http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/standings Currently, we are the only team in the Western Conference playoff race with a losing record against not only conference opponents, but a losing road record as well. I know the team is young and had a rough schedule to begin the season, but until we can signficantly improve those two numbers, we won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Here's hoping they can start their winning ways tonight, and I can put my foot in my mouth.
Being the only team in the 9 team playoff race with those stats isn't all bad, considering we currently have the 7th best record.
There's no doubt we need to win on the road, especially since we've starting giving up some big games at home lately. But calling us pretenders depends on your expectations. Pretenders for a playoff spot or the NBA title? We're only at the beginning of January.. and we always seem to have one big win streak in us at sometime.
I know we've all beat the "tough schedule" excuse into the ground, but it really is true. Of the nine teams fighting for the eight play-off spots in the West, the Blazers have played, by far, the toughest schedule (SoS = 0.539). Here's the current SoS for the top nine teams in the West: POR - 0.539 PHO - 0.511 NOH - 0.511 DEN - 0.509 LAL - 0.494 HOU - 0.488 UTA - 0.481 DAL - 0.477 SAS - 0.466 And, after playing the Lakers today, our SoS will be even higher. BNM
