Taking Care of Business: The Return

by blazer91 on Mar 2, 2010 12:48 AM PST

Well, kiddos, as promised, I have made time to revive the Taking Care of Business Projections for the remainder of the season for the playoff contenders (and pretenders) in the West

To remind everyone how this works, we take everyone's remaining games and assume the following:

Wins in every home game and wins vs. non-playoff teams from the East and non-Western contenders on the road. Now, I know that seems really goofy, since clearly no one is going to do that, but it's just a way of looking at strength and home/away weighting of remaining schedule and seeing where they put us. It also tells us where the Blazers may need teams to beat each other in matchups of playoff teams to help their positioning.

I wil likely add to this and update as we go along, but let's start with the baseline. Records after tonight's games:

LA Lakers	45	15	.750	-
Dallas	40	21	.656	5 ½
Denver	39	21	.650	6
Utah	38	22	.633	7
Phoenix	38	24	.613	8
Oklahoma City	35	23	.603	9
San Antonio	34	24	.586	10
Portland	36	27	.571	10 ½

Houston	30	29	.508	14 ½
New Orleans	31	30	.508	14 ½
Memphis	30	30	.500	15

So, if everyone takes care of their business, the playoffs shake out like this:

LA (1) plays either San Antonio (8t) or Houston (8t)

Dallas (2) plays Portland (7)

Denver (3t) plays Utah (6) or Oklahoma City (5)

Phoenix (3t) plays Oklahoma City (5) or Utah (6)

Lakers (45-15 current, 58-24 projected, First Place)

Tue, Mar 2

Indiana
W

Thu, Mar 4

@ Miami
L

Fri, Mar 5

@ Charlotte
W

Sun, Mar 7

@ Orlando
L

Tue, Mar 9

Toronto
W

Fri, Mar 12

@ Phoenix
L

Mon, Mar 15

@ Golden State
W

Tue, Mar 16

@ Sacramento
W

Fri, Mar 19

Minnesota
W

Sun, Mar 21

Washington
W

Wed, Mar 24

@ San Antonio
L

Fri, Mar 26

@ Oklahoma City
L

Sat, Mar 27

@ Houston
L

Mon, Mar 29

@ New Orleans
L

Wed, Mar 31

@ Atlanta
L

APRIL

Fri, Apr 2

Utah
W

Sun, Apr 4

San Antonio
W

Thu, Apr 8

@ Denver
L

Fri, Apr 9

@ Minnesota
W

Sun, Apr 11

Portland
W

Tue, Apr 13

Sacramento
W

Wed, Apr 14

@ LA Clippers
W

Dallas (40-21 current, 56-26 projected, Second Place)

Wed, Mar 3	Minnesota	W
Fri, Mar 5	Sacramento	W
Sat, Mar 6	@ Chicago	L
Mon, Mar 8	@ Minnesota	W
Wed, Mar 10	New Jersey	W
Sat, Mar 13	NY Knicks	W
Wed, Mar 17	Chicago	W
Sat, Mar 20	Boston	W
Mon, Mar 22	@ New Orleans	L
Tue, Mar 23	LA Clippers	W
Thu, Mar 25	@ Portland	L
Sat, Mar 27	@ Golden State	W
Mon, Mar 29	Denver	W
Wed, Mar 31	@ Memphis	L
APRIL
Thu, Apr 1	Orlando	W
Sat, Apr 3	Oklahoma City	W
Wed, Apr 7	Memphis	W
Fri, Apr 9	@ Portland	L
Sat, Apr 10	@ Sacramento	W
Mon, Apr 12	@ LA Clippers	W
Wed, Apr 14	San Antonio	W

Denver (39-21 current, 54-28 projected, Third Place (tie))

Wed, Mar 3	Oklahoma City	W
Fri, Mar 5	Indiana	W
Sun, Mar 7	Portland	W
Wed, Mar 10	@ Minnesota	W
Fri, Mar 12	@ New Orleans	W
Sat, Mar 13	@ Memphis	W
Mon, Mar 15	@ Houston	L
Tue, Mar 16	Washington	W
Thu, Mar 18	New Orleans	W
Sat, Mar 20	Milwaukee	W
Tue, Mar 23	@ NY Knicks	W
Wed, Mar 24	@ Boston	L
Fri, Mar 26	@ Toronto	L
Sun, Mar 28	@ Orlando	L
Mon, Mar 29	@ Dallas	L
APRIL
Thu, Apr 1	Portland	W
Sat, Apr 3	LA Clippers	W
Wed, Apr 7	@ Oklahoma City	L
Thu, Apr 8	LA Lakers	W
Sat, Apr 10	San Antonio	W
Mon, Apr 12	Memphis	W
Tue, Apr 13	@ Phoenix	L

