Aren't the suns up 2-1 on us? I could have sworn we lost both of the games at phoenix. Or is there some ancillary tie-breaker that I'm not thinking of?
Monday March 17th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Phoenix @ Brooklyn Root For: Nets Reason: Suns are just four games back of the Blazers in the loss column for the 9th out West. Phoenix also currently has the tie-breaker and there's still one game between the teams left to be played. Oklahoma City @ Chicago Root For: Bulls Reason: I'd like to see OKC fall to 3rd and possibly matchup with them in a 3/6 matchup. Although it would be difficult, it's a better opponent for the Blazers to handle than the Clippers and Rockets. Houston vs. Utah Root For: Jazz Reason: Mathematically there's still a chance to catch the Rockets and gain HCA through the 1st Round of the playoffs, but Houston's lost three straight games and we're not doing a thing about it. Dallas vs. Boston Root For: Mavericks Reason: It may sound crazy, but I wouldn't mind dropping down to the 8th seed and facing San Antonio. Maybe a 1/8 matchup would bring back the "Us against the world" mentality that worked so well for us over the first two months of the season Los Angeles Clippers @ Denver Root For: Nuggets Reason: Pretty much the same reason as listed above for the Rockets/Jazz game. There's a chance and until that chance isn't mathematically possible, keep holding out hope. Although a Clippers win wouldn't be the worst thing in the world since I believe we're more likely to end up 6th rather than 5th.
Tuesday March 18th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Portland vs. Milwaukee Root For: Trail Blazers Reason: Just need momentum ... any momentum Golden State vs. Orlando Root For: Magic Reason: Warriors are just two back of the Blazers in the loss column and they currently have the tie-breaker over Portland with one more game remaining between the two teams.
Original post updated. The Phoenix loss helps but if we don't start seeing W's, we could end up in 8th.
This begs the question, would we rather have the 8th seed with a first round matchup against the Spurs? It's really pick your poison in the west but I think we matchup better with the Spurs than most of the playoff teams.
Three years ago Memphis purposefully lost a few late games so they could end up as the 8th seed and play the Spurs ... they eventually won that series in five or six games.
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 Games To Watch (Games Updated Throughout Comments)- Memphis vs. Utah Root For: Jazz Reason: Grizz are just three back of the Blazers in the loss column and they have the tiebreaker over Portland. Dallas vs. Minnesota Root For: Timberwolves Reason: Same reason as above. Unless you feel like the Thunder or Spurs would be a better matchup, then you should be pulling for teams to catch the Blazers. Phoenix vs. Orlando Root For: Magic Reason: I'd still rather seen the Suns in the playoffs than the Mavericks but a Phoenix loss does drop our Magic Number to nine. San Anontio @ Los Angeles Lakers Root For: Spurs Reason: Because #BeatLA. Also, we want San Antonio as the 1 seed. If we land as the No. 5 seed, a potential semi-final matchup with the Spurs would be a great series.
At this point, we either need to lose more and drop to 6th or win more and move back up to 3rd. Playing Houston without HCA would be the worst case scenario for us. Pretty much would guarantee a quick exit in the playoffs. I can't think of a worse matchup for us.
Agreed. Given the schedules, I don't see HOU getting upto 1/2/3, so we gotta get out of 5. I'd even be okay with 8 to get SA.
I wouldn't go that far. OKC is just a bit complacent now, and are just experimenting stuff for the playoffs. KD won't let his team lose in round 1. And if he's not on on his own, the NBA will make sure he gets through.
You're right, but we've beaten them at home and on the road, so I feel like we matchup with them pretty well. We just don't matchup well with Houston at all.
Fuck losing for positioning. The best remedy for our recent malaise is to get our confidence back. That means playing well and winning every single game from here on out. Make teams fear us instead of the other way around. Let's hope LA works himself back into rhythm when he returns. Combine the early season version of LaMonster with Lillard and the way Nico has been playing lately, and we have the three-headed beast you need to compete in the playoffs.
We will not beat Houston. It's the same as it was back in 2008-2009. We do not match up well with them, and the refs are all over Harden's balls so we'd have no shot. Plus, Beverley is allowed to completely drape himself all over Dame. We would have an extremely low chance of winning that series, especially if we didn't have HCA.
