Road Warriors: HCA obstacle?

[TBpup]

The Blazers currently sit at #4 in the Western Conference, 1 game up on the Houston Rockets. They play 12 of their next 15 on the road where they currently have a .435 winning percentage. That would equate to 5 wins out of the next 12 road games during a critical stretch as they try to hold on to HCA. They only have 3 home games in that stretch and 2 of those will be very tough games so no rest there either.

What do they need to do to maintain #4?
Will they be helped by any non-playoff teams tanking?

@ Dallas
@ OKC
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

 

[trailblazer18]

It's a tough stretch. I only see 8 games that I feel pretty good about.

 

[ripcityboy]

 

[Pinwheel1]

I see 4 easy games in that stretch and they need to treat those 4 like a game 7. Starting on Sunday.
I would be happy going 8-7 in this 15 game stretch

 

[oldmangrouch]

What was all the talk about our schedule being easier in the second half of the season? I'd call that feckin' brutal!

 

[hoopsjock]

The Blazers currently sit at #4 in the Western Conference, 1 game up on the Houston Rockets. They play 12 of their next 15 on the road where they currently have a .435 winning percentage. That would equate to 5 wins out of the next 12 road games during a critical stretch as they try to hold on to HCA. They only have 3 home games in that stretch and 2 of those will be very tough games so no rest there either.

What do they need to do to maintain #4?
Will they be helped by any non-playoff teams tanking?

@ Dallas
@ OKC
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

@TBpup: I specifically heard Olshey say yesterday that they were passed the hard part of their schedule. Are you saying he's incorrect?

 

[B-Roy]

Well luckily we play 82 games overal, because the 9 games after this stretch could realistically turn into a 9 game win streak.

I say could, cause knowing the Blazers they’ll probably shit the bed on some of them.

Pacers
Mavericks
Pistons
Nets
Bulls
Hawks
Pistons
Wolves
Grizzlies

 

[Orion Bailey]

The Blazers currently sit at #4 in the Western Conference, 1 game up on the Houston Rockets. They play 12 of their next 15 on the road where they currently have a .435 winning percentage. That would equate to 5 wins out of the next 12 road games during a critical stretch as they try to hold on to HCA. They only have 3 home games in that stretch and 2 of those will be very tough games so no rest there either.

What do they need to do to maintain #4?
Will they be helped by any non-playoff teams tanking?

@ Dallas
@ OKC
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

Well luckily we play 82 games overal, because the 9 games after this stretch could realistically turn into a 9 game win streak.

I say could, cause knowing the Blazers they’ll probably shit the bed on some of them.

Pacers
Mavericks
Pistons
Nets
Bulls
Hawks
Pistons
Wolves
Grizzlies

So combining the two, lets say we win 8 of the next 15 and then 8 of our last nine, putting us at 49 wins for the season. Not sure if that is enough to keep hca, but alot of that also depends on how other teams do heading down the stretch.

 

[oldmangrouch]

@TBpup: I specifically heard Olshey say yesterday that they were passed the hard part of their schedule. Are you saying he's incorrect?

If you gave Olshey the choice between telling the unvarnished truth and being fed feet first into a wood chipper, he would brag about the great pedicure he has arranged for himself.

 

[TBpup]

If you gave Olshey the choice between telling the unvarnished truth and being fed feet first into a wood chipper, he would brag about the great pedicure he has arranged for himself.

And some people would completely buy the pedicure line.

 

[KingSpeed]

I count 12 wins.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[TBpup]

I count 12 wins.

Where can I bet the 'Under' on that #?

 

[Hoopguru]

10 games and rolling!

 

[illmatic99]

I think 5 wins is a stretch. Oof brutal schedule

 

[JoshuaHall]

@ Dallas
@ Brooklyn
@ Cleveland
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

They should win these 8 games at least, with the Spurs a toss up at 9.

 

[tykendo]

This is a talented Blazers roster. The road is always tough, but the chemistry on this team makes the road not so tough. They'll surprise and kick some butt.

 

[hoopsjock]

This is a talented Blazers roster. The road is always tough, but the chemistry on this team makes the road not so tough. They'll surprise and kick some butt.

In the 4 seasons since Aldridge left their road record is:

This year: 10-13
Last year 21-20
2016-17: 16-25
2015-16: 16-25
Total: 63-83

It's not awful but I wouldn't say that the chemistry has made the road not so tough either.

 

[TBpup]

In the 4 seasons since Aldridge left their road record is:

This year: 10-13
Last year 21-20
2016-17: 16-25
2015-16: 16-25
Total: 63-83

It's not awful but I wouldn't say that the chemistry has made the road not so tough either.

The continuity that is stressed and highlighted so much at the beginning of each season has not meant as much as you would like given those numbers. That is a total winning percentage of .431. Even at that, it should get better over time as the team progresses and matures, right?

Currently this season.... .434.

 

[hoopsjock]

The continuity that is stressed and highlighted so much at the beginning of each season has not meant as much as you would like given those numbers. That is a total winning percentage of .431. Even at that, it should get better over time as the team progresses and matures, right?

Currently this season.... .434.

Yeah exactly! My belief is that you want to dominate at home and be .500 on the road if you want to be a good team. Last year we snuck in there to be 21-20. In order to achieve that this year we would need to go 11-7 on the road from here on out. Certainly doable but they need to pick it up. If they can do that AND go 7-3 at home, also doable, then they could get to 51 wins.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Yeah exactly! My belief is that you want to dominate at home and be .500 on the road if you want to be a good team. Last year we snuck in there to be 21-20. In order to achieve that this year we would need to go 11-7 on the road from here on out. Certainly doable but they need to pick it up. If they can do that AND go 7-3 at home, also doable, then they could get to 51 wins.

That would be great, then please, please, please win one game after the first 82...

 

[BonesJones]

So combining the two, lets say we win 8 of the next 15 and then 8 of our last nine, putting us at 49 wins for the season. Not sure if that is enough to keep hca, but alot of that also depends on how other teams do heading down the stretch.

We have 28 games left, not 24.

 

[Orion Bailey]

We have 28 games left, not 24.

I was goign based off the count provided by others. One said 15 game stretch, then the last nine.

 

[TBpup]

Well there went one of the games I had as a win....SMH.

 

[TBpup]

I hope the team can turn this trip around, but that seems to be a tough way to start a long road stretch.

@ Dallas - L
@ OKC
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

 

[wizenheimer]

I hope the team can turn this trip around, but that seems to be a tough way to start a long road stretch.

@ Dallas - L
@ OKC
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

bad thing about it as far as indicators, was that going into yesterday, Portland had about 10 games left against mid-tier teams whose trade deadline moves signaled they were packing it in, going for draft position, and coasting to the finish line. Games the Blazers should win, and need to win. Dallas was the first test against those types of teams and Portland failed. Making it worse is that the failure was a 4th Q meltdown which is not something a playoff team should suffer, especially not a team shooting for HCA

it was just one game though, and shit happens in the NBA. Problem is Portland's issues in the 4th Q were the same issues they've had for 4 seasons now

 

[TBpup]

Off to a tough start and I don't expect it to get any better against Golden State. It puts a lot of pressure on the 7-game road trip after the All-Star break. I'm wondering what it will be like for the players mentally if they are off for a week after having lost 3 games in a row? That would be their longest losing streak since Dec 4.

@ Dallas - L....first loss of the season after leading going into the 4th quarter.
@ OKC - L.......gave up a rare, double-triple-double to George and Westbrick.
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

 

[Chris Craig]

Off to a tough start and I don't expect it to get any better against Golden State. It puts a lot of pressure on the 7-game road trip after the All-Star break. I'm wondering what it will be like for the players mentally if they are off for a week after having lost 3 games in a row? That would be their longest losing streak since Dec 4.

@ Dallas - L....first loss of the season after leading going into the 4th quarter.
@ OKC - L.......gave up a rare, double-triple-double to George and Westbrick.
GOLDEN ST
@ Brooklyn
@ Philadephia
@ Cleveland
@ Boston
@ Toronto
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
OKLAHOMA CITY
PHOENIX
@ LA Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio

Looking like 8-7

 

[TBpup]

Looking like 8-7

I'm struggling to find 8 wins in that remaining schedule.

Should win: (well that is already a problem because we lost the first 'should win')
@ Brooklyn
@ Cleveland
@ Charlotte
@ Memphis
PHOENIX

Toss up: (some of these might be in the 'should win' category but after the way they started this trip and their road record this year.....)
@ Clippers
@ New Orleans
@ San Antonio
OKC (feels like I'm being generous putting this in the 'Toss up' category but it is at home.

Underdogs: Possible, but ranges from 'not likely' to 'hell no'.
GOLDEN STATE
@ Philly
@ Boston
@ Toronto

So to get to 8 wins, they have to sweep the 'Should Win' category, and get 3 of 4 of the toss up category, three of which are on the road. ANY slip ups in those two categories and now they have to go get one or more from the 'Underdogs' list. Given that they are now 1-7 against the Top-3 in the West, that task seems daunting.

Please give me some good reasons to have more faith because it is waning right now....

 

[kjironman1]

Looks like 14 more wins at best with a 47- 35 record. But they could get it to 48 or even 49 wins.
That would be 5 to 7 wins better than i had them at the beginning of the season. Seems like they are having a pretty good year.
Not much to complain about for me. Hope you all enjoy the games.