OT It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world

Brooklyn beat Cleveland tonight.
The 0-4 Mavs who are actually terrible, beat Memphis, who's beaten GS and the Rockets.

Denver (who the national press loves) is 1-3.
Detroit hammered the Minnesota Media Darlings, who move to 2-3.
Phoenix might have the worse +/- in league history is currently 11 up on the Jazz.
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid have shown they're badasses, but the 76ers are 1-4.
The Nets, who gave away their entire future several years ago (and has another year to give) is 3-2.
The Pels supposedly have one of the greatest front lines in history is 1-3.

and finally....
drumroll, please....

YOUR Portland Trailblazers, who ESPN's stat guru Kevin Pelton picked to finish 10th in the West, who bleacherreport (obligatory lol) picked to be 11th in the West, is currently 3-1, and 2nd in the league in +/- at +18.2.



espn link
bleacherreport link

FYI, the title is from an old movie.

 

Blazers 17th in SOS.

 

So basically average, and we've looked great and should probably be 4-0.

 

I'm looking right so far on OKC, DEN, and MIN.

@HCP says: "But their names look so good on paper!"

 

I think OKC will get it together by the end of the year. But, that is the worst bench in the league, easily. That team will not win in the playoffs. Minnesota looks pretty much like they did last year. And Butler is a bad locker room guy. I could see some disharmony coming into play of they continue to struggle. I could see Crawford just mailing in the rest of the season if they struggle.

 

I'm not sure I ever gave Denver much props, but I'm still high on Minny and OKC for sure. Wolves have been without Jimmy Butler the last two games and have obviously missed him.

 

All this brother is after 1 week. A lot of this will work it's way out as it's supposed to be. As far as our Blazers, glad we are taking care of this easy schedule.

 

Yes, it's after 1 week, but it was supposed to never happen at all.
Supposed to be according to who? ESPN?
Schedule wasn't "easy", it was average. If you think it was easy, you're not according for the fact that they were road games.

 

These teams that made big changes will take a while to find their grooves. Our continuity and cake schedule (so many home games coming up) should allow us to get some separation early.

Just need to take care of business.

 

What a great movie

 

"Under the big dubya."

Loved Jimmy Durante. Ha, cha cha cha cha!

 

you forgot to mention the team that gets the least amount of national attention....

that's fine, i like being under the radar. easiest way for a sneak attack.

 

The Suns and Indy and NOLA without AD are pretty easy games if you ask me. We should be 3-1.

 

2-1 on the road so far for the Blazers. We only need about 15 wins on the road to finish over 500.

 

I think I read that the last time we started 3-1 was the 2011/2012 season, and we ended up well under .500.

 

So you are saying some on here should plan to see us in the WCF quite yet? #TooSoon?

 

I totally understand, SOS is too "complicated" for you, you don't like advanced stats. I cede to your feelings.

 

They've been losing badly, to bad teams. Jimmy Butler doesn't make that much of a difference.

Their defense is still very bad and their offense isn't great either. They have no bench.

 

Definitely. Indy without Myles Turner beat Minnesota by 23 in Minnesota.

We should be 3-1, but the improvement is easy to see.

 

You mean shouldn't?

Please quote someone who said were gonna make the WCF.