The playoff race for the Blazers is now over. Yes they are mathematically still in it, but they lost extremely important games. I will say I'm proud of this team. They fought hard and had a great run. Most the games were really fun to watch. I can't wait for this offseason and what olshey will do. I can't wait until next season with lillard working on his game. Go blazers!
Agreed. Depending on how the last ten games go, the Blazers will wind up with a record slightly better than I thought, and a lot better than what some folks feared. On the bright side, Nicolas Batum went a long way toward justifying his new contract. LaMarcus Aldridge had another All-Star caliber season. Terry Stotts is a good coach. Olshey showed his good sense by making a mid-season move that clearly helped the franchise both short and long-term. And best of all, Damian Lillard seems like the Blazers' best point guard since Terry Porter. On the downside, the Blazers' bench is still pretty poor, the center spot is still really weak, and the team needs more reliable play from the starters not named "Aldridge" or "Lillard." A good year. But this offseason is going to be critical. A good one, and the Blazers are on their way to postseason appearances. A bad one, Aldridge will bolt, and his teammates will start looking for the exit signs, too.
I'm still being entertained by the team--and the board--so I'm content. I'm happy. Watching rookies develop makes us feel hopeful. Last season with all the experienced players, fans were less patient than we are this season with several rookies on the team.
I am not happy that management didn't throw in the towel earlier. If we lose our pick this year I will be pissed at the stupid shortsightedness.
It's highly unlikely that we lose the pick now. Dallas, Utah and lakers are all fighting for the final spot. If we stay behind two of them, we still have our pick.
I give warning, this is a rambling post. I wish batum had been a little more aggressive and consistent, but I'm happy with what he did. I don't think he'll get any better than he is now though. I also think it's nice to think that the only real thing keeping this team from being a playoff team is 2 decent bench players. Preferably caused by an upgrade at the starting 5 spot (which would mean, if resigned, JJ could be the backup PF) and the backup SG spot...by either replacing Matthews with a better starting SG and he becomes the backup, or getting a better backup SG. And I think they're 3 players away from being a team with HCA. I think that would mean an improvement in the starting SG/backup SG situation, a better LEGIT starting center, and a backup 5/PF. If the Blazers resign JJ, and he was willing to come off the bench, upgrading the starting center would be vital. Almost, imho, more important than the starting SG/backup SG combo. I think they're still a 16-17 PPG 3rd player away from being a legitimate contender, imho. I don't know who these players are though. But brain storming (and completely understanding that the chances of it happening are slim, due to cap space issues): LaMarcus/Hickson Pekovic/Leonard Batum/Claver Matthews/Redick Lillard/Maynor The problem is this summer, the FA class is slim. There are a few good players PGs: Jarret Jack, Jose Calderon, Maynor, Devin Harris (who would be a good signing, barring him having injury issues I don't know about) and Bayless. SGs: Mayo (unlikely), Redick, R Brewer, Korver, Dunleavy (old),... guh, just too much mediocrity in FA class this year. I think Portland gets the same old crap they always do. 1 decent to OK player followed up by "we're saving our capspace for next year!!!" mantra. Yay re-signing Babbitt and Smith as big free agent signings!
I was a little disappointed with batum as well; but I think he was used way too much. He doesn't have the strength and conditioning to get a plus 35 minute per game. He is still playing over seas; so we better find a damn good back up at sf. I'm not a fan of Pek. He sucks on the defensive end and we sucked badly protecting the paint. I would much rather have management find a couple defenders like dalambert and jerm oneal. They are players that we can start for a year and still give Leonard good burn. The prize would be redick; IMO. He is the player I believe would really get this team on the map.
They are perfect players for a team still developing Leonard. Dalambert can start for next season, maybe next. When the time comes that Leonard can start; it's okay to bring Dalambert off the bench.
Right now we're at the 12th slot for the draft. Mags, there is a small chance we can lose the pick if we remain at that slot by season's end.
I thought Dallas was 12th when we discussed this before. Now that Dallas has a better record; we dropped to 13th. Did an eastern conference team get worse?
We are currently in the 12th slot. The other 11 teams are: 1. Charlotte 2. Orlando 3. Cleveland 4. Phoenix 5. Detroit 6. New Orleans 7. Washington 8. Minnesota 9. Toronto 10. Sacramento 11. Philadelphia 12. Portland
Mags- you're quitting? We are only 3.5 games out and we still have games against Utah, Dallas, and LA. I remember in 1992, the Knicks led the Celtics by 5 games with 5 games to play. Boston won 5, the Knicks lost 5, and Boston won the division. By the end of tonight, we might only be two losses out. Don't give up just yet. I think all we need is 8-2 the rest of the way and we're in.
The only chance we wouldn't pick 12th is if we won a top 3 spot or if the 13th or 14th place team (hopefully the Lakers - who's pick goes to PHX) won 1 of the top 3 spots right? Only something like a .006 chance the Lakers team behind us jumps up and pushes us to 13th on draft day (which means we lose it to CHA).
In 2010 the Bulls were something like 6 games behind Toronto and went on a nuts, ended the season 10-4 and got into the playoffs one game ahead of Toronto.
There's a small chance of a team winning the lottery and knocking us to the 13th spot. "The No. 12 team also had a 93.5% chance of being awarded the 12th pick and a 3.9% chance of being awarded the No. 13 pick." http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...t_the_trail_blazers_to_make_the_playoffs.html
The way this season has gone i'd be betting we go into the lottery with the 12 pick but don't get it.
how do you figure this season has gone that way? They waaaaay overproduced for this year, and Lillard was far better than any of us thought he would be. If anything, this is the year they sneak into a top 3 pick.
