Does a great start and great game plan translate to playoff success?

Ya, we differ.

I think teams like Miami, Indiana, OKC , you can tell more than a team like Portland because those teams have been there or near there recently without any real player turnover. Portland, on the other hand, is a team that finished with the 10th worst record in the league last year. they certainly improved their shortcomings in the off season, but for me, it's hard to call them championship threats after 20 games because teams are still adjusting to players and style of play.

Just my opinion.

 

I can respect your opinion

 

Respect for each other seems weird for these forums from what I have seen so far, but keep it up I like it.

 

Barring injury, I see this team continuing to improve as the season goes on. Maybe I'm just a homer, but I think they are a legit contender this year.

Go Blazers

 

LaMarcus is playing at a level better than Clyde during the championship years. There's no point in the game where I regret the ball being passed to LaMarcus (unlike when Clyde got the ball right after the man he was guarding hit a great shot... he became Mo Williams for a play).

The other players are coming down to Earth a bit, but even for all of Lillard's shooting woes, he's still got a better eFG% than LA, and his Free Throw Rate is nearly35%. He's getting his, and the others are as well. Matthews is finding ways to score even though it's harder for him now. Batum is making plays, even though he had a tough night for turnovers. Lopez is rolling, improving, and just beasting. I feel like the identity of the team has shifted from the beginning of the season. We're way more well-rounded than the three-point gunslingers we were back then.

 

Truth!!!! Our team is getting much better defensively, plus we are winning games when teams even take us out of our comfort zone.

We win on the road, plus we are cramping down defensively in the second half. We are making great mid game adjustments, that only help build confidence. There is no lead safe playing against us!

Here are some very interesting stats. If we lead at half, we are undefeated. When we are tied or lead at the 4th, we are undefeated. This is a poise stat. Means we can beat teams in the 4th. That's all on Aldridge and Lillard!

 

Agreed; at first I was worried our system would be game-planned to death, but we've won in so many ways, there's no real game plan to beat us except "score more points than them and try to annoy LaMarcus/the guards without doubling him/them". That plan doesn't really work unless you have two tall guards, a big who can hit threes, and a similarly potent offensive scheme... thanks for nothing, Phoenix.

 

Can't wait until teams start designing their team to combat the Blazers. Then the Blazers can adjust and everyone is fucked. I see it becoming a real issue for teams next season.

 

Biggest thing about this team is LA he is finely playing like a real superstar. Sure he has been an all-star last couple seasons but now he is carrying the team and is playing at an all nba level. It is about time.

 

Well, Roy Hibbert thinks we're contenders. He would be a good gauge if you asked me. What winning team wouldn't consider itself a contender? Goes against the nature of pro sports across the board. The only people who put these limitations on teams who are winning are bookies or fans. Wesley Mathews taught me that in an interview he did long ago. He said something like, "I don't want to just make the playoffs! I want to win it all! That's where momentum comes from and the Blazers are playing with their heads high right now.

 

I love how Matthews handles media and he's right. The goal to get out of the first round is stupid. It can be a sub goal but the ultimate goal is championship, every year.

 

Totally agree NBA title or bust should always be the goal.

 

No one should hold their breath waiting for you to jump on the Blazer bandwagon either. Important safety tip.

 

Well considering your opinions about me hold as much weight as a holocaust denier just plain illogical I am not going to lose sleep over it.

 

When the Raptors want to dump a guy, it says alot. Lowry has been less than stellar for some time. Projecting what this Blazer team can do in the playoffs is sort of like people predicting we'd just miss the playoffs before a game had tipped off. Negative affirmations about the Blazers don't hold water any more in my book. Joel Freeland is playing significant minutes on a team with the most wins in the league. TRob and Leonard haven't really broken a sweat off the bench yet so to throw them under the bus this early is a bit premature. The Blazers are deeper than your fears project and 50 games from now you may very well be surprised how good all of our bench players can be. CJ is a pure scorer and all the young guys are going to get tested on defense. Nash had a pretty stellar career without playing a lick of defense.

 

Possibly it could also be that the Raptors are trying to tank and want to load up on as many assets as they can get while they do so.

 

Unless you're the Jazz or the Bucks.

 

Still the goal just not this year they are realistic