I only need one reason and that's the fact the players lead by Lillard want to make the playoffs. Tell them they are wasting their time.
I have always said the the season is basically split into two seasons. The regular season and the playoffs. No team can ever win a championship without making the playoffs and the experience is also very beneficial.
Personally I want the Blazers to try, but once they're mathematically out I'd really like to see Dame (at least) wearing some nice suits next to Stotts on the bench.
So, you would rather be like the Spartans (no retreat!) as opposed to Alexander the Great (withdraw like a ram so you can charge all the harder). Remind me again - who conquered much of the known world?
You might be right, but that doesnt mean I’ll want that. Like I said I want them to go for being as good as they can be. Just once the math says they cant be in I really dont want to see an injury to Dame chasing the 10th seed. If their in “contention” all the way til the end, then keep going for it IMO.
Would I like a higher draft pick? Yes Would I like to watch us play in the playoffs? Yes Do I think we have upset potential as an 8 seed? Yes, if we get some guys back Do I believe in tanking? No Do I think Dame/Anyone Else on the team would be fine missing the playoffs for a better draft pick? No Will I bump this thread if we make the 8 seed and get out of the first round? Yes Will I eat crow if we make the 8 seed and lose? Yes Will I complain if we miss the playoffs and get a good player in the draft? No Will I complain if we miss the playoffs and don’t get a good player in the draft? Probably not, but no promises.
Is 35.7 mins a game over worked? I'm not being controversial here. I always thought 36 was about normal for a starter. Would love to see 34 but probably not in the cards anytime soon? Now Jan was brutal no question but he was putting up huge numbers and i'm thinking it would have been tough to get him to leave the game?
There were plenty of blown calls in that last quarter, but I think that the 22% shooting by the Blazers had more to do with the loss than anything else. Why would a league intent on a Lakers' W have allowed the Blazers to build up a 15 point lead in the first place?
My point has more to do with what Lillard will want. He's not a player that wants to sit out and reducing his minutes to under 35 might be reasonable but I doubt Lillard would accept much less.
Wasnt just that game though. There were some patterns going on. Blazers built big leads in 6 games and in all of those games the Blazers in the 2nd half couldnt buy a call with all of PA’s money.
