Thats exactly 50 wins projected. Couple of notes: so far 22 games on the road and 19 at home. That switches for second half. If the Blazers can go just 9-10 on the road, they only need to go 16-6 at home to hit 50 wins. They were 15-4 in the first half. They also play 14 games against the bottom six (MN, GS, LAC, MEM, SAC, OKC).
That's pretty good perspective right there. I think we can most definitely go 9-10 on the road, and 16-6 at home. 50 wins is definitely doable for this team if we can avoid any more serious injuries, and just continue to get better. 25-16 is definitely a record this team should be proud of so far.
My original prediction was 47 wins, so as far as I'm concerned they are ahead of schedule. Of course the fact that their first half schedule is an order of magnitude more difficult than the remainder (at least on paper) those 25 wins are looking a lot more impressive.
Eh. I counted 22 games against the "elite" (Western 8, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Orlando) during the 1st half and 19 in the second half. So, it might not really be "easier".
We are only 11-10 in our last 21 games. If we don't pick up our level of play, we'll finish more around 45 wins and I don't think that will be enough. It's time to start a little win streak.
I know some of you aren't big fans of John Hollinger, but his current play-off race predictions are interesting. He is projecting the Blazers to take 4th in the West, with 50 wins. (just ahead of SA and just behind Denver) He also has the Suns nipping the Mavs for the 8th spot. Take it FWIW.
Look at it this way, KS: After 5 games: 2-3 (.400) After 10: 6-4 (.600) After 15: 9-6 (.600) After 20: 14-6 (.700) After 25: 15-10 (.600) After 30: 18-12 (.600) After 35: 21-14 (.600) After 40: 24-16 (.600) At nearly every 5-game benchmark, we've been a .600 team. We surged between games 15-20, and then returned to the equilibrium between games 21-25 (which accounts for the 11-10 mark you cite). All in all, we've actually been quite consistent this year.
like i said yesterday BEFORE we won....we are the same as last year with no improvement. woo hoo. i dont know why everyne is so pumped...if we lose to the cavs we prob will fall into the 9th spot before we play again. this current team will not beat the west contenders on the road as is.
Sweet! If we are the same as last year, we should be expecting to go on a 13-game winning streak. After our 13-game winning streak we'll really be sitting pretty!!!
Also more back to backs. I believe we played at one point every 1.8 days or something like that. We won't do anything near that the rest of the way.
Yes, now comes the test over last year. I think we'll do much better than we did last year. What, the second half we were the reverse, 16-25? I think we'll do much better the second half of this season, but we won't know until we play them. Hopefully we'll continue to get better as the season goes on and not only make the playoffs, but get HCA in the first round. I think the only if we are decimated by injuries will we fail to at least reach the playoffs.
I'm still curious if 50 wins will make the playoffs this year... Very little separation between the teams right now.
Yet he predicted what, 41 wins prior to the season, and posters here who took issue and said it would be 48-50 were mocked.
Well, my 56 - 58 wins is definitely in jeopardy. Not impossible, but unlikely. The team would need to go 31-10 in the second half to hit 56 wins. The 14 games against the cellar dwellers will help, but nothing is a gimme. We've already seen the Blazers lose to the Clippers at home and to the Bobcats. To get to 56 wins, they'll have to beat the teams they need to beat - every time. They will also have to beat the top teams at home. They've already gotten abused twice by the Lakers in LA. They weren't at full strength in either game, and we all know the Blazers play much better against the Lakers at home. The schedule is definitely more favorable during the second half (more easy games, more home games and fewer back-to-backs). So, I expect 52 - 54 wins, with an outside shot at 56. Who knows, if they can finally get all three of Roy, Aldridge and Oden playing well at the same time, on a consistent basis, maybe they can even hit 58 wins. It seems like they always win when 2 of the 3 play well. They would be almost unbeatable if all three guys were playing well in each and every game. It seems like there's always one or two teams that catch fire after the all-star break and separate themselves from the pack. It's usually a veteran team making a play-off push, or a team that acquires a critical piece at the trade deadline. Last year it was the Rockets (23-7 after the all-star game) and the Lakers (22-8 after the all-star game, 27-9 after the Gasol trade). Can the Blazers be one of those teams this year? BNM
with the east so improved it's extremely unlikely 9 west teams win 50 this year. i think 50 will be automatic in.
