Possibly 4th seed if OKC gets a losing streak going. Before I would always be concerned with our "toughness" and how this lack there of was why we failed in the playoffs. I haven't seen a tougher team than the Blazers right now. They just look like they have this "swagger" about themselves. Almost like they feel that they can beat any team in the league right now. What's even more apparent is how quick they are on the defensive end. With more communication, timing and basically time together; these guys could very well be one of the best defensive teams in the league. Obviously they haven't proven anything yet, but these few games I've seen post Wallace trade; looks as though this team finally found its defensive identity. Not since Ruben Patterson have the Blazers had a player as tough as Wallace. Not since Sheed Wallace has this team actually had the player that can play a good low post game and defense at the same time (And I think Aldridge is better than Sheed, just because he actually forces the issue down low now). What's even more startling is how amazing Roy coming off the bench, playing with Wallace has propelled the second unit to be arguably better than most starting 5s around the league. Blazer fans, we could see history in the making right here, right now. This could very well be one of the most amazing "cinderella stories" of the NBA; if the Blazers somehow manage to go far in the playoffs. Hold on to your wigs ladies, the ride just started!
They may be the best 5th seed (I'm not sure), but the 94-95 Rockets were the 6th seed and won the title without HCA by sweeping Shaq and the Magic in the finals. The mid-season trade for Clyde put them over the top. I still remember how well Clyde played in that finals series, and of course Hakeem was awesome, too. Orlando had a shit load of young talent, won 10 more regular season games and had HCA, but Houston had two veteran future HOFers that showed the young guys how it's done. BNM
Exactly Boobie. What I'm trying to say is this team actually looks really good. Anyone that says otherwise is just fooling themselves. And looking this good with only 6 games of gelling. I can't imagine how this team may look in another 10 games. We have become a thin team, Camby and Roy out; to a team stacked right now: Wallace, Roy, Camby.
I had us at 63 wins before Oden went down. 51 wins around Christmas, which seemed wildly optimistic to most. So I'm far from a nay-sayer. But I'm just not feeling this team being that good right now. It's ran off some nice wins, but it seems like there's been a big asterisk next to so many of them. Poor quality teams, the Heat on a losing streak, Magic without Howard. And it's not like they seriously dominated. I'm hopeful. I think there's a decent chance they get out of the first round, even without HCA. But I'm just not optimistic about a really deep playoff run. There's just not a lot of time and too many uncertainties surrounding health and guys fitting into their roles when adversity strikes.
I think they could be a really decent fifth seed, but the the best in history? ... Ummm ... Nevermind. I don't have the energy to do this today.
It does take a lot of energy to trying to constantly be the negative voice of the board, while claiming you're just being level headed.
Good post. I feel like we are playing decent-to-good basketball right now. But I think people are too quick to forget how incredibly bad we were for a few games at home against Atlanta and Houston. I want to see us dominate a few teams before claiming we are playing great basketball.
I feel like I'm swimming against a tide of ignorance/stupidity around here half the time ... and then somebody claims the Blazers are the best fifth seed in the history of the league while simultaneously providing zero evidence for this ... and then I realize how futile struggling really is.
Have you considered following some activity that shouldn't inspire excitement or zealousness? Perhaps knitting?
Then should we give asterisk next to all the teams that played us all season? I mean without Roy, without Oden, without Nate? No I don't this would happen, yet those three are very important to the success of this franchise. I would assume that around the league many would look at us without this attached towards our wins; and more importantly say those wins were BIG.
I like basketball, I like the Blazers, I like to see them have success, I get excited when I watch them and they do good things and I'm not excited when they do stupid things or struggle (or suffer a bazillion knee injuries), but I'm not a "zealot" because I think zealotry is dumb ... and besides knitting needles are dangerous.
Would you like me to provide proof? Okay here goes it... 1.) Some people talked about the embarrassing losses at home, but I would proclaim those losses came in transition. Also it's obvious that Wallace was a bit shell shocked about the trade. We will learn in a few more games just how much better we truly are. 2.) We are now forcing teams to play our game. Something that hasn't happened in a long long time. We beat the Heat when they still played good. That says a lot. 3.) The defensive intensity of this ballclub seems united. All the players look as though they are playing on the same page. They are talking and communicating and helping out when needed. 4.) Offensively, we are multidimensional; meaning we aren't just a jump shooting team, we aren't just a low post team, we aren't a half court team, we aren't a running team. Basically this team is playing all styles. Smashing it inside, playing half court, running the break, taking wide open outside shots, etc. 5.) Finally have that physical player that actually loves contact. One of the biggest "questionmarks" I had with the Blazers is their lack of toughness. They seemed to get pushed around in the playoffs. Anyways, I think I gave enough backing to allow you to reply.
And then we had to go and lose to a non-playoff team. Hyperbole. Gotta love it. Two wins against two good teams does not the best-ever make. I'll wait until I see some consistency before proclaiming we're best anything. Gramps...
Well if we were one of the 5th best seeds in history, what does that make this team as a 6th seed? Best 6th seed of all time . . . in any sport!
