Proof that we're pretenders......for now

[toutlaw25]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/standings

Currently, we are the only team in the Western Conference playoff race with a losing record against not only conference opponents, but a losing road record as well. I know the team is young and had a rough schedule to begin the season, but until we can signficantly improve those two numbers, we won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Here's hoping they can start their winning ways tonight, and I can put my foot in my mouth.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Being the only team in the 9 team playoff race with those stats isn't all bad, considering we currently have the 7th best record.

 

[alex42083]

There's no doubt we need to win on the road, especially since we've starting giving up some big games at home lately. But calling us pretenders depends on your expectations. Pretenders for a playoff spot or the NBA title? We're only at the beginning of January.. and we always seem to have one big win streak in us at sometime.

 

[julius]

Well shit, we should just blow up the team if we're not making the playoffs based on those figures.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I know we've all beat the "tough schedule" excuse into the ground, but it really is true. Of the nine teams fighting for the eight play-off spots in the West, the Blazers have played, by far, the toughest schedule (SoS = 0.539).

Here's the current SoS for the top nine teams in the West:

POR - 0.539
PHO - 0.511
NOH - 0.511
DEN - 0.509
LAL - 0.494
HOU - 0.488
UTA - 0.481
DAL - 0.477
SAS - 0.466

And, after playing the Lakers today, our SoS will be even higher.

BNM