Blazers Schedule Breakdown and Predictions for Final 6 Weeks of 2014-15 Season
The Portland Trail Blazers have experienced both ups and downs following the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. As for the downs, the team that is hoping to contend for a title went 0-2 against the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies immediately following the Association's midseason classic.
Since then, Portland has gotten back on track, going 3-0 against the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings.
With the playoffs in sight, every game takes on more meaning. Postseason matchups will have more significance than seeding because of parity out West, but gaining momentum during the final six weeks will be crucial for any team that is looking to advance.
March 2-March 8
1 of 8
Key Matchup: March 4 @ Los Angeles Clippers
The Trail Blazers are in the midst of a rare stretch. Between Feb. 25 and March 5, four of their five games are on national television, giving them a chance to enter the spotlight as a true contender.
So far in that stretch, Portland is 2-0. The third contest is against L.A.—a team just half a game behind the Blazers for the fourth-best record out West.
The focus of this contest will be Damian Lillard and Chris Paul. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Lillard has averaged 17.2 points and 5.5 assists in six career matchups against his fellow point guard.
The bad news? Paul has averaged 21.3 points, 11 assists and three steals while winning five times.
In two matchups this season, Portland has come up with zero victories against the Clippers. This one won't be easy on the road, but a win would give the Blazers momentum before another big showing against Dallas the next night.
Other Matchups: March 5 vs. Dallas Mavericks, March 7 @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Although the flash and allure of the Clippers stand out during this small stretch, a contest against Dallas should be looked at as equally important. These two teams have squared off in some classic matchups over the past few years, including the 111-101 Feb. 7 overtime loss.
A 1-1 split against L.A. and Dallas wouldn't be surprising, but a win against Minnesota should be expected. Portland should be focused on the big picture of winning late in the season, and a 2-1 record is a great start toward a playoff push.
Prediction: 2-1
March 9-March 15
2 of 8
Key Matchup: March 11 vs. Houston Rockets
The No. 3 spot out West (and even the No. 2 spot to an extent) is up for grabs. Although the Memphis Grizzlies appear to be the biggest threat behind the top-seeded Golden State Warriors, the Rockets are currently one game ahead of the No. 4 Blazers.
While it's overselling this matchup a bit to call it a rivalry, Rip City won't soon forget Round 1 of the 2014 playoffs. The memory of chippy play, Wesley Matthews' defense on James Harden and a certain walk-off three-pointer gets fans jacked when this group comes to town.
Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal recently projected the Blazers to tie with Houston for the fourth-best record out West. If you're tracking these two teams to see which one finishes on top of the other, you could be watching until the last game of the season.
Every game matters in this regular-season series. That's why this one means as much as any game between now and the end of the 2014-15 campaign.
Other Matchups: March 13 vs. Detroit Pistons, March 15 @ Toronto Raptors
The Pistons, while improved since waiving Josh Smith, are still a 23-36 squad. The Blazers could realistically stumble against either the Rockets or Raptors, but a Detroit team in the midst of a four-game road trip (coming off a contest with the Golden State Warriors) shouldn't be a concern.
Prediction: 2-1
March 16-March 22
3 of 8
Key Matchup: March 21 @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have had the Blazers' number this season. In three meetings, Portland has yet to notch a single victory while losing by an average of 7.7 points per contest.
In the fourth and final meeting of the regular season, Portland will look to show it can handle the defensive prowess of a team that has looked like the second-best squad out West almost all season.
As Lillard alluded to after the most recent loss, the Blazers can't let up against the Grizzlies in any situation. "We had a 13-point lead," Lillard said, according to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "One turnover led to another. We let them take us out of what we do."
Part of the reason Portland went away from the game plan was because of a LaMarcus Aldridge absence. The team was also without Will Barton, Thomas Robinson and Victor Claver while waiting for the arrival of Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.
They will ideally have a full unit to work with, which will be their best chance to take down the Grizzlies before the postseason officially comes around.
Other Matchups: March 16 @ Washington Wizards, March 18 @ Miami Heat, March 20 @ Orlando
While the game against Memphis concludes the Blazers' road trip, the contest back on March 15 against the Raptors begins it. The Wizards and Heat have become week-to-week wild cards, but a tough showing from either could result in a road trip either just below or just above .500.
Prediction: 2-2
March 23-March 29
4 of 8
Key Matchup: March 24 vs. Golden State Warriors
Golden State has been the best team in basketball this season. Portland fell 95-90 in its only matchup with the conference foe back on Nov. 2, but with two head-to-head matchups remaining, the first on March 24 will be one worth watching.
