The Blazers are the only team in the league to have played 80 games so far this season, and they got to that point two nights ago. They're left with just two games on their remaining regular season schedule, where everybody else has 3 or 4. That lets the Blazers get more rest and practice time for the upcoming playoff series. It will most likely be against the Clippers, who have 4 games remaining, including a back to back. That 4 games in 5 nights stretch last week was tough, but the Blazers won 3 out of 4 and it's put them in a great position to prepare for the playoffs.
Dame looked like he needs this rest, so I am happy about that. I wish they could prep for the playoffs, but they are probably still looking one game at a time. I'm just hoping they spend some practices getting the defense on track--which would help them in the next two as well as the first round.
Yep, extra rest and extra time watching film. That's one thing I like about the playoffs - no back-to-backs and often two or three days off between games. It lets both teams compete at full strength and also gives the coaches time to make adjustments - and I think that favors Stotts over Doc. Remember how well the Blazers played both after the all-star break and back in mid-January when they had a few extra days off? Both times, our defense really picked it up after Stotts and his staff had some extra practice time with the players. That happens so rarely during the grind of the regular season, but Stotts took full advantage of it both times. Hopefully, he can do the same in, and leading up to, the playoffs. I'd LOVE to see the team that beat the Thunder at full strength back in January and totally owned the Warriors after the all-star break, show up in the playoffs. That team can beat anybody. BNM
Thank Neil and the FO too; they get to pick from several proposed schedules, and Neil picked the one that ends like this. Maybe he hoped we would tank, maybe he thought a more difficult trial by fire could end with a playoff run and if we'd earned it, the rest would be beneficial. Who knows.
Do you have a link on this? Darco mentioned it as well a couple times but I have never seen anything confirming. Or are you just stating it because he stated it (not calling you out at all! I just REALLY want to see this info!)?
Pretty sure this was mentioned in a podcast a few months back with Freeman and Casey. Also, this: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/19219/how-to-build-the-nba-schedule
I remember the whole "we get to pick from three possible schedules" being mentioned on a Courtside Monday Night during the offseason, or on a Bill Simmons podcast or something.
Yeah I clearly remember hearing about it. It was more that we had the option of changing a few home back to backs to a day with more rest and in all cases we opted for the more difficult schedule. It clearly told me the tank was on this year and I filled it away in my brain as such. Some people seem to have heard slightly different details. It would be interesting if we could hear exactly how teams have input on the creation of the schedule. But if the Blazers intentionally put on the tank; which was a fine idea at the time and something I was on board with, they might be real hesitant for that to become public; especially this time of year. I think it's more funny now and if anything a testament to how great our players and coaches have done. To be in the playoffs is historically unheard of for a team with 4 new starters.
Speaking of rest, we've talked before about our records with 2+ days of rest (15-3), but even our record with one day of rest or more is still pretty good: 36-24 (49-win pace). We had 19 back-to-back games, and were 6-13 in those games. I'm looking forward to all the rest we'll get between playoff games.
To amplify your point: The last 2 games are at home. No traveling until the playoffs actually start. IMHO, it's easier to play 20 minutes at home than to play 0 minutes on the road where you have to travel twice.
Yeah the travel and back to backs is over 90% of what home court advantage is. That matters far less in the playoffs though; last year's playoff saw the road teams win very similarly rates as the home team.
I couldn't believe we got so many back to backs. But if it helped us a better schedule for the playoffs.... just fine by me.
