BLAZERS PREVIEW: Wednesday’s Game with Clippers is a Big One

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Wednesday's game with the Clippers is a big one--a potential first round playoff preview and a head-to-head matchup whose outcome in the air-tight Western Conference seedings could be especially meaningful.

Currently, the Blazers (48-25) are ranked fourth in the west. The Clippers (49-25) are fifth.

That the Blazers posses the higher seed despite having one less win is a product of Portland's leading in the Northwest Division--should the Blazers win the Northwest, they're guaranteed a seed in the top four.

What winning the division doesn't guarantee, however, is home court advantage--that goes to the team with the better regular season record.

With nine games remaining, a win Wednesday in Portland would give the Blazers a half-game lead on the Clippers. 

A victory would also tie the season series between the two teams. That matters if they finish with identical records. In that case, after head-to-head meetings, the Blazers would hold the tie-breaker, gaining the higher seed because of their (presumed) Northwest Division championship.

The Blazers enter Wednesday's game rested, and riding a four-game winning streak, though it should be noted that none of those wins have come against playoff teams.

The Clippers, meanwhile, will arrive in Portland angry, motivated, and perhaps a little tired.

Los Angeles had won seven straight games before Tuesday, where they fell at home to the league-leading Warriors. 

The Clippers led by as many as 17 points in the first half before Golden State's shooters caught fire in the third quarter. 

Surely after Tuesday's disappointment and with the playoff implications, the Clippers will be focused. They'll need to be, on the second night of a back-to-back after the starters logged heavy minutes on Tuesday. (Blake Griffin played a whopping 43 minutes, DeAndre Jordan logged 40, and Chris Paul 39.)

Therein lies one of the keys for the Blazers: they must take advantage of the Clippers when the second units take the floor. Los Angeles' bench is weak, especially as Jamal Crawford is out with injury. Against the Warriors, Tuesday, the Clippers' bench scored only 13 points. 

Otherwise, Portland must make their threes, keep turnovers down, hit the boards and keep the Clippers from running.

If they do that, the Blazers can control of the fourth seed in earnest.

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