crazy that even though they end the season with a lot of road games they still have the 2nd softest schedule left. But yay for false hope!
Strength of schedule has been tougher....but we have played to many teams without major players. So when we played them, they were that 'tough'. Now it gets easier and the Blazers should go on a run. The problem is, they play the 'tougher' teams in the Playoffs.....and the majority of years, that hasn't gone well.
I saw the term "hopium" being bandied about the other day and I approve of this term. I will freebase hopium.
current records: as of today, playoff probabilities: seeds 5-10 are separated by 1 game. The Kings are only 2 games out of the play-in two teams (Warriors, Suns) have separated from the rest; Utah is trying to do that as well and they seem to go on a major winning streak, mid-season, every year. But right now, seeds 4-10 are up for grabs. right now, 19 teams have a better record than Portland, but 9 of those teams are only 1 game better. Blazers have by far their easiest stretch of games over the next 6 weeks. 19 games with a 15-4 home/road split, and 10 of the 19 games are against teams with losing records. I expect the Blazers to cruise thru these games and be 8-10 games over .500 at the 40 game mark on Jan. 9. It may be a deceptive record though because 26 of their last 42 games are on the road, and we know how road games have gone as usual, injuries will play a factor. Not only who gets hurt, but who returns to action. Will the Pelicans get hot after Zion returns? Will Kawhi and Jamal Murray return during the regular season? Will the Warriors become invincible when Klay and Wiseman return? Is Memphis 'for real' now and will they become more or less for real when Morant returns?
Is it really good news? Our record will improve just enough to sneak into the playoffs and get smushed by a legit team. Same as it ever was.
Just like last season, I am once again now rooting for this team to lose to force change. the worst possible scenario is we beat up on bad teams at home and it masks the fact that this team is not worth maintaining it its current structure.
