NBA Playoffs 2016: Portland Trail Blazers leading Western Conference chase group down the stretch

Yesterday we took a look at the Utah Jazz and their finishing schedule. There are some tough games, yes; but also some winnable ones too. Utah, along with the Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and the possibly listing Memphis Grizzlies are all fighting for four spots. They are all behind the Los Angeles Clippers and when the music stops one of these team's will be left without a chair.

If you look at the simple numbers it tells quite a tale. As a Jazz site we have to recognize that the Jazz have just been awful on the road this year. And out of all of these teams they are also the won least equipped to win a lot against their conference brothers. Sadly, the Jazz are tied for the most road games and third for the most games against the West.

I'm still drinking the Kool-aid, mainly because I actually looked at the games. There are two tough road trips, but they are out East. Secondly, the games against the West elite all happen this month and next month -- not the "must win / playoff mode" games leading up to the post-season. Similarly, all of the bad teams or "maybe" teams the Jazz play down the stretch are concentrated when they are tanking for ping pong balls.

It's still going to work out. But right now when you chart it out it's not going to be a cake walk.