You may not realize it, but the Blazers have an incredibly grueling finish ahead. They have 20 games remaining (By comparison, the other teams presently occupying the 2-7 spots in the west only have 16-18 games left), and they're crammed into a 34-day stretch. After tonight, they have a 5-in-7 road trip, then another 5-in-7 stretch which includes both a R-H & H-R B2B--all that before the end of March. April 3-9 gives yet another 5-in-7, also including R-H & H-R B2B's, the last of which has them visiting the best team in the league. The Blazers need to go 13-7 over the final 20 to improve upon last year's record, and I think that will take a herculean effort to accomplish. If they can manage 13 wins in this final string--after losing Wes--I will be incredibly optimistic going into the playoffs.
It's important to go into the playoffs on a good rhythm, and a layoff can sometimes hurt that, but after reading this, I hope there is some time to rest between the season finale and the playoffs?
vs DET @ TOR @ WAS @ MIA @ ORL @ MEM vs GSW vs UTA @ PHX vs DEN vs PHX vs LAC @ LAL vs NOP @ BKN vs MIN @ GSW vs UTA @ OKC @ DAL 11 games against teams over .500 (bolded). Of the ones less than .500, Utah and Minnesota have been giving us fits. It's going to be a tough finish. I can honestly see Terry resting a lot of the starters against OKC and Dallas depending on if seeds are locked up or not.
First day of the playoffs will be April 18th. Depending on whether they have us start on Saturday or Sunday, we'll have either two or three days off between the final regular season game and the first post-season game. Yeah, I'm definitely counting Utah as an above .500 team these days.
6 of the 20 are against the east including the next 5 straight. 10 of the 20 are against playoff teams including some playoff teams. Toronto and the Wizards may be playoff teams but they have falling off a cliff since january and the mavs look like a hot mess. The schedule is as following Pistons Toronto Wizards Heat Orlando Grizz Warriors Jazz Suns Nuggets Suns Clippers Lakers Pelicans Nets Timberwolves Warriors Jazz Thunder Mavericks We may actually be in a position to knock the Thunder out of the playoffs which would be awesome.
What if they intentionally threw the game to keep them playing GS. Possibly knocking GS out of the first round
A lot of playoff teams are going to rest their starters leading up to the playoffs. We're good for the end stretch.
Did you pay attention to the content of the OP? Or do you just not believe that a compressed schedule can significantly impact performance? They have three 5-in-7's in 4 weeks. That's tough for any team, regardless of how well they're playing.
This Detroit win was fun but the next two weeks are Brutal. Who was the meathead who made this schedule for us?
Freeland, Leonard, Crabbe and Kaman could easily be on a downtown billboard if they contribute big time
