I mentioned this in another thread. A friend of mine who knows basketball thinks we have a shot at the championship THIS YEAR. I'm nearly on board. We have grown throughout the season and are playing impressive basketball. 17-4 in last 21 games. 5 game win streak on the road. 7 wins in last 8 games vs teams in playoff contention. We dropped 111 on Indiana who supposedly has the best defense in the league. We dropped 137 points on the Warriors. Beat the Cavs by 29. We're steadily improving. We have possibly the best leader in the league in Damian Lillard. He is climbing the MVP chart to 2nd according to many experts. Our defense has been stellar. Ed Davis is one of if not the best big man off the bench in the entire NBA. Dame AND CJ would make the All Star team right now if there were 15 players allowed. They are sensational go-to guys. Henderson is fitting in more and more. I'm on board. Start planning the parade.
Love the optimism but unless Vonleh or Leonard break out and become a reliable third scoring option, we have a low chance of getting out of round1. The game slows down, teams game plan more effectively, and teams lock in defensively in the playoffs. If either CJ or Dame are slowed in the playoffs we have little chance of winning games IMO. It's been a good season primarily because CJ and dame are such a dynamic backcourt and we had so many doubters coming into the season. Expectations will certainly grow next year, but for now let's just enjoy the ride.
Lamarcus who? Great insight(Olshey),Great Coaching, Great hustle, overachieving( chip on shoulders ), and chemistry. While I don't know we have what it takes to get to a Championship, I know we can win the first 2 rounds if we keep it up.
We don't need one guy to be our third guy. We have more than just one. Henderson and Crabbe are two of the best bench players in the league. Leonard and esp Davis are among the best bench big men. We're a deep team. SCORING IS NOT A PROBLEM. We scored 111 on a top defensive team today. A "third scorer" isn't needed. What is needed is complete concentration on the defensive end. When we defend as we have been, nobody can beat us. Nobody.
My sig says it all... it may not be this year, but if Dame and CJ stay... within 5 years this could be special.
Put your money where your mouth is speed. Blazers still have huge odds to win west. I put $38 on them at 800-1 which would pay me $30k. You probably can't get odds like that now but could still get massive payoff.
Yeah I think odds are we lose every series were in. If we play the Clippers without Griffin we have a great chance though. You mention our lack of a third scoring option; although I think Crabbe or Hendo fit that role fine. But who is their second let alone third scoring option? Reddick is a spot up shooter who can't create his own shot. Then maybe a starter gets injured on Golden State. Against the Spurs in the WCF Aminu can contain Kawhi and they have nobody to defend Dame or CJ. Would be a hell of a fun ride.
Maybe he has finally past rthe Jinx up. In no way has he jinxed the team so far this year. In fact most thought he would and its been the opposite. Keep it up King. I may not be on the Championship bandwagon this year yet... but its growing on me.
We lost to the Rockets immediately after he opened his last thread comparing POR to the GSW (2 hottest teams in the league or something like that). But the biggest jinx force at play that time were the idiots who chanted MVP at Dame in the 1st half.
As Stott's noted last night, our entire focus should be on the next game. Then, make the playoffs. Then, win the first round. Then, win the second round. Then, win the WCF. Then, win the championship. All we need is a chip and a chair. To be honest, I don't even care if we have a chair. Just give me that chip. After that, the games have to be played to determine the winner.
http://www.nba.com/2016/news/featur...stbrook-lebron-james-kevin-durant-chris-paul/ KIA MVP ladder: 1. Curry 2. Durant 3. James 4. Westbrook 5. Paul 6. Lillard MVP MVP MVP!!!
So, is the argument for Durant/Westbrook that the rest of their team is "Sixers bad" without those two? Otherwise, I can't see how both of them deserve MVP ranking ahead of Dillard.
I'm about as optimistic as a fan could be around here but honestly, I'd be thrilled if we got to the second round this season. Now this I completely disagree with....5 years we might be special? When you get my age 5 years from now is not even in the conversation....I think next year is a game changer and the following year anything is possible
