Im thinking if the Blazers could go 2-3 over the next 5... that would put us in decent shape to get 30 wins by the break. Thats around what we will need to make at least the 8 seed. To me... the heat and nuggets at home on xmas are our only hope. Dallas will smoke us and the spurs defense will give us fits. The magic game is iffy. They arent playing great balll so we have a shot. So how many wins do you see in this stretch? i will be optomistic and say 2
Spurs IMO are the easiest because they actually have lost 4 games out of 14 at home already. That is a pretty good share. I also don't think they are playing as well now as they will be in say, 3 months.
Miami and San Antonio. We always seem to play well in Miami, even if it is a back to back.. and the Spurs are beatable right now. Orlando and Dallas are just way too tough for us to win.. Dallas especially. That place is a house of horrors.
I would be very happy to go 2-3. Denver will be very tough, but being at home it is still our best chance. Orlando was just destroyed last night. So do they come out pissed? Or do they come out stunned? San Antonio is struggling the most out of the 5, but that is not saying much. Fuck I don't know. This is real tough. They just need to fight and claw their way in order to keep the games close and see what happens in the 4th.
I have seen the last two games, and I have to tell you, this team is short-handed, but they seem to be playing much better than they did earlier in the year when they won based on sheer depth and talent. The difference is, brace yourself, they try hard, all the time, on both sides of the floor. Before, it seemed like only GO was playing hard, every night, on both sides of the floor. Now, it seems like Brandon, LMA and the entire rest of the support group does as well. Not as talented until people start coming back, but they work hard. Can't be upset about this. Seeing these 2 games, and assuming no more serious injury problems, I am feeling a lot better about this year. Especially with JB breaking out of the glasshouse. All upcoming games will be played hard by the team, what the final number of wins out of these 5 turns out to be, does not really concern me that much. Roy and LMA are too good to not take this team to the playoffs. Even if it is as an 8th seed. Go Blazers.
That is the troof. This team has looked awfully ... ummm ... not quite lackadaisical, but well short of the team we saw last year that looked hungry and fired up for most of the year. I think the injuries have definitely taken their toll, but this team looked kind of half assed in pre-season too when they were only short a couple of rookies and Nic. I think more than anything Jerryd brings this team some energy right now, he's a little over the top maybe, but for a team seriously lacking in intensity and balls (frankly) I think he's helping to inject some enthusiasm and some fire back into this team. It will be interesting to see if this kick in the butt holds. My guess is that they go 1-3 on the trip, with the best chance of getting a W in San Antonio, and I think there's a better than average chance they'll hold court and beat the Nuggets when they get back home. It sucks they weren't able to make hay in that super soft first month of the season, the next two months are looking pretty unkind.
It sucks that the two "easier" games on the road trip, Miami and SA are both the second end of back to backs.
I think that Bayless and Webster, if not more, have "energy" for days. I don't see them tiring in a back-to-back. And if they both attack the rim like they did last night, even the dreaded "dead-leg" syndrome (and no, that's not a metaphor for what's in Ed O's pants) won't bother us if it pops up (that one was a metaphor).
You are awesome! On Monday you posted "this team as is wont win 30 games. people who say playoffs are dreaming. with no trade comes no chance". http://sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2203936#post2203936 By Friday you are thinking 30 wins by the break. LOL.
He has to strike a tricky balance between doom-saying and trying to build up expectations just enough so he can loudly be disappointed and angry when they're not met. If the expectations are dangerously close to being met, he loudly and angrily raises the expectations.
