My opinion has always been that a win is a win no matter what! "UGLY" win, shit who cares right. Win by 25 or 2 it still goes in the win column. I'm very proud of how are guys are handling things lately regardless of WHO we are playing. THAT SAID, as of this moment we are 26th in Strength of Schedule rankings. So our schedule is definitely going to get ALOT tougher! Our resident stalking TV star in the game thread tonight STILL thinks this team is better than last years. and laid down this gem of a post If you look at January's schedule, we had a couple very nice Ws, but you have to admit that the teams were below average. Where as February's teams are stronger. Just wanted to point out as cool as it is that we are winning, might want to put the whole #6 seed, let alone making the playoffs talk into perspective. #RipCity #NotBlindedByMyPinWheelLove
The schedule goes from fluffy bunnies, unicorns and rainbows, to "welcome to Thunder Dome bitch"... REAL quick. Those who are are the side of the lottery pick and those on the playoff push- rest well knowing that over the next month it will pretty much be decided which way the team is going. Because if they don't stack wins now- they won't find any come March.
Between now and the end of the season, the Jazz and Kings play some tough opponents too. But, yeah, the Blazers are going to have to beat some teams with winning records if they want to make the playoffs. The last 4 games before the All-Star break include Toronto, Memphis, and 2 against Houston. I think those games will go a long way in determining whether the Blazers are a playoff or lottery team. A playoff team should win half of them.
"We will only win 20 games" (we have won 23 games and are in playoff position before the AS break) "Our Sched is getter tougher, we're not going to make the playoffs" Outside of KS, few people here or anywhere think we're going to make the playoffs - yes, we're probably going to tail off. However, we have actually seen some things that might be even better than the playoffs... 1) The team is gelling. 2) Several players have shown obvious improvement since the beginning of the year. 3) CJ has shown he's a badass, and qualifies as part of a future "big 3" (NO is still looking for a third!) 4) We've won enough that it's actually fun to look at the standings - which I didn't think would happen.
If we go 2-2 in those games, I think we build enough confidence to play ourselves into the playoffs. Huge games going into the all star break with some time off. Lots of young influential minds on the team. I hope they go into the break feeling good and strong.
I have claimed that I undersold our boys. Said we would only win 23 games this season. They have played their asses off. Already admitted this a few times on here. What did I say in this original post though, that is far fetched or wrong? And you my friend should not be allowed to use the word "credibility" As a reminder Vegas and many experts had them at 26 wins. So I guess they all lose "credibility" as well? I should have said, "I love my Blazers SO much! There is NO way we are going to suck because I love them SO much! We won't miss losing almost all our best players because I love them SO much! 55 wins for sure!" Maybe I should of made posts like that and I'd still have my "credibility".
No. What you should of said is, "Vegas is predicting 26 wins, a great place to start my prediction, from there I'll take my insider information into how much fight these guys have, how committed they are (coming together early), and tack on a few extra wins, say 29-30."
I still think 32 is a reasonable number, but I'm going to take a look at the remaining schedule and reassess. We seem to be beating mediocre or bad teams pretty easily.
I wonder how often a team surpasses the preseason Vegas over/under for wins before the all-star break.
It's all good...those crappy teams in January were practice....now we are in gear so the better teams better beware
Difference to me between last season and this season is simple....less drop off when the starting 5 rested, which they rarely did..we played 5 guys huge minutes and just couldn't trust the bench to play half a qtr...this season Stotts is regulary playing a 10 man rotation ...seems like he played about 8 last season. I think our depth is the reason for me thinking ....we're going to be better. Last season...Nic Batum..injured, playing injured or under performing...Wes..season ending injury..Lamarcus..playing with a dangling thumb...Lopez...injured a lot..came back after the allstar game..played two games well and disappeared. We sort of drove that used car into the ground 2nd half of the season. This season...youth, depth, health...all upgrades over last season..Our starting core when healthy and motivated last season was elite..no doubt..but couldn't finish the marathon
