ESPN preseason projections

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by illmatic99, Jul 26, 2016.

  1. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    I agree, the records just don't look right. The Blazers will win 56 games this year, and will contend with Clippers and Spurs for the 2-4 spots. A lot of you might think I'm out of my mind for saying that or just being a homer. But, with Tim Duncan retired, LaMarcus Aldridge Is going to screw San Antonio over, he's proven that his play will never be more than the lackadasical bloated menagery that it is...plus I'm not convinced the Clippers have gotten any better with Bass and Speights. I think the Blazers will be at least 3rd if not 2nd
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2016
  2. Trackjack

    Trackjack Well-Known Member

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    The goal should be home court advantage in the 1st round so I say it will take 54 wins to do that.
     
  3. Dougnsalem

    Dougnsalem not barf

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    They say 46 wins, and don't even mention Uncle Festus. Whatever.....
     
  4. ripcityboy

    ripcityboy Well-Known Member

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    My hope is that every player on GS watches "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" on rotation. I hope someone puts a Santeria Curse on The Spurs. I'll buy a Mojo Hand from a Voodoo High Priestess. Whatever it takes! Come on S2 members..... dare to dream!
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2016
  5. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

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    I think we are all forgetting that the bottom of the west are all pretty tough teams. And the middle has improved too. 50 wins will be tough.
     
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  6. theprunetang

    theprunