Sched Ahead Daily Update, Games of 3/4

Not a bad day at all for Blazer fans.

Yesterday's update.

Most recent weekly update, including game category definitions.

Yesterday's Games

Memphis refuses to roll over and die (this is good because it keeps them motivated when playing the Spurs), L.A. loses (which is just about always a good thing), and Phoenix becomes marginally easier to catch. 

1. Memphis @ Chicago.  Memphis' strange inverted run continues.  Their last home win was over a month ago (2/1 against L.A.) and their win last night clinches a month-long winning streak on the road.  Memphis comes back from 17 down in the first half, led by Zach's 31 points and 18 rebounds, to keep kicking another day.  Mayo had 20 points, and Rudy Gay 17, and Memphis bullied Chicago inside, as predicted.  Deng had 23 and Rose 20, but the Bulls were missing Joakim Noah, who has been shut down for three weeks to get well.  Memphis only got 11 points from their bench, but it didn't matter, as they won their second straight must-win against tough competition on the road.  Their next task?  A home game against the Spurs, yet another must-win.  If they get that, they will have (mostly) repaired the damage of their loss to Portland, and established themselves as still a threat to challenge S.A. for that eighth spot.  Lose it, and they are virtually guaranteed to lose the tie-breaker to the Spurs, and they are done.
2. L.A. @ Miami.  The Heat win it in overtime to go back to .500 (triggering recategorizations of their games).  Kobe had 39, but was called for a charge late in overtime, and Miami holds on behind 27 points and 14 assists from Dwyane Wade and 25 points from Quentin Richardson (7-11 on 3s).  Phil was unhappy about a non-call late in regulation on an air-ball by Kobe:  "I'm sure he didn't shoot an airball. That's unconscionable that that call can't be made at that point in the game, because that's a shooter and there it is."  Translation:  "That's Kobe Bryant, and he's a L@ker, you have to call a foul when he misses badly!"
3. Utah @ Phoenix.  The Jazz hold onto fourth in the standings and keep up their challenge for the NW division with a big win at Phoenix.  The Suns' improved defense disappeared in the fourth quarter as they gave up 41 points, and Utah outscored them by 19 in the last 7:43 to win going away.  Deron Williams got 27 points (14 in the fourth) and Okur had 24 and hit the three pointer that tied the game, while Carlos Boozer owned the boards again, with 15 rebounds to go with his 15 points.  Stoudemire had 30 again for Phoenix, J-Rich had 22, and Nash had 14 points and 15 assists.  Phoenix shot 24-37 in the first half, but Utah had 11 offensive rebounds to keep in striking distance.  The Suns were only 5-19 on 3s, a night after torching the Clips from distance.  Barbosa is still not back, and Goran Dragic missed with an ankle injury from the night before, so Phoenix is thin at backup PG as they start a key seven game homestand with lots of tough opponents.

Only two behind the Suns, and we own the tie-breaker.  Don't rule out catching them yet.

Projections

1. L.A.  60.3 wins (down from 61.4).   
2. Dallas.  54.7 wins (up from 54.6).
3. Denver.  53.4 wins (down from 53.6).
4. Utah.  52.0 wins (up from 51.2 in 5th).
5. Phoenix.  50.4 wins (down 51.4 in 4th).  
6. OKC.  49.3 wins (up from 49.0).
7. Portland.  48.0 wins (up from 47.7).
8. S.A.  47.0 wins (down from 47.2).
9. Memphis.  42.2 wins (up from 40.9 in 10th).
10. Houston.  42.2 wins (up from 41.6, down from 9th).
11. N.O.  40.9 wins (up from 40.7).

Most changes due to the Miami recategorization.  Utah moves clear of Phoenix, who now projects about 2 1/2 wins ahead of us, while Memphis moves to the head of the chasing pack.

Tonight

Lots of games of varied importance tonight. 

1. L.A. @ Charlotte.  A Cat 3 "Banana Peel" for the L@kers against a Charlotte team that desperately needs a win to stay close in the playoff hunt.  Chandler is still out for the Bobcats, and Nazr Mohammed is still listed day to day with a back injury.
2. Sacramento @ Dallas.  A Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for the Mavs, who had better not sleep on this one after the Kings gave OKC all they wanted and then won at Houston.  Dallas is unbeaten since Brendan Haywood took over at center.  Jason Terry had to have an operation after taking a Corey Brewer elbow to the face.  Dallas and elbows seem to have a problem -- when Dirk catches Carl Landry, he needs to get Carl's teeth dug out of his elbow, but when Brewer gets Terry, Jason gets called for the foul and needs surgery to boot.  They take it and they dish it out, but it seems either way they come out on the bad end of it.
3. Indiana @ Denver.  A Cat 1 "Cream Puff" for the Nuggets.  Never count out anyone in the NBA, but if you are betting on Indiana in this game, I hope you got a huge point spread or phenomenal odds.
4. N.O. @ S.A.  A very big game, both in terms of who makes the playoffs, and as far as the Spurs' seeding position.  New Orleans is almost certainly done (they've already lost the tie-breaker to the Spurs), but if there is going to be any hope, they need to win this game.  Of more importance is that a Spurs' loss would give Memphis or Houston a little more hope, and would put them behind us in the standings.  San Antonio's schedule is full of elite teams and playoff contenders, and they need to win some of those games.  It is hard to find one any easier than a home game against a .500 team missing their superstar.  If the Spurs don't win this, they don't deserve better than the 8th seed, and they deserve to have to fight to hold that. 
5. OKC @ Clippers.  Another big game.  Until the recent loss to Phoenix, the Clips had been playing well at home, and this is a classic "Banana Peel" for the "Blunder".  Travis was 1-9 in his last game, here's hoping he was saving it up for a great shooting night, and the Clips can knock of OKC.  A loss would put them only half a game ahead of us in the standings, less than a game ahead in the projections, and significantly lower the odds against us passing them.  Don't count on it, though, they've only lost twice to losing teams all year, and the last time was 11/15 -- to the Clippers.

The big one is N.O. @ S.A.   Beyond that one, the chances of getting some help tonight aren't very high, but there's a reason they make them play the games.  Here's hoping for an upset or two.