According to Hollinger's latest playoff odds, it's going to come down to the Blazers and Rockets for the final playoff spot in the West. He currently has both teams projected to finish with identical 43 - 39 records. With the the Blazers playing the Rockets in Portland tonight and then in Houston on Wednesday, the first week of 2011 could have play-off implications. Let's hope the Blazers can hold home court tonight. It would also be nice if they could steal one in Houston on Wednesday to lock-up the tie breaker. BNM
The Rockets have won 8 of 10 and are averaging 109 points per game over that stretch. But, the Blazers have won 7 in a row at home and allowed only 91.3 PPG in those seven games. Should be a good game. BNM
Rockets win easily. Can't keep up with that scoring with our bench. Miller Matthews and la will need 25 a piece for us to haveva prayer
You just recycle the same comment for every pregame thread. We can take 2 from the Jazz, but no way can we keep up with the mighty Houston Rockets. Clearly your New Year Resolution was not to stop trolling.
Big game tonight. I don't think Houston and Ptd will battle for the 8th spot. I think Houston, Ptd, Denver and NO will battle for the 6th-8th spot. I wouldn't be surprised if both Houston and Ptd make the playoffs.
If both Houston and Portland make the playoffs, who will be on the outside looking in? Hollinger has the Nuggets with an 87.2% chance of making the playoffs. And, also according to Hollinger, they've played the 6th toughest schedule in the league, so far. He has the Hornets with an 80.2% chance of making the playoffs, and they've played the 3rd toughest schedule to date. With tonight's win over the Rockets, the Blazers odds of making the play-offs moved up a little to 55.2% and the Rockets slipped a little to 52.4%. The Blazers have played the 8th toughest schedule, so far. And, the Rockets have played the 25th toughest (6th easiest) schedule. I actually think Memphis will pass the Rockets and Suns and end up finishing 9th in the West. They are still rather young, and don't have a lot of experience winning tight games, but they are improving and becoming more consistent. BNM
Yep, and he has our odds of making the playoffs all the way up to 68.1%. And, as I predicted, Memphis has passed both Phoenix in Houston - in Hollinger's world. In the real standings, they are still half a game behind the Rockets. BNM
All the way up to 76.9% now. We've passed New Orleans (68.0%) and are hot on the heels of Denver (78.3%) and Denver (81.8%). Hollinger also has the Blazers listed at 9th in the league in his current power rankings - ahead of Denver, Utah, New Orleans and even OKC. BNM
OK, we crept up to 78% after beating Minnesota, staying ahead of NO and passing Denver, who has plummeted to 63.9% and hot on the heels of Utah, who just lost to the Grizz. BNM
And, after tonight's win, the Blazers have matched San Antonio for the best record in the West over the last 10 games (7 - 3). BNM
His stats are overstating it. It sure doesn't feel like 9th best. In past years, he's had us at 9 when it really felt like we belonged in the top 6.
His projections are heavily weighted in favor of recent performance (last 10 games). The Blazers are 7 - 3 over their last 10 games with two wins over both Utah and Houston. There are only two teams in the league (Miami and Orlando) that are better than 7 - 3 over the last 10 games. He updated his power rankings and playoff odds again last night after NOH lost to the Lakers. Our playoff odds are now a very solid 84.3%. hot on the heels of Utah (86%), and we've passed the Lakers for the 8th spot in his Power Rankings. I should probably start another thread just for tracking our playoff chances, according to Hollinger. BNM
Our playoff odds have recently skyrocketed off the chart. See the red line. http://www.coolstandings.com/basketball/basketball_team.asp?sn=2010&id=POR
