Well, about ¼ of the season is gone and it's time to take stock of the NBA and Portland. With respect to the Eastern Conference, the only minor surprises are NY & Brooklyn. Sucky teams last year and are playing much better this one. NY is benefiting from not having the Lin circus and Melo not playing much. The Western Conference is more interesting. GS at 14-7 is a shocker. I wonder of that will hold up. I should be surprised at the Lakers at 9-13, but it all makes sense. No bench at all, Nash is 90 years old, World Meta Idiot is a mess upstairs and Kobe has a lot of mileage. I simply do not understand how SA keeps winning on those old legs. Pops is a pure genius. Memphis is a bit of a surprise at 14-4. I have to think they will level off. As to Portland, 9-12 ain't too bad when I look at our roster. If we continue like this, it's about 34 or 35 wins and I'd call that a very successful season. Clearly, Freeland and Claver's NBA abilities were overstated, but they aren't total losses and can contribute in the right situations. Batum needs to produce more consistently, but that's been his NBA calling card so far. I think Matthews continues to improve and is a true leader. LA is doing well. Dame is learning and I have to say he's really going to be good. What a great selection. I like Stotts and I think the team is headed in the right direction. A good first round pick, at least 2 NBA caliber free agents and next season might see us playing for a 7 or 8 seed.
The Blazers' strength of schedule, point differential and trend of too many minutes for its starters with little to no bench relief, points to a general downward trend, not upward from their current winning percentage. 35 wins is probably a good 2 standard deviations above the mean for what to expect out of this bunch. 26-28 wins seems a lot more likely.
Melo is having a MVP-caliber season. NY has won without him but they are much more dangerous with him.
alot of melos value is tied up in his .449 3p%, but the guy might be putting up the best season of his career
Quarter through the season and I have already lost interest. There used to be a time that I wouldn't miss a minute of a Blazer game (via DVR) and would often watch the game again at night to fall asleep. Now I forget to DVR the game half the time and will usually watch the game only if it is convenient or I have tickets to the game. The good part about this is I have more free time not being obsessed with the Blazers . . . but I got to say I miss not being obsessed with the Blazers and the NBA.
Aren't the Spurs rather young overall? Also, we're supposed to be excited about maybe getting the 8 seed next year? Oh lord.
Jump back on. We're ahead of the Lakers at this point of the season for the first time in YEARS! Maybe early 2001?
If you are talking about the L*kers then they get none. They owe their pick to a team (I think PHX) if they miss the playoffs.
