The Blazers currently sit at #4 in the Western Conference, 1 game up on the Houston Rockets. They play 12 of their next 15 on the road where they currently have a .435 winning percentage. That would equate to 5 wins out of the next 12 road games during a critical stretch as they try to hold on to HCA. They only have 3 home games in that stretch and 2 of those will be very tough games so no rest there either. What do they need to do to maintain #4? Will they be helped by any non-playoff teams tanking? @ Dallas @ OKC GOLDEN ST @ Brooklyn @ Philadephia @ Cleveland @ Boston @ Toronto @ Charlotte @ Memphis OKLAHOMA CITY PHOENIX @ LA Clippers @ New Orleans @ San Antonio
I see 4 easy games in that stretch and they need to treat those 4 like a game 7. Starting on Sunday. I would be happy going 8-7 in this 15 game stretch
What was all the talk about our schedule being easier in the second half of the season? I'd call that feckin' brutal!
@TBpup: I specifically heard Olshey say yesterday that they were passed the hard part of their schedule. Are you saying he's incorrect?
Well luckily we play 82 games overal, because the 9 games after this stretch could realistically turn into a 9 game win streak. I say could, cause knowing the Blazers they’ll probably shit the bed on some of them. Pacers Mavericks Pistons Nets Bulls Hawks Pistons Wolves Grizzlies
So combining the two, lets say we win 8 of the next 15 and then 8 of our last nine, putting us at 49 wins for the season. Not sure if that is enough to keep hca, but alot of that also depends on how other teams do heading down the stretch.
If you gave Olshey the choice between telling the unvarnished truth and being fed feet first into a wood chipper, he would brag about the great pedicure he has arranged for himself.
@ Dallas @ Brooklyn @ Cleveland @ Charlotte @ Memphis PHOENIX @ LA Clippers @ New Orleans @ San Antonio They should win these 8 games at least, with the Spurs a toss up at 9.
This is a talented Blazers roster. The road is always tough, but the chemistry on this team makes the road not so tough. They'll surprise and kick some butt.
In the 4 seasons since Aldridge left their road record is: This year: 10-13 Last year 21-20 2016-17: 16-25 2015-16: 16-25 Total: 63-83 It's not awful but I wouldn't say that the chemistry has made the road not so tough either.
The continuity that is stressed and highlighted so much at the beginning of each season has not meant as much as you would like given those numbers. That is a total winning percentage of .431. Even at that, it should get better over time as the team progresses and matures, right? Currently this season.... .434.
Yeah exactly! My belief is that you want to dominate at home and be .500 on the road if you want to be a good team. Last year we snuck in there to be 21-20. In order to achieve that this year we would need to go 11-7 on the road from here on out. Certainly doable but they need to pick it up. If they can do that AND go 7-3 at home, also doable, then they could get to 51 wins.