Playoff Seeding

[Reep]

Neither will be easy. Denver is playing for its playoff life. Utah is a beast. Blazers gotta bring their all. No rest for the weary. Its passed that now.

Hopefully we are mostly healthy. It should show a lot about what does or does not need to happen this summer. If we win both then good times, if we drop both, then some soul searching needs to happen.

 

[Chris Craig]

Hopefully we are mostly healthy. It should show a lot about what does or does not need to happen this summer. If we win both then good times, if we drop both, then some soul searching needs to happen.

Next two games are definately going to say a lot about where the Blazers are at as a team going into the playoffs. How we see ourselves. How other teams see us. Confidence levels. Luckily adversity is the Blazers butter.

 

[CupWizier]

West Seeds as they stand

1.Houston 64- 18
2. GSW 58-28
3. Por 48-32
4. Utah 47-33
5. NOP 46-34
6. SAS 46-34
7. OKC 46-34
8. Minn 45-35

-----------------------Playoffs-----------------------

9. Den 45-35


Remaining Games

Mon:

NOP@LAC (I think NOP wins)

MEM@MIN (Toss up)

SAC @ SAS (I think Spurs win)

POR @DEN (Hopefully POR)


TUES

GSW @ UTAH (I think UTAH wins)


WED

DEN @ MIN (I think DEN wins)

SAS @ NOP (I think NOP wins)

UTAH @ POR (POR better win)


Worst case scenario

Blazers lose last two
Utah wins last two
Spurs win last two

Would mean Utah wins NW division and finishes ahead of Blazers and gets third place. Spurs get 4th place and Blazers get 5th and lose HCA, play SAS 1st round.

Middle ground

Blazers, Jazz, Spurs all finish 1-1. Results depend. If Blazers beat DEN but lose to Utah Blazers get 4th place with HCA against the 5th place Spurs or Pelicans. If Blazers lose to DEN but beat Utah...Blazers get third, Utah 4th, Spurs or Pels 5th\6th

The Denver\Minnesota 8th spot coukd go either way even if we beat DEN tonight. Looks like Min could certainly drop their last two.

Who the hell knows which scenario will happen or will most likely happen. A lot can happen in the next three nights.

It's mind boggling the amount of possibilities that still exist with only 2 games to go.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

In my mind, the only game that matters is the Utah game. The playoffs start a week early, boys! Beating the Nugs and locking up HCA would be nice, but the real goal here is to get the #3 seed and avoid Houston until the WCF. Yes, I am thinking in those terms. This team at full strength and full bore can beat anyone in the West in a 7 game series, including Houston. Beating the hottest team in the NBA over the 2nd half of the season to clinch #3 would be a proper way to set up for the playoffs. Get Moe back, get healthy, get ready.

 

[Reep]

In my mind, the only game that matters is the Utah game. The playoffs start a week early, boys! Beating the Nugs and locking up HCA would be nice, but the real goal here is to get the #3 seed and avoid Houston until the WCF. Yes, I am thinking in those terms. This team at full strength and full bore can beat anyone in the West in a 7 game series, including Houston. Beating the hottest team in the NBA over the 2nd half of the season to clinch #3 would be a proper way to set up for the playoffs. Get Moe back, get healthy, get ready.

It would be an interesting and risky strategy to rest the key players tonight and focus on Utah. I guess you could see how the first half goes and if you are getting killed and players are sucking wind, then maybe you let this one go?

I would love to see them fight and win both games, but if they really are that tired, having them play hard in thin air could lead to losing both games.

 

[hoopsjock]

According to ESPN, since the Wolves and Nuggets play each other the last game all 5 times battling for the 4 spots control their own destiny with the 2 games left. That is crazy.

 

[Titan]

I was also thinking that if we do lose tonight to Denver, then that puts a lot of pressure on the the rest of the teams trying to make the playoffs in the West. Would make the final day of the season really interesting and also crazy and I mean crazy.

 

[Hoopguru]

Pick your poison!
would you rather advance, and play Houston or GS w/o Curry?

Im thinking GS w/o Curry?

 

[Hoopguru]

Pick your poison!
would you rather advance, and play Houston or GS w/o Curry?

Im thinking GS w/o Curry?

Maybe Utah would rather play GS too so a 4 seed would accomplish that?

 

[kjironman1]

Just win and let the rest fall into place.

 

[Chris Craig]

Maybe Utah would rather play GS too so a 4 seed would accomplish that?

No 4th seed would play Houston in the second round, they want 3rd

 

[Chris Craig]

Pick your poison!
would you rather advance, and play Houston or GS w/o Curry?

