It All Comes Down To This!

[THE HCP]

The Trail Blazers’ playoff picture has cleared up slightly after Denver’s loss at Phoenix tonight. Possible opponents are now Dallas, Phoenix and Utah in the first round. The Nuggets are no longer an option.

TOMORROW’S GAMES
San Antonio at Dallas (5 PM)
Golden State at Portland (7:30 PM)
Phoenix at Utah (7:30 PM, ESPN)

PORTLAND WILL PLAY PHOENIX, IF:
1. Portland beats Golden State or San Antonio loses to Dallas
2. Phoenix wins at Utah
*3-6 Matchup

PORTLAND WILL PLAY UTAH, IF:
1. Portland loses to Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Utah beats Phoenix
*2-7 Matchup
----OR----
1. Portland beats Golden State or San Antonio loses at Dallas
2. Utah beats Phoenix
*3-6 Matchup

PORTLAND WILL PLAY DALLAS, IF:
1. Portland loses to Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Phoenix beats Utah
*2-7 Matchup
----OR----
1. Portland beats Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Utah beats Phoenix
*3-6 Matchup

 

[uosean]

Looks like we're all Phoenix fans for a day.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I really like the possibility that our half of the bracket will be us, PHX, SAS and DAL--and with us potentially having HCA over the Spurs in Round Two. All that takes is us taking care of business and PHX winning. Let LAL, DEN, UTH and OKC beat each other up.

 

[THE HCP]

Go Suns!!!

 

[THE HCP]

I'm kinda glad to see Denver out of the picture!

 

[RISE WITH IT]

Go Suns!!!

Go Frye!

 

[THE HCP]

Crazy thing is, last year we knew our fate right as we were about to tip off. The Jazz/PHX game will tip off about 10 minutes after us and finish about 20 minutes after us. We will probably STILL not know who we are playing until a half a fucking hour after we are done! How nerve racking is that!?!?

 

[uosean]

I read Boozer is probably out of the Suns/Jazz game due to a rib injury. It could be Phoenix and/or Dallas in the 1st and 2nd rounds!! I'd have to say that would be the best possible scenario. Avoiding Utah/Denver would be huge.

 

[Rhal]

If we get the suns it'll be my favorite team vs my second favorite team. With that being said... I hope we get phoenix and LA posterizes amare 17 times a game and bayless makes nash look old outdated and slow.
If we get the suns or dallas either one, we have to do a better job of defending the three line. We dont' seem to have the best time at that against teams that can put 2 to 3 3 shooters on the floor at any given time. To me if we don't lock down the three's we'll have to hope that whichever team we get doesn't get on fire from there for the majority of the series.

 

[THE HCP]

What scares me is that when the Suns offense is out and running, they are tough to stop. On the other hand there post defense is non existent!

 

[THE HCP]

Lopez out. Now there roster is even more thin.

Suns center Robin Lopez is still recovering from a bulging disk in his back and won't play in the first round of the playoffs.

"The visit he had to the doctor was pretty positive, but still we're not having him for the playoffs, not for the first series, anyway," head coach Alvin Gentry told The Arizona Republic. "It's not anything where we'll even take a remote chance. If he's ready to go, we'll play him. If not, everybody's got to step up a little bit."

"We just have to be smart with it," Gentry added. "One of the reasons you add depth and develop your bench is for situations like that."

Jarron Collins will continue to start at center until Lopez returns to the lineup.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Lopez out. Now there roster is even more thin.

Hey cool... LMA being out will be canceled out, then.

 

[Natebishop3]

Where's the breakdown for today's matchups? I'm still in the dark on how this can all play out...

 

[THE HCP]

Where's the breakdown for today's matchups? I'm still in the dark on how this can all play out...

You're joking right.


The Trail Blazers’ playoff picture has cleared up slightly after Denver’s loss at Phoenix tonight. Possible opponents are now Dallas, Phoenix and Utah in the first round. The Nuggets are no longer an option.

TOMORROW’S GAMES
San Antonio at Dallas (5 PM)
Golden State at Portland (7:30 PM)
Phoenix at Utah (7:30 PM, ESPN)

PORTLAND WILL PLAY PHOENIX, IF:
1. Portland beats Golden State or San Antonio loses to Dallas
2. Phoenix wins at Utah
*3-6 Matchup

PORTLAND WILL PLAY UTAH, IF:
1. Portland loses to Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Utah beats Phoenix
*2-7 Matchup
----OR----
1. Portland beats Golden State or San Antonio loses at Dallas
2. Utah beats Phoenix
*3-6 Matchup

PORTLAND WILL PLAY DALLAS, IF:
1. Portland loses to Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Phoenix beats Utah
*2-7 Matchup
----OR----
1. Portland beats Golden State
2. Dallas loses to San Antonio
3. Utah beats Phoenix
*3-6 Matchup

 

[Natebishop3]

Hmmm.... I still like the Suns in the first round. I think it's the best team to play without Roy. I'm worried about Butler torching us.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Go Suns! Go Blazers!

 

[THE HCP]

I think we will play Utah! Nate will not throw this game. We will win (even without LA) and Utah will beat the Suns. DAMN! I will have to spend 4 or 5 days in god damn SLC!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Where's the breakdown for today's matchups? I'm still in the dark on how this can all play out...

Basically, after Dallas beats SA, it comes down to the Blazers will play the winner of the Phx-Utah game.

 

[maxiep]

I'm kinda glad to see Denver out of the picture!

The selfish part of me wanted to see some games here, but the realistic part of me didn't want to see Denver handing us our ass again.

 

[maxiep]

Does Dallas have any incentive to win tonight? If I were Dallas, I'd rather play Portland than San Antonio.

 

[maxiep]

I think we will play Utah! Nate will not throw this game. We will win (even without LA) and Utah will beat the Suns. DAMN! I will have to spend 4 or 5 days in god damn SLC!

Look on the bright side. You can get married again and then introduce Mrs. HCP to her new "sister-bride".

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Does Dallas have any incentive to win tonight? If I were Dallas, I'd rather play Portland than San Antonio.

Good point . . . I wonder if they rest there starters or only play them in the first part of the game and see if the bench can win one in the 4th.

I'm hoping Nate does that with Ptd if Dallas wins.

 

[THE HCP]

David Locke from the Jazz.....

Just on 1320, K-Fan, hearing no AK, no Boozer and Memo is in doubt tonight v. Phoenix Suns. http://bit.ly/9faehS
about 1 hour ago via Facebook

NO BOOZER OR OKUR!

 

[MARIS61]

Looks like it will be Phoenix, which is really bad news.

Nate seems baffled by running teams, perhaps he has too little respect for them, and we have absolutely nobody who can guard Channing Frye.