IF the Blazers DON'T make the playoffs...... ......................whose fault is it? Nate? KP? John Canzano? negative fans on internet message board?
This is not even worth discussing. There's virtually no chance the Blazers fall out. None. Hollinger has us at 96.7%. That's condom-like numbers.
It's the other 8 teams that made it. Its their fault... but I agree its pretty unlikely we don't make it.
Perhaps I don't give the Blazers enough credit - that's a good possibility - but it seems to me that the Blazers have been a little fortunate this year on one major score: the Suns are in serious disarray. They appear to be putting things together right now, but it may very well be too little, too late. If the Blazers MAKE the Playoffs, they have Terry Porter, Mike D'Antoni, and the Suns' front office to thank, for screwing up a team that by all rights should be better than Portland. As it is, I stick by my prediction from the beginning of the year, that the Blazers will finish with either the 7th or 8th seed. However, as unpredictable as the playoff-bound teams are, I could see the Blazers anywhere from 3rd to 8th. If the Blazers don't make the playoffs, it'll be because the Suns catch fire, and Houston, Dallas, Denver, Utah, and New Orleans are all more consistent than Portland down the stretch.
If you think the West was crazy this year. Next year could be even tougher. Sure Pheonix might decide to completely strip down and rebuild, but a healthy Warriors and Clippers team give the West 11 potential playoff teams.
Except when you consider the facts, where they've lost 8 of their last 11... Phoenix is, for all intents and purposes, out of the playoff race unless they literally win all of their remaining games. The western conference race is now for playoff seeding and not for playoff berths.
i doubt the clippers will contend for a playoff spot. that team is so dis functional. i wonder if dallas has another first round exit, cuban will blow it up?????
