Finish with a better record than the Clippers. But I'd rather worry about the Warriors (3 games back) than HCA at this point.
That loss was too big. Not just overall record wise, but also because we lose our H2H matchup with Houston. I say forget HCA and just try to avoid HOU. If we have to watch 4-7 games of Harden's beard and Beverly's general irritating game, I won't be happy. And we matchup horribly with them as well.
Monday March 10th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Phoenix vs. Los Angeles Clippers Root For: Toss Up. Reason: This is the rare win-win game for the Trail Blazers. We're essentially two games back in the loss column of the Clippers due to their division-leading status for Home Court Advantage in the first round. But we are only five games up on the Suns, who are currently 9th in the West right now. A Phoenix loss shrinks our Magic Number while a Los Angeles loss brings us closer to Home Court Advantage.
Tuesday, March 4th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Portland @ Memphis Root For: Trail Blazers Reason: Need this one if we are to salvage a .500+ road trip San Antonio @ Chicago Root For: Bulls Reason: We're not catching the Spurs. But I also doubt we fall into 8th and matchup with them in the First Round. In my opinion, our best shot at getting out of the First Round is a date with the Alamo City. Hopefully the Spurs can drop to the 3rd seed, but they need to start adding more losses to the column. Houston @ Oklahoma City Root For: Toss-Up Reason: OKC is out of the picture in terms of chasing them down for the NW Division, but if want the Spurs to drop a seed or two, they'll need to catch them. On the other hand, the more Houston wins, the less likely we play them in the opening round. Golden State vs. Dallas Root For: Mavericks Reason: We're only three games up on the Warriors in the loss column and FOR NOW we want to stay in fifth, avoiding the Rockets. But that could quickly change. There's going to be a lot of jockeying going on as we near April.
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Portland @ San Antonio Root For: Trail Blazers Reason: Trail Blazers are now just two games up on the Warriors for the 5th spot, but that's not the main reason this team needs to win. They need to win get some confidence back. It really doesn't matter if they are the 5th or 6th seed, it matters who they play and how they're feeling heading into that matchup. Memphis @ New Orleans Root For: Pelicans Reason: While somewhat unlikely the Grizz could make up four games over the next 18, they do hold the tiebreaker over us and still have one more against us in Rip City. Dallas @ Utah Root For: Jazz Reason: Again, unlikely Dallas catches Portland, but they do own the tiebreaker and we're prone to losing multiple games in a row lately Phoenix Vs. Cleveland Root For: Suns Reason: Currently, they are out of the playoff picture, but tied with Dallas in the loss column for 8th. I don't fear them catching the Blazers and it's strictly personal preference that I'd like to see them play San Antonio or OKC over the Mavericks on a pure entertainment level. Golden State @ Los Angeles Clippers Root For: Win-Win Reason: The truth is, we won't know which result tonight helped the Blazers the most until the final seeding is set in stone. For now, a Clippers win gives the Blazers a little more breathing room in terms of the 5th seed. But that would also put another game between them and the Rockets, meaning a 4-5 matchup with Houston is what would be in store. On the other hand, a Warriors win brings them closer to the 5th seed but brings the Clippers closer to the 4th seed. With over 15 games left and the 3-6 seeds so up for grabs, I wouldn't waste any energy rooting for either outcome tonight.
Suns losing at home to Cavs last night was a good thing to me. 6 game lead on them still, and they play 12/18 games left on the road. But a lot of them are against tanking teams from the East. Until we string together 2-3 wins, missing the playoffs still worries me. If we go 7-10 even, Suns would have to go 13-5 to tie. It's so up in the air right now for us. Best case: LA's contusion not so bad, he's able to come back right away, we come together and win 10-13 more games. Maybe even get HCA. Worse case: LA is out for a while, losing streak continues and we fall out of the playoffs. It's not too hard to envision either scenarios. There isn't really another team in the league that's harder to predict right now. This is still the team that Roy Hibbert said "We'll see you in the finals" to. On the other hand, it's also the team that is 11-14 since their 31-9 start. Food for thought - The '91 Blazers had lost 8/11 games and were reeling with 17 games left to play. They proceeded to win 16 straight, only losing their final game that didn't mean anything since they'd clinched HCA. Obviously much different team and circumstances, but that losing streak in '91 was dreadful. They lost a couple of games in OT, then got hammered by double digits a bunch of times. It felt like the season was over, but they turned the corner when it mattered the most.
Thursday March 13th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Houston @ Chicago Root For: Bulls Reason: I think we're going to end up in the 6th seed, so the more entrenched Houston can be as the No. 4 seed, the better. The Clippers wouldn't have that much better of a matchup, but still more favorable than Houston. Oklahoma City vs. Los Angeles Lakers Root For: Lakers Reason: I don't want the Thunder having home court advantage throughout. Also, another win keeps the Lakers that much further away from the top pick in the draft.
Friday, March 14 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Portland @ New Orleans Root For: Trail Blazers Reason: Need a win heading into a winnable three-game homestand, especially with the Warriors being one of those three teams. Memphis @ Toronto Root For: Raptors Reason: Memphis is just three back in the loss column. Although, I'd rather have them pass us than stay fifth and face the Rockets so a Grizz win wouldn't be the worst thing in the word. Phoenix @ Boston Root For: Celtics Reason: I still want the Suns to make it in over the Mavs, but a Phoenix loss and a Portland win would shave two off of our Magic Number. San Antonio vs. Los Angeles Lakers Root For: Lakers Reason: The more L.A. wins, the less chance they have at getting the top pick. Los Angeles Clippers @ Utah Root For: Jazz Reason: At this point, I think it's unlikely we catch the Clippers, but we're only three back in the loss column and still get them once more in the Rose City. Golden State vs. Cleveland Root For: Cavaliers Reason: A Warrior win wouldn't hurt as it could push them into a battle with the Rockets in the 4/5 matchup, but if you still have hopes for HCA, hope the Cavs can pull off another upset.
