With all the new faces and uncertainty we faced at the beginning of the season, we're already 31 games in. We're currently sitting pretty in 4th position in the West (20-11), equal with LAC. POR, OKC, SAS ahead, but they are not invincible. PHO, GSW, DAL are chasing hard. With the Rockets showing signs of improvement, where do you see us finishing in the West?
With Westbrook's injury and my prediction of the blazers cooling down, I say 2nd seed if the rockets address the Asik situation. If not they end up as 4 either way.
Division winners-POR/OKC, SAS, LAC.... That is 3 spots taken by the division winners. So can we beat out Portland or OKC (whichever one loses the division)? Portland looks legit, and I don't think OKC will fall that far without Westbrook. I chose 5th seed.
On the last Mchale interview, he mentioned something very interesting. We have played the most games out of all of the teams which means we had the least amount of practice time for the first 3rd of the season. We will have more practice and rest time in the future and should be to our advantage. I am thinking 4th or 5th but wishing 3rd seed.
A tough conference to be in, so if we end up 5th seed because a division leader claims the 4th, then I'll feel like it was a successful regular season.
This was my reasoning as well. That was before I read about Westbrook though. Even then, not sure it changes much unless he doesn't/cant return at all.
This. I don't see us overtaking SA to take the division lead. Maybe OKC falls back with Westbrook out, I dunno.
I voted 4th. With WB out til after the ASB, that leaves LAC, SAS, PTB, and OKC that all may or may not be ahead of the Rox. I actually think it's the Clippers that end up below Rox, but that is an easy prediction considering their record and the injury situation in Houston.
I will say though that the West is stacked so deep now that I could see any of those top 5 teams making a serious run and coming out on top. Not sure we're the most likely ones to do it.
I think they end up with the 4th best record but the 5th seed ... because they wont win the division and will have a better record than LAC who will win their division ....
Recent events have opened up the opportunity for us to perhaps snatch the 3rd seed, but right now it looks like we're going to be 5th.
With OKC falling out of the top, I think we'll be battling for the #1 seed all season long. I voted #2 seed.
Aaron Brooks comes off the bench to help lead Rockets on another 22 game win streak. We win the Division and take first place in the Western Conference...book it.
I think we will end up 4/5 and this will be for the best. As much as the Blazers are going to end up moving us down a spot (something no one foresaw) it might actually in our favor. Before the season, started, I always thought that unless the Rox ended up 3 or up, they would lose in the second round because a 4/5 seed matchup would lead to matchup with the number 1 seed (likely Oklahoma City or San Antonio) but the emergence of the Blazers is great because I think we have a much better chance of beating them then a fully healthy OKC squad and consequently a much better chance to reach the WCF. However, going up against the Clippers, who seem more and more like the likely first round opponent, will be a tossup, and the series just might be decided by who gets home court. To sum up, Blazers finishing at 1 and Rox getting home court is the likely and really best case scenario, finishing 3 or 2 will make us go agaisnt San Antonio or OKC in the first two rounds, and as much as a easier first round opponent would be desired, I don't know if there are any desirable teams at the 6 spot that would be a much better matchup with the rox. The Warriors and Mavs are both dangerous, I don't think Phoenix can keep it up and will likely fall to 8, and so a clippers matchup, though tough, might be doable.
Let's say what if the playoffs started today. Which top 4 team do we match up best against ? Blazers, Thunder, Spurs, or Clippers.
Actually, a 2 or 3 spot might be even worse than what I thought cuz even if we go by san antonio or okc in the second round, we'll prob have to face the other in the WCF. The 4 spot just keeps getting more attractive to me
