...to land the 8th spot. Currently, there's a significant (8 1/2 game) dropoff from the 9th to 10th WC team. Therefore, I'd say the Blazers' chances of making the playoffs are relatively good. As per usual, it will be a dogfight between us and Utah, though. Literally, a two-team race.
I agree but what concerns me about that is that we are now 0-2 against the Jazz so far and can only hope that at best we finish the season series 2-2. So that basically means that we have to put some distance between us and them to avoid having to rely on any tie breakers.
houston hasn't exactly been scaring anyone lately - just lost to washington and got blown out by toronto. dallas just got blown out by memphis and is quite vulnerable to injury. it's not just a 2 team race.
True. Anything above the 8th spot is gravy. I was essentially referring to just "making" the playoffs.
I agree that both Houston and Utah will be our competition for the 7th and 8th spots. I think Yao and TMac will probably both be injured and miss time this season.
I don't like our chances against Utah. We need one more team to drop. Injuries are our hope and our fear.
It will be interesting to see if the West stays this tight in the standings or if it will loosen up as the year goes on. It seems like any losing streak right now can easily send you from the 3rd seed right down to the 8th or 9th seed. If it stays this tight the last week of the season or so could be be crazy. We could be the 7th or 8th seed going into the last week and win a few and finish as the 4th or 5th seed. Unfortunately the reverse could just as easily happen.
Not necessarily. It's still early and injuries can happen. Nobody expected the Rockets to get that hot last year either. You never know what can happen.
"As per usual, it will be a dogfight between us and Utah, though." Upon reading that again, you're right. We might get some "help" from those other teams. Making the playoffs may not be as far-fetched as some of the doubters might claim. MIXUM, are you listening?! LOL!
Maybe it's just semantics, but I personally think that (based upon seeing how this team's playing, and with the injuries to Roy and Webster) there is a 4-team race for the last 3 spots. Makes the %s go up, in any case.
With Denver losing Carmelo Anthony for a significant amount of time, I'd say it's 6-to-make-5. Lakers, Hornets and Spurs are probably safe, barring a key injury.
I still think Dallas will collapse. Their resurgence, I admit, has surprised me. I wrote them off prior to XMas, and now they have a one game lead over the Blazers.
I agree, those are the only "locked" play off teams. I think it's going to come down to which 1 of the 6 teams has the most significant injuries. Makes the race fun but I don't want my Blazers to be that team!
I agree. This is not just Utah vs us. Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Denver all have a chance to become a lotto team this year.
