The Blazers have 37 wins, with 18 games remaining. I was just trying to calculate if there was any reasonable way the Blazers could win 13, and wind up with 50 wins for the season. I'd say it's unlikely, but far from impossible... here's a scenario where they take 13 of 18, without anything too unreasonable: @ Denver: loss (0-1) Kings: win (1-1) @ Warriors: loss (1-2) (the Blazers always lose in Oakland, don't know why) @ Kings: win (2-2) Raptors: win (3-2) (but this could easily be a loss if the Raps have Bosh) Wizards: win (4-2) @ Suns: loss (4-3) (one win in Phoenix per year...) Mavericks: win (5-3) (I have both home games vs. Dallas as wins long shot?) @ Hornets: win (6-3) @ Thunder: win (7-3) Knicks: win (8-3) @ Nuggets: loss (8-4) @ Kings: win (9-4) @ Clippers: win (10-4) Mavericks: win (11-4) @ Lakers: loss (11-5) Thunder: win (12-5) Warriors: win (13-5) In reality, I don't think the Blazers will win both games against Dallas, I think they'll lose one of the remaining games against OK City, they might lose in New Orleans, and they could lose at least one more game they "should" win (one more than the Golden State loss I'm already accounting for). I think the Blazers are more likely to finish up 11-7, for 48 wins on the season. Good enough for the 8th spot, but probably not much better. But if after all these injuries, the Blazers can win 50? Wow.
Wow. That looks like a pretty easy schedule overall. And add the fact that the games are mostly spread out, I like it.
I noticed this morning that Portland is 37-27 while San Antonio is 34-24. How is it possible to have played 6 more games than any point of a season? The Spurs' old legs are going to having to push hard to keep from falling down the standings, and 14 of their last 24 games are on the road.
Looking at that schedule, I see a hopeful 12-6, for a final record of 49-33. That would be an amazing accomplishent considering the injuries this year. Of course, if Roy's hammy goes out or Aldridge suffers a major injury, all bets are off.
