The race for Home Court Advantage

[KingSpeed]

Jazz are so much better with a healthy Gobert. That team has been crushed by injuries in the last few years. I think they get in.

I think it's possible that both Clippers and Jazz get in and Nuggets and Minnesota (or OKC) don't.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

I love it

All the times we made the finals... and the one time we should have... we were a 3rd seed.

 

[KingSpeed]

All the times we made the finals... and the one time we should have... we were a 3rd seed.

Weren't we the #1 seed in 1992?

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Weren't we the #1 seed in 1992?

My bad; I thought for whatever (drunken) reason that the tweet was saying those were when we were 3rd seed not top 3.

We were 1st seed in 1992.

 

[tester551]

That happens when you haven't been a 3rd seed in almost 20 years.

It's like saying the Kings and T-Wolves have not lost a playoff series in over 10 years.

 

[KingSpeed]

My bad; I thought for whatever (drunken) reason that the tweet was saying those were when we were 3rd seed not top 3.

We were 1st seed in 1992.

And we were 1 seed in 1991 but didn't make Finals.

 

[KingSpeed]

That happens when you haven't been a 3rd seed in almost 20 years.

It's like saying the Kings and T-Wolves have not lost a playoff series in over 10 years.

I know. Shit, they haven't. Good call. Do we play them coming up? I want our team to be tested.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'm a believer now. Even if we do have a hard schedule. I am all on board now. Our winning streak is too real to ignore. I don't care how big a pessimist you are. Stotts and co. have unlocked their potential.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Unbelievable run. Our crowd needs to show up for these games. Pathetic effort on their part, but amazing effort by the team

Not fair. Probably 1/3 of those in attendance were in Warriors gear. I've never heard that much cheering for the opposition in the RG before. But by the second half, we had drowned then out completely. The crowd was outstanding during that defensive stand at the end of the 3rd.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

Not fair. Probably 1/3 of those in attendance were in Warriors gear. I've never heard that much cheering for the opposition in the RG before. But by the second half, we had drowned then out completely. The crowd was outstanding during that defensive stand at the end of the 3rd.

Season ticket holders bilking bandwagon Heat/Lakers/Warriors/Cavs fans out of hundreds of dollars to make back money on their season ticket packages is a grand tradition in Portland.

 

[HolyBackboard]

Unbelievable run. Our crowd needs to show up for these games. Pathetic effort on their part, but amazing effort by the team

Tough when 20-25% of the crowd was pulling for Golden State ... got loud towards the end on those big triples.

 

[THE HCP]

Is @HCP now 0-3 on his latest predictions? Keep picking against us FAMS!

2-2 sir

 

[BonesJones]

Not fair. Probably 1/3 of those in attendance were in Warriors gear. I've never heard that much cheering for the opposition in the RG before. But by the second half, we had drowned then out completely. The crowd was outstanding during that defensive stand at the end of the 3rd.

Yup. We were at 66% capacity. If we were at full capacity, it would've been amazing. All these fucking California transplants.

 

[Sarni]

The next three games are very winnable. We are better than Miami, Cleveland have been inconsistent and they usually struggle at Moda and Pistons have been a complete mess. If we go 43-26 I think we will have a nice cushion between us and the 4th place. We are the most in-form team in the league.

 

[TBpup]

The March 18-27 stretch is tough but not 0-5 tough. I'm worried about those last 3 road games before the end of the season. It will probably still be a tight race and most likely those team will still have something to play for. Out of those 8 total games, the Blazers may only be favored in around 2 of them. As hot as they are now, that is still a ways away and they are going to have to find ways to win games that they won't be favored in.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Yup. We were at 66% capacity. If we were at full capacity, it would've been amazing. All these fucking California transplants.

B.S. All those Portland-dwelling betas who just want the testosterone boost from having "their" team win. Like that dude (not the kid, the guy next to a girl in a W's jersey) who literally at one point put on a Lillard Jersey over a Curry one.

 

[joeBlazers]

We must protect court @ home these next games. crucial

 

[KingSpeed]

We must protect court @ home these next games. crucial

Every game is crucial.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Season ticket holders bilking bandwagon Heat/Lakers/Warriors/Cavs fans out of hundreds of dollars to make back money on their season ticket packages is a grand tradition in Portland.

I sold my okc tickets for 150 each. I hope i forced a westbrick fan to pay that much.

