Game Thread 2022-23 Game #1 - BLAZERS @ KINGS - OCTOBER 19, 2022 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

The NBA is trying to force Dame to ask for a trade.

 

Oh for sure haha

 

yeah. it's a wicked schedule, and it's not just the first 10 games that are brutal, it's the first 23 games, and 14 of those are on the road. Blazers could play better than many expect and still be something like 9-14 or 8-15

 

Hundreds of variables being considered in making the schedule, I doubt what happens to Dame is a priority to whomever makes them

 

Don’t you honestly at least expect to beat HOU at home, win 1/2 against MIA, 1/3 against PHX, and then win 1 of the games against SAC/DEN/LAL/MEM?

I don’t think that’s too much to ask for, and at 4-6 I would wish we’d won more of those.

I mean of course you don’t think the blazers will beat your pride and joy LAL…

4-6 or 5-5 is my prediction, but I’m hoping for 6-4 or better. And no I won’t be surprised if we go 4-6 but I would be shocked if we went 1-9!!!

 

Or we could handle business and already be in a fantastic position in the post season race only 23 games into the season!

 

Gonna stick with the first 20 to see where this team is. 10-10 and I'm going to be ecstatic!
5-15 then I'm looking for huge changes or a Tank driver!
They ain't coming back from 10 games under .500

 

I'm not saying you're wrong, but:

2015-16: record on Jan 8 was 15-24; finished as 5th seed at 44-38 (went 29-14)

2016-17: record on Feb 15 was 23-33; finished as 8th seed at 41-41 (went 18-8)

2019-20: (bubble year) was 9 games under on March 7, two games before season was postponed. Went 8-2 in bubble and made playoffs

they've been 9 and 10 games under before and came back. And they were that far under in January and February. 20 games into this season would still be November. And looking at those teams and this one, I'd say this one has more talent. Now, maybe the West is much stronger and predictions of a bloodbath in the West are true. But just like being down by 15 in the first Q doesn't guarantee a loss, being 10 games under in November doesn't guarantee the lottery

 

Well you can omit the 2019-20 season because we all know that was a complete anomaly. There were questions if the Blazers even belonged in the postseason and the only way they got the votes to continue was because Lillard and others refused to play unless they had a chance to make the Playoffs.
Winning 16 of 19 in January 2016 was something to behold for sure. That happens yes but it's highly unlikely.
As far as 2016-17 goes I certainly hope they don't win 11 of their last 14 to get a 41-41 record and get swept in the first round? Even though that is the record i predicted for this team. I have to admit it was pretty fun having them grab that playoff spot though.

My point stands. If they end up 5-15 they better start making some big changes like changing lineups and moving toward developing players or just get a Tank driver.

 

If this team starts 5-15 this place is going to be such a tank fest.

I’ll probably be somewhat concerned if we start that way. I do expect better but I haven’t looked at games 10-20.

5-15 and everyone is saying tank and trade, tank and trade.

 

it's an 82 game season and you're basically saying that somehow, 5 games in the first two months of the season are the absolute pivot point for the other 77 games (or the 62 games remaining)

again, you may be right but you're definitely assuming an outcome based on pessimism.

 

Great post.
Explains some of the pessimism going into a tough early part of the season.

How nice it would be to handle business with some consistency all season.

 

Elite teams can be consistent all season. Non-elite teams almost never are. They have bad months and good months. Losing streaks and winning streaks. 5-15 in one stretch; 17-5 in another

 

Depth has a lot to do with it. Maybe the most. When you can count on your bench to hold, expand, or create leads.

 

actually, I think health is a much bigger factor than depth

Blazers had an absolutely shitty bench in 2013-14 but won 54 games because 4 of the starters played in all 82 games. Of course, maybe good depth allows more rest for the better players

 

I won’t be driving the Tank but I’ll certainly want to see some changes and I’ll be looking heavily at what Billups is doing.

 

This is it! We got this! First win on the road to a chip!!! 6th place underdogs win it all!!!!