Would anyone be surprised if Dallas won it all this season?

I mean do you think teams like Dallas, Thunder, Miami, and Boston have a shot at the title?

 

I'd be very surprised. They don't have the defense or rebounding and their offense, while good, is not a juggernaut. They are a solidly good team, but not a great one.

The other three teams you mention are all different from Dallas. I think Boston and Miami are title contenders, if Boston doesn't wear down and if Miami locks down on defense the way they did in the first half of the season but were inconsistent at as the season wore on. The Thunder, like Dallas, aren't talented enough IMO.

 

The reason why I ask is this very thing. Many picked the Blazers to have a 55-57 win season if they had Wallace during training camp. Those 4 teams I mentioned would probably have to win on the road all the way to the championship; except for the first round. So with this type of thinking, why couldn't the Blazers win a title? This is an entirely different team than the one that got us 48 wins. This is a team that would have probably been considerably better on the road, with a better record and probably HCA in the first round. I would argue probably the 3rd or 4th best team in the West.

 

Ya. They aren't winning it. That team has a ton of flaws that are so often glossed over because of their gaudy reg. season records.

 

How about Boston or Miami?

 

Boston isn't going anywhere without a center. I expect Miami to beat them in the second round. What flaws do you see in Miami, outside of a weak bench? They play good defense, have size up front to play D, and are very versatile. Heat is my pick for the title this year.

 

They were one Caron Butler away from having the whole package IMO. They were playing really well before he got injured.

 

Boston and Miami have arguably underperformed their top level, in terms of regular season record. Either team could win the title if they play near their top level.

Portland, I would say, has not underperformed at all since getting Wallace. We've been watching their top level, IMO. I don't think they have a better level that they can reach for an entire month of play (four rounds of playoffs). That is what separates post-Wallace-acquisition Portland from Boston and Miami.

Nothing separates post-Wallace-acquisition Portland from Dallas or Oklahoma City, except home court advantage in the first round...which is a big deal. And neither Dallas nor OKC is winning the title this year.

 

I would have to disagree with you on this one. In fact, Portland hasn't performed to their potential this season, and when they did, they beat the best when they played their Best. Beating Dallas, even when Dallas was shooting 58% from the field? How about beating Miami when they were shooting 50+ from the field and getting 28 from Wade and 30 from LJ? How about the win against Boston when Boston was doing well? Lakers? Comme on Minstrel. Okay I am a homer, but lighten up and see the big picture.

Portland can beat anyone if they play their A game, and I mean against anyone and their A game. The only team I would ever worry about would be Orlando, just because they have such a dominant big man. Other than that, I love our chances.

 

Hmm Only way Dallas sees a finals game is on TV or buy a ticket.

 

I would shocked if Dallas makes it past the second round, though I think that Portland may very well beat them in the first round.

 

Can't wait to mop the floor with the Lakers in round 2.

 

I'm plenty light. Sports is just an entertainment for me, not an important issue in my life. I call them as I see them. I might be wrong, but I don't think I bias myself towards being optimistic or pessimistic. At least, I try not to.

That's not the "big picture." In fact, that's the opposite of the big picture. Almost any NBA team can defeat any other NBA team if they play a perfect game. That's why I said Portland doesn't have a higher level for a month of play. Sure Portland can play a good enough game to beat anyone in any particular game. They might even be able to pull off a major upset in a series (I don't think beating Dallas would be a major upset). I don't think they can pull off three major upsets, though, which is what they'd have to do to win a title if they get past Dallas.

Since acquiring Wallace, I think Portland has been playing pretty close to their top level overall. The kind of top level you can sustain for a month of games, not the kind of top level that you could show in a single game.

 

Do you see us not being able to sustain that level of play in the Dallas series then?

 

I do...but I think Dallas is about equal to Portland now that Portland has Wallace. I don't think that level of play is likely to beat LA, unless LA is still struggling by that point.

 

I think the only teams I wouldn't be surprised at if they won the title this year are LA/Spurs/Miami/Bulls. I'll be surprised if anyone else does. I think Boston lost way to much in the Perkins trade to be able to win the ECF.

 

I didn't say that. I said Portland's A game can beat anyone's A game. That doesn't hold true to every team in the league. For example... If Dallas has an A game against Spur's A game, Dallas loses that game.

 

Be surprised then! Blazers are the 2011 champs!!!!!!