Barea injury could be big. Has he been player of the week as much as Dame? Edit; No Dame has done it twice. Still can't believe Barea won last week.
Blazers just need to win their last 2 games and control their own destiny. Relying on other teams to do your work for you is just lame.
Then we owe him a debt of gratitude. I'll gladly take Terry Stotts over Nate McMillan any day. The Blazers under Stotts are both more fun to watch and more successful. BNM
Blazers 43-37 (Updated) BOS - a must win to have a chance at #5. Payback due as well. (Win 116-109) MIA - opponent b2b 3in4 - should be a win against a tired, road weary MIA squad. (Win 110-93) Wade out, 3 games in 4 nights...inevitable. @GS - b2b - Loss. GS going for a historical record with Portland on a b2b. I would almost go 'Pop' and rest the starters that game. .......(Loss 136-111) Didn't rest anyone and still got blown out by 25. Now they are facing must win games to keep DAL and UTA at bay. @SAC 3in4 - Another 'must win' game even though POR struggles there. Possibly depends on who is in the lineup for SAC. (Win 115-107) ........SAC sat Gay, Belinelli, Collison, Koufos and Casspi and Harkless went nuts. OKC - b2b 4in5 opponent b2b 3in4 - Have to win your home games. Both teams will be tired. It's why I think POR should rest against GS. OKC may sit... ......players as they have clinched #3 and would probably rather play MEM than POR anyhow. (Win 120-115) As expected, OKC, sat 4 of 5 starters and POR ......held on to get must have win. MIN - Win...it's MIN DEN - Win...better be a win. That gives POR a 45-37 record but I'm not sure I see them going 6-1 down the stretch so with wiggle room, 44-38. Memphis 42-37 (Updated) TOR - Loss. Raptors still chasing CLE. Glad this game isn't any later in the season when it might be a lost cause. (Loss 99-95) Impressed it was that close. @ORL - Magic out of the Playoffs so it's about how MEM plays. Should be a win. (Loss 119-107) MEM just doesn't have the bodies....reeling. CHI - Battle of the injured lineups. Pick 'em game. (Win 108-92) Chicago just didn't show up. @DAL - Loss. Mavs fighting for that last Playoff spot at home. (Loss 103-93) MEM just doesn't have the bodies to win against quality teams. GS - b2b - Loss. Warriors on their quest helps us when it hurt us earlier. @LAC - Clippers likely in a 'no-win' scenario and may rest their starters. May rest starters to help MEM so they can play them in the Playoffs. @GS - b2b Should be a loss but GS may have the record wrapped up by then and might sit starters against a hungry MEM team. So POR is now #5 with MEM falling fast and with another expected loss in a b2b tonight against the Warriors. DAL is 1.5 games back with games Sunday @ the Clippers who may rest players, Monday @ Utah in what should be a real battle and then Wednesday hosting the Spurs where you'd think Pop will be resting everyone but the beer vendors. Barea was injured last night but did try to come back into the game for a short stretch so not sure how he is looking for Sunday's game against the Clippers. #5 is there for the taking if Portland can take care of it's own business against two teams it should dominate.
Blazers 43-37.....Grizzlies 42-37....Mavericks 41-38.....Jazz 39-40 vs MIN......................GST...........................@LAC......................@DEN vs DEN....................@LAC.........................@UTA........................DAL ................................@GST...........................SAS.........................@LAL ...2-0..........................1-2...............................2-1............................3-0 (Guesstimate Projection) 45-37........................43-39..........................43-39.........................42-40
Grizz lose. With a Blazer win tonight against the Wolves we will finish above Grizz in 5th or 6th. Then we only need Mavs to lose one of their last 3 games to clinch 5th; all 3 of which takes place before our final Denver game. If they win all 3 we'd need to beat Denver for 5th.
Sigh. Fuck Minnesota. Looks like Doc Rivers and the Clips will rest everyone tomorrow vs Dallas. Then the Mavs have to go to Utah, where the Jazz have been shaky lately. And then Dallas returns home vs the 2nd/3rd units of San Antonio. With the way the Mavs are playing lately, I wouldn't be shocked if they win all 3. 6th seed? Say it ain't so
If we can't get the 5th seed I rather we get the 7th. I rather have a few chances at fuck you games against LaMarcus than seeing Durant and Westbrook go for 60+ a game.
Brutal way to lose tonight. To get the 5th seed we need the following; If we win: 1 Dallas loss If we lose or would like to rest guys against Denver: 1 Memphis loss 2 Dallas losses Blazers 43-38 DEN - Wed Apr13 10:30pm Grizzlies 42-38 @LAC - Tue Apr12 10:30pm TNT @GS - b2b - Wed Apr13 10:30pm Mavericks 41-38 @LAC - Sun Apr10 3:30pm NBATV @UTH - b2b 3in4 opponent b2b - Mon Apr11 9pm SAS - opponent b2b 3in4 - Wed Apr13 8pm Go Blazers!
Dallas losses at the Clippers. Blazers control their fate for the 5th seed! To clinch the 5th seed we need either: a Blazers win or a Memphis and Dallas loss. If the Grizzlies lose at the Clippers and the Mavs lose either of their last game we will clinch the 5th and can have a practice game to finish the season. Blazers 43-38 DEN - Wed Apr13 10:30pm Grizzlies 42-38 @LAC - Tue Apr12 10:30pm TNT @GS - b2b - Wed Apr13 10:30pm Mavericks 41-39 @UTH - b2b 3in4 opponent b2b - Mon Apr11 9pm SAS - opponent b2b 3in4 - Wed Apr13 8pm Go Blazers!
