Resetting The Blazers' Postseason Picture Entering Frantic Final Weekend
The Trail Blazers came within a single possession of clinching a playoff berth on Thursday night, only failing after a series of late-stage mishaps spoiled Damian Lillard's epic fourth quarter and gave the Phoenix Suns a one-point victory.
Portland wouldn't have just owned the league's longest-running streak of consecutive playoff appearances with a win. Far more importantly, the Blazers would have officially avoided the play-in tournament less than three weeks after a string of dispiriting losses pushed them to seventh in the standings, all momentum suggesting they could fall even further.
A disappointed but stoic Lillard said it himself after Thursday's game: Portland has no time to dwell on the missed free throws, questionable decision-making and seemingly tough whistle that robbed it of a win in Phoenix. Sunday's season finale against the Denver Nuggets was always going to be huge; now the last game of the season really is the Blazers' biggest.
But remember, losing to the Suns means Portland no longer controls its own destiny. Entering a frantic final weekend of the regular season, below are the Blazers' avenues to finishing fifth, sixth or seventh in the Western Conference.
Path to the Five Seed
- Portland beats Denver
- Dallas loses to Toronto or Minnesota
- Lakers lose to Indiana or New Orleans
Path to the Six Seed
- Portland beats or loses to Denver
- Dallas beats Toronto or Minnesota
- Lakers lose to Indiana or New Orleans
Note: All three teams finishing 41-31 would put the Mavericks ahead of the Blazers despite the latter owning the head-to-head tie-breaker, due to a three-way tie in the standings inexplicably prioritizing division winners. Don't shoot the messenger; take it up with the league office.
Path to the Seven Seed
- Portland loses to Denver
- Dallas beats Toronto or Minnesota
- Lakers beat Indiana and New Orleans
The bet here is the same it was at the beginning of this week – that Portland settles for sixth and a daunting first-round matchup with the LA Clippers.
Competition of the Mavericks and Lakers just isn't good enough to believe that both teams slip up against an inferior foe with real stakes on the line. The Blazers probably won't be helped on Sunday by Denver knowing its seed ahead of time, either. The Clippers, trying to fight off Denver for third, also tipoff at 6:00 p.m. (PST), along with the Mavericks and Lakers.
Maybe Portland tumbling to seventh – and a prospective play-in date with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors – is more likely than vaulting to fifth. The Nuggets already beat the Blazers with Jamal Murray sidelined; there's no reason to believe Nikola Jokic, MVP shoo-in for a reason, wouldn't be capable of leading Denver to season-ending victory at Moda Center.
Be patient. The postseason is almost here, no matter what initial shape it takes. For the sake of Rip City's sanity, though, let's at least hope the Blazers take care of business versus the Nuggets to escape the play-in.