The new battle is for 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th

[Sug]

We are engaged in the new battle with the Rockets, Hornets, and Spurs for these spots. Denver is out of reach, and we won't waste time talking about the L*kers. Clearly Utah, Dallas, and even the Suns (who have a chance thanks to Utah & Dallas) have fallen into the competition for the 7th & 8th slot.

Blazer remaining games
Sun, Apr 5 @ Houston
Tue, Apr 7 @ Memphis
Wed, Apr 8 @ San Antonio
Fri, Apr 10 LA Lakers
Sat, Apr 11 @ LA Clippers
Mon, Apr 13 Oklahoma City
Wed, Apr 15 Denver

Spurs remaining games
Sun, Apr 5 @ Cleveland
Tue, Apr 7 @ Oklahoma City
Wed, Apr 8 Portland
Fri, Apr 10 Utah
Sun, Apr 12 @ Sacramento
Mon, Apr 13 @ Golden State
Wed, Apr 15 New Orleans

Rockets remaining games
Sun, Apr 5 Portland
Tue, Apr 7 Orlando
Thu, Apr 9 @ Sacramento
Fri, Apr 10 @ Golden State
Mon, Apr 13 New Orleans
Wed, Apr 15 @ Dallas

Hornets remaining games
Sun, Apr 5 Utah
Tue, Apr 7 @ Miami
Wed, Apr 8 Phoenix
Fri, Apr 10 @ Dallas
Sun, Apr 12 Dallas
Mon, Apr 13 @ Houston
Wed, Apr 15 @ San Antonio

 

[hasoos]

I don't agree. Denver only has to drop one and we can catch them. Sure I am talking about running the table. But I have seen weirder things happen in the NBA, and after the heat check on Sunday, we will know a hell of a lot more about how hard this team will push for the 2 spot. If they walk into Houston and pimp that team down by 20 like they have beat the last several teams, watch out. If they don't, your scenario is more likely.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I think the battle is 3-5, Hornets will not be a threat with that schedule, imo.
We got 6-1 rest of the way..3rd
Anything less than that, is a crap shoot for 4th or 5th.
We really need 1 of the Texas 2-step

 

[cdub503]

Denver
April 4th, Clippers
April 5th, @Timberwolves
April 8th, Thunder
April 9th, @L*kers
April 13th, Kings
April 15th, @Portland

im thinking 4-2 with them losing at lakers and portland

 

[mgb]

We are engaged in the new battle with the Rockets, Hornets, and Spurs for these spots. Denver is out of reach, and we won't waste time talking about the L*kers. Clearly Utah, Dallas, and even the Suns (who have a chance thanks to Utah & Dallas) have fallen into the competition for the 7th & 8th slot.

We have one more loss than them and we play them so I wouldn't say they are out of reach. It'd be tough, but we could catch them.

 

[Sug]

Denver
April 4th, Clippers
April 5th, @Timberwolves
April 8th, Thunder
April 9th, @L*kers
April 13th, Kings
April 15th, @Portland

im thinking 4-2 with them losing at lakers and portland

54 Wins for them, meaning 6-1 for us...not easy.

 

[Minstrel]

Denver could lose at Minnesota. Minnesota just beat Utah in Utah. Utah is a better home team than Denver is on the road. I'm certainly not saying it's likely, but those are the types of losses that happen sometimes and cost teams divisions (if Denver takes the division, Portland could look at their own loss to the Clippers).

 

[Natebishop3]

I still think our best bet in the postseason is the 4th spot, with NOR as 5th, and then take on the Lakers in the second round.

 

[Minstrel]

I still think our best bet in the postseason is the 4th spot, with NOR as 5th, and then take on the Lakers in the second round.

With how Utah is playing, a 2/7 matchup with them would be even better, IMO. Because then Portland would have HCA in round 2, as well. I can't see this struggling Utah team beating Portland if Portland has HCA.

 

[THE HCP]

Please read the following, you will need to know this-----

All:
These are the NBA tie-break procedures for the postseason. Some things have changed from previous seasons.
Please contact me with any questions.
-Pete

Playoff Tie-Break Procedures
Ties for playoff positions (including division winners) will be broken utilizing the criteria set forth in subparagraph a. below (in the case of ties involving two teams) and subparagraph b. below (in the case of ties involving more than two teams), and the guidelines set forth in subparagraph c. below.

Two Teams Tied.
In the case of a tie in regular-season records involving only two teams, the following criteria will be utilized in the following order:
(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(2) Better winning percentage in games against each other.
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(7) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).

