Game Thread GAME# 18: BLAZERS @ BULLS - NOVEMBER 25, 2019 - MONDAY, 5:00 PM, NBCSNW

To say the Blazers needed that is a vast understatement.

 

Let’s go and win 2 at home then shock the Clippers

 

You, sir, are a douchebag

 

And if they didn’t what happens? Lol

 

I don't want to get to far out over my skis, and yeah, Chicago seems like a team tailor-made for fixing what ails Portland, and yeah, the Blazers still have plenty of issues, and yeah, there are 4 or 5 teams in the west clearly better right now....

but this was a fun game to see, and, 12 of the next 16 games are at home, and, 8 of the games are against teams with losing records, and, two other games are against the 8-8 Suns. I can see Portland going 11-5 over those games and squaring their record at 17-17 by Dec 30. They still have a ton of things to clean up obviously, and they could easily boot away games they should win (see Golden State, Brooklyn, Cleveland, New Orleans). But there is some hope

the key is still Lillard. He was much sharper tonight and had the pop in his acceleration and jumping we're used to. Without him, the Blazers suck, with him they are a playoff team. And I don't think it's coincidence that Melo had his best game when Dame started playing like Dame again. They seem to already have some good synergy. I really liked that Dame had 12 assists in only 27 minutes. He ran the offense masterfully and that got Melo going

 

We’re not losing another game the rest of the season imo

 

Blazers could win every game for the rest of the season (64 in a row)....and not have the best record in NBA history.

 

We got team USA Melo tonight

 

sure, but they only need to go 58-6 to set a franchise record for wins in a season

 

Maybe Dame chewed him a new one.

 

Wait, what is it called again when we score more point than the other guys ?

 

So i was doing some numbers last night. Simple math really. And then i looked at the schedule. In the next 30 games they have three 4 game home stands. They have one 5 game road trip. Really not much consequence this year because they have not been playing well at home. But usually that evens out and home court becomes a thing.
They need to go 18-12 over the next 30 games to get to .500 ball.
Not sure they can pull that off? Winning the next 2 would help for sure. But looking at teams the Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets, OKC three times, Dallas. Then Utah, Raptors T-wolves Heat on the road all look to be tough games.

For me the 49th game on Jan 31st 2020 against the Lakers will be good benchmark to where they are this season. It's the first of an Away/Home B2B and the second game in three nights with Utah on the second of the B2B. It's part of a very tough stretch before the All-Star break. And as you all know Feb 7th is the trade deadline. If they are anywhere near .500 ball by the beginning of Feb i would look for some kind of move. If not they might still make a move but it might be vastly different. It's weather the Blazers are looking to become more competitive or they can take advantage of another team looking to become more competitive.

Stay awake Blazer fans. This season is not over by a long shot.

 

If there not close to the playoff by trading deadline look for Olshey try to cut salary on this team. Whiteside and Bazemore 2 names come in mind.

 

Wait, I know this one! A fluke? I mean, great coaching!

 

Remind me not to listen to you.

 

Tried telling all of you not to freak out about the early season but you wouldn’t listen. Now you can see this team can play like a contender when they have a big man and play with a little energy... and we still don’t even have Zach or Nurk. Stotts’ birthday was the big lift tonight. Now we have something like 13/16 of our next games at home.

 

Insider bro, Insider.