We have no hope for significant improvement rolling back the same core year after year, regardless of the coach. It kinda feels like we're left rooting for injury luck to be on our side.
It would take a DISASTER like a 10-25 start for Dame to ask out mid-season. This upcoming summer is what worries me. Luckily we have one of the most loyal dudes in the league on our side. Very few GMs could screw that up, though we might have one of them.
While that would be bad, I think he's an optimistic enough of a guy, he'd think we could dig ourselves out of that hole since we have in the past.
I got them going .500 at 10-10 after 20 games but then starting to put it together so hopefully 16-14 after 30. If that happens then this team might be in a good place. My problem is it's getting obvious they are not deep enough to deal with any injuries. Last year Dame tweeted after Nurk broke his wrist "It's Always Something". I fear that this year if they are dealing with the same issues without Neil covering the weaknesses again in the roster, Dame will opt out. Dame knows injuries happen. Why doesn't Neil Olshey understand that?
I want to say that SURELY if our record is a DISASTER then we'll have a new GM... ...but I can't bring myself to hope that much.
We lose even when Dame goes thermonuclear... We need a better roster. We honestly need better ownership. Who's out there who would be a good owner?
The team doesn't have the same feel as when the owner was involved. I agree the Blazers need to be sold to someone or a group that is truly invested in the team. Watch Balmer or Cuban on the sidelines. Blazers need that.
I'd like to see more from him. A leader who calls for the team to support the new coach and believe in the new systems.
Really though, the thing is - the west is so deep now. You really can’t sleep, because those teams that you wouldn’t usually consider are going to be viable to compete for the 8th seed in the west. If we are struggling to compete for home court then I feel like we will be struggling to compete for the playoffs which will be the same for a lot of teams. It really might not be insanely unlikely that we see a few teams that surprisingly miss the playoffs. I predict a complete and total logjam in the west, with the east being fairly talented as well. Games like Atlanta, on a back to back. If any west coast team doesn’t have it together those games can be horrible blowouts. I think it’s going to come down to who wins their eastern road trips for a lot of teams making the playoffs. Like a difference of 6-1 vs 3-4. We’ve seen in recent years the 8/9 seed being determined by a game or less.
These 10 games. It is like you can’t split WSH/ORL, since the rest are going to be tough games. You would be content going 3-3 in this stretch. And you would expect to win the season series vs Minn; but twice on their home court could be tough; and those games in PHX and UTAH are going to be tough. If we can go 8-2 in these games, we will finish with HCA in the playoffs.
not bad. With Chewbacca, Lando and r2d2 off the bench.. solid 8! Will still take the addition of a yoda to be true contenders.
I'm thinking 3-7 in these games.....maybe 4-6. Tough to beat the same team twice in a row on the road.
