Durant injured. Reports are that it is more serious than what is being reported. Blazers have a favorable schedule down the stretch. Blazers could meet an injury depleted team again in the first round just like we did last year vs the Clippers. Would you be happy knocking the Warriors out of the playoffs in exchange for knocking our draft pick out of the lottery?
If the injury is a grade 2 mcl sprain which is technically a tear. I don't think the injury will effect KD like it did Curry. Simply because they have different games. Curry is based off separation and agility, KD is 6"11 who doesn't need the same separation Curry does. But with Nards playing as much as he has, I don't see Portland making the playoffs.
The Warriors without Durant just means it'd be 5 extra games for Portland. So no, I'm not willing to give up a lotto pick for 5 more games.
No. The Warriors still win and even if they lost Durant and Curry and we managed to sneak out a series win because they were so depleted, not a lot of accomplishment in that.
No, because I think Curry and Thompson would slice and dice us anyway. I would rather get a draft pick who can play defense.
I'm definitely in the minority here, but the opportunity to watch the Blazers play in the playoffs is a blast. The question above is asking (1) lottery pick, (2) or 1st round win. As noted by other posters, even with a Durant injury, a first round win would be very difficult. But assuming we would win the first round, no doubt I'd take that entertainment.
We're very close to a top 5 pick, in five years we'll care more about that than losing to a Durant-less Warriors team.
I would want us to make the playoffs but only if it's because we started to play much better basketball and could make some noise based on our own ability. I also agree that the Warriors minus Durant are still much better than us if we continue to play as we do right now
If the Blazers meet another injured team in the first round in OUR MIND the Blazers will be better than the GSW. But if we loose we have Ed Davis injured.
If making the playoffs only costs us one position in the draft ( i.e 14th vs 15th) then yes I would definitely prefer to make the playoffs. But a top 7 pick would also excite me.
If we will definitely win the Golden State series, as you say, then we will go on to beat the Cavs, win the championship, be known for all eternity as the greatest Come-From-Nothing champion in any major sport, and be the most celebrated garbage team of all time. The names of Meyers Leonard, Ed Davis, Noah Vonleh, and Alan Crabbe will ring down the halls of history forever. How can any proud Portlander turn that down for a mere draft pick?
I don't see any advantage to a first round asterix win if even that could happen...Neil and Paul like the draft too much to waste a playoff series that could result in one and done or even worse...an injury. We don't have to tank....just keep playing and it'll all happen as it should
