2015 NBA Playoffs: Trail Blazers’ first round opponent breakdown
By David MacKay
Mar 21, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Tony Allen (9) handles the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) g at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Portland Trail Blazers 97-86 Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
The Portland Trail Blazers are going to be the Western Conference fourth seed in the 2015 NBA Playoffs. We are rapidly approaching the mathematical impossibility of anything else. They can still technically climb as high as second, but only technically, and because they are division winners, they cannot fall below fourth. Their shrinking window is 2-4 only.
| TEAM | RECORD | GAMES BEHIND |
| 1. Golden State Warriors | 64-15 | N/A |
| 2. Memphis Grizzlies | 53-25 | 10.5 |
| 3. Houston Rockets | 53-25 | 10.5 |
| 4. Portland Trail Blazers | 51-28 | 13 |
| 5. Los Angeles Clippers | 53-26 | 11 |
| 6. San Antonio Spurs | 53-26 | 11 |
| 7. Dallas Mavericks | 47-31 | 16.5 |
| 8. New Orleans Pelicans | 42-36 | 21.5 |
| 9. Oklahoma City Thunder | 42-36 | 21.5 |
Think about how unlikely any ascension really is.
In order for Portland to overtake Memphis or Houston, one of them would have to go 1-3 or worse while the Trail Blazers win out (3-0). That is also assuming that neither Los Angeles nor San Antonio finishes 2-1 or better to claim the freshly vacated spot from Portland. The odds of all the cards falling in Portland’s favor are astronomically adverse.
Our attention should no longer be on where the Trail Blazers will finish, but who will finish as the fifth seed. That team will be the Trail Blazers’ first round matchup. By record, it cannot be the Warriors, Mavericks, Pelicans, or Thunder. This leaves…
Next: Potential first round opponent #1