After two brutal losses, where are your expectations?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Strenuus, Mar 9, 2014.

  1. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    And besides, I said "where are your expectations" and I said "Getting a seed right now would be great" Not that we are fighting for seeds or any of that, just that my expectations are lessened. There is a difference. And I'm just asking everyone where theirs is at right now.
     
  2. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    My expectations are exactly the same as they've always been: One. And. DONE.
    Next year? Maybe we'll make it to the 2nd round. Maybe.
     
  3. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Lessened by TWO games???? What happened to the rest of the season you told me about?
     
  4. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    You're not understanding. And I have spent time trying to get you to, and it's not happening. I know what I meant by it, and that's all that matters. I love you.
     
  5. MAS RipCity

    MAS RipCity Mercy, Mercy

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    After the Miami game, our 4th quarter execution just went to hell. Unless we find that swagger, we'll probably lose in five games.
     
  6. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I think if we face SA we have a chance.... houston and LA I say 5 games... OKC I say 7.
     
  7. Kaydow

    Kaydow Well-Known Member

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    The 2 brutal losses didn't rattle me. It was the 5 before that. 7 gut check losses in 14 games. Indy, OKC, Clips, Spurs, Lakers, Mavs, Hou. Had lead late in EVERY one of those games. 2-5 in those games would be brutal. 0-7 is almost incomprehensible. We've lost because we've missed shots, missed FTs, turned it over, bad luck, bad calls . . . can't get a stop, a rebound, a decent bounce. We've lost on lobs at the rim, last sec 3s to force OT twice. You can deal with the occasional Ellis or Bosh buzzer beater when they are sandwiched between some quality wins. But this? 1 win since Jan 18 vs winning team (Tor), and that was almost another blown 4th Qrt lead disaster. And the way the losses have come - ALL down to the wire.

    Tonight was the worst though. They didn't come out flat and get down early. They didn't sleep walk on defense. They finally played mad, with urgency. And they were close to brilliant for over 40 minutes. It didn't feel like we were going to lose. Even when it got close it felt like we were due. This was our game. We deserve some breaks, some calls, some loose balls . . . and they fought with everything
    they had. Just wasn't enough, and it hasn't been in a long while. Expectations? 7, 8, or 9th in West. There just aren't enough home games vs tanking cream puffs left on the schedule to realistically expect more. It's just been too long since we've beaten a decent team and the confidence of every team has a breaking point.
     
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  8. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    That was very, very well said. That's pretty much how I felt tonight too.
     
  9. Sinobas

    Sinobas Banned User BANNED

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    This team has been playing very poorly against teams they should beat, and they've been playing well against tough teams on the road, and just choking it away at the end. So I think they are under-achieving right now. LA and Lillard have certainly played much better basketball.

    Anyway....for this team, it doesn't seem to matter if they play at home or on the road. I don't see that the seeding matters worth a damn. Just get into the playoffs. Though I expect them to get bounced in the 1st round, in true blazer fashion.
     
  10. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I've been thinking the same thing... just get in there.

    Never know what can happen when you do.
     
  11. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    13-6 finish.

    55 wins.

    22 win improvement on last year.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2014
  12. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I like it.

    I think we'll go 8-4 for the rest of the month. I don't think that's terrible

    Loss @ Memphis
    Win @ San Antonio
    Win @ New Orleans
    Win Vs. Golden State
    Win Vs. Milwuakee
    Win Vs. Washington
    Win @ Charlotte
    Loss @ Miami
    Win @ Orlando
    Win @ Atlanta
    Loss @ Chicago
    Loss Vs Memphis
     
  13. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    We keep making changes to coach and roster because we want to hang someone. How about let them get some playoff experience together and start next season fresh and with good chemistry. I could see a small bench adjustment but why fire a coach and then learn a whole new offense and defense
     
  14. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Better than to start the year. I really thought they were still a year away from the playoffs, so making them will exceed my expectations.
     
  15. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    When LeBron went to Miami they seemed like a disappointment the first year together too. It takes time to put together the coaches plan and players mesh. If the season had a few less games and more time to practice perhaps teams would progress faster. As it sits I think 2nd round would be big for us and next year could be legit contenders. Of course I want a championship every year and think that should always be the goal, but it's not realistic that you actually achieve it every year.
     
  16. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    The team will finish with something like 48-50 wins. Well above my most optimistic prognostications. Yeah, still probably a one-and-done team in the playoffs (depending on their draw) but I guess it beats a ninth seed and no draft pick.

    What they are able to do between the end of this season and the start of the next is my biggest question. Not much free agency money and probably not a lot of reinforcements coming from the draft. Does this current group have another leap forward in them and/or is Stott's the guy to lead them where they want to go?
     
  17. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    That's going to be the question. I like Stotts a lot... but I don't know if he is.
     
  18. Eastoff

    Eastoff But it was a beginning.

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    Thanks Mike Barrett.
     
  19. DHawes22

    DHawes22 Member

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    I tried to play schedule-maker as pessimistically as possible. I removed my red & black glasses and still came away with 13 wins - giving us 55 on the year. Still think we get 2/3 on this road trip and go 3-2 on the next five-gamer. Aside from these trips, our schedule is very home-heavy where I think we'll drop a couple but for the most part, handle business.
     
  20. BlazerCaravan

    BlazerCaravan Hug a Bigot... to Death

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    If we don't win another game against an above .500 team, we'll get 10 more wins, for a 52-win season. I'll go with that.
     

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