With us basically being the youngest team in the league............ with our starting center missing a quarter of the season.......... our starting small forward missing the WHOLE season........... yet us winning around 50 games this year............. how do you think we will play next year? Are other squads like Utah possibly losing Boozer or the Spurs getting one year older going to effect us? Is the experience we gain in the playoffs this season going to carry over? I think this is the beginning of us kicking some ass in this league for the next 10 years! MIXUM will have to go bitch somewhere else!
As one example of expectations from one year to the next going slightly awry: most 'experts' were saying that the Hornets would be a serious contender to win it all in the West this year, especially after they added James Posey, but they've regressed a little. So with that in mind I'm still thinking the team will continue to improve at least a little, but it won't be the dramatic ten-ish win improvements we've seen in each of the past 3 years. I'd say if they stay reasonably healthy and come back with mostly the same roster we'd see a 5 or 6 game improvement.
Finals or Bust. Don't see how we can aim any lower with us finishing as high as 3rd this year with a year filled with so many injuries and a very solid young core advancing together.
I think it's going to be real tough for us to win a playoff series this year with our inexperience, so the natural progression next season will be to win a playoff series and make a possible WCF appearance with the rest of the West fading. Then in two seasons, our championship window should be wide open if KP makes the right moves to get us a more consistent PG and a backup PF who can bang down low.
This year, before the season started, it was 48 wins and a playoff appearance. Looks like we're going to get there. Next year I will expect HCA. At least a second round appearance. Maybe 55 wins. Hopefully we can hit those targets. Ed O.
I'd rather project based on individual players. I expect to see the most gain from Aldridge (puts it all together and averages 20+), Oden (develops another offensive move and refines that turnaround jump hook, controls fouls mostly and plays 70 games). and Bayless (if he can regain his shooting form, he has the tools to grow in to the job). Batum, Outlaw, Roy, Joel, Blake have all reached their potential, IMO. They can all get better, but I don't expect huge jumps in their play (at least for next year... Batum will take a couple of years to develop a can-do-it-yourself offensive game). Webster is a big ?. Contention for division, and assuming we lose in the first round this year getting to the second round next year.
I expect us to compete for the #1 seed and make a run at the title. Remember when we drafted Oden and everyone said we'd be competing for the title in 2 or 3 years? Well that's next year!!
My expectations are that we are on the brink from championship contenders (i.e. this year its LA, SA, BOS and CLE). Top 3 seed in the West, get past the first round with HCA.
Homecourt advantage and winning our division. about 55 games won. I expect Aldridge to be talked about as an all star, Oden to average 15/10 with good defense, and Roy to continue improving. I also expect us to make a move to get an experienced or more talented point guard- maybe Sessions, maybe Bibby... I think we will be decent at the 3 spot next year with Webster back and Batum improving.
Of course trades and injuries could always change things, but I'd guess they become one of the league's elite teams next year capable of beating anyone anywhere and winning around 60 games. STOMP
Depends on this years finish. If we make it to the 2nd round, I think a WCF's is the expectation (barring injuries). If they make it to the WCF's this year, the finals next year. This one is unlikely. At bare min, assuming no major injuries, the division title should be Portlands.
