Thanks to EnglandDan from O-live for passing this article on: http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=571 That is one beautiful, lonely blue dot. It makes me feel a lot better about where we are.
Youngest Age Oldest Age Memphis 23.9 San Antonio 31.4 Portland 24.5 Phoenix 30.0 Chicago 25.3 Dallas 29.5 Oklahoma City 25.5 Detroit 29.3 Minnesota 25.7 New Orleans 29.2 For such a tough and experienced western conference I'd say we are waay ahead of the curve! The most bitching I've ever witnessed or O-live http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/03/oden_will_miss_another_710_day.html
I'm proud of our overachieving team, but that doesn't mean that you can't wish for improvement. The study, which was very insightful, doesn't suggest to me that "well, we should be happy with what we've got because we're doing a lot better than history suggests we should." Yes, the big picture is impressive. But ... could the organization have handled the Oden and Martell injuries a little better? Probably. Could they have made a deal before the deadline with the RLEC that would have improved the team for this year's playoff run? Most likely. Could someone have shot Hedo Turkoglu behind one of the supply trailers in the loading docks before the Orlando/Portland game at the Rose Garden? Absolutely. Kidding aside, I think you'll find that most sane Blazer fans who have had complaints this year are very happy with the development of this team and for being largely ahead of the curve. But to say "quit complaining ... look where we are" - I've never understood that sentiment ... in sports ... in politics ... in economics. There is no reason to ever think you can't improve upon greatness. I don't have a problem with fans being constructive critics. There is a limit (MIXUM), but for the most part I look at getting upset at the poor moments as a very healthy part of a fan/team relationship. -Pop
Whatever! Just enjoy the state of the franchise and how far we've come in such a short time. There are no negatives. We are on our way to being in the playoffs and have a better record then 22 other teams! Enjoy it!
gud stuv! Manee uv uz have ben trying tu preech the uhbov... nyce tu see ut layed out lyk thiz. fuhk tha whinging moanerz. fuhk tha doom mongerz.
Another holistic view is that teams currently seeded 3rd through 9th are all on a precipice. A 3 game losing streak could put us on the hairy edge. Some will spend all of there time fretting over that. Others will ignore the precipice and hope everything works out. Personally, I am a fanatic (and I think anyone with over 100 posts on a message board such as this is too), so sometimes I fret and sometimes I ignore. However, when the evidence we have is that we have an opportunity to really help ourselves and we don't, I fret. When we lose more than one game in a row, I fret. When I see something not handled well, I fret. When I see something positive (like the article), I ignore. When we win 3 or more in a row, I ignore. I like living in ignorant bliss, but it's not sensible some of the time.
