The Gary Payton II threw me a little, but I've come around on him. We are doing our thing. Someone's got a vision, whether it's Cronin or Dame or Billups or a combination of the three whatever, I'm ready to see it in action... I love the forum, but really there is no knowing how a team is going to play. We talk and talk, but really it's about a team meshing. I didn't pick Boston to be in the Finals, nor Phoenix the year before. Shit can happen. We are solid solid in 4 of 5 starting positions and just drafted a future Hall of Famer. Anything can happen.
We have a lot going for us to be as good as we've been in the Dame era but we don't have anything going for us as far as actually contending for a title this upcoming season without a very unseen move. So people that are saying that we're going to miss the playoffs are jumping to some big conclusions but obviously we're not winning anything of consequence,
We have to start somewhere though. The goal of next season should be to strike fear. Our squad should be competitive against anyone. There'll obviously be growing pains. But coming out of next year, I don't expect the waffling from Dame and whatever else; I think we will be locked in and dangerous. A lot depends on Ant, Nas, and Sharpe, but that's okay. Those guys are super talented.
Warriors Clippers Suns Grizzlies Wolves Pelicans Nuggets Mavs Lakers It's a much shorter list of who's worse than us, Pathetic, four rebuilding teams and the Kings; Kings Jazz Thunder Rockets Spurs
Kings might not be worse Jazz are right now Thunder has a nice young core Rockets have a really nice young core Spurs are worse
Jazz Thunder Rockets all have better assets in terms of rostered players and picks. So really we have the worse position to build a contender than all but 2 teams in the west, and that's with an all NBA player. So Pathetic.
Come playoff time 2023, the team with fewest injuries will emerge ad WC champs. simple as this. If Clippers are missing KW, PG, etc. (And judging by recent history this could happen)…. If AD is (again) sidelined for the Lakers… If Nurkic goes down…. something can be said of every team in the West. So Depth will come into play. Chemistry (its still a team sport) will be critical. summary if Portland can stay healthy and find a high level of chemistry, I think we have a perfectly reasonable shot at making the playoffs and advancing. How far depends upon the injury scenarios of the other teams. weaknesses: 1. Power Forward that is a mean, tough, s.o.b. Hmmm, I heard Miles from Charlotte may be an available free agent? 2. Back-up center. Has Cousins signed with a team yet?
The Blazers are improved...but it might only move them a couple spots up in the Playoff standings and as of now, not sure it is high enough to stay out of the Play-In.
Truth is nobody knows shit. What are we basing any of this on? Names? Last year? Each year is different, the league is way too talented top to bottom to know anything without one ingredient....... Chemistry. All the analytics in the world cannot factor that. It is truly the single most important aspect.
Rosters aren't even finalized yet so I don't see how anyone could project the top seeds in the league at all yet. That's talk for around Xmas time when we've actually seen some basketball
I think there's a lot to like with what the Blazers have done and what they have. Were they able to get any star-studded names? No, not really. But the skillsets we added and how they'll fit, could result into some really good play.
Without any star studded names Ant, Nurk, Winslow and Hart beat the Warriors around the deadline and had to be shut down after winning 4 in a row......people have such short term memories about that eye opening stretch where with just Winslow and Hart's defense....we absolutely looked great and that was all without Dame and CJ..that stretch was probably our best example of "Chauncey ball" and at that point we'd erased Olshey's additions to the roster the previous couple seasons.
In my view right now we're way better than we were starting last season and it's not close. I do love going into the season with underdog predictions from the media though.....those folks saying..might make the play in? I feel more like, might actually have home court advantage in the playoffs ...choices.