Utah (38-22 current, 51-31 projected, Sixth Place)

Thu, Mar 4	@ Phoenix	L
Sat, Mar 6	LA Clippers	W
Tue, Mar 9	@ Chicago	L
Wed, Mar 10	@ Detroit	W
Fri, Mar 12	@ Milwaukee	L
Sun, Mar 14	@ Oklahoma City	L
Mon, Mar 15	Washington	W
Wed, Mar 17	Minnesota	W
Fri, Mar 19	@ Phoenix	L
Sat, Mar 20	New Orleans	W
Mon, Mar 22	Boston	W
Wed, Mar 24	@ Toronto	L
Fri, Mar 26	@ Indiana	W
Sat, Mar 27	@ Washington	W
Mon, Mar 29	NY Knicks	W
Wed, Mar 31	Golden State	W
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	@ LA Lakers	L
Tue, Apr 6	Oklahoma City	W
Wed, Apr 7	@ Houston	L
Fri, Apr 9	@ New Orleans	L
Tue, Apr 13	@ Golden State	W
Wed, Apr 14	Phoenix	W

Phoenix (38-24 current, 54-28 projected, Third Place (tie))

Wed, Mar 3	@ LA Clippers	W
Thu, Mar 4	Utah	W
Sat, Mar 6	Indiana	W
Fri, Mar 12	LA Lakers	W
Sun, Mar 14	New Orleans	W
Tue, Mar 16	Minnesota	W
Fri, Mar 19	Utah	W
Sun, Mar 21	Portland	W
Mon, Mar 22	@ Golden State	W
Fri, Mar 26	NY Knicks	W
Sun, Mar 28	@ Minnesota	W
Tue, Mar 30	@ Chicago	L
Wed, Mar 31	@ New Jersey	W
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	@ Detroit	W
Sat, Apr 3	@ Milwaukee	L
Wed, Apr 7	San Antonio	W
Fri, Apr 9	@ Oklahoma City	L
Sun, Apr 11	Houston	W
Tue, Apr 13	Denver	W
Wed, Apr 14	@ Utah	L

Oklahoma City (35-23 current, 53-29 projected, Fifth Place)

Tue, Mar 2	Sacramento	W
Wed, Mar 3	@ Denver	L
Fri, Mar 5	@ LA Clippers	W
Sun, Mar 7	@ Sacramento	W
Wed, Mar 10	New Orleans	W
Fri, Mar 12	New Jersey	W
Sun, Mar 14	Utah	W
Wed, Mar 17	@ Charlotte	W
Fri, Mar 19	@ Toronto	L
Sun, Mar 21	@ Indiana	W
Mon, Mar 22	San Antonio	W
Wed, Mar 24	Houston	W
Fri, Mar 26	LA Lakers	W
Sun, Mar 28	Portland	W
Tue, Mar 30	@ Philadelphia	W
Wed, Mar 31	@ Boston	L
APRIL
Sat, Apr 3	@ Dallas	L
Sun, Apr 4	Minnesota	W
Tue, Apr 6	@ Utah	L
Wed, Apr 7	Denver	W
Fri, Apr 9	Phoenix	W
Sun, Apr 11	@ Golden State	W
Mon, Apr 12	@ Portland	L
Wed, Apr 14	Memphis	W

San Antonio (34-24 current, 47-35 projected, Eighth Place (tie))

Fri, Mar 5	New Orleans	W
Sat, Mar 6	@ Memphis	L
Mon, Mar 8	@ Cleveland	L
Wed, Mar 10	NY Knicks	W
Fri, Mar 12	@ Minnesota	W
Sat, Mar 13	LA Clippers	W
Tue, Mar 16	@ Miami	L
Wed, Mar 17	@ Orlando	L
Fri, Mar 19	Golden State	W
Sun, Mar 21	@ Atlanta	L
Mon, Mar 22	@ Oklahoma City	L
Wed, Mar 24	LA Lakers	W
Fri, Mar 26	Cleveland	W
Sun, Mar 28	@ Boston	L
Mon, Mar 29	@ New Jersey	W
Wed, Mar 31	Houston	W
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	Orlando	W
Sun, Apr 4	@ LA Lakers	L
Tue, Apr 6	@ Sacramento	W
Wed, Apr 7	@ Phoenix	L
Fri, Apr 9	Memphis	W
Sat, Apr 10	@ Denver	L
Mon, Apr 12	Minnesota	W
Wed, Apr 14	@ Dallas	L

Portland (36-27 current, 49-33 projected, Seventh Place)

