We can't win the season series against the Nuggets, correct? If so, the Blazers would have to be at least a full two games ahead of Denver heading into that final game to ensure having a higher seed than them.
Denver is only up 2-1 in the season series. We could tie them if we win the season finale. After head-to-head, it goes to division record which unfortunately Denver is up on with a 9-3 record now. We're at 7-5. This is why even those division games in December were so important.
Here is the rest of Denver's divsion schedule: APRIL OPPONENT Thu, Apr 2 Utah 10:30 PM TNT Sun, Apr 5 @ Minnesota 7:00 PM Wed, Apr 8 Oklahoma City 9:00 PM Wed, Apr 15 @ Portland 10:30 PM Here is our's: Tue, Mar 31 Utah 10:00 PM Fri, Apr 3 @ Oklahoma City 8:00 PM Mon, Apr 13 Oklahoma City 10:00 PM Wed, Apr 15 Denver 10:30 PM And Utah's: Fri, Mar 20 @ Oklahoma City Tue, Mar 31 @ Portland Thu, Apr 2 @ Denver 10:30 PM TNT Fri, Apr 3 Minnesota 9:00 PM Looks like we better be up by a game and not tied.
That game we lost to Oklahoma City could end up hurting us much more than we could have known back then. Still, we have the same number of losses as Denver and one fewer than Utah and we have one game left against each of them, both in Portland. If we can just stay level in the loss column, we still have great odds of winning the division.
The following is an explanation of NBA tiebreaking scenarios. Determining Ties for Playoff Position In order to break a tie for playoff positions, if one exists at the end of the regular season, the following criteria will be utilized in the order set forth: TWO-WAY TIES 1. Results of games against each other. 2. Better winning percentage within own division (only if tied teams are in same division). 3. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. 4. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). 5. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). 6. Better point differential between offense and defense. MORE THAN TWO TEAMS TIED 1. If applicable, division champions must be determined first. 2. Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. 3. Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division). 4. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference. 5. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including team that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position). 6. Best point differential between offense and defense. Note: If a multiple team tie is reduced to a two-team tie at any point using the above criteria, the two-team tie will be resolved in accordance with the existing two-team tie procedure. http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/7164305
If Oden's back by 31st I think we can handle them. Unfortunately it worries me to go back into OKC with that little rivalry we got going, and once again G.O would be great to have back for that game!
Dont kill the messenger, but Utah has a good chance of a gimmie game at the end of the year. Lakers have the West wrapped up but if they or Cle (or whoever) already have overall HCA wrapped up by then then expect an easy Utah victory in LA
