Blazers #4 Seed in West: Would Kill Utah or Denver

by LaoTzu on Apr 3, 2009 1:17 AM PDT Comment 46 comments

With a comparably favorable schedule plus the way the Blazers are peaking, home court is ours for the taking. The Blazers should easily pass both the NOH and Houston for the 4th seed! Catching the Spurs and Nuggets, however, no longer seems realistic without a something miraculous. Somehow, the Nuggets just keep getting it done.

The Blazers should start the playoffs at home against Houston or the Hornets. Both match ups favor the home court team. The Hornets appear depleted. And Houston, while matching up alright, seems too flat to hang with Nate's invigorated squad.

It is really too bad we won't get the Nuggets or the Jazz. Based on the way both teams did not play tonight, the Blazers would simply kill them. I mean, it makes sense to scout these teams we are competing with, but that was a difficult game to watch.

Who would be the easier first round opponent for us: Houston or NO?

Anyone inspired to do an in-depth analysis of how the Blazers line up against these squads?

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id rather face

houston.

by Blazerland on Apr 3, 2009 1:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

New Orleans

That’s the team I most want to face out of any of them. Peja and Tyson Chandler are struggling with injuries and they have no bench. Paul and West are dangerous, for sure, but with no one to hit 3s and no interior defense I can’t see them beating us in a 7 game series.

Furthermore, Paul is the only guy on that team that the Blazers have no answer for. Aldridge can bother West, but more importantly, can keep up with him scoring wise. Paul, on the other hand, is going to abuse our PGs like an evil step mom abuses her red haired step child. However, that is just one guy. Let him score as much as he wants and keep him under 10 assists and the Blazers win.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Apr 3, 2009 1:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

The Hornets don’t scare me but I think the Nuggets would kill us.

Anyone else notice what Chris Anderson has been doing lately? He had 6 blocks, 18 points, and 11 rebounds the other night. The guy is killing it defensively.

When I came here (in 2004), guys like Nick (Van Exel) and Damon, they were a breath of fresh air for me,'' Przybilla

by Nick Van Excellent on Apr 3, 2009 2:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Oden was reffed like Andersen and Nene, he'd average 12 blocks a night

Seriously, I thinkt he refs have an entirely different rule book for Andersen and Nene.

by JordanLeDoux on Apr 3, 2009 2:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

To be fair...

if Oden stopped swinging his has arms so much he probably wouldn’t pick up fouls so quickly. Greg actually already averages quite a bit more blocks per minute than Nene.

From what I’ve seen Anderson seems to be reffed pretty closely, similar to the officiating Greg sees on most nights. Anderson has a reputation as a trouble maker so I guess it makes sense that borderline wouldn’t go his way.

He’s just a defensive phenom. The block he had on Rudy was one of the hardest rejections I’ve seen in a long time. It’s also nice that he rebounds the ball so well. I would LOVE to see him and Joel on the second unit together next season. The Birdman and the Vanilla Gorilla would absolutely destroy anyone who came into the paint.

When I came here (in 2004), guys like Nick (Van Exel) and Damon, they were a breath of fresh air for me,'' Przybilla

by Nick Van Excellent on Apr 3, 2009 3:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another thing Oden does is swing his elbow out when he’s setting a pick.

I’m not sure he’s been called on it solely because he hasn’t really smacked anyone to hard. But I imagine that won’t last forever.

Just pointing it out because it seems related to the swinging of his arms. The big guy really needs to focus on what some of his movements look like to the refs. He gets a lot of calls that he doesn’t deserve, but I’ve seen the refs let some go where I was a little surprised.

On the other hand he gets whacked in there sometimes and you wonder how the refs could miss the beating he just took.

GO
THE TEACHER ......come into my classroom "THE PAINT" for some tutelage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The rancor reflected in that remark I won't dignify with comment. But I'll address your general attitude of hopeless negativism." – Everett "O Brother, where art Thou?"

by Blazer1342 on Apr 3, 2009 5:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oden is'nt sneaky enough.

When he commits a foul. Everyone in the areana knows he committed a foul. Especially when he tries to stop guys driving on the baseline, I wish he could avoid that pelvic thrust he always does and not pick up the pushing foul. Give him some time and he will start getting away with things by being a little more subtle like Nene and the Birdman do.

"Great Oden's raven!" - Ron Burgandy

by danevan on Apr 3, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno about Denver but....

Of course we would kill Utah if we had home court….what playoff team won’t?

Rooo-D!

by truls on Apr 3, 2009 2:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind the #6 seed

Unless we go to seven games, home court advantage doesn’t mean anything. Additionally, if we get the #4 or #5 seed, we play you-know-who in the 2nd round, and that’s not a good bet.

Given then we need to go 8-0 to finish the season if we want the division crown (or Denver needs to choke a few away), pushing hard for the #4 spot really isn’t too meaningful to me.

I’d rather play Houston/San Antonio/Denver over two rounds than anything involving the Lakers or Mavericks

M, period. Fresh, comma.

by manzell on Apr 3, 2009 4:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

HCA

I’d rather finish with the 4 seed than the 6. Given the home record and the conference record, if we want to advance to the second round, HCA is going to be very important. The 2 or 3 seed doesn’t seem realistic, but if we can go 3-1 on the road trip, then the 4 seed seems very possible. Also, I’d love to give the Lakers a run in the second round.

by koyote on Apr 3, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What are our season records against these teams?

This would be an invaluable piece of information to know.

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Apr 3, 2009 7:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe

That we are 1-1 against Houston and 2-1 against New Orleans.

"Do or Do not there is no Try"
Yoda

by Bakasama on Apr 3, 2009 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

2-2 vs New Orleans (both teams lost on the other's court once)

so no tiebreaker vs. New Orleans. (they have the tiebreaker vs. us based on conference record)

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Apr 3, 2009 8:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

You sure dont play division rivals much in the NBA.

Just last year the Sabres played the Leafs 8 times during the regular season. 8 times!

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Apr 3, 2009 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not in the same division

by Zaig on Apr 3, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Win 3 of 4 on this road trip

And LaoTzu’s words could speak true.

Who we play would not really matter should we roll from here. It will the other team that will be taking the big “GULP” having to come in to our house.

The Oden Era, Day 652

by Heymoe on Apr 3, 2009 7:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

As I keep reminding folks

Dallas, New Orleans, Utah and Denver are the 4 weakest teams in terms of point differential. Regardless of the season series, those are the teams we want to play. We don’t want any part of Houston, who plays the best D in West.

by jksnake99 on Apr 3, 2009 8:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

when i see your name i just think

point differential…

My stubbling is perfect...

by In Walks Rudy on Apr 3, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs

I love how any clever remark directed at me gets a rec or two these days

I have no problem with it, its just funny.

by jksnake99 on Apr 3, 2009 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You give yourself too much credit

by Zaig on Apr 3, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec

Couldn’t resist :)

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Apr 3, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

for the rec

I didn’t mean for that to be rude or anything.

My stubbling is perfect...

by In Walks Rudy on Apr 3, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't take it as rude

by jksnake99 on Apr 3, 2009 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Season point dif doesn't take into account bigtime injuries

Utah’s season PD is underinflated. Not that we cared when we played them last anyway.

by Zaig on Apr 3, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

fully agreed

by jksnake99 on Apr 3, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We're one game behind SA

We win there on this road trip and hold tie-breaker (as long as SA isn’t winning their Div).

We can catch one of SA/HOU, but not both. This road trip is HUGE!

"I don’t have the first clue who he is talking about, because all I worry about is Jerome." – Jerome James, on comments by coach Nate McMillan about Seattle SuperSonics players being selfish.

by Devenex on Apr 3, 2009 8:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

we can catch both

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Apr 3, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

if we can possibly sweep, it will be very very interesting

said Arte Johnson from behind a potted plant, smoking a cigarette with a very long ash at the end of it. – Elgin

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Apr 3, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We would still be 3rd seed and hold tie breaker

SA could win division and be the 4th seed

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Apr 3, 2009 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

If we tie with a division winner, they get slot ahead of us, as being a division winner against a non-division winner is the first tiebreaker. So, tiebreaker with SA or Houston only works if BOTH teams are division winners, or if neither team is a division winner. It is cirtually impossible for Portland to get a 3 seed unless they are AHEAD of both Texas teams in the standings

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Apr 3, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to clarify,

I meant above that tiebreaker with SA or Houston only works if BOTH teams (Portland and Houston or Portland and San Antonio) are division winners or NEITHER teams (Portland and Houston or Portland and San Antonio)

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Apr 3, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LaMarcus man can win all four games on this trip

He has been a BEAST over the last two months. Everything I could want in a power forward. Going inside and drawing the foul, tipping the rebounds out to guards, drilling the open J without hesitation.

by lurtsman on Apr 3, 2009 9:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I know that everyone's all amped up talking strategy...

But isn’t it nice to be talking strategy for the playoffs, instead of strategy for the lottery? Lets just sit back and think about that.

I Blazersedge daily, nightly and ever so rightly.

by Claire on Apr 3, 2009 9:15 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Its like being surprised with hot cocoa

by T$ 225 on Apr 3, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's meditate about that on second level

- Zardoz

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Apr 3, 2009 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't want to play Houston.

I think they cause all kinds of matchup problems for the Blazers. They also have two bonafide lockdown defenders.

OTOH, they have a lot of playoff-futility baggage and a diminutive and inexperienced, albeit very quick, point guard.

Hit it. Yes he did. Ohhhh yeah.

by Badalona Baddie on Apr 3, 2009 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Rudy wants Houston

He ran wild last time they played them. made big plays all over.
I agree I wouldn’t want to face them prefer UTah, or NO but UTah not happening unless they start winning on the road and then Im not so sure I want to face them.

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Apr 3, 2009 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't mind Houston

That quick PG that everyone said burned us was 8/20 shooting with 2 assists. I’d take that every game.

by Zaig on Apr 3, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

I want no part of Houston, and no part of Dallas.

by RuQ on Apr 3, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my favorite scenario

is that we get home court advantage in the first round and win that series – then play the upset winner of a first-round series in the second round, and win that series too.

Anything could happen after that. – Elgin

Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards

by 22baylor on Apr 3, 2009 10:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs