Official - Who are we going to play thread

You think MEM will likely lose at home to Indiana? Pacers are coming off a hard-fought double OT victory against the Wiz last night-- that too a TNT game that ended after 11PM with all their guys playing extended minutes.

 

Grizzlies are holding some important guys out (last I looked).

 

So I assume whoever we play the team is not traveling back to Portland first? That makes it a 10 day trip. Not sure how that effects them, maybe not at all, but it would have been better if they played at home the last two games and then opened up at home as well.

 

Makes no sense for them to do so. The difference between a win and loss tonight could be starting the playoffs at home vs POR, instead of on the road @ LAC.

 

After last night Clipper win, we have a little more info for our first round playoff opponent:

Clippers-Blazers: No chance
Spurs-Blazers: 1 scenario (Griz lose, Spurs lose, Rockets win)
Griz-Blazers: 3 scenarios (most likely if Griz win)
Rockets-Blazers: 4 scenarios (most likely if Griz lose)

 

Conley and Gasol have legit injuries. Getting them healthy for the playoffs is more important than winning tonight.

 

Although we only have one shot at playing the Spurs, it's still worrisome...The Spurs and Grizzlies both play teams that HAVE to win tonight to make the playoffs (Pacers to hold their spot, Pelicans to hold their spot, esp since OKC plays the Wolves and will certainly win). And the Rockets winning is pretty likely to make that full scenario play out.

 

I could definitely see Pop tanking tonight's game to get the Blazers in the first round.

 

Well if guys are hurt and can't play then they can't play.

 

As beat up as they are right now, I think that the Blazers are probably seen as one of the most attractive first round draws, but good point about the Warriors. Yeah, Pop will probably play to win tonight. I'd say a rematch of last year with the Rockets is the most likely outcome. Whoopie.

 

http://www.blazersedge.com/2015/4/1...tiebreakers-san-antonio-spurs-houston-rockets

 

The reason I don't want the Grizz in the first round is mostly the travel distance. They should be required to relocate to Vancouver for the playoffs in the west

 

Personally we should have no excuses with facing Houston, their missing two key rotational players one even being a starter. If anything that matchup should be considered fair for both sides. Although we lost our key defensive guy in Wes them loosing their key defensive guy in Beverley tremendously helps us as well.

Honestly we should be able to beat Houston. Let Harden get his and just stop everybody else. We have the better coach, LMA & Dame, a little deeper bench, I just can't see us loosing that series..

 

Here's yet another look at the possible scenarios for who we'll play in the first round:

Blazers Play Rockets if:

Rockets win, Spurs win, Grizzlies win
Rockets win, Spurs win, Grizzlies lose
Rockets lose, Spurs win, Grizzlies lose
Rockets lose, Spurs lose, Grizzlies lose

Blazers Play Grizzlies if:

Rockets win, Spurs lose, Grizzlies win
Rockets lose, Spurs win, Grizzlies win
Rockets lose, Spurs lose, Grizzlies Win

Blazers Play Spurs if:

Rockets win, Spurs lose, Grizzlies lose

This is basically the same info that yuyuza1 posted above, but parsed in a different format. Here's all the details in tabular form:

So, to avoid playing the Spurs (worst case scenario, IMHO), we want to avoid the case where both SAS and MEM lose and HOU wins. That's the only combination that lands the Spurs as the 5th seed.

BNM

 

Well, they'll have to travel just as far to Portland as we'll have to travel to Memphis.

Flight time isn't really significantly different for any of our three possible opponents.

The flying distance from PDX to MEM is 1852 miles with a flight time of 4 hr. 0 min.

PDX to HOU is 1825 Miles with a flight time of 3 hr. 57 min.

PDX to SAS is 1715 miles with a flight time of 3 hr. 45 min.

I'd rather they spend and extra 12 - 15 minutes in the air than have to face the Spurs in the first round.

BNM

 

Based on your analysis/prediction on the Portland/GS and Portland/OKC games.......you are not making me feel good about our chances.

 

Lets bring on the Rockets. Have a rematch of last season's epic playoffs.

Houston Changes:
1.) Howard is a shell of the player we faced last season
2.) Beverly is out.
3.) They got rid of 3 key players (Lin, Parson, and that D league Scrub that won the game for them in game 4.
4.) They added Ariza, Smith, Terry, Brewer and DMo

Portland Changes:
1.) Wesley Matthews is out
2.) Aldridge, Batum, Afflalo, and CJ maybe injured
3.) Mo left
4.) Added: Kaman, Blake, and Afflalo

The real question is whether Batum is healthy. I think he is the key player to guard the Beard. If he is not playing well, then Harden could absolutely destroy us.

Aldridge's health is equally important because we really need him to dominate this series.

Dame's outside shooting MUST IMPROVE. If Dame can beast against Houston, especially from the perimeter, that will provide a HUGE advantage!

 

Well we lost both those games like I said so you should feel good.. I don't know what your talking about