Rip City Project
Fansided

Projecting the Portland Trail Blazers record against Northwest Divisional rivals

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: The Portland Trail Blazers honor the National Anthem before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 17: The Portland Trail Blazers honor the National Anthem before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 17, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
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PORTLAND, OR – FEBRUARY 8: Damian Lillard #0 speaks to CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 8, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – FEBRUARY 8: Damian Lillard #0 speaks to CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 8, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

What does this mean?

If all went according to my predictions, the Portland Trail Blazers would finish 7-9 in the Northwest Division. Though below .500, there’s no shame in this record as all of these teams have every reason to win more than 44 games this season.

There’s no one team that the Blazers have a clear advantage over, but there’s also no team that has one over them.

The Blazers will then need to be consistent against teams they should be beating at the bottom of the West and throughout the Eastern Conference. By doing that, a 7-9 record in the division should be enough to help push them into the playoffs.