More Than Two Teams Tied.
In the case of a tie in regular season records involving more than two teams, the following criteria will be utilized in the following order:
(1) Division winner (this criterion is applied regardless of whether the tied teams are in the same division).
(2) Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
(3) Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in the same division).
(4) Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
(5) Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
(6) Better net result of total points scored less total points allowed against all opponents (“point differential”).

Guidelines For Applying Tie-Break Criteria.
The following guidelines shall be used when applying the above criteria to break ties for playoff positions:
(1) (a) Ties to determine the division winners must be broken before any other ties.
(b) When a tie must be broken to determine a division winner, the results of the tie-break shall be used to determine only the division winner, and not for any other purpose.
(2) If a tie involves more than two teams, the tie-break criteria in subparagraph b. shall be applied in the order set forth therein until the first to occur of the following:
(a) Each of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tiebreak criterion (a “complete” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance, the team with the best winning percentage or point differential under the criterion will be awarded the best playoff position, the team with the next-best winning percentage or point differential will be awarded the next-best playoff position, and so on, and no further application of the tie-break criteria will be required.
(b) One or more (but not all) of the tied teams has a different winning percentage or point differential under the applicable tie-break criterion (a “partial” breaking of the tie). In this circumstance: (x) any team(s) that performed better under the applicable criterion than any other team(s) will be awarded a higher playoff position than such other team(s); and (y) teams that had equivalent performance under the applicable criterion will remain tied, and such remaining tie(s) will be broken by applying, from the beginning, the criteria in subparagraph
a.(1)-(6) above (for any remaining tie involving only two teams) or subparagraph
b.(1)-(5) above (for any remaining tie involving more than two teams) and the guidelines set forth in this subparagraph
(3) If application of the criteria in subparagraph a. or b. does not result in the breaking of a tie, the playoff positions of the tied teams will be determined by a random drawing.


Peter D. Newmann
NBA Research and Information Specialist
ESPN, Inc.

 

[Deebag]

Denver really isn't that great of a team. They've been known to stumble for no reason at all. Yes they've been playing hot and I doubt they will drop out of the top 3, but they're not for sure as anything.

 

[crowTrobot]

we finish 7-0, denver loses in LA. presto #2 seed

 

[Minstrel]

we finish 7-0, denver loses in LA. presto #2 seed

Not impossible, the way this team is playing. Which is incredible. It should be close to impossible, considering the 4 very tough games left.

 

[oldmangrouch]

5 team crammed into a 2.5 game spread.

That makes for some exciting basketball, but on another level it is darned frustrating.

All those games Oden missed...would a healthy Oden have meant 1 or 2 more wins? (and please spare me the diatribes about how his injuries are an excuse, not a problem)

Equally galling....what the hell was KP thinking? "I can't hit a HR, so I'll take my ball and go home!" Why couldn't he swallow his pride long enough to make a modest deal...not a "Pritchslap", but one that could have netted us a few more wins.

People keep coming up with some variation of "wait till next year." Bull! We had an opening, and didn't go for it. A year from now, we may be looking back on this as a missed opportunity.

 

[Minstrel]

Equally galling....what the hell was KP thinking? "I can't hit a HR, so I'll take my ball and go home!" Why couldn't he swallow his pride long enough to make a modest deal...not a "Pritchslap", but one that could have netted us a few more wins.

Which deal that was available should he have taken? (And please spare me the diatribes about how there were certainly deals that would have helped and not been too expensive. Name them and provide a non-rumour source that they were available. Then, if I agree that they were good deals, I'll join you in being galled.)

 

[Pinwheel1]

5 team crammed into a 2.5 game spread.

That makes for some exciting basketball, but on another level it is darned frustrating.

All those games Oden missed...would a healthy Oden have meant 1 or 2 more wins? (and please spare me the diatribes about how his injuries are an excuse, not a problem)

Equally galling....what the hell was KP thinking? "I can't hit a HR, so I'll take my ball and go home!" Why couldn't he swallow his pride long enough to make a modest deal...not a "Pritchslap", but one that could have netted us a few more wins.

People keep coming up with some variation of "wait till next year." Bull! We had an opening, and didn't go for it. A year from now, we may be looking back on this as a missed opportunity.

A trade might have cost us 1-2 games as well while the new player transitioned in. It's not like that scenario doesn't occur every year. 1-2 games with this tight of a race could have been costly.

