Exactly. I don't see why someone would think this team is worse NOW than it was before the season started... Ed O.
I'm still sticking with the homer-licious 58 wins. I was sweating a bit when Oden went down...but now that he's back and beasting (and we're 6-4) I feel good. I'm not saying we shouldn't have lost 2-3 of those games, but there've also been a couple we could have pulled out. I think the team needs to be tweaked, and it will. If we can make it to December over .500, I really like what we can do in the latter part of the season.
We've done as well or better during this stretch than I thought we would. Even in the games we lost (UTA, PHX, NO), we had a real chance to win.
Blake has been about what I expected, not sure why you think a disappointment, but nobody was counting on him doing too much regardless, so little "loss" there. Sergio isn't there, but who penciled him in for anything other than what he has done? We still have Bayless smoldering on the bench, ready for his shot. So, the depth will carry us through injuries that will level other teams. Oden looks awkward because he is out of game shape. Give him a month before you form any opinions. And as Oden has played limited minutes, we have got GREAT contribution from Joel in his stead. So our dropoff from lack of quality time from our franchise center has been far less than other team's in this situation. Frye has not been good. But more then made up by the unexpectedly stellar play of rookie Rudy Fernandez. Travis has been fine, the usual Travis, with a little extra in a couple of games. Not sure why you think that is bad. In addition, we have found a contributor in Batum, that gives the coach options. Really, the guy who seems a little lost so far is not Blake or Travis or Frye, it has been Aldridge. He needs to figure out how to be a consistent force. Dude, we started with the toughest schedule in NBA history, and are coming out of it above .500. We have Oden working his way back, to hopefully help through the rest of the toughest part of the Blazer's season. If they can gut through this stretch as well as they already have, they would have the wind at their backs for an opportunity to pick up a bunch of games in the standings.
Here is the reason I picked 55+ back when I did it. We all know Portland was .500 last year. I still think Oden is worth a 10 game improvement by the time it is all said and done. Rudy and Bayless will be worth an easy 3 more games, if not more. Some of those games will be the same ones, Greg, above effects though. I think that puts them at 55 easy if they are consistent.
I originally predicted 56-58 wins. I'm sticking to my guns and think they have a good shot to actually get 58 wins this season. In spite of the injuries to Martell and Oden, and the extrememly tough schedule, they are 6-4. Other than the opening night loss to the Lakers, they've been in every game late in the 4th quarter. Last year, they struggled to win on the road, even against inferior teams. Last year, they lost their first nine road games and didn't get their 3rd road victory until December 16. This year, they won their 3rd road game on November 15 - a month ahead of last year's pace. I find that very encouraging and a sign that this team is making significant progress They are young and still learning to play together. They will only get better as the season progresses. 50 wins, no problem. Anybody think they can get 60? BNM
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I've been very pleased. I was thinking 48-50, now I'm thinking maybe more.
Every time someone mentions that we have Bayless sittin' on the bench waiting his turn i get soo excited. He is going to be special man... people like Chad Ford were callin' him a thinking man's Monta Ellis. And watching him play during the fan fest, then the preseason and then a little this year, he really looks like a distributer to me, unless Nate puts him in there to give us a scoring lift at the 2. He has been AWESOME at getting past his man and gettin' in the lane and dishing it out to our shooters like LMA, Rudy and Travis. Ya'll should watch stuff like the Fan Fest highlights. Bayless is going to be just what we need. I hope he gets a chance to play. And when we gave him minutes, he looked GREAT in that game vs i forget who when he got 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
me too. Thats been my best guess record wise if the team is lucky enough to avoid the injury bug. 1/8th of the season down and they're right on course considering their schedule STOMP
I think I need your definition of a good team. Just about every team in the league has a couple of weak links and Oden is going to be just fine. As for defensive statistics, remember last year when Denver was statistically a top 10 defensive team. Did that mirror reality in any way?
Roy has also been less then hoped for thus far. Compared to last year he's getting the same minutes but down in FG%, Rbs, Assts, and had his TOs increase. That Roy Aldridge and Oden could/should be better as the season goes along bodes well IMO STOMP
Well, I think that Rudy doing some of the distributing is taking some of Roy's assists away - and he is a lot more aggressive looking for his own shot taking over - this would lead to a higher scoring load (which he has done) - but less FG%, EFG% etc... - that's to be expected. Personally, I think this is a good thing - he is our best player and he needs to be aggressive. Rebounding is again not a concern to me - the entire team seems to be more determined to get rebounds - TO, Greg and Rudy get a lot of rebounds - even LaMarcus seems to put some kind of an emphasis on rebounding - he rebounds less that last year - but he is always playing next to a dominant rebounder big man now (vs. only 1/2 a game last year) - and his rebounding rate is only 1 less rebound per 36 minutes. Not bad, It think.
I am thinking 78-4 I predicted 53 wins. After seeing Oden playing and getting more comfortable, I say 53 will be a breeze.
