Game Thread Game # 70 - BLAZERS @ PACERS - MARCH 20, 2022 - SUNDAY - 12:30 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

Next 6 games:
@pacers
@Pistons
vs Spurs
vs Rockets
vs Rockets
vs Thunder

We need a tank for the ages

 

Pacers just came back to beat Houston. A key loss here from Portland, and they will be only 1 win in front of Portland. That would make #5 possible.

 

Huge game against Indy

 

If we don't find a reason to sit Josh Hart from this game through the end of the season then what the fuck have we been doing?!? If we play Hart in the next eleven games we could win all of them and really hurt our draft position. I'm trusting this organization will do the smart thing here. It seems they've been completely dedicated to the tank and this is no time to abandon that. Last night we didn't play Keon, Elijah, Greg or Keljin so there are obviously enough live bodies to play the games.

I honestly think if we see Hart in this game it will be a disastrous sign. The only reason I've been OK with Ant, Nurk and Dame sitting when they could be playing is because we're as Dame put it "playing for a pick". I think we can stay below the Spurs, get below the Kings for sure who have just one less win than us and even get under the Pacers who only have two less wins than we do but if we win more than two games then we probably won't get to that fifth spot. If we win all of the games we're capable of winning then we'll likely end up in the play ins... our schedule has so many easy wins left while the Spurs, Pelicans and Wizards can't say the same thing. We could be in the fifth spot for draft position or we could fuck it up and end up in the ninth spot or even in the playoffs without a pick of our own, just to be non competitively put out again by a superior team.

 

They need to sit Hart as soon as Ant comes back.

Any, Hart, Winslow, Watford and Eubanks would beat some of these trash teams.

 

Damn, now I’m Nervous. Need to sit Hart and Winslow

 

I think both of them need to sit the rest of the season. The team that's been playing lately can will beat these trash teams.

 

The Blazers absolutely need to sit Josh Hart for the rest of the season. Also don't bring Ant back

 

If we do make the play-in, do you think Dame and Nurk play? Or do we roll with the guys who got us there?

 

If we make the play in then it will be a huge failure on the team's part, specifically the front office who is obviously trying to tank. That being said, Dame only said that he wouldn't play for a pick... I'm pretty sure if the front office fails that Dame will want to play for a spot in the playoffs. Nurk would probably feel the same way. I think Ant would be in at that point too. So we would get to see what Dame and Ant look like together as starters in a competitive situation. The guys that got us there would still be rolling with us. I would think the rotation would look something like Dame, Ant, Hart, Justise, Nurk, Trendon, Williams, Eubanks if we find a way to keep him and someone else who will have to step up between now and then. So the guys that contribute to it would still play but for sure we'll play our best guys the most.

 

Pretty much looks like the Pacers need to tank as well. Thinking about that they are the perfect place for Chet to land. Exact coach he needs and the team is built for him with the 2-3 years he will need to bulk up and improve. Perfect situation for him.

 

Behind the Blazers in the standings.

 

Looking good so far

 

Somebody has to win this game. It’s a home game for them.
The Blazers have like the easiest home stand I have seen in years coming up. Somebody has to win those games also and it doesn’t seem like any of those next 5 games will be easy to lose.

Funny because this was the very part of the schedule a bunch of people were pinning their 50 win predictions on.