The key matchup is easily Lillard vs. Stephen Curry. We'll all be watching to see if Matthews can contain Klay Thompson, but the two ultra-talented floor generals should captivate audiences with their formidable scoring skill sets.
Although Curry is a legitimate MVP candidate this season, Lillard has established himself as one of the best players in the game when it counts the most. #LillardTime is more than just a hashtag—it's a way of life in Rip City, and watching these two All-Star point guards battle it out should be worth the price of admission.
Other Matchups: March 25 @ Utah Jazz, March 27 @ Phoenix Suns, March 28 vs. Denver Nuggets
There's only one matchup outside of the Warriors that should worry the Blazers in this one: the Suns.
Phoenix has been a thorn in the Blazers' side the past two seasons. Portland's record is just 3-4 against Phoenix in that time frame, so one loss might be a bit generous with both the Suns and Warriors on the schedule at this point in the process.
Prediction: 3-1
March 30-April 5
5 of 8
Key Matchup: April 1 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
On April 1, the Blazers take on the Clippers for the second time in one month's time. And that's no joke.
This time, the Blazers should have an idea of what the Clippers look like with Blake Griffin. The power forward matchup between Griffin and Aldridge should grab numerous headlines, and more than anything else, it should help determine whether Portland is worthy of a top-three or a top-four seed with the playoffs nearing.
Other Matchups: March 30 vs. Phoenix Suns, April 3 @ Los Angeles Lakers, April 4 vs. New Orleans Pelicans
As strange as it sounds, this is a big week for the Blazers. The Clippers are the only playoff team on the schedule, but an Anthony Davis-led squad will be tough, the Suns are always difficult, and the Lakers are a rival in Portland regardless of what their record is.
Prediction: 2-2
April 6-April 12
6 of 8
Key Matchup: April 9 @ Golden State
Remember how the Blazers have a big game against the Warriors on March 24? The one on April 9 has the potential to be even bigger.
With four games left in the regular season, Portland is scheduled to take on what will likely still be the league's best team. What does this mean for the Blazers? Aside from potential seeding, it means we'll see just what this group has in it with the postseason around the corner.
Like the March 24 matchup, this will be televised on TNT. Unlike the previous contest, this one is on the road.
Portland has a chance to establish itself as a true contender with a win on April 9. There are still a few games left after this contest, but all eyes will be watching when the Blazers take the court in The City by the Bay.
Other Matchups: April 6 @ Brooklyn Nets, April 8 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, April 11 vs. Utah
Aside from the Warriors, there's only one other team Portland will be facing that's likely to be in the playoffs. No team is perfect, however, which is why even if the Blazers can squeak past the Warriors, a single loss will be nearly inevitable at this juncture.
Prediction: 3-1
April 13-April 15
7 of 8
Key Matchup: April 15 @ Dallas Mavericks
The final week of the season only features two games for the Blazers, but they could prove to be two of the most important of the late season's matchups..
To conclude the year, Portland heads to Dallas. The Mavs may be one-and-a-half games ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for seventh out West at the time of this publication, but they're also just one game behind the Blazers for third.
Although there's a bit of contention in Dallas because of the recent on-court showdown between Rajon Rondo and Rick Carlisle, there's a chance the confrontation leads to better communication in the playoffs.
If postseason seeds are already decided entering this one, it could be a bit of a dud. But if anything is on the line for either team, look for it to be one of the hardest-fought contests of the entire 2014-15 season.
Other Matchups: April 13 @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Although you can't count the Thunder out of the "hardest-trying fringe playoff" category when it comes to teams out West, they're not looking too good when it comes to competing for a spot atop the Northwest Division.
Look for this one to be a battle if both are in dire need of a win for a specific seed, but chances are, this will be a competition between bench squads with postseason seeding already decided.
Prediction: 1-1
Final Prediction
8 of 8
If one thing is certain about the Blazers, it's that they shouldn't be overlooked entering the postseason. As B/R's Bryan Toporek stated recently, "Without [Afflalo], the Blazers figured to be one piece short of true title contention. With him in tow, however, few teams can match up against Portland's top six players, making the Blazers a dangerous playoff draw for any opponent."
Toporek is correct. The Blazers may be a second-tier contender in the eyes of the national audience, but they have an incredibly productive staring unit, as well as a competent set of reserves who should complement the first five nicely into the postseason.
Although it's already been stated, it's worth mentioning again: The 2015 playoffs are going to have more to do with matchups than seeding, as parity in the Western Conference has completely taken over.
All that said, home-court advantage means a lot, which is why the Blazers are still aiming to win as many games as possible. That, as well as momentum, is a huge motivator for this team to make an impact as the regular season comes to a close.
Final Prediction: 54-28
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