Im thinking GS w/o Curry?

3rd place and gsw w/o curry in the second round would be awesome, but I would take 4th and homecourt advantage

 

[Chris Craig]

It would be an interesting and risky strategy to rest the key players tonight and focus on Utah. I guess you could see how the first half goes and if you are getting killed and players are sucking wind, then maybe you let this one go?

I would love to see them fight and win both games, but if they really are that tired, having them play hard in thin air could lead to losing both games.

Thing is we gotta get into that every game matters disposition so when we get to the playoffs we understand the stakes, and are in the right frame of mind to compete at high levels. The confidence from a win tonight would go a long way towards getting us a victory against Utah. If we roll into the playoffs surrendered and in submission then we aren't even going to have the temperament to win the first round series, let alone go deep into the playoffs, second round plus.

 

[blue9]

Beyond losing home court advantage, going into the POs on a 5-game losing streak would not be a good look.

 

[BonesJones]

So, regardless of how the last 2 games pan out, we will be either #3, #4, #5 or #6.
T-Wolves/Denver and OKC will always be below us?
Could there be a 3 team tie-breaker?
Pelicans can still drop out of the playoff picture and replaced by Denver/T-Wolves? They are playing the Clippers and the Spurs.
Wow ... this stuff it making my brain hurt !!!

We can't be 6th.

 

[BonesJones]

I'd say this is the best case scenario:
3 POR
4 UTA
5 OKC
6 NOP
7 SAS
8 MIN

 

[Titan]

I feel like any seed but the 8th would be preferred. Getting the flopettes in the 1st round will suck, better to be 9th and a chance at the lottery. Depending who is 7th, they might have a chance against GSW (SAS/OKC, both have a good shot). 3rd thru 6th having game 7 at home will mean a lot in the 1st round.

 

[Lanny]

Bring on the Spurs! The goal is to get better for future playoff runs. This includes the players and coaches. We'll learn more playing the Spurs then we would playing the Pels.

Also beating LMA would be especially satisfying.

Have to agree, it would be immensely satisfying.

By the way, I requested that the Blazers get a hold of you to set up a meet and greet. I think that will get all the attention that a man of my status has coming. Yep, not much at all.

 

[Driew]

Have to agree, it would be immensely satisfying.

By the way, I requested that the Blazers get a hold of you to set up a meet and greet. I think that will get all the attention that a man of my status has coming. Yep, not much at all.

If we get the Spurs you can bet Dame will be out for blood trying to prove that LA made the wrong choice haha

 

[BigGameDamian]

I'd say this is the best case scenario:
3 POR
4 UTA
5 OKC
6 NOP
7 SAS
8 MIN

Highly doubtful Minnesota stays in 8th seed.

 

[Reep]

Thing is we gotta get into that every game matters disposition so when we get to the playoffs we understand the stakes, and are in the right frame of mind to compete at high levels. The confidence from a win tonight would go a long way towards getting us a victory against Utah. If we roll into the playoffs surrendered and in submission then we aren't even going to have the temperament to win the first round series, let alone go deep into the playoffs, second round plus.

Unfortunately, in hindsight they should have rested the players. I don't know if it is true or not, but some have said the shooting woes are due to everyone being tired. If that is true, then rest is the only thing that would have helped. Hopefully we rest before Utah and before the first round.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Highly doubtful Minnesota stays in 8th seed.

Ya, they could fall to 9th.

 

[Reep]

Ya, they could fall to 9th.

You have to give it up for the schedulers. Having Portland/Utah and Denver/Minne playing on the final night is amazing. Denver/Minne winner is in, right?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

You have to give it up for the schedulers. Having Portland/Utah and Denver/Minne playing on the final night is amazing. Denver/Minne winner is in, right?

Last I heard, that is the case. But someone can chime in if we are both wrong.

 

[THE HCP]

Winner of the Wolves/Nuggs game gets 8th, loser goes home.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Winner of the Wolves/Nuggs game gets 8th, loser goes home.

Nuggs can't get 8, it's 7 or 9

 

[THE HCP]

Interesting, everywhere I've read it says they will be battling for the last playoff spot.

 

[tester551]

Interesting, everywhere I've read it says they will be battling for the last playoff spot.

True. 7 of the 8 spots are accounted for. They are battling for the last playoff spot.... just not the 8th seed.

 

[THE HCP]

True. 7 of the 8 spots are accounted for. They are battling for the last playoff spot.... just not the 8th seed.

Gotcha. Ya this is crazy.

 

[hoopsjock]

Gotcha. Ya this is crazy.

I'm guessing GS would love a scenario where they played the Nuggets instead of any other team.