 

[mgb]

Ya, to complain about no trade considering how we are playing is pretty ridiculous.

Also, other teams have had injuries, what if they hadn't? Same thing.

 

[Rodolfo]

I think we go 5-2 the rest of the way. Betcha' we get homecourt if we win in Houston tomorrow.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Which deal that was available should he have taken? (And please spare me the diatribes about how there were certainly deals that would have helped and not been too expensive. Name them and provide a non-rumour source that they were available. Then, if I agree that they were good deals, I'll join you in being galled.)

You know darn well you are setting an impossible standard. You are assuming that not one team out of 29 was willing to trade with Portland.....and you want a non-media source to prove it. I don't accept that assumption. Furthermore, this is a situation where fans *have* no source of info, other than the media.

Case in point: we know for a fact that NO wanted to trade Chandler. All we have, however, are media reports (EG SI.com) that Chandler's health was merely a pretext for OKC backing out of the deal.

OKC's actions left NO in the lurch and scrambling for an alternative. What "non-rumor" proof do you have that KP tried to take advantage of the situation by brokering a 3-way trade? See, two can play that game!

 

[andalusian]

You know darn well you are setting an impossible standard. You are assuming that not one team out of 29 was willing to trade with Portland.....and you want a non-media source to prove it. I don't accept that assumption. Furthermore, this is a situation where fans *have* no source of info, other than the media.

Case in point: we know for a fact that NO wanted to trade Chandler. All we have, however, are media reports (EG SI.com) that Chandler's health was merely a pretext for OKC backing out of the deal.

OKC's actions left NO in the lurch and scrambling for an alternative. What "non-rumor" proof do you have that KP tried to take advantage of the situation by brokering a 3-way trade? See, two can play that game!

3 way deal with what? OKC wanted a good big. Chandler is/was one. What could Portland offer OKC and NO in the bigs department? I very much doubt OKC would have any interest in Frye/Ike and Portland was not going to give LMA/Oden up - so what way was there for Portland to get in there to steal TC?

 

[tlongII]

We can catch Denver.

 

[Minstrel]

You know darn well you are setting an impossible standard.

Purposely. Because I think you are speaking authoritatively despite possessing no actual knowledge.

You are assuming that not one team out of 29 was willing to trade with Portland

No, I'm assuming that Pritchard wants to win at least as much (assuredly more, since it is his professional life) as any of us, isn't an idiot and therefore would have taken any clearly good deal. Flogging him for not taking a questionable deal would be silly.

Furthermore, this is a situation where fans *have* no source of info, other than the media.

Maybe this is why fans don't make the decisions for the team? I realize you have nothing but media gossip...I am trying to underscore how woefully unequipped you are to decide whether KP screwed up.

Case in point: we know for a fact that NO wanted to trade Chandler. All we have, however, are media reports (EG SI.com) that Chandler's health was merely a pretext for OKC backing out of the deal.

You're overlooking a key aspect: It's extremely unlikely New Orleans would have dumped Chandler on a team it was directly competing with for a playoff spot. Dropping him on a team that has no chance of making the playoffs is tolerable...giving him to a playoff rival and perhaps helping them ensure your demise isn't.

So, yes, Chandler was clearly available but almost surely not to a direct playoff competitor.

What "non-rumor" proof do you have that KP tried to take advantage of the situation by brokering a 3-way trade? See, two can play that game!

It doesn't work in reverse, though. I'm not claiming certainty that Pritchard did or did not screw up, just that none of us have any pertinent knowledge, so slamming him blindly makes no sense. Praising him blindly would also make no sense, but I'm not going around saying, "Pritchard brilliantly made all the right choices at the deadline!"

 

[alex42083]

Hopefully the Clips show up against Denver tonight, who have no K-Mart. And Clips seem to be as healthy as they have been all season. But... it's hard to put any faith in them.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Purposely. Because I think you are speaking authoritatively despite possessing no actual knowledge.



No, I'm assuming that Pritchard wants to win at least as much (assuredly more, since it is his professional life) as any of us, isn't an idiot and therefore would have taken any clearly good deal. Flogging him for not taking a questionable deal would be silly.



Maybe this is why fans don't make the decisions for the team? I realize you have nothing but media gossip...I am trying to underscore how woefully unequipped you are to decide whether KP screwed up.



You're overlooking a key aspect: It's extremely unlikely New Orleans would have dumped Chandler on a team it was directly competing with for a playoff spot. Dropping him on a team that has no chance of making the playoffs is tolerable...giving him to a playoff rival and perhaps helping them ensure your demise isn't.

So, yes, Chandler was clearly available but almost surely not to a direct playoff competitor.



It doesn't work in reverse, though. I'm not claiming certainty that Pritchard did or did not screw up, just that none of us have any pertinent knowledge, so slamming him blindly makes no sense. Praising him blindly would also make no sense, but I'm not going around saying, "Pritchard brilliantly made all the right choices at the deadline!"

Checkmate.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

(if Denver takes the division, Portland could look at their own loss to the Clippers).

Not to mention Philly... God that loss was hard to take. Between crappy play and crappy refs.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Checkmate.

 

[azsun67]

5 team crammed into a 2.5 game spread.


Equally galling....what the hell was KP thinking? "I can't hit a HR, so I'll take my ball and go home!" Why couldn't he swallow his pride long enough to make a modest deal...not a "Pritchslap", but one that could have netted us a few more wins.

People keep coming up with some variation of "wait till next year." Bull! We had an opening, and didn't go for it. A year from now, we may be looking back on this as a missed opportunity.

Yes I disappointed that Portland didn't make a trade at the deadline, but with how this season has played out I am over that disappointment and then some. Once again KP and the Blazer organization has proved to me that they do in fact no more about professional basketball then me. Its as if they get paid to know more then a fan or something.

 

[Boob-No-More]

We have one more loss than them and we play them so I wouldn't say they are out of reach. It'd be tough, but we could catch them.

To win the NW Division and capture the 2nd seed, catching the Nuggets isn't enough - the Blazers have to PASS the Nuggets and finish with a better record. If the two teams finish with the same records, and we beat Denver on closing night, the 1st tie breaker (head-to-head record) would also end up in a tie. Denver holds both the 2nd (division record) and 3rd (conference record) tie breakers by significant margins over the Blazers.

Denver's division record currently stands at 10-3, with three game remaining (@MIN, vs OKC, @POR).

Portland's division record is 9-5, with two games left (vs OKC, vs DEN).

If Portland wins both, Denver would need to lose TWO of their three remaining inter-divisional games for the Blazers to even out the 2nd tie breaker.

That brings us to the 3rd tie breaker, conference record. Denver currently holds a FIVE game edge here.

Denver: 32-15
Portland 26-19

Too catch the Nuggets here would require the Blazers to run the table AND the Nuggets to lose four of their 5 remaining games. Of course, if that happens, the Blazers will finish with a better record anyway, so the tie breaker is irrelevant.

In a nut shell, to win the NW division, the Blazers would either need to win their remaining 7 games, or go 6-1 and hope Denver slips up and loses 3 of their remaining 5 games. Not mathematically impossible, but highly improbable.

Besides, I'll be happy if the Blazers can lock-up the 4th seed and have HCA in the 1st round.

BNM

 

[Rodolfo]

To win the NW Division and capture the 2nd seed, catching the Nuggets isn't enough - the Blazers have to PASS the Nuggets and finish with a better record. If the two teams finish with the same records, and we beat Denver on closing night, the 1st tie breaker (head-to-head record) would also end up in a tie. Denver holds both the 2nd (division record) and 3rd (conference record) tie breakers by significant margins over the Blazers.

Denver's division record currently stands at 10-3, with three game remaining (@MIN, vs OKC, @POR).

Portland's division record is 9-5, with two games left (vs OKC, vs DEN).

If Portland wins both, Denver would need to lose TWO of their three remaining inter-divisional games for the Blazers to even out the 2nd tie breaker.

That brings us to the 3rd tie breaker, conference record. Denver currently holds a FIVE game edge here.

Denver: 32-15
Portland 26-19

Too catch the Nuggets here would require the Blazers to run the table AND the Nuggets to lose four of their 5 remaining games. Of course, if that happens, the Blazers will finish with a better record anyway, so the tie breaker is irrelevant.

In a nut shell, to win the NW division, the Blazers would either need to win their remaining 7 games, or go 6-1 and hope Denver slips up and loses 3 of their remaining 5 games. Not mathematically impossible, but highly improbable.

Besides, I'll be happy if the Blazers can lock-up the 4th seed and have HCA in the 1st round.

BNM

I could care less about winning the divison at this point. It's all about HCA.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I could care less about winning the divison at this point. It's all about HCA.

Same here. I was just responding to those who think we still have a chance at winning the division. We do, but it's a very, very slim chance.

BNM