 

[illmatic99]

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nba/westernstandings.html

We now have nearly a 70% shot at finishing with home court advantage.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers: 40-26, next 6 - vs Warriors(W), vs Heat, vs Cavs, vs Pistons, vs Clippers, @ Rockets. Getting tougher...projected 4-2
Pelicans: 38-28, next 6 - @ Kings(W), vs Wizards(L), vs Jazz(L), vs Hornets, @ Spurs, vs Rockets. Easy stretch...projected 5-1
Wolves: 39-29, next 6 - vs Celtics(L), vs Warriors(W), @ Wizards, @ Spurs, vs Rockets, vs Clippers. Tough stretch...projected 3-3
Thunder: 39-29, next 6 - vs Suns(W), vs Spurs(W), vs Kings, @ Hawks, vs Clippers, @ Raptors. Pretty easy...projected 5-1
Spurs: 37-29, next 6 - @ Warriors(L), @ Thunder(L), @ Rockets, vs Magic, vs Pels, vs Wolves. Brutal stretch....projected 2-4
Clippers: 36-29, next 6 - vs Cavs(W), vs Magic(W) @ Bulls, @ Rockets, @ Thunder, vs Blazers. Tough stretch...projected 2-4
Nuggets: 37-30, next 6 - vs Cavs(L), vs Lakers(W), vs Kings(W), @ Lakers, vs Pistons, @ Grizzlies. Pretty easy....projected 4-2
Jazz::::: 37-30, @ Grizzlies(W), @ Pacers(W), @ Pelicans(W), vs Pistons, vs Suns, vs Kings. Not too bad....projected 4-2

Jazz have won 6 in a row...and are still at #10. What a race! Pels have dropped 2 in a row while the Wolves got a huge win against the Warriors. Spurs have lost 2 in a row and are @ the Rockets next. Clippers got a big win against the Cavs. Jazz could go 6-0 in this stretch and still not be in the Playoffs.

 

[rotary111]

Everybody knew the west was going to be insane....but this insane???

Damn!!

 

[hoopsjock]

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2018/03/12/projecting-final-standings-in-wild-west-playoff-chase/

NBC sports is predicting us to get the 3rd seed, finishing just 1 game ahead of the Timberwolves and Thunder. Only 2 games ahead of the 3-way tie for 6/7/8 between the Pelicans, Spurs, and Jazz. Clippers just miss the playoffs by 1 game and the Nuggets finish 2 games out of the final spot. It would be pretty crazy if it stayed that close all the way until the end.

 

[TBpup]

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2018/03/12/projecting-final-standings-in-wild-west-playoff-chase/

NBC sports is predicting us to get the 3rd seed, finishing just 1 game ahead of the Timberwolves and Thunder. Only 2 games ahead of the 3-way tie for 6/7/8 between the Pelicans, Spurs, and Jazz. Clippers just miss the playoffs by 1 game and the Nuggets finish 2 games out of the final spot. It would be pretty crazy if it stayed that close all the way until the end.

I just hope the reward for the #3 seed is not a suddenly healthy Spurs team with Kawhi back in the lineup.

 

[KingSpeed]

I just hope the reward for the #3 seed is not a suddenly healthy Spurs team with Kawhi back in the lineup.

Dude. I'm worried about the exact same thing. I remember that one year (2006) the top 3 seeds went to the division winners but HCA was still determined by record. The Nuggets won the Northwest Division but they sucked. They had the 3 seed. The 4th seed was a VERY good Dallas team (with a better record). So Clippers (the Sam Cassell ones) and Grizzlies were fighting for 5 seed and neither of them wanted it. In a Clippers-Grizzlies matchup late in the season, both teams sat their stars and tried to loses. A 5 seed meant you play the Mavs and you don't have HCA. A 6 seed meant you play the Nuggets and you DO have HCA. It really wasn't fair. The Grizzlies, who had yet to ever win a playoff game, got the 5 seed and got swept by the Mavericks. The Clippers got the 6 seed and opened the playoffs on their own floor. They beat the Nuggets in 5 games. So. Not. Fair.

 

[TBpup]

Spurs lose again....drop into a 3-way tie for 8th with Jazz and Nuggets.

 

[andalusian]

Hope the jazz stay below 6, let them give problems to gsw or house in the first round

 

[tester551]

Hope the jazz stay below 6, let them give problems to gsw or house in the first round

Both Jazz & Spurs (with a healthy Kawhi)

 

[B-Roy]

Fucking take Aminu out the game.

 

[KingSpeed]

Spurs lose again....drop into a 3-way tie for 8th with Jazz and Nuggets.

Tiebreakers put Spurs at 10th