Tanking to avoid the Jazz

[Wheels]

discuss.

 

[Wheels]

I personally think the talk on MSP is jumping ahead of itself. There is no way that we even think about resting our guys to avoid the Jazz.. when we are still so close to the Lakers bracket.

 

[maxiep]

Nope. You win as much as you can. If we face the Jazz, so be it.

 

[Wheels]

Nope. You win as much as you can. If we face the Jazz, so be it.

what if its just resting Roy one game, and LMA the next etc?

 

[Reep]

No, you keep the momentum going. There is a good chance you could end up playing the game and still end up with the Jazz. Better to play it out. Most of the team is getting rest because of the relatively light schedule anyway.

 

[BBert]

Win. That's why you play the games.

 

[Wheels]

ok so CIP's last question.. last game of the season against GSW.. you win you play the Jazz, you lose you play Dallas... do you rest Roy?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Yes

 

[RR7]

The tough thing is, how do you do that? The only spot with a seemingly guaranteed opponent right now is the 8th seed facing the Lakers. Would we rather face them? I like our chances a lot better against Utah than against the Lakers. So where do we "tank' to? Do we try to go to 7th? What if Utah finishes in 2nd? They're what, a half game out of 2nd? One game? Could easily end up in 2nd place. I think right now you focus on winning, and nothing else. We're 2.5 games out of 4th currently. It could very well be a long shot, but we still have games against OKC, Denver, and Dallas. And we're 4 games out of 2nd. Also have easier games against NY, GS, Sac. and LAC. Dallas still has games against us, OKC, SA, Orl. and 2 against Memphis. Utah still has the Lakers, OKC, Hou., NO and Phoenix.

Tanking at this point would be stupid. Would rather just continue playing to win, and let the seedings fall where they may.

 

[maxiep]

what if its just resting Roy one game, and LMA the next etc?

What? We're playing great basketball right now. Why would we mess that up to jockey for playoff position?

Besides, I think we're more like the team that went up 25 on the Jazz than the team that gave up that 25 point lead.

 

[Wheels]

Tanking at this point would be stupid. Would rather just continue playing to win, and let the seedings fall where they may.

agree.. thats what I was saying with my 2nd post. So then I asked the last question they asked on MSP. Last game of the season.. Win, play Jazz, lose play Dallas... do you rest?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

ok so CIP's last question.. last game of the season against GSW.. you win you play the Jazz, you lose you play Dallas... do you rest Roy?

Well I'm assuming in that senario that if Blazers win they move up a spot . .. so if it is to play the Jazz, the Jazz which must have now moved below Denver. Why has Utah with a weaker schedule dropped below the Nuggets? Injury, Utah isn't in sync, Denver on a streak, Kenyon coming back?

I think you just win out as many games as possible and bring in as much mojo to the playoffs taht you can. And don't gie the opposing team any lockerroom material like "Blazers throw game to play gainst Denver"

 

[Wheels]

What? We're playing great basketball right now. Why would we mess that up to jockey for playoff position?

Besides, I think we're more like the team that went up 25 on the Jazz than the team that gave up that 25 point lead.

not my questions.. just didnt see it on here, and it was being discussed on MSP.

 

[Wheels]

Well I'm assuming in that senario that if Blazers win they move up a spot . .. so if it is to play the Jazz, the Jazz which must have now moved below Denver. Why has Utah with a weaker schedule dropped below the Nuggets? Injury, Utah isn't in sync, Denver on a streak, Kenyon coming back?

I think you just win out as many games as possible and bring in as much mojo to the playoffs taht you can. And don't gie the opposing team any lockerroom material like "Blazers throw game to play gainst Denver"

wow way more in depth than I was thinking lol.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

The Jazz are playing great, but so are the Blazers. Would be an epic series. Not afraid of the Delta Center.

 

[Wheels]

The Jazz are playing great, but so are the Blazers. Would be an epic series. Not afraid of the Delta Center.

Can anybody find our all time record in Utah?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

G W L W-L%
153 68 85 .444


This is overall, looking for away record

 

[e_blazer]

Just win, baby. Playing to dodge a prospective opponent is a loser's mentality. Right about now, the statement the Blazers should be looking to implant in the rest of the West is that they should be afraid of playing Portland.

 

[Wheels]

G W L W-L%
153 68 85 .444


This is overall, looking for away record

how did you find that? BasketballReference? I need to learn to use that site better.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

yup

 

[illmatic99]

how did you find that? BasketballReference? I need to learn to use that site better.

9-39 in the regular season since 1986. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=pdBoM
4-9 in the playoffs since 1990. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=FYXSY

 

[mook]

Maybe the last game or two of the year I could see throwing to get a more optimum matchup. But losing is a bad habit you don't want to be forming this time of the year.

 

[Wheels]

9-39 in the regular season since 1990. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=gIxbz
4-9 in the playoffs since 1990. http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=FYXSY

yikes. 27%

Thanks for finding that. I swear this off-season I will hone my basketball reference skills.

"Must spread Rep around"

 

[noknobs]

Tanking to get a favorable matchup is stupid. It's a message to yourself and to your teammates that you don't believe you're good enough to beat someone. It's a defeatist attitude and that will get you nowhere. You've already lost at that point.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Maybe the last game or two of the year I could see throwing to get a more optimum matchup. But losing is a bad habit you don't want to be forming this time of the year.

Bill Walton said before the 1977 playoff run that it's all about who is "The Healthiest and the Hottest come playoff time". Other than Oden and Pryz, the Blazers have everyone else back at 100% and playing with purpose and cohesion. They shouldn't have to duck anyone.

 

[illmatic99]

We have never lost at home against the Jazz in the playoffs in 14 total games: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=MEWYv

 

[OddEnormous]

We're in 7th place by half a game.

Now we think we're good enough to pick our opponent?

 

[Wheels]

We're in 7th place by half a game.

Now we think we're good enough to pick our opponent?

read my 2nd post in this thread please.

 

[Wheels]

Tanking to get a favorable matchup is stupid. It's a message to yourself and to your teammates that you don't believe you're good enough to beat someone. It's a defeatist attitude and that will get you nowhere. You've already lost at that point.

Frank Brikowski (sp?) says everyone does it. I could see how some players would think "Hey why not make the easiest road possible to advance" its like a reverse running for the #1 seed in a way I guess. The teams when they fight for the #1 seed.. they are trying to get the easiest road possible. Not because they are scared of #2. I dunno thats just how I see it.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

We have never lost at home against the Jazz in the playoffs in 14 total games: http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/tiny.cgi?id=MEWYv

Nice stat. Utah has historically always been tough at home and shaky on the road.

This year they are 30-8 at home. Top third in the league, but definately not the best. They are beatable in the Delta Center. What's the real issue is that Portland's home record is 24-13, and haven't really dominated on their home court in games they've won like other teams do.