Every team we play on the 4 game home stand will be coming in as a 2nd of back to back and we are 17-3 facing teams on a back to back. Philly (@ Sacramento last night) Phoenix (hosting Utah in Phx on ESPN on Wednesday) Memphis (@ Sacramento Friday night) Utah (hosting New York on Monday)
We need to win 5 games to be in the playoffs. PHX will lose 3 games putting the finishing touches on our magic #. It doesn't matter how we get there...... We'll make the playoffs mistake or not!
I don't doubt they're going to be playing with desperation, but after the last 4 games my confidence in the Blazers is higher than ever. We have no reason to fear Phoenix but you're right, we definitely need to bring our A-game.
Hopefully Phoenix gives their all and gets a tough win against Utah, then comes into the Rose Garden spent.
I suspect the Suns and Jazz will both come in fired up. If the Blazers follow their all-too-typical pattern of sleepwalking through the first half, this could be cover-your-eyes bad.
one problem with the suns is they score. they might play no defense but they can score. thats a problem for us sometimes. we go through long stretches with no points. suns will kill us if we do that.
If the Suns play no defense, then why would the Blazers have trouble outscoring them? Portland has many more offensive weapons than the Suns do. Besides, the Blazers will control the tempo, Nate won't let them do any different.
Because of decision making. Because taking an open 3 when you have a layin is a bad decision. Running teams thrive off of lots of long misses from the perimeter, because they lead to long rebounds and run outs. Capiche?
PHX wont arrive in PDX until extra late on Wed because their game vs Utah is on ESPN. ESPN/TNT/ABC games are about half an hour longer due to all the extra commercial time outs etc.
It would be sweet to go 4-0 on this homestand and it's a realistic shot. 3-1 I'd be happy with, 2-2 would not be good.. But if we go 3-1, that'd put us 20 games over. Print those tickets!
