The Sked (Quality Pie format)

by QualityPie on Aug 10, 2008 12:36 PM PDT Comment 8 comments

Here's how I laid out the schedule and printed it up for myself (I also laid it out in 3 columns, which I can't do here):

BRUTAL START
9 home, 16 road
7 travel back-to-backs

Oct. 28 - @L[xxx]rs [TNT]
31 - Spoors [ESPN]
Nov. 1 - @PHX
5 - @Utah
6 - Houston [TNT]
8 - Minny

10 - @Magic
12 - @Miami
14 - @ N.O.
15 - @Minny
18 - @GS
19 - Bulls [ESPN]
21 - @Sac
22 - @PHX

24 - Sac
26 - Miami
28 - N.O.
30 - @Detroit
Dec. 2 - @Nix
3 - @DC
5 - @Celts [ESPN]
7 - @TO
9 - Magic
11 - @Utah [TNT]
12 - Clips

CREAMPUFF
9 of 11 at home in 30 days
2 home games in 10 days to start

Dec. 16 - Sac
18 - PHX [TNT/HTP]
22 - @Denver
23 - Denver
25 - Dallas [TNT]
27 - TO
30 - Celts
Jan. 2 - N.O.
4 - @L[xxx]rs
7 - Detroit
10 - GS

EASTERN ROAD TRIP
Jan. 12 - @Bulls
14 - @Philly
15 - @NJ
17 @CHA

5 OF 6 AT HOME
Jan. 19 - Bucks
21 - LeBron
24 - DC
26 - @Clips
28 - CHA
31 - Utah

REDNECK ROAD TRIP
Feb. 2 - @N.O.
4 - @Mavs
6 - @OKC

5 OF 6 AT HOME
In 18 days (includes All-Star break)

Feb 8 - Nix
11 - OKC
12 - @GS
18 - Griz
20 - ATL
22 - Clips

REDNECK ROAP TRIP
Feb. 24 - @Houston
25 - @Spoors
27 - @Minny

6 OF 7 AT HOME
March 1 - Spoors [ESPN]
4 - Indy
5 - @Denver [TNT]
7 - Minny
9 - L[xxx]rs
11 - Mavs
13 - NJ

5-GAME ROAD TRIP
March 15 - @ATL
16 - @Griz
18 - @Indy
19 - @LeBron [TNT]
21 - @Bucks

4-GAME HOMESTAND
March 23 - Philly
26 - PHX [TNT/HTP]
28 - Griz
31 - Utah

REDNECK ROAD TRIP
April 3 - @OKC
5 - @Houston
7 - @Griz
8 - @Spoors

3 OF 4 AT HOME
April 10 - L[xxx]rs
11 - @Clips
13 - OKC
15 - Denver [ESPN]

3 recs | Comment 8 comments

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And that leads us to which conclusion regarding the difficulty or number of wins?

Odenied: Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...

by Norsktroll on Aug 10, 2008 12:49 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

More of the shifts in wins.

That December 12 break, their record should be the worst it’ll be all season.
That “CREAMPUFF” stretch should allow them to recover, adjust, and get calibrated for
the more consistent homestand/road-trip schedule pattern of the last 46 games.

That January 12 game in Chicago to start that four-game eastern swing
should be considered a sort of Game 1 for that 46-game sub-season.

What I like about having this schedule in this form is it will allow me to take stock of the team’s progress
at meaningful break points – how did they do in any particular block of games?
I’ll like being set up to analyze their progress and state-of-play at appropriate junctures,
not in the middle of a stretch where things might kinda get weird momentum.
And random places where most people sit back and judge progress-so-far, how-was-this-phase
don’t mean much to me: The turning of the month, the all-star break, every 5 or 7 games or anything like that.

The main thing is that they handle that creampuff stretch appropriately, take whatever happened in the brutal start
and take the opportunity to learn from it all, and become a new team all over again for after January 11.
This is going to shape where they’re at at season’s end, and what they are positioned to do in the playoffs.
I really don’t care where they’re at on December 13.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Aug 10, 2008 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I should add:

I could see myself doing season-trajectory fanposts at all the breaks, looking back at the block that just finished,
using the schedule in this form as a reference point.
This will keep me from throwing up fanposts after every stinking game.
Just diaries on December 13; January 11 and 18; February 1, 7, 23, and 28; March 14 and 22; and April 1, 9 and 19,
with each diary showing this calendar, in this form, updated and showing records of each block of games.

Getting myself organized for the season ahead of time.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Aug 10, 2008 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, no comments, but I still feel it's still an excellent post

I agree with you. Making heads or tail of the season is tough when you look at it in it’s massive entirety. I find that breaking it up this way, is very helpful. I hope that you post an update on this every so often throughout the season. I definitely look forward to those posts.

by parkinglotj on Aug 10, 2008 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Redneck road trips are hell

I played a gig in PHO once and Merle Haggard was right,its like a cross between LA and Texas

by southern oregon on Aug 10, 2008 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you that bored?

If you're paddling upstream in a canoe and a wheel falls off, how many pancakes fit in a doghouse? None! Ice cream has no bones!

by Arby on Aug 10, 2008 11:42 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Shhht.

I love this person’s posts.

Staring at the season schedule is a tricky game. Trying to accurately predict the outcome of the season by picking the Blazers over lesser teams gives us silly ideas, like winning 50 games.

It’s better to break the season up in to a series of funny and loosely related themes, then enjoy it as it unfolds.

QP: it would be great if you recapped the individual trips, as you had mentioned. You could suggest songs to match the series also.

by jose luis on Aug 11, 2008 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

QP

I read everything you post a little more carfully, like I do with Mortimer, Dave, jscott, bfan, and KP Corleon. I have learned a lot from you and several others hear. I really look forward to your updates and insights.

"I love Sheed. I wish he’d write a children’s book. Maybe he’d call it - How to $&%# Cuss Like a Big Boy."
--- tominhawaii on May 29, 2008 6:29 PM PDT

Email Dave,
--- Mortimer --- for Blazers Edge Ambassador to the SBNations

by ptwnblzr on Aug 13, 2008 3:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs