Let's hope the Blazers have grown out of the 'play-down-to-the-competition' mode they were in at times earlier in the year. They need to go in and get a doulbe digit win against the Lakers as they have the Knicks the very next night after a late start in LA. Then you have the Warriors, Cavs, Rockets and Celtics in the following 8 games. They need to win these next two because at least a couple of losses are coming.
I'm most concerned about the Knicks game. b2b and 3rd in 4 nights. Only saving grace is it's at home and role players play better at home than on the road. Well and it's the knicks you're playing. Not the Warriors.
Blazers: 37-26, next @ Lakers Pelicans: 36-26, next @ Clippers Wolves: 38-28, next vs Celtics Spurs: 36-27, next vs Grizzlies Thunder: 37-28, next vs Rockets Pelicans jump up to #4 with their win over the Mavs. Almost any win or loss affects the standings because the teams are all so close. Blazers need to win or they could fall from #3 to #6 in one night.
Based on Denver's win over Cleveland on Saturday, I now have them projected to win the NW Division and earn the 3 seed.
That is a big win for Denver...a projected loss.. Portland will have to beat the Cavs when they play them on the 15th to stay ahead.
Except I'm actually projecting Portland to beat Cleveland at home. I'm hoping that Denver's home game against Cleveland ends up a schedule lose, being the second half of a road-home back-to-back for the Nugs. That's also the first game of a 6-game roadie for the Cavs, whereas their game in Portland will be the 5th on that same trip. I'd like to see Cleveland focused for the revenge game just 4 days after their unexpected loss to Denver this weekend, but wrung-out when they drag themselves into Portland a week later.
Denver's not going to win 9 games in a row. They're not that good and Millsap is killing their chemistry. And they have a 7 game road trip and they're a god awful road team.
That god-awful road team just won in Cleveland, and that was their hardest road game for the next couple weeks. They'll lose some on that road trip, but they'll be favored in every game leading up to it.
They're still 11-19 on the road. Cool that they beat Cleveland but that doesn't mean they'll continue to beat every team they face on the road. Not concerned with Denver. Being favored doesn't mean they win. They'll make playoffs but they won't be three seed. I see Minnesota missing the playoffs for sure. Not sure about Clippers or Jazz. If they both make it, OKC will probably miss out.
I find it hard to say anything "for sure" about 3-10. Shit, I'm not even giving up on the L*kers making some late noise, and they're 6.5 out.
