So we’re clearly playing like a playoff team even if we don’t make it

Hmm. I disagree.

 

I don't think we're in purgatory yet... But I think there is a fairly high likelihood we wind up there.

We are certainly not on track to reliably field the kind of talent OKC, San Antonio, or Cleveland will be fielding, nor do we have innovative coaching like Memphis, etc.

Luckily we can still hire quality coaching... And there is a chance we could pull off lopsided deals. And we have time to nab the next Jokic or Giannis late in the draft...

 

Yes Sir!!!

I took it upon myself to look at the records of the teams we’ve beat beat in those 15 games

A combined record of 306-446. That is a juggernaut % of .407

We beat two .500 teams
We beat four above .500 teams

We aren’t close to contention……yet

 

Thread title says playing like a playoff team. Thats what I should have said. We aren’t

 

Former addicts are always the most critical of the addiction. Congrats (and I truly mean this because it happened to me back in 2018) on realizing that:
If you base too much of your happiness on some sporting event turning out the way you want, you'll be unhappy most of the time.

 

In fairness over half the teams make the playoffs or playin or whatever the NBA wants to call it now. The already low bar for making the playoffs by NBA standards has been dramatically lowered yet again. I use the term purgatory a lot and I'll admit I don't think the Blazers are there just yet but quickly headed to it. There still isn't a difference maker on this team and without the help of the draft, there really isn't a way for the franchise to find one. They don't have enough assets to make a big swinging trade, not when there are other young teams (OKC, SA) who have more in the holster to offer up. I give Cronin credit on Deni and Camara, both look like very good role players and 3rd or 4th options on a contending team. MAAAAAAYYYYYBE he has a #2 in Sharpe, though I like it if he could be more consistent, especially behind the arc and also wish he had more of a JYD mentality but that's just not who he is. The biggest problem is that #1 and without a true #1 than this team is destined to sit in the 3rd-10th range in the west for the next handful of years with no real path to get out.

 

Agreed. This is where I stand.

We can trade our supporting cast for a number 1 if we throw in enough draft capital, but then we'll be in the same situation we were in when we had Dame.

 

Not really. Unless the idiots try to have a pg as their best player

 

So we throw it all in and trade Scoot, Sharpe, and Deni along with all available picks for Giannis (or maybe they want Camara instead of one of these guys). Obviously, we'd have to include some of the vets to get salary right.

What's our path to win a championship? How do we add to that lower tier playoff team?

 

Tough. It’s hard to find Batman. The good news is they have some damn decent Robin’s.

 

A moderator should moderate, not inflame.

 

Post of the year

 

I don't consider opposing opinions to be inflammatory. Stren is obviously a fan. Why would anybody be a mod if they weren't allowed to share their opinion?

That seems like a great way to get a bunch of mods who don't give a shit about the forum or the team.

I would be very much opposed to any restrictions like that on moderators.

Thanks for being a mod, Stren (and the rest of you who do it). I appreciate you all.

 

Do you consider someone who hasn't watched a game in years to be a fan?

 

I think it's kind of hard to say that somebody who spends a lot of time in a Blazer forum is not in some way fanatical about the team.

I don't think it's my place to choose who qualifies as a fan and who doesn't.

And let's be honest, it's been pretty rough the last few years.

 

He expresses his “differing opinion” as fact and attacks other posters in an inflammatory way. For a moderator, his posts (not opinions) are inflammatory.

 

Boom.

A winning culture matters.