at Phoenix at Lakers home vs. Blazers home vs. Orlando 0-4 is a big time possibility. If so, the Blazers have a fantastic opportunity to lock down 4th place (or even 3rd, if San Antonio continues to fall apart). I forgot how much I love this time of year. It's been a while.
I'm predicting 3-1. Arent the Lakers and Magic going to rest their star players? If not, I still think we got a shot at 3-1 if not 4-0
They were talking about it on the Fifth Quarter tonight, and I think Antonio was right that we don't have a great shot at catching Denver with their easy schedule the rest of the way. Our best hope of getting HCA is going after Houston for the fourth spot. And I think we can do it if we can beat them on their home floor.
Any way we "anonomously" send Phoenix some board material about how Houston is talking all sorts of trash and was talking about their moms or something??????
If you look our next 3-4 games and HOU & SAS's next four we could be in position to pass both with a win over them. This trip will most likely decide HCA because we have a good schedule after it and should be able to hang on to it if we could get it. Those are tough games but if we could get one of those 2 we would be in really good position to grab HCA. It there for taking or as some say we can control our own destiny for HCA.
I see Phoenix packing it in for the year, LAL beating HOU to send a message and Orlando gearing up for HOU and beating them. That puts them at 1-2. The wildcard is how we play at Toyota. If we bring the same intensity and willingness to grind them as we did in Cleveland, then it's 1-3. As for Denver, I still think we can catch them for the NWD, but I'm an optimist.
That Houston game could be pretty important. If nothing else it is a chance for the Blazers to finally get a W against a western conference playoff opponent on the road. But there is a very high likelyhood that Portland gets Houston in the first round, and having home court advantage, and showing you can in on their home court will both be important.
That Philly loss means we have to win a game we weren't supposed to which would be San Antonio or Houston...we really could quit worrying about other teams in the West, if we win we should be a top 4 seed.