Matthews says we are a playoff team

‎"We're a playoff team. We're resilient. And we play hard." - Wesley Matthews from today's practice.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtv/video.html?videoID=4904

Now I not saying we can't be but we currently aren't. Can't fault the players for having that mentality I just hope the effort, resilience and playing hardness (yes I know not a word) doesn't turn if we don't make the playoffs.

 

The starters with a half-way decent bench would certainly be a playoff team ... without a better defensive anchor they wouldn't be a very good one, but they'd be a lock for the 8-6th seed.

However, while I appreciate Matthews attitude and he should probably think that way, this team is going to have a helluva time sneaking in with that stillborn group of crap warming the seats.

 

I am ok with playoffs and I am ok with keeping our pick, however the worst place to be would be either 13th or 14th and we lose out on both!

Personally if I had the choice I would keep our draft pick this year. But I also want the team to believe they can make the playoffs. Tough choice. Just don't screw both up.

 

I am ready for the tanking. I don't want this team to go balls out for the friggin 8th spot. It doesn't interest me.

And, I would rather have a 1st round pick this year, than next year. So we need to drop down a few spots in the standings.

If there was only some way we could tank, without obviously doing it.

Certainly we can start by stopping the insane minutes for the starters. Don't play any of them more than 36 minutes.

And, I thought we were supposed to be evaluating all these guys we brought in. Let's play Meyers, Claver, Babbit, Freeland, and Barton more minutes.

That should do the trick (of pushing us down the standings). As well as giving management a quality extended look at those pieces.

 

As it is, he's probably wrong. But if Leonard's recent slight uptick in productivity is a building trend, then maybe there's real hope. If he becomes legit, it solidifies both our bench and interior defense, the team's two biggest weaknesses.

 

I would hope he thought that, and he might be right. I think as the schedule gets harder though, and depending on if they deal at the deadline, I think will will miss the playoffs and fall to 11th in our conference with both LAL and Dal catching us.

End up with pick #10

 

Seems pretty likely. Overall still a better showing this year than I thought we'd see at the start of the year.

 

We are a playoff team!

 

We will be or we were could be more accurate. We aren't a playoff team currently. But either is anyone else I guess if you want to get real technical.

 

I like Wes' optimism and mindset. But he's wrong.

 

Fuckin'. A. Right.

 

Not so bold Prediction:
In 20 or so games one of our starters will get injured for enough games to move us out of the playoff hunt. Olshey may even shut them down for the season and the coach will be forced to play more NOOBs and that will get us a draft pick.

 

IMO we could compete with or possibly beat SA, MEM or LA in a series. Not sure how well an OKC series would go. Worth watching though.

 

This.

By the way, I heard another radio host last night saying "Houston, Utah, and Portland want no part of the playoffs." Maybe he knows something or maybe it's just wishful thinking from a Lakers fan.

 

The Blazers are good enough to steal a game or two from one of those teams during the regular season, but the playoffs are an entirely different beast that requires the ability to generate stops and this team is in the bottom 1/4 of the league in that category.

 

But isnt the playoffs such a tighter rotation? Like 8-9 players? With that said; we have a shot. I think we could take sas to seven and maybe

 

Yea the playoffs are all about the 6th, 7th, and 8th man to which the Blazers have none. That said, absolutely no chance is incorrect.

 

I don't see how this team is any better under Stotts than McMillen. They are boring. No fast break points, hardly penetrate. Dribble around and go for an outside shot....