This is false. It’s an illusion. We are 3.5 games behind the Clippers but not 3.5 games behind the 4 seed. The teams above us play each other. If the Clippers lose 4 straight and we win 4 straight, we won’t be in the 4 seed. If we were the 5th seed now then yes, we’d be 3.5 behind 4th. Understand?
And if they win 4 straight they could be in the 5th seed. Because other teams have to play as well. So that just says if they win 4 straight that is good. If they lose 4 straight that is bad. Simple point is the Blazers need to win some games. If they don't win now they are going to be in a very tough spot after the break. These next 4 games are pretty important.
Thanks for explaining the obvious. Yes, I should have worded that more clearly. The point is, there are plenty of games in which to make up ground and get into playoff position. Most WC teams fit the “mediocre” label. The Blazers need to improve their roster by making a trade or two before the deadline, IMO, and they need to get healthy. After that, it’s a matter of winning at a higher rate than the field and then seeing where they’re at when the smoke clears.
This team is way above average in being a tightknit group who cares about each other (Nurk?), tries to help each other succeed (Nurk?), and has each others back (Nurk?). That is a rare thing in most NBA teams. This team is really bad at height (starting), and depth at height. Injuries have exacerbated this. They do pretty god damned well with their backs against the wall...but the wall is too tall.
what do you mean "could have"...? you've been incessantly yelling it in this forum since before October, like some kind of deranged parrot hooked up to a 700 gallon IV of red bull, espresso, and liquid meth. Explains why Blazer replays are so jittery
Bad is subject to interpretation. Im bad at basketball… compared to Dame… im great at basketball compared to @hoopsjock
No, the team is not bad. It's average or slightly below that. But it's a team that has been relatively healthy and is leaning a lot on its starters to get sub-average results. And it's a team that has almost no young players of note, no cap space, pending free agents, and not a lot of draft pick flexibility. So... no, they're not bad. We could get into the playoffs or even HCA this year with a nice run. But we're not well situated for future success, and as a fan who is more concerned with the long run then the next week or two, I consider it to be a bad situation.
The teams play each other so all the teams in front of us can’t all lose. But, you are right, if we really want to play in postseason need to get started winning. I hope if there is no trade and we’re not at .500 at the break, that we will sit the starters and tank the rest of the season.
the Blazers got 38% of their wins first month of season. The 10-4 start with a healthy, extra well rested, excited to finally be out there Blazers with a fresh new gunner in Jerami Grant. Lillard strained calf, missed 10 games, Blazers went 3-7 with Anfernee at the helm. Heck, we'll take it, Dame will be back. Then the only multi skilled reserve player Winslow hurt his ankle. It's been nothing but Billups grinding the starters into pulp ever since. So when the Blazers get mugged by a Milwaukee team that won by 20+ without breaking a sweat, the road weary Blazers look bad. - Billups " yeah, mhmm, yeah, I wanted guys to push it up court and shoot 40 threes, yeah." The GM Cronin built a team with of bunch of "kids" as reserve players. Cheap cheap cheap, get under that luxury tax. All Blazers can do is Fire away from downtown and hopefully they drop. If they connect, Blazers are good and the Front Office can throw a party. If not, we're not blind, the Blazers are bad.
No young players of note?? We’re one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Simons, Sharpe, Walker, and Watford are definitely “of note.”
Check out the league-worst bench contributions though. Not having GP2, Little, and Winslow (the most experienced guys on the bench roster) for big chunks of the season has definitely contributed to that. When the majority of the losses are by 10 points or less, that has a huge impact on the record.
After the victory over the Warriors the Blazers now have a 13-11 record against teams (excluding Oklahoma City) in the conference ahead of them in the standings.
Also the Blazers have a .500 record or better against 8 out of 10 of those conference teams. So it's not like they are lopsided either way. Only against Oklahoma City.
