http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9560974/2013-summer-forecast-west-standings We won 33 games last season and they predict we win only +5 with a revamped bench, better center and a year older Lillard? WTF?!?!?! Then they have OKC only losing 2 games from last season with no changes and the loss of Kevin Martin. I love the 9 win swing they gave Minny too. Christ ESPN can be the biggest knuckleheads at times.
I bet most of them didn't watch the team at all last year, they don't know that we tanked at the end or how well our starters played early on. If our roster was in NY they'd be talking about home court advantage.
If your a small market team who wasn't playoff bound before and you dont make any amazing changes then you get no respect. Theor predictions are for naught because the Blazers will win 50 games next year. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
http://sportstwo.com/threads/243691-ESPN-projecting-that-Blazers-don-t-make-playoffs-this-year Already hit this didn't we? I think the main takeaway isn't that they placed us at 10, but that there are probably six teams that will be fighting for the last two playoff spots, and will be very close.
BFD. We were supposed to win 20-25 games last year and be out of the playoff chase almost immediately. We were still a .500 team 80% of the way into the season, and then finished the season with a big losing streak as injuries mounted and guys wore out (both mostly due to not having a bench). We were underrated going into last season, the pundits are doing it again, and we'll "overachieve" according to their weak-ass predictions (barring injury to key players).
Hmmm don’t know anyone in Vegas at the moment to make the bet for me. Right after DHoward signed we were 100-1 odds. If those are still the case I'd for sure bet $20; that is a $2,000 payoff. Not that I think we are going to win the title but I think we have a better than one in a hundred chance. Especially if there is another Gerald Wallace style trade bringing in an all-star at the deadline. Anyone know what the current odds are? How do the other NBA season bets work, can you just take the over on wins for the season?
No problem, but I noticed you even posted in that thread. Oops. Despite being slighted, it will be interesting to see which of those teams steps up and which fades.
The fact that you went to ESPN to get any news.... *facepalm* Everyone needs to stop going to ESPN. They are not a sports channel. Everyone will realize this soon enough.
Also, you have to understand that vegas is a lot smarter than ESPN. Espn is stupid and doesn't know anything, Vegas has people that actually know the sport and teams. They know. They'll have sucker bets, be warned. They have them because they know people blindly follow whatever the hell ESPN feeds them. It's sad. Dont watch ESPN is the moral of all this. They know nothing.
I think the general fandom knows this already, but we post because there is something to talk about. There is this hope that espn will somehow give us respect finally. It's a reach, I know.
Just stop using ESPN. They are a joke and not an actual legit channel for sports. It's a farce. Besides, even if we won 5 championships in a row, they'd only talk about how the lakers, celtics and heat can't win it anymore. Stop watching ESPN.
one of the things that makes this coming year particularly beguiling is that many teams, including us will be tanking after the all star break if they have sucky records. btw, Sportscenter is THE worst news show on TV. I'd literally rather watch fox news.
Except that I think the 6 teams many are slotting to have secure playoff spots will actually be 5. Most years there is team that is a "lock" for the playoffs that has the wheels come off, usually due to injury. So, there will be 5 or 6 teams fighting for 3 spots.
