The Great Playoff Chase

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Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Portland @ Memphis
Root For: Trail Blazers
Reason: Need this one if we are to salvage a .500+ road trip

San Antonio @ Chicago
Root For: Bulls
Reason: We're not catching the Spurs. But I also doubt we fall into 8th and matchup with them in the First Round. In my opinion, our best shot at getting out of the First Round is a date with the Alamo City. Hopefully the Spurs can drop to the 3rd seed, but they need to start adding more losses to the column.

Houston @ Oklahoma City
Root For: Toss-Up
Reason: OKC is out of the picture in terms of chasing them down for the NW Division, but if want the Spurs to drop a seed or two, they'll need to catch them. On the other hand, the more Houston wins, the less likely we play them in the opening round.

Golden State vs. Dallas
Root For: Mavericks
Reason: We're only three games up on the Warriors in the loss column and FOR NOW we want to stay in fifth, avoiding the Rockets. But that could quickly change. There's going to be a lot of jockeying going on as we near April.
 
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Portland @ San Antonio
Root For: Trail Blazers
Reason: Trail Blazers are now just two games up on the Warriors for the 5th spot, but that's not the main reason this team needs to win. They need to win get some confidence back. It really doesn't matter if they are the 5th or 6th seed, it matters who they play and how they're feeling heading into that matchup.

Memphis @ New Orleans
Root For: Pelicans
Reason: While somewhat unlikely the Grizz could make up four games over the next 18, they do hold the tiebreaker over us and still have one more against us in Rip City.

Dallas @ Utah
Root For: Jazz
Reason: Again, unlikely Dallas catches Portland, but they do own the tiebreaker and we're prone to losing multiple games in a row lately

Phoenix Vs. Cleveland
Root For: Suns
Reason: Currently, they are out of the playoff picture, but tied with Dallas in the loss column for 8th. I don't fear them catching the Blazers and it's strictly personal preference that I'd like to see them play San Antonio or OKC over the Mavericks on a pure entertainment level.

Golden State @ Los Angeles Clippers
Root For: Win-Win
Reason: The truth is, we won't know which result tonight helped the Blazers the most until the final seeding is set in stone. For now, a Clippers win gives the Blazers a little more breathing room in terms of the 5th seed. But that would also put another game between them and the Rockets, meaning a 4-5 matchup with Houston is what would be in store. On the other hand, a Warriors win brings them closer to the 5th seed but brings the Clippers closer to the 4th seed. With over 15 games left and the 3-6 seeds so up for grabs, I wouldn't waste any energy rooting for either outcome tonight.
 
Suns losing at home to Cavs last night was a good thing to me. 6 game lead on them still, and they play 12/18 games left on the road. But a lot of them are against tanking teams from the East. Until we string together 2-3 wins, missing the playoffs still worries me. If we go 7-10 even, Suns would have to go 13-5 to tie. It's so up in the air right now for us. Best case: LA's contusion not so bad, he's able to come back right away, we come together and win 10-13 more games. Maybe even get HCA. Worse case: LA is out for a while, losing streak continues and we fall out of the playoffs.

It's not too hard to envision either scenarios. There isn't really another team in the league that's harder to predict right now. This is still the team that Roy Hibbert said "We'll see you in the finals" to. On the other hand, it's also the team that is 11-14 since their 31-9 start.

Food for thought - The '91 Blazers had lost 8/11 games and were reeling with 17 games left to play. They proceeded to win 16 straight, only losing their final game that didn't mean anything since they'd clinched HCA. Obviously much different team and circumstances, but that losing streak in '91 was dreadful. They lost a couple of games in OT, then got hammered by double digits a bunch of times. It felt like the season was over, but they turned the corner when it mattered the most.
 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Houston @ Chicago
Root For: Bulls
Reason: I think we're going to end up in the 6th seed, so the more entrenched Houston can be as the No. 4 seed, the better. The Clippers wouldn't have that much better of a matchup, but still more favorable than Houston.

