"The West got tougher so the Blazers will lose more" is a terrible argument.

Yeah. Barton was pretty awful last year.

 

has anybody really made that argument? I haven't seen it although I don't read every post in every thread. If the argument has been made it can't be by more than 1 or 2 people. Has anybody said 43 wins?...or even 45? ("8 to 10")

I'd say these teams will be better:

LAC - LAL - Utah - Denver....Sac - NOP- Dallas - Mem

these teams will be worse - OKC (but maybe better than expected) - GSW (the epitaphs have been premature - they still might be very good) - Suns (the clown car at the end of the train)

these teams will be about the same, but could slide up or down quite a bit:

Portland - Houston - Spurs - Minny

I expect the Blazers, like in the previous 4 seasons, to put together a long hot streak in the 2nd half of the season. The key will be the start they have over the first 28 games...that's a brutal schedule. The last time the Blazers had roster turnover like this summer (2015-16), they started the season 11-20. If they repeat that they'd have to go 39-12 just to hit the 50 game plateau. That's just not realistic.

 

It will be interesting to see how the season starts for them. No Nurk and lots of new faces could make it difficult. The key will be to peak going into the playoffs.

 

I like Ed Davis and what he brings to that unit...offensive rebounds...they haven't played with Big Ed yet but Gobert and Big Ed are a great tag team

 

Offensive rebounds are cool.
But I hate the opportunity.

 

Right now everything it up in the air. The season will come down to injuries for teams.

 

Oh thatd be a stupid move for them. I like Ed dont get me wrong but him and Gobert should not play together much, the spacing will be terrible, and athletic 4’s would wreck them.

 

I don't believe using the Blazers 7 new players is a valid reason to predict our team will start the season slow against the other western teams. We are not the only team that made wholesale roster changes.

Here is the list of the western teams ranked fewest to most new players. The only playoff team returning a stable roster is the Nuggets.

Nuggets, 3 new players
Rockets, 5
Spurs, 5
Dallas, 6
OKC, 6
Blazers, 7
Clippers, 7
Kings, 7
Warriors, 9
Lakers, 10
Suns, 10
Minny, 11
Jazz, 11
Pelicans, 11
Grizz, 13

 

I expect us to be right in the mix...but get no ink in the media

 

They're planning on starting Bogdanovic at the 4.

 

I love the second chance buckets...make the defense work twice as hard and hopefully still get a bucket...maybe draw a foul..use that clock...Big Ed brings that and Hassan brings that. Kantor brought it too.

 

The media counts us out every year..expect about the same, 50-55 wins and homecourt. But a better chance to make the Finals IMO

 

Yeah, pretty sure we wont start 11-20. For that to be likely, we'd have to be a .500 at best ball club in terms of talent. If you think that, you're sleeping.

Also, members on this forum, national media outlets, and opposing fans have all made this claim. Ive heard it a lot. I dont know how you havent.

 

Yeah, its not like our team relies in a bunch of ball movement to be a good team. Not hard to run pick n roll, spot up, and make a basic backcut every now and then. We only run one defensive scheme too.

This will help us mesh faster, but it hurts us in the long-run.

 

Nope.

 

Even if we take a step back, a 29-23 record against the West isnt overachieiving. Wed have to take a step back AND underachieve to do worse in conference.

But claiming we may take a step back isnt illogical. Arguing that we'll lose many more games because the West is tough is.