I'm recalling Kobe claiming he was circling last seasons games in Portland on his calendar... As teams were jockeying for playoff position the 2nd half of last season Portland was leading the league in point differential/blowouts. The Blazers weren't sneaking up on teams so much as they were crushing them. STOMP
Over. I'm enjoying some Kool-Aid with my coffee this morning. If you can't be optimistic about your team, what's the point of being a fan?
That certainly was disappointing, but getting to and losing in the conference finals can hardly be called a failure (or maybe it can?). The most prominent example I can think of is the Mavericks team that got bounced by the Warriors a couple of years back in the first round; if the Blazers win 60+ and fall to a 7th or 8th seed this year then you have to look at that as a massive step back or an underachievement.
2008-09 Portland 54 28 .659 2nd Northwest Division 2 4 .333 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 2007-08 Portland 41 41 .500 3rd Northwest Division - - - DNQ 2006-07 Portland 32 50 .390 3rd Northwest Division - - - DNQ 2005-06 Portland 21 61 .256 5th Northwest Division - - - DNQ 2004-05 Portland 27 55 .329 4th Northwest Division - - - DNQ 2003-04 Portland 41 41 .500 3rd Pacific Division - - - DNQ 2002-03 Portland 50 32 .610 2nd Pacific Division 3 4 .429 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 2001-02 Portland 49 33 .598 3rd Pacific Division 0 3 .000 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 2000-01 Portland 50 32 .610 4th Pacific Division 0 3 .000 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1999-00 Portland 59 23 .720 2nd Pacific Division 10 6 .625 Lost West Conf Finals 1998-99 * Portland 35 15 .700 1st Pacific Division 7 6 .538 Lost West Conf Finals 1997-98 Portland 46 36 .561 4th Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1996-97 Portland 49 33 .598 3rd Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1995-96 Portland 44 38 .537 3rd Pacific Division 2 3 .400 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1994-95 Portland 44 38 .537 4th Pacific Division 0 3 .000 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1993-94 Portland 47 35 .573 4th Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1992-93 Portland 51 31 .622 3rd Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1991-92 Portland 57 25 .695 1st Pacific Division 13 8 .619 Lost NBA Finals 1990-91 Portland 63 19 .768 1st Pacific Division 9 7 .563 Lost West Conf Finals 1989-90 Portland 59 23 .720 2nd Pacific Division 12 9 .571 Lost NBA Finals 1988-89 Portland 39 43 .476 5th Pacific Division 0 3 .000 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1987-88 Portland 53 29 .646 2nd Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1986-87 Portland 49 33 .598 2nd Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1985-86 Portland 40 42 .488 2nd Pacific Division 1 3 .250 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1984-85 Portland 42 40 .512 2nd Pacific Division 4 5 .444 Lost West Conf Semis 1983-84 Portland 48 34 .585 2nd Pacific Division 2 3 .400 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1982-83 Portland 46 36 .561 4th Pacific Division 3 4 .429 Lost West Conf Semis 1981-82 Portland 42 40 .512 5th Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1980-81 Portland 45 37 .549 3rd Pacific Division 1 2 .333 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1979-80 Portland 38 44 .463 4th Pacific Division 1 2 .333 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1978-79 Portland 45 37 .549 4th Pacific Division 1 2 .333 Lost West Conf 1st Rd 1977-78 Portland 58 24 .707 1st Pacific Division 2 4 .333 Lost West Conf Semis 1976-77 Portland 49 33 .598 2nd Pacific Division 14 5 .737 Won NBA Finals 1975-76 Portland 37 45 .451 5th Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1974-75 Portland 38 44 .463 3rd Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1973-74 Portland 27 55 .329 5th Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1972-73 Portland 21 61 .256 5th Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1971-72 Portland 18 64 .220 5th Pacific Division - - - DNQ 1970-71 Portland 29 53 .35
Looks like there are some...... I won't say unrealistic....... I'll just say lofty expectations around here. Don't set yourself up for disappointment.
It's not binary...HCA or no HCA. More wins and a higher seed mean HCA for more rounds. I'd rather Portland got HCA in more rounds than just the first one. That will increase the chances of greater post-season success.
I understand, but I am standing by my prediction that LA and SA will claim the top 2 seeds, and that the competiton for the 3 and 4 spots will be very close. I won't be the least surprised if the 3-4-5 slots aren't determined until the last day of the season.
San Antonio is probably #2 if fully healthy, but they have major health issues with Jefferson, Ginobili and, to some extent, Duncan. While it's a good bet they'll be the #2 seed, there's a significant chance that they'll suffer some missed games from key players and provide an opportunity for other teams to get the #2 seed. I was simply responding to your suggestion that the regular season doesn't really matter beyond "getting HCA." There are levels of home court advantage. Unless you are the type of team that can cruise to the #1 seed without any real competition, the regular season matters a lot in terms of post-season success. Getting the #2 seed instead of the #3 seed could be the difference between reaching the WCF or not. Getting the #3 seed instead of the #4 seed could mean something similar.
I think this is the year of the hiccup; as many games as Portland blew last year, they also won a load of close games that could have gone either way. In the first half of this next season they may struggle adjusting to Andre Miller on the team. Roy and Aldridge have had free reign on the ball and the title of 'the man' in the locker room. Miller's presence will affect that... not necessarily in a bad way, but will affect it. I predict an early rough-going despite the easy schedule, a middling middle and a fiery stretch run. 54 wins. first round matchup could go either way. Other items to consider: the have nots have improved themselves (OKC Sonics, Clippers) while the Nuggets and the Mavericks will both be better (this could be the Mavs' last run).
Their point differential was consistent with more wins than they actually got, which suggests that they weren't actually lucky with close games. Why will the Nuggets be better? They lost Kleiza and Jones, didn't add anyone of consequence and Billups will be older. How did they improve over last year?
