This seems a bit obvious. Not many think we are going to win it all this year. Making it to the playoffs would be a successful season. It'd be really nice to make it into the second round, but most likely not this year.
In the offseason my prediction was 52 wins. 50 would be very realistic. However, management waited 2-3 weeks too many getting Oden ready. If Oden was in basketball shape starting game 1 of the season, I'd stick with my 52. Now, Oden's injured again, and we're small again. What's my modified prediction? We need to go .500 until the new year when Oden should be in game shape, and then continue at a rate of 52/82 the rest of the way. Of course that assumes the schedule difficulty is uniform, it's not. I don't really call that patient.
Shouldn't we believe that our team has a chance to make the playoffs.......It's going to be a long season anyways, why not believe in the talent that Portland has now? I'm sure that we'll have some nice wins this year, we have already had a blowout with more to follow I'm sure, but I think that this team could make the post season....it's going to be a learning season yet again, but I like what is already on the books as far as talent, now will it all fit together? I guess we'll see soon enough.
Hell yeah- we're making the playoffs- we will keep getting better as the season goes on. Even playoff teams get blown out from time to time. Heck, teams in the playoffs get blown out and sometimes come back to win the series. It's only 3 games- wait 20 games or so and then we can take a better early measurement.
Yet probability says that doesn't matter. 41 wins is 41 wins, right? If I toss heads 41 times in a row, then toss tails 41 times in a row, how is that different than tossing heads, then tails on each successive toss?
I would consider 44 great if we play all year without Oden but if Oden comes back healthy I fully expect us to be at 49-50 wins. He should be able to make a 9 game improvement with a premier center.
With Greg out the first 2-4 weeks I don't think we'll reach 55-56 wins as I originally predicted. It will more likely be 48-50 now. Hopefully enough to make the playoffs.
Not necessarily a failure but definitely a disapppointment. A failure would have to be based on considerably less than 40 wins for the season and no marked improvement shown for any of the team's players. Based on last year's 41 - 41 record and the current team roster, it is not unusual for Blazer fans to project and expect the team to be back in the playoff hunt with more than 50 wins this year. The addition of Oden, Rudy, Batum and Bayless this year should be worth at least 9 more wins over last years record. If I remember correctly, the Blazers started out slow last year, too. But already in the 3 games of this season, we have seen improved play by LaMarcus, Sergio, and Batum, while Roy is being Roy and Rudy is being Rudy. The results, the Blazers have defeated the Spurs - the first time in years. And while 1 - 2, it is not uncommon to lose on the road early in the season to two teams that had 50 + wins last year. I do agree with you that this young Blazer team needs to develop more experience playing together and a greater team identity. Also that Blazer fan expectations should not be overly high or unfair. But with this said, I expect that later on in the season, as they get more experience, the Blazers will tag both the Lakers and the Suns with losses. Looking forward to next time around. Go Blazers! JAFO
It's playoffs or bust for me. The good news is that we see the bad habits and troubling patterns early and have plenty of time to correct them. It's nothing some moves by KP can't correct. I just hope we don't sit on our hands too long without making moves.
With a third of the season gone, I thought it would be interesting to revisit this thread. Have people's expectations changed? What would make this season a success? Will this be a 50 win season? I think we'll go 48 - 34 and make the playoffs but not have home court advantage
i thought 53-29 since July, still sticking with it. Roy is still getting better by the day and Oden is only growing more confident. If our damn bench can just bring it night in and night out, Ike over Channing should help, we will be in great shape.
I have a random question for you. Is your avatar from an actual movie scene where that was supposed to happen, or was it an outtake or something where he just decided to feel alba's booty?
