Are we headed toward the mediocre middle?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Freshtown, Jan 17, 2022.

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  1. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    We played for the WCC a few years back 1 of 4 teams left in the playoffs, were we contenders?
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #41
  2. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 19, 2022
    #42
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  3. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    One of the reasons the NBA along with other pro sports gets the huge TV deals is that fans really love playoffs and enjoy watching their teams make the playoffs. Advancing and championship is the ultimate.
    March madness is huge because of the expanded tourney years ago. MLB finally expanded their playoffs and it's has paid off big time. NFL, NHL & NBA expanded as well. Now, College Football is looking at expanding?
    If fans were strictly interested in ships, these leagues would not be viable as viewership wouldn't be there. The game itself is enough for most fans, otherwise arenas would be empty.
    The day after Lenny Wilkens was fired from Portland he said " watch Bill will be healthy and they will win a championship"
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #43
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  4. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Bill Walton was one of the best basketball players of all time when he was healthy. Put Bill Walton on the Blazers any year and if he's healthy they could win the championship.

    God he was good. I've watched so much footage... I wish I were alive when he was healthy...
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 19, 2022
    #44
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  5. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    He made players around him so much better when on the court!
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #45
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  6. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    We were a number three seed.
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #46
  7. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Not remotely
     
    Mediocre Man, Jan 19, 2022
    #47
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  8. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    now that is a post to be proud of. A Shawshank reference; a judicious use of caps-lock; a half dozens 'fuckings'; and a hint of more to come

    you da Mediocre Man!!
     
    wizenheimer, Jan 19, 2022
    #48
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  9. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    You're more than welcome to feel that way. Most people would disagree.

    Many teams have been swept in the finals. Were they not contenders either?

    I get that you're frustrated, and fan is short for fanatic. But come on... Let's give credit where it is due.

    Are we also saying Cleveland weren't contenders in 2017 or 2018 (or multiple other times they were destroyed in the finals with LeBron), Miami wasn't a contender in 2014, okc weren't contenders in 2012, Lakers weren't contenders in 2004 when they were swept by the Pistons...

    Seriously. There are more contenders every season than just the last 2 teams. And results on the court matter. Otherwise we wouldn't play the games.
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 19, 2022
    #49
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  10. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. The team as constructed was always likely to fail. Too many key players have injury problems.

    Olshey should have been fired before Stotts. The new GM should have figured out where to go from there.
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 19, 2022
    #50
  11. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    don't think "judicious" means what you think it does
     
    illmatic99, Jan 19, 2022
    #51
  12. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    c'mon man

    both Cleveland and Miami won championships the year before the one you mentioned. And both OKC and LAL actually made it to the finals before losing 4-1. The Lakers got to the finals by beating the reigning NBA champion Spurs in the conference finals. OKC got to the finals with a 12-3 record in the playoffs before facing Miami

    none of those situations is similar to the Blazers in 2019 getting swept in the conference finals. Contenders don't consistently end the playoffs with a whimper. The Dame/CJ teams record in close-out playoff series is 4-24. When the Warriors swept them in 2019, that record was 1-16. That's not a contender
     
    wizenheimer, Jan 19, 2022
    #52
  13. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    it was less than 10% of the letters capped. That's judicious use in a rant.

    I think there's a optimal ratio of caps to profanity. MM hit the sweet spot
     
    wizenheimer, Jan 19, 2022
    #53
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  14. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    No problem. If your reality includes contenders who don't make it as far in the playoffs as non-contenders that's fine by me.

    Fan is short for fanatic.
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 19, 2022
    #54
  15. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    It felt good off the fingers
     
    Mediocre Man, Jan 19, 2022
    #55
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  16. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    If the Blazers were the Kings over last 15-20 years I doubt this site would be as active. The fact that the Blazers historically have usually been in the playoff hunt has hypnotized all of us as fans of the team and sport. You’re under a spell and don’t realize it.
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #56
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  17. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    No. Contenders don't get swept.
     
    TBpup, Jan 19, 2022
    #57
  18. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    We swept the lakers in 77 they were #1 seed and we were #3 seed. They were an early version of a super team to, I guess they were not contenders?
     
    Hoopguru, Jan 19, 2022
    #58
  19. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Not that year, or they would have given the Blazers a better battle. Being even the #1 seed doesn't make you a contender.
     
    TBpup, Jan 19, 2022
    #59
  20. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    the NBA has changed over 44 years

    Portland was not a contender in 2019 because the Warriors stood in their way and the Blazers had no hope of beating the Warriors. None. Portland and Golden State had met in the playoffs 3 times in 4 years and Portland's record against them was 1-12, and the 1 win came when Curry was injured and out of the game. If you add in the regular season, the Blazers were 5-27 against the Warriors over those 4 years. The Warriors were Portland's crucible and they failed every time.
     
    wizenheimer, Jan 19, 2022
    #60
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