The way I see things through 16 games (50 left) is that this is likely a lotto team. Let me start by saying I do believe there will be many highs and lows in this season. I do think the Blazers will make another solid run or 2 where everyone jumps back on the wagon. However I simply don't see us finishing with a better record then Houston or Memphis. I know the Jazz will sputter out eventually. Thats a mirage if i ever saw one. Those 3 teams I just mentioned look to have fairly easier schedules and within the next week could be up on the Blazers at least 3 games in the standings assuming the blazers even go 2-2 which would be generous at this point. The Blazers really need to beat the Grizzlies big time on Tues. Thats stating the obvious though. As far as our roster goes, I think its become clear that its LA and everyone else. We basically have LA and Wallace who really are a 2-3 type tandem rather then a 1-2. Then we have a cast of really really average role players. I think its becoming really evident that Wes and Batum are starters on bad to mediocre teams and really would not start for many. They are amazing bench guys on good teams. Not anything at all to build around. LA is also not an elite player. Very good player yes, but that is all. He's not clutch and rarely hits a big shot. Thats the difference between him and dirk. Felton is awful. Andre Miller may not be able to hit threes but he's much more clutch and makes plays when u need them. If we had Miller, we would have at least 2 more wins... at least. Sadly this Blazer run is over and the lotto years likely begin soon. This summer the team will be gutted and we will have a high lotto pick in 12-13 where hopefully can find a player next to LA. Unless the Blazers trade for a star (which is as unlikely as Camby making a 3) the Blazers are in NBA hell for the foreseeable future. This team as is will not finish with more wins then OKC, LAx2, Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Maverickss. Even the Jazz could pass us. Which is down right pathetic. That is my take on the current situation.
I'm not saying the Blazers are playing great, or will finish above the other teams, but actually looking at the teams standings does help with things. OKC is really the only team that is a given that WILL finish with a better record. But, you do realize that the Spurs have a much worse road record than Portland, right? As does Houston, Clippers and the Lakers? And the Clippers have only played 4 games on the road, and the Jazz have only played 5? And the reason the Lakers have a better record (right now) is simply because they've played more home games. Same with the Spurs. And Rockets. And Jazz. Great rational take you got there
yeah, because their records are so much better. Portland wins 1 more games and oh wow, same record as the Spurs. You think Portland is playing bad on the road, at least they've beaten more than 1 team.
Agree we are not as good an many thought (me included) after the good start. I'd prefer to try to develop huys like EWill and see what they have and look to make some trades now or at the deadline to retool ad that is what we will be doing anyway with all the expiring contracts this year. Of course play to win but with guys like Jamal and Wes stinking it up give some others a chance. It's ironic that our depth and and supposed strength at SG is now becoming a significant weakness the way these huys are playing. I will say that Ray is looking much more like a solid PG the past 2-3 games.
We have only lost badly one game. If we can figure out how to close games we will be significantly better. As much as people will complane we are not a lotto team. At worst we are 8th in the west. No way would we have this common theme of giving up on this team if we were able to close games which is something we will get better at as the year progresses. There is no team that has me worried except the blazers. We need consistancy out of people not named LA and once we get that well have more .500-.750 road trips while staying really good at home. Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
Sorry, Brock, but I don't think that any take on this team based on a stretch of crappy play and its worst loss of the season can be any more rational than one based on its strong start and a win on the road over OKC.
They shouldn't be, but they're certainly flirting with it. Oh yeah I almost forgot: LOL at anyone who thinks this team as constructed is anything other than a one and done ... and that's the rub; they're good enough to be somewhat competitive, but not much more. And fucking about in that range of "OK, but not great" is the absolute worst place to be in the NBA, because there's no hope in it.
I've seen enough 1 and dones as a Blazer fan. The whole history of the Blazers playoffs, they've made it out of the 1st round 8 times (9 if you count the bye in the 77 playoffs). That means they've stalled in the 1st round 20 times. And they've gotten pasted in the playoffs (meaning, winning only 1 game or less): 14 times. And of those 14 series, they've won only 10 games (swept 4 times). Seriously, they've won 1 or fewer games in half of their playoff runs. That has gotten very old. They've also lost in the 1st round, currently, 6 straight times. And before that (the 99 and 00 season) it reached 6. 12 of the last 14 playoff series ended in the 1st round. Enough first and outs. Either try to win the title to go home.
That is one opinion on it. There are many people that would prefer consistency in making the playoffs and having a winning team over being atrocious for a few seasons, and then hope that we get all the breaks at just the right time. I really enjoy being part of the playoffs. I really enjoy being part of the run to the playoffs, seeing where we'll be seeded and who we'll play. I also enjoy getting my hopes up that we might make it past the first round. I'll take what we have now over being the worst team in the league for several seasons and no excitement associated with playoff potential. We went through that, and it wasn't as much fun, IMO.
I agree with everything Brock said. Sad but true. That is not always true, Nik. You don't have to be horrible first to get to the top. The Lakers were a low seeded one and done team in 2006 & 2007 and then added Pau Gasol midseason 07-08 which led to three straight Finals appearances, two of them wins. Maybe we could add a player at the deadline that could put us over the top.
