Pelicans Lakers T'Wolves Bucks Clippers Celtics If healthy, there are 3 very good teams in that stretch which should be a solid indicator of if the Blazers have turned the corner from last season or if they are still mired in that 40-50 win category that is just good enough to makes the Playoffs but not close to a threat to get to the WCF. The Pelicans, Bucks and Celtics all have things that give the Blazers fits. Length and quickness on the perimeter. Dame/CJ will have to do their thing (efficiently), Nurk will have to stay out of foul trouble, and the bench will need to continue its solid run. But the biggest variable for Portland to come out of this at hopefully at least 5-1, is Zach Collins. Can he hold up against The Brow? Can he defend the rim against Giannis and can he handle the plethora of wings + Kyrie that will likely penetrate against our guards/wings at will?
I don't think this home stand will tell us anything we don't already know. Whether we go 1-5 or 5-1, the team will have periods throughout the season where the under-perform and periods where they over-perform...eventually landing us in that 40-50 win bracket.
I vote 4-2 but it going show us where we are at this time of the season. Every game against these 6 opponent will be a test for this team.
Long home stretches make me feel a little uneasy. Last year in Nov we went 4-2 losing to Memphis and Brooklyn. Sometimes teams get a little too relaxed at home. This year's 6 game stand is tough. I will be happy with 4-2 again.
Volleyball, of course, the main subject of this forum, DUH! Wait... you mean this entire time, you thought this forum was about something else? No wonder none of your posts make any sense. Learn to spike, then post! BNM
I say 3:3, but i wouldn't be surprised if we finish 2:4. This 6 Game stretch will be a big test for this Team.
When was the last time the Blazers had a back-to-back where both games were at home? Maybe the lock out shortened season or am I forgetting one?
I think a better question is what will the Blazers record be after the 6 game home stand + 6 game road trip? Going 6-6 over these 12 games would be quite an achievement... We get Lakers (x2), TWolves (x2), and Bucks (x2). They need to win the games at home, because that road trip is going to be HELL. Pelicans Lakers T'Wolves Bucks Clippers Celtics @ Lakers @ T'Wolves @ Wizards @ Knicks @ Bucks @ Warriors
Realistically 4-2 But I want to be on the right side of history, so I voted 5-1. Only loss to the Bucks.
6-0 is not out of the question, but I'm not putting money on it after watching them punt away that Wizards game. The consistency and intensity needed to beat 3 good playoff teams is hard to sustain over six straight games. We'll go 4-2 minimum, starting with a win tonight. With the crowd on our side, we have a real shot at 5-1.
Celtics and Bucks - we have to win those games after throwing them away against both teams last year.
Here's the thing... Now that we have what appears to be a reliable bench, I feel like all games are winnable. Of course, I don't think we will win them all, but I also don't look at any game on the schedule and think, "no way". Some nights the team will be cold or out of sync, or we'll run into a team on a hot streak. It's a long season. That happens, but with a bench that actually extends leads, I feel much more confident in our prospects on any given night. So yeah, 6-0, or maybe 4-2. That's why they play the games. If I could predict the future, I'd be buying lottery tickets. BNM