Oklahoma City vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Root For: Lakers
Reason: I don't want the Thunder having home court advantage throughout. Also, another win keeps the Lakers that much further away from the top pick in the draft.
 
Friday, March 14 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Portland @ New Orleans
Root For: Trail Blazers
Reason: Need a win heading into a winnable three-game homestand, especially with the Warriors being one of those three teams.

Memphis @ Toronto
Root For: Raptors
Reason: Memphis is just three back in the loss column. Although, I'd rather have them pass us than stay fifth and face the Rockets so a Grizz win wouldn't be the worst thing in the word.

Phoenix @ Boston
Root For: Celtics
Reason: I still want the Suns to make it in over the Mavs, but a Phoenix loss and a Portland win would shave two off of our Magic Number.

San Antonio vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Root For: Lakers
Reason: The more L.A. wins, the less chance they have at getting the top pick.

Los Angeles Clippers @ Utah
Root For: Jazz
Reason: At this point, I think it's unlikely we catch the Clippers, but we're only three back in the loss column and still get them once more in the Rose City.

Golden State vs. Cleveland
Root For: Cavaliers
Reason: A Warrior win wouldn't hurt as it could push them into a battle with the Rockets in the 4/5 matchup, but if you still have hopes for HCA, hope the Cavs can pull off another upset.
 
DHawes22 said:
San Antonio vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Root For: Lakers
Reason: The more L.A. wins, the less chance they have at getting the top pick.
Click to expand...

I had to read this one twice with the "Root for the Lakers"

Edit: Thanks for posting these!
 
Finally the Blazers did their part in The Great Playoff Chase!
 
and Cavs are hanging in there with the Warriors. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Cavs!!
 
Saturday March 15, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Memphis @ Philadelphia
Root For: Does It Matter?
Reason: The 76ers could be playing against an 8th grade team and still find a way to lose. Thankfully the Grizzlies lost tonight to the Raptors, putting four games between Memphis and Portland.
 
DHawes22 said:
Saturday March 15, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Memphis @ Philadelphia
Root For: Does It Matter?
Reason: The 76ers could be playing against an 8th grade team and still find a way to lose. Thankfully the Grizzlies lost tonight to the Raptors, putting four games between Memphis and Portland.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does matter. Go Sixers!
 
Sunday March 16th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)-

Portland vs. Golden State
Root For: Trail Blazers
Reason: A win would give the Blazers a three-game lead in the loss column and give them back the tie-breaker for the time being (conference record)

Phoenix @ Toronto
Root For: Raptors
Reason: A Blazers win and Raptors win would take two games off of Portland's Magic Number (12 to 10)

Houston @ Miami
Root For: Heat
Reason: Portland is essentially three back of Houston (2 back in the loss column + tiebreaker), so for them to have ANY HCA dreams, they need Houston to stumble a bit.

Oklahoma City vs. Dallas
Root For: Mavericks
Reason: Either result helps Portland, but I'd rather the Spurs keep the top seed in case we end up as the 4/5 and would be facing them in the 2nd Round.

San Antonio vs. Utah
Root For: Spurs
Reason: For the same reason mentioned above.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Cleveland
Root For: Cavaliers
Reason: If we win tonight, I've got a feeling the 5th seed is he most likely destination for the Trail Blazers. I'd rather seen the Clips than the Rockets so hope the Cavs can pull off an upset tonight like they did in Oakland.
 
Houston's schedule is ridiculously easy going forward. If they win today, I'm not even going to consider the 4 seed a possibility.
 
Suns won. Blazers now up five games on the Suns, but a loss and it drops to four and Phoenix has the tie-breaker.
 
MAS RipCity said:
Suns won. Blazers now up five games on the Suns, but a loss and it drops to four and Phoenix has the tie-breaker.
Click to expand...

This one surprised me. Toronto had been playing well & they were at home. I thought this was a for sure "L" for the Suns. They play at Brooklyn tomorrow & after that a stretch where they play only 1 team with a winning record over a 7 game span. If they go on a run, it tightens the noose a little.
 
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