Their schedule is much easier. Portland has the 3rd most difficult schedule in the league for the rest of the season. Those early season losses to scrub teams and that 6-game home losing streak could very well come back to haunt them. If Portland finishes the season as the #3 seed, they will have definitely earned it because it is going to be tough.
Blazers: 39-26, next 6 - vs Warriors, vs Heat, vs Cavs, vs Pistons, vs Clippers, @ Rockets. Getting tougher...projected 4-2
Pelicans: 37-26, next 6 - @ Kings, vs Wizards, vs Jazz, vs Hornets, @ Spurs, vs Rockets. Easy stretch...projected 5-1
Spurs: 37-27, next 6 - @ Warriors, @ Thunder, @ Rockets, vs Magic, vs Pels, vs Wolves. Brutal stretch....projected 2-4
Wolves: 38-28, next 6 - vs Celtics, vs Warriors, @ Wizards, @ Spurs, vs Rockets, vs Clippers. Tough stretch...projected 3-3
Thunder: 37-29, next 6 - vs Suns, vs Spurs, vs Kings, @ Hawks, vs Clippers, @ Raptors. Pretty easy...projected 5-1
Nuggets: 35-29, next 6 - vs Cavs, vs Lakers, vs Kings, @ Lakers, vs Pistons, @ Grizzlies. Pretty easy....projected 4-2
Clippers: 34-29, next 6 - vs Cavs, vs Magic, @ Bulls, @ Rockets, @ Thunder, vs Blazers. Tough stretch...projected 2-4
Jazz::::: 34-30, @ Grizzlies, @ Pacers, @ Pelicans, vs Pistons, vs Suns, vs Kings. Not too bad....projected 4-2
Pelicans 42-27
Blazers 43-28
Thunder 42-30
Wolves 41-31
Spurs 39-31
Nuggets 39-31
Jazz 38-32
Clippers 36-33
IF it were to play out like that, after the Rockets game, the standings could look something like the above but with the Blazers next 3 games against the Celtics,
@Thunder and @Pelicans. IF the Blazers are still #4 (or #3) by then AND they can beat the Celtics and split the two road games, I think they will finish with HCA.