OKC Thunder a couple years ago would be the best example. Glancing through the list of teams they're the only one that really jumps off the list to me
Exactly! The game has changed. That's part of the problem with having all these retired players from the 80's or 90's eras commenting on todays game. In many cases it doesn't apply. Gary Payton was right, you can't touch anybody on defense these days and free throws are boring all night. The 3 pt shot is here to stay and the dunk is taking a back seat. I prefer a great jump shooter to a highlight dunker personally. Terry Stotts has a "new school" approach to winning games and like it or not, we're winning games.
One MAJOR difference between the current Blazers and the champion Mavs: Tyson Chandler. And then they had Haywood coming off the bench. I like Lopez a lot, but Chandler was a much better defender.
Totally. And I'm guessing BFWA would point out the difference in JS% between Dirk and LMA. But if LMA keeps playing in the paint, that difference is minimized and could potentially swing in our favor.
That's completely innacurate. A quick google search and I found 3 preseason rankings that had them in the 5-8 range. I imagine after they started the season 24-5 that only improved.
Half way home and we have a better record than the reigning world champs! What a great feeling that is. Go Blazers!
I think our chances of getting out of the first round is not great until we learn to defend the paint.
I know many don't like to re-visit old threads, but this one was just about 2 weeks ago. Straw poll: Safe to say we are contenders?
Not a contender right now. They might get back to it but contender to me means challenging for a title and Portland right now isn't anywhere near that level. They need some help off the bench to help get their psyche back because they aren't going to get any less tired for the rest of the season.
Well if our recent struggles mean we're no longer a contender, than the same goes for San Antonio and Miami.
The difference with those teams is that both of them have won multiple titles and have proven they can return to form and perform in the playoffs. That said, neither of them is playing very well right now either.
Yes. 6-1 vs OKC/SA/Indy/Clippers. Losing to Wizards isn't anything to lose sleep over. They blew out OKC. Is OKC a contender?
Right now OKC is not playing just over .500 ball like the Blazers in the last 15 games and they are playing at a high level WITHOUT one of their all-stars. Take Dame or LA off of Portland and I dare say we are in even much bigger trouble.
