Yes, we have games against Indy and Boston, both of whom I think we match up well with, but we also have games against the Pistons and Hawks. Win all 4, and we are 29-32. Meanwhile, Grizz have to play Clippers, Kings, Rockets, and Lakers. Those are highly losable. That would make the Grizzlies 28-32. We'd be ahead of the Grizzlies at that point. Then Dame comes back and we roll.
I like your thinking but it's going to take a lot better effort and coaching on defense to win those games against those eastern conference teams. It will also take CJ stepping up at crucial moments in the game, not just getting his stats during lulls in the action.
If we can get the 8th with healthy and rust-removed Nurk & Collins I wouldn't mind seeing what we can do in the playoffs. If it is making it with the team we currently have, I'd expect another first round exit and wouldn't be surprised if it was a sweep.
Just pack it in man. Give Nurk and Collins the rest of the year to heal. Get a lottery pick. Try to retool during the summer.
Worst scenario? I'd say playing 4 more games would be the worst case scenario. At least with the potential to get a higher pick, we'd get more threads about possibilities, threads about how Neil dropped the ball by not trading Gabriel and the teams pick for the #1 pick, how a S&T of Whiteside plus Swanigan should get the #2 pick, and several comments about how "I thought everyone was untouchable" wait...that would be the worst scenario. Carry-on.
I think 8th seed is not the "bright side" . It's the meh result that's probably going to happen, and that just seems to fit well into the cup-holder of the treadmill the Blazers are on. In my case, I'm filling that cup with Vodka
Walking back from the game last night and now reading this, I feel very much the opposite. I don't expect us to make the playoffs, nor am I sure that should be our aim. In reality, I think Olshey has royally fucked us by not taking heed of Kenny Rogers' great life lesson:
Sorry Eric. I wouldn't consider that a bright side as much as i would a fairly overcast and drear looking side. They said last night... just finished watching the game... that Dame could be out for a month. Time to shut it down, get the youth experience so they can contribute next season and go for a lottery pick that can be used in a trade and or possibly to trade up to instantly contributing talent from the draft. What will it gains us now to run cj 40 minutes a game to even try to compete with other average teams, only to have him possibly get injured as well? Lets just try to jeep this team together for next year. With nurk and Collins back and youth gaining experience, we will be one of the deepest teams next yeSr with a real shot. but it wont happen if we go into next season recovering from injuries that might happen during the rest of the season by over using our guys for a run at getting swept in the first round. Always love your optimism though!
holy crap....I missed that. That would be the next 12-15 games....which would probably mean 12-15 more games of CJ & Melo dominating the offense while Stotts desperately tries to cobble together enough wins to have a shot at the playoffs, but likely would only make the draft pick a little worse...and still miss the post-season reduce the veteran minutes and play the young guys a bunch. Devote the rest of the season to development and roll the dice on lottery luck a reminder: 10th slot in lottery has a 14% chance of being a top-4 pick 9th slot in lottery has a 20% chance of being a top-4 pick 10th slot in lottery has a 26% chance of being a top-4 pick kind of long odds but better than drafting at 16 after getting swept
I kind of figured you did, but went with my joke instead. I do agree tho, the 8th seed does the team no good in the long run.
Absolutely agree, guys like Little/Simons/Trent and even Gabriel and maybe one or both of the GLeaguers (may not decide to pay them however) should get all the monyes they can handle
