so, with that being said, if GS has beat us at home, why are they not given a fighting chance? THat's awfully.... well, you know.

And no, I'm not being negative. I have just seen prior results and choose to not ignore them...

We've beaten golden state on the road too. So I guess it's a wash

 

[Strenuus]

We've beaten golden state on the road too. So I guess it's a wash

True. Fair enough.

Still don't feel 100% confident in the game. I'd say about 72.25%

 

[THE HCP]

I'm telling you guys, Houston will keep losing without their starting PG and Center!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm telling you guys, Houston will keep losing without their starting PG and Center!

They might want to to avoid getting us in the first round.

 

[DHawes22]

Yep. This^
Clippers only have to lose 5 games for us to tie them and since one of those losses will be to us, we will have the tie breaker.

Blazers 55-27
Clippers 55-27

Even if we go 2-1 in the season series, the Clippers would get the tiebreaker due to their status as Pacific Division Champs. Being a division winner trumps all when two teams have an identical record.

 

[KingSpeed]

Even if we go 2-1 in the season series, the Clippers would get the tiebreaker due to their status as Pacific Division Champs. Being a division winner trumps all when two teams have an identical record.

You are right. Unless GS catches them. Thanks for correcting me.

 

[magnifier661]

Even if we go 2-1 in the season series, the Clippers would get the tiebreaker due to their status as Pacific Division Champs. Being a division winner trumps all when two teams have an identical record.

I thought the division winner only trumps for a guaranteed 4th spot?

 

[THE HCP]

Houston @ Toronto on a back to back tonight! I know for a fact after TNT game and going thru customs, they didn't get to their hotel til 3AM last night! Go Raptors!!!

 

[B-Roy]

After Houston's loss tonight to Toronto, Blazers are only one game behind them in the standings. Houston plays 8 more times and Blazers play 6 more times. Here are their schedules

Houston:

vs. Thunder
vs. Nuggets
@ Lakers
@ Nuggets
@ Timberwolves
vs. Pelicans
vs. Spurs
@ Pelicans

Portland:

vs. Suns
vs. Pelicans
vs. Kings
@ Jazz
vs. Warriors
vs. Clippers

If Houston loses on Friday and we win on Friday, we will be in a virtual tie, but the Rockets have the tiebreaker. The most wins we can end up with is 55, and would require us to go 6-0 the rest of the way. The Rockets would have to go 5-3 which would put them at 54 wins, and give us HCA. Looking at the Rockets schedule, that seems pretty unlikely. The only two teams left that are difficult are against the Thunder and the Spurs, and both are at home. However, if Howard is out for an extended period of time, I suppose it's possible.

I'd say the chances of us getting HCA is pretty slim, but it doesn't really matter. As long as the Blazers take care of business in these last 6 games, they should roll into the playoffs with enough confidence to beat any team, HCA or not. We've seen what this team can do when they've got their mojo.

 

[KingSpeed]

I thought the division winner only trumps for a guaranteed 4th spot?

We're talking about tiebreakers. If we're tied with Clips, they have tiebreaker because they won division.

 

[KingSpeed]

I see Spurs, OKC, and Wolves being losses for Rockets. Lakers and Nuggets on road aren't a given. Lakers destroyed Suns recently.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

After Houston's loss tonight to Toronto, Blazers are only one game behind them in the standings. Houston plays 8 more times and Blazers play 6 more times. Here are their schedules

Houston:

vs. Thunder
vs. Nuggets
@ Lakers
@ Nuggets
@ Timberwolves
vs. Pelicans
vs. Spurs
@ Pelicans

Portland:

vs. Suns
vs. Pelicans
vs. Kings
@ Jazz
vs. Warriors
vs. Clippers

If Houston loses on Friday and we win on Friday, we will be in a virtual tie, but the Rockets have the tiebreaker. The most wins we can end up with is 55, and would require us to go 6-0 the rest of the way. The Rockets would have to go 5-3 which would put them at 54 wins, and give us HCA. Looking at the Rockets schedule, that seems pretty unlikely. The only two teams left that are difficult are against the Thunder and the Spurs, and both are at home. However, if Howard is out for an extended period of time, I suppose it's possible.

I'd say the chances of us getting HCA is pretty slim, but it doesn't really matter. As long as the Blazers take care of business in these last 6 games, they should roll into the playoffs with enough confidence to beat any team, HCA or not. We've seen what this team can do when they've got their mojo.

This

 

[STOMP]

Home court advantage takes a backseat to how they're playing and doing healthwise entering the playoffs. I think they've a superior team if everyone is near the top of their game and they're clicking. Once their position is more or less sewn up and they're coming down the last few games, I definitely support resting/sitting out key players at the possible expense of a better record. Take a page from Pop & focus on the prize.

STOMP

 

[HailBlazers]

After Houston's loss tonight to Toronto, Blazers are only one game behind them in the standings. Houston plays 8 more times and Blazers play 6 more times. Here are their schedules

Houston:

vs. Thunder
vs. Nuggets
@ Lakers
@ Nuggets
@ Timberwolves
vs. Pelicans
vs. Spurs
@ Pelicans

Portland:

vs. Suns
vs. Pelicans
vs. Kings
@ Jazz
vs. Warriors
vs. Clippers

If Houston loses on Friday and we win on Friday, we will be in a virtual tie, but the Rockets have the tiebreaker. The most wins we can end up with is 55, and would require us to go 6-0 the rest of the way. The Rockets would have to go 5-3 which would put them at 54 wins, and give us HCA. Looking at the Rockets schedule, that seems pretty unlikely. The only two teams left that are difficult are against the Thunder and the Spurs, and both are at home. However, if Howard is out for an extended period of time, I suppose it's possible.

I'd say the chances of us getting HCA is pretty slim, but it doesn't really matter. As long as the Blazers take care of business in these last 6 games, they should roll into the playoffs with enough confidence to beat any team, HCA or not. We've seen what this team can do when they've got their mojo.

Repped.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I see Spurs, OKC, and Wolves being losses for Rockets. Lakers and Nuggets on road aren't a given. Lakers destroyed Suns recently.

The SA game worries me. It is at Houston and it is the second to last game of the reg season for the Spurs. We need OKC to be closer to the Spurs than 3 games on that date.

Root for OKC tomorrow.

 

[KingSpeed]

The SA game worries me. It is at Houston and it is the second to last game of the reg season for the Spurs. We need OKC to be closer to the Spurs than 3 games on that date.

Root for OKC tomorrow.

Why? Spurs win whether their starters are in or not. Whether they care or not.

 

[KingSpeed]

Home court advantage takes a backseat to how they're playing and doing healthwise entering the playoffs. I think they've a superior team if everyone is near the top of their game and they're clicking. Once their position is more or less sewn up and they're coming down the last few games, I definitely support resting/sitting out key players at the possible expense of a better record. Take a page from Pop & focus on the prize.

STOMP

Um Pop has his guys playing and they've won 19 straight. We need momentum heading into the playoffs. You don't blow a chance at HCA when you haven't won a series in 14 years. Aldridge had his rest. We're ready to go now.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Why? Spurs win whether their starters are in or not. Whether they care or not.

Yeah are probably right, but in a must win for Houston, in Houston........I an not counting on it. I still would prefer the game mean something to SA. I hate OKC, but I think I will root for them tonight over the Spurs.