I like him more than I otherwise would, due to who his predecessor was. The games are infinitely* more enjoyable to watch than they were under Nate. But I've never thought that Stotts was the guy that would lead us to a Championship, or even a deep Playoff run. *Hyperbole meter is reading high.
The Blazers are 1-10 against playoff teams in the west in 2014 This thread seems pretty relevant in the fact that maybe expectations should be tempered. There's just not a strong case to make that Portland is ready to go deep in the playoffs. 1 and done after one of the hottest starts in franchise history is a blow to the gut.
I'll just be happy with a playoff team. I'll leave it to the experts to bitch about a first-round loss if it happens.
I'll be the first to say my emotions got the better of me last night and I may have said a few things that today I disagree about today so I decided to spend today at work thinking about this question(thanks boring job). My expectations going into the game at Dallas and last night was a fifth seed with an outside chance at the fourth seed. The only thing to change in that is that I think an outside chance has changed to more likely about the same chance as New York winning the championship this year. As for us how we do in the Playoffs I'm not scared of anyone we will most likely play but I'm not confidant we will a seven game series either. Ill only really be disappointed if we get knocked out five games or less. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
If we put a damn good showing and play 6 or 7 really hard fought games and lose... I'll be mad for sure, but it won't be disappointing. That's a good distinction to make on expectations you did, I like that.
I wasn't expecting the blazers to be blowing out these better teams, hopefully the luck of the draw helps a couple late shots to go in and they win the next one, or more importantly, the next 16 in the playoffs. Being in the game in the last minute is acceptable though, just need better late game execution to close them out.
Regardless of record, my expectations are high for this team. Call me an optimist but I think this brutal March schedule will help them work out the kinks. And the light April schedule will have them hit their stride just at the right time for playoff success.
Just making the playoffs isn't much of a goal since over half the league qualifies. I guess my sights are set higher. The goal should be to contend for a title. Otherwise, what is the point?
Well, the title can only happen if we get a playoff spot... but, even though we'll make it, we aren't getting a title. We have quite a few refs... I mean, teams, to get through.
Also, Pup... your sig says "march 26th, 2014" to which that date has not yet happened... nor do we have a game. haha.
The point of MAKING the playoffs is the experience makes you better. How many teams make a deep playoff run their first time in? Even the players/organization have hinted they are a year or two away from making a run at the championship. So just get in this season, maybe we win 1 series, maybe we don't. But either way it's a taste of the post season, and next year/years to come that experience will serve them well. Miss the post season this year and they might blow the team up. Get in, even if it's 1/done they keep the team together. Adding only a couple of pieces. But why keep a fairly veteran team together that was 31-9, and fell all the way out that didn't have major injury issues? What about the coach? That is why MAKING the playoffs means so much. I hope we don't slip all the way down to 1 or 2 games from the 9th spot. The pressure on this team, after the hot start, would be suffocating.
I agree, as my OP would suggest when I said "get any playoff seed." The coach? Well, I'm starting to venture that Stotts is starting to have the "Nate affect"... except, he actually tinkers with his line up... but, aside from the halftime adjustments he seemed to be making early in the year... they haven't happened much (save the dallas game) this year... ANd I don't know if he's all about the adjustments or can do them on the fly (ala Nate). That is definitely one of my worries.
