Our game against Phoenix is going to loom big for both our seed and the pick. Sac is headed out of the play-in. Dallas and Portland are our best chancex to keep the Suns out, Portland doesn't have a frp this year so have no incentive to tank. Might be a good trade partner in the off-season.
actually Portland does have a 1st, but they lose it to Chicago if they finish #15 or higher (part of the Larry Nance Jr trade). So they have an incentive not to make the play-in, but Billips is fighting for his job and they’ve actually collected a good group of talent who is playing to win. Most fans here in Portland would rather have a play-in shot than a late lotto pick. Portland is not bad enough to get good odds at a top pick, but you’ve got to respect Portland for not trying to tank. On a different note, I think what Philly is doing is absolutely shameless. And honestly the league should find a way to penalize them. There’s tanking like what Washington is doing, being bad because they are developing their prospects (basically what we did), and there’s tanking like what Philly is doing, intentionally sitting out their best players to lose (like what Dallas did to get Lively). Dallas was ultimately penalized by the league I believe. What Philly is doing is even more blatant because it’s been like the entire 2nd half of the season, not just a few games like Dallas did. If Philly gets a top 4 pick I’m gonna be sick. The only way to prevent this kind of tanking is to get rid of protections on picks. 9 out of 10 times a team is going to find a way to tank to keep their pick if it’s a lotto pick.
we just need the suns to go on a little losing streak then they will mail it in the rest of the year. stupid bucks and cavs had to give them hope.
Just check the right part of fanspo. They actually flag that particular pick correctly! 2025 1 - CHI POR's 1st round pick to CHI protected for selections 1-14 in 2025, 1-14 in 2026, 1-14 in 2027 and 1-14 in 2028; if POR has not conveyed a 1st round pick to CHI by 2028, then POR will instead convey its 2028 2nd round pick to CHI https://fanspo.com/nba/teams/portland-trail-blazers/25/draft-picks
Have you seen PHXs last slate of games? Most of them are against playoff teams. I think only SA and SAC are the only 2 slappies in the bunch. If we do our job and the other winning teams can do theirs they should go 2-7 in their last nine. Fingers crossed.
That hope may have damaged the pick from this year. But it’s false hope and could hurt them down the road if it clouds their reason in what to do then.
Absolutely amazing day for the Suns pick. Both Kings and Mavs win, staying ahead of PHX, and we also got wins from Miami and Chicago. Chicago will very likely pass PHX in the standings, given their schedule, and Miami has a chance to as well.
Finally did it. Just looked up what the play-in tournament was. Had no reason to even care the past five years.
Don’t really want the pick if it’s not high lotto, but one guy I’m certain is going to be a solid nba player is Kon. Reminds me a lot of Klay Thompson. Same concerns about athleticism but the fundamentals on both sides of the ball are great and he can really shoot it. Good passer too. I’d probably draft him if he was available wherever the pick ends up (top 3 or 4 not withstanding). I think he goes top 7; unfortunately I don’t see us having a chance at him.
I think Reed Sheppard is going to be their "1st Round Pick" next year like what they did with Nix on his second year. Hopefully, he doesn't suck next year!
One thing that nobody is factoring into strength of schedule is the last few games of the season we likely will see playoff teams who have locked their seeds not play as hard. OKC for one is only playing for pride and they are on our and the Suns remaining schedule. Cavs, Boston and Knicks could all be shutting it down the last week, which will add significant volatility to strength of schedule. I'm a bit worried about our remaining schedule, then again, we are already past expectations for the season. I greedily want the 2 seed now.
I think he’s saying #9 does not equal to 14 pick. #9 means they’re in the play-in. If they make the playoffs, the pick will be lower than 14. If they don’t, the pick position depends on other lottery teams’ regular season record. Could be 14. But it’s not certain. That’s why people are tracking some eastern conference teams as well.