Wed, Mar 3	Indiana	W
Sun, Mar 7	@ Denver	L
Tue, Mar 9	Sacramento	W
Thu, Mar 11	@ Golden State	W
Fri, Mar 12	@ Sacramento	W
Sun, Mar 14	Toronto	W
Fri, Mar 19	Washington	W
Sun, Mar 21	@ Phoenix	L
Thu, Mar 25	Dallas	W
Sat, Mar 27	@ New Orleans	L
Sun, Mar 28	@ Oklahoma City	L
Wed, Mar 31	NY Knicks	W
APRIL
Thu, Apr 1	@ Denver	L
Sat, Apr 3	@ Sacramento	W
Wed, Apr 7	@ LA Clippers	W
Fri, Apr 9	Dallas	W
Sun, Apr 11	@ LA Lakers	L
Mon, Apr 12	Oklahoma City	W
Wed, Apr 14	Golden State	W

Houston (30-29 current, 47-35 projected, Eighth Place (tie))

Wed, Mar 3	Sacramento	W
Sat, Mar 6	@ Minnesota	W
Sun, Mar 7	@ Detroit	W
Tue, Mar 9	@ Washington	W
Sat, Mar 13	New Jersey	W
Mon, Mar 15	Denver	W
Wed, Mar 17	Memphis	W
Fri, Mar 19	Boston	W
Sun, Mar 21	@ NY Knicks	W
Mon, Mar 22	@ Chicago	L
Wed, Mar 24	@ Oklahoma City	L
Thu, Mar 25	LA Clippers	W
Sat, Mar 27	LA Lakers	W
Tue, Mar 30	Washington	W
Wed, Mar 31	@ San Antonio	L
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	@ Boston	L
Sun, Apr 4	@ Indiana	W
Tue, Apr 6	@ Memphis	L
Wed, Apr 7	Utah	W
Fri, Apr 9	Charlotte	W
Sun, Apr 11	@ Phoenix	L
Mon, Apr 12	@ Sacramento	W
Wed, Apr 14	New Orleans	W

New Orleans (31-30 current, 45-37 projected, OUT)

Wed, Mar 3	Memphis	W
Fri, Mar 5	@ San Antonio	L
Mon, Mar 8	Golden State	W
Wed, Mar 10	@ Oklahoma City	L
Fri, Mar 12	Denver	W
Sun, Mar 14	@ Phoenix	L
Mon, Mar 15	@ LA Clippers	W
Wed, Mar 17	@ Golden State	W
Thu, Mar 18	@ Denver	L
Sat, Mar 20	@ Utah	L
Mon, Mar 22	Dallas	W
Wed, Mar 24	Cleveland	W
Sat, Mar 27	Portland	W
Mon, Mar 29	LA Lakers	W
Wed, Mar 31	Washington	W
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	@ Memphis	L
Sat, Apr 3	@ New Jersey	W
Wed, Apr 7	Charlotte	W
Fri, Apr 9	Utah	W
Sun, Apr 11	Minnesota	W
Wed, Apr 14	@ Houston	L

Memphis (30-30 current, 42-40 projected, OUT)

Wed, Mar 3	@ New Orleans	L
Thu, Mar 4	@ Chicago	L
Sat, Mar 6	San Antonio	W
Mon, Mar 8	New Jersey	W
Wed, Mar 10	@ Boston	L
Fri, Mar 12	NY Knicks	W
Sat, Mar 13	Denver	W
Tue, Mar 16	Chicago	W
Wed, Mar 17	@ Houston	L
Sat, Mar 20	Golden State	W
Mon, Mar 22	@ Sacramento	W
Wed, Mar 24	@ Golden State	W
Sun, Mar 28	@ Milwaukee	L
Wed, Mar 31	Dallas	W
APRIL
Fri, Apr 2	New Orleans	W
Sun, Apr 4	@ Orlando	L
Tue, Apr 6	Houston	W
Wed, Apr 7	@ Dallas	L
Fri, Apr 9	@ San Antonio	L
Sat, Apr 10	Philadelphia	W
Mon, Apr 12	@ Denver	L
Wed, Apr 14	@ Oklahoma City	L

Poll

What do you think? Seventh place for the Blazers?

Too High

2 votes

Just Right

35 votes

Too Low

10 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 3 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

cool beans

we’ve done well against dallas this year so id be ok with them

Heartbroken..... Our goats have escaped.

by Starvin' Marvin on Mar 2, 2010 1:00 AM PST reply actions

Rec

Nice post.

My projections say 7th, my gut says don’t trust San Antonio, they’ll probably find a way to win more than either of us project. Perhaps we get them with the tie-breaker.

Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!

by jscot on Mar 2, 2010 3:19 AM PST reply actions

I'm okay with winning with a tiebreaker

And my gut worries me too on the Spurs. But this is not your father’s Spurs team…actually it is, but your father probably ain’t as quick as he used to be, either.

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 Mar 2, 2010 9:13 AM PST up reply actions