I know there have been several threads about whether or not the Blazers will make the playoffs and I probably could have posted this in one of those. But, I wanted to do a little more in-depth look at the race for the eighth spot as well as the playoff race as a whole. I am going to start with the Blazers and the race for the eighth seed. While Dallas, New Orleans, and possibly even Minnesota are right behind us, and are still in the race, (And I will add their remaining schedules as well and analyze them later this evening) I wanted to focus on Portland and Denver because it looks like its between the two of them more than anything. Though I'm not counting the three above teams out yet. Arguably the Blazers would already be tied for the eighth seed at this very moment had the Timberwolves not had the ice debacle thus delaying that game. That said here are the standings and remaining schedules for both the Blazers and Nuggets. I have included my predictions for the results of those games in black, and will fill in as the season concludes with the actual results in green (for wins) and red (for losses) next to it. Blazers Remaining Schedule (38-38): March 21st - VS Milwaukee (W)(L) March 23rd - VS New York (W)(W) March 25th - VS Minnesota (W)(W) March 26th - @ LA Lakers (W)(W) March 28th - VS Denver (W)(W) March 30th - VS Houston (L)(W) April 1st - VS Phoenix (W)(W) Monday April 3rd - @ Minnesota (W) Tuesday April 4th @Utah (L) Thursday April 6th - VS Minnesota (W) Saturday April 8th - VS Utah (L) Monday April 10th - VS San Antonio (L) Wednesday April 12th - VS New Orleans (W) That's a finish of 9-4 for a 41-41 record Denver's Remaining Schedule (36-40): March 22nd - VS Cleveland (L)(W) March 24th - @ Indiana (L)(W) March 26th - VS New Orleans (W)(L) March 28th - @ Portland (L)(L) Friday March 31st - @ Charlotte (W)(L) Sunday April 2nd - @ Miami (W)(W) Tuesday April 4th - @ New Orleans (L) Wednesday April 5th - @ Houston (L) Friday April 7th - VS New Orleans (W) Sunday April 9th - VS Oklahoma City (L) Tuesday April 11th - @ Dallas (W) Wednesday April 12th - @ Oklahoma City Thunder (L) That's a 5-7 finish for a 38-44 record I think the Blazers couldn't win more than that, they may do worse. The Blazers play mostly under .500 teams the rest of the way, with two back to backs, a mere two game road trip, and end the season with 4 straight at home. Perhaps I being too generous, perhaps not enough. The Blazers by far have the better schedule. The Nuggets are on a two game losing streak, their next two games are against Cleveland and Indiana and it doesn't get much easier from there. They play New Orleans three times, and with Boogie as of late they have been playing better, trying to push for the playoffs as well. Odds are at least one of those will be a loss. They play Portland in Portland, a loss. They play Houston and two against OKC both teams that have yet to beat this season. They have two back to backs and a five game road trip, not to mention they close the season on a two game road trip to Dallas and OKC. It is not going to be an easy road for them. The playoff picture here is definitely in Portland's favor. Later I will add more remaining schedules, further my analyses of the hunt for the eighth seed, and include my predictions of the playoff picture as a whole. Feel free to share your predictions and analysis as well. New Orleans Remaining Schedule (33-44): Tuesday March 21st VS Memphis (L)(W) Friday March 24th @ Houston (L)(L) Sunday March 26th @ Denver (L)(W) Monday March 27th @ Jazz (L)(L) Wednesday March 29th VS Dallas (W)(W) Friday March 31st VS Kings (W)(W) Sunday April 2nd VS Chicago (W)(L) Tues April 4th VS Denver (W) Friday April 7th @ Denver (L) Saturday April 8th @ Golden State (L) Tues April 11th @ Lakers (W) Wednesday April 12th @ Portland (L) A 5-7 finish for a 34-48 record The Pelicans have a 3 game road trip and a four game road trip to end the season and 3 back to backs (all three on the road) ouch! With their current record and this hectic schedule there is little chance at making the eight seed.
I think we beat San Antonio because they'll sit everybody, and we go 42-40, but everything else I agree with! What an exciting finish to the season...I was depressed in January, now I'm hoping we can beat Golden State once!!
Only 2 back-to-backs, and only a 2-game trip. The April 1st game with Phoenix is in Portland. Also, I think we'll beat Utah in Portland.
Like I said I may have not been generous enough. Bringing up resting players is a good point @BosnianChampion! That may very well affect how the season ends and whether or not we get the eighth seed. Though Denver has the tougher schedule if teams rest players they may have an easier time and get more wins. Same with the Blazers....the Spurs if they do rest guys should be a win for us I agree, and they very well might. I guess it depends on how close they are to Golden State and that #1 seed.
Thanks for the correction. Even better! I think they probably will too, I just wanted to include some losses, as to not go a full 12-0 homer...trying to be a bit realistic anyway, but yeah we will probably win that game.
Chmpionship Season we went to PHI and lost by about 20 in both games and then came home and won by about 20 then took game four in PHI and then came home and won again. W E WON 4 IN A ROW We were a very young team then too.
This is not a thread hijack question: Is there a thread to track the positioning of our 3 draft picks? If so, link please (can't find it)? If not, who wants to make one? (Please don't post about our draft position in this unrelated thread though. Thank you.)
The loss last night to the Bucks stings a bit, as it would have put us in a tie for eighth place. Hopefully, Denver loses tonight against the Cavs. Don't know if Bron is sitting though.
