So, regardless of how the last 2 games pan out, we will be either #3, #4, #5 or #6. T-Wolves/Denver and OKC will always be below us? Could there be a 3 team tie-breaker? Pelicans can still drop out of the playoff picture and replaced by Denver/T-Wolves? They are playing the Clippers and the Spurs. Wow ... this stuff it making my brain hurt !!!
Denver still on the outside looking in so i doubt they will let this game go without a huge fight. http://stats.oregonlive.com/nba/standings_conference.asp One thing that you might notice is Dallas and Memphis might both be kicking themselves for beating the Blazers to end the season. The Griz had a better chance at the #1 pick. Kind of looks like Phoenix has that locked up.
We have the breakers over both OKC and NO, so we can't get the 6 seed (can't get a 3-way with SA and NO because they play eachother in the last game, and we would be on top due to head-to-head breakers in case of a 3-way tie with OKC and either NO or SA) We can't drop below 5 Winning the Jazz game lock us in the 3rd seed so obviously this one
Cannot drop to 6. Since NOP/SAS play on the final game of the season, one will have to have 35 losses, and will therefore be behind Portland. So the only teams that could finish tied with the Blazers are UTA, OKC, and the SAS/NOP winner. Portland will finish ahead of OKC in any tie-break scenario involving them (thanks to their 4-0 season H2H record), so Portland can't possibly finish any lower than 5.
West Seeds as they stand 1.Houston 64- 18 2. GSW 58-28 3. Por 48-32 4. Utah 47-33 5. NOP 46-34 6. SAS 46-34 7. OKC 46-34 8. Minn 45-35 -----------------------Playoffs----------------------- 9. Den 45-35 Remaining Games Mon: NOP@LAC (I think NOP wins) MEM@MIN (Toss up) SAC @ SAS (I think Spurs win) POR @DEN (Hopefully POR) TUES GSW @ UTAH (I think UTAH wins) WED DEN @ MIN (I think DEN wins) SAS @ NOP (I think NOP wins) UTAH @ POR (POR better win) Worst case scenario Blazers lose last two Utah wins last two Spurs win last two Would mean Utah wins NW division and finishes ahead of Blazers and gets third place. Spurs get 4th place and Blazers get 5th and lose HCA, play SAS 1st round. Middle ground Blazers, Jazz, Spurs all finish 1-1. Results depend. If Blazers beat DEN but lose to Utah Blazers get 4th place with HCA against the 5th place Spurs or Pelicans. If Blazers lose to DEN but beat Utah...Blazers get third, Utah 4th, Spurs or Pels 5th\6th The Denver\Minnesota 8th spot coukd go either way even if we beat DEN tonight. Looks like Min could certainly drop their last two. Who the hell knows which scenario will happen or will most likely happen. A lot can happen in the next three nights.
Nice summary. So the Denver game is a safety net. If Blazers beat Utah then the Denver game doesn't matter. But, if they lose to Utah, then a win over Denver would be critical. Too bad they are in the wrong order. Win both and everyone is happy
Neither will be easy. Denver is playing for its playoff life. Utah is a beast. Blazers gotta bring their all. No rest for the weary. Its passed that now.
Hopefully we are mostly healthy. It should show a lot about what does or does not need to happen this summer. If we win both then good times, if we drop both, then some soul searching needs to happen.
Next two games are definately going to say a lot about where the Blazers are at as a team going into the playoffs. How we see ourselves. How other teams see us. Confidence levels. Luckily adversity is the Blazers butter.
In my mind, the only game that matters is the Utah game. The playoffs start a week early, boys! Beating the Nugs and locking up HCA would be nice, but the real goal here is to get the #3 seed and avoid Houston until the WCF. Yes, I am thinking in those terms. This team at full strength and full bore can beat anyone in the West in a 7 game series, including Houston. Beating the hottest team in the NBA over the 2nd half of the season to clinch #3 would be a proper way to set up for the playoffs. Get Moe back, get healthy, get ready.
It would be an interesting and risky strategy to rest the key players tonight and focus on Utah. I guess you could see how the first half goes and if you are getting killed and players are sucking wind, then maybe you let this one go? I would love to see them fight and win both games, but if they really are that tired, having them play hard in thin air could lead to losing both games.
According to ESPN, since the Wolves and Nuggets play each other the last game all 5 times battling for the 4 spots control their own destiny with the 2 games left. That is crazy.
I was also thinking that if we do lose tonight to Denver, then that puts a lot of pressure on the the rest of the teams trying to make the playoffs in the West. Would make the final day of the season really interesting and also crazy and I mean crazy.
Pick your poison! would you rather advance, and play Houston or GS w/o Curry? Im thinking GS w/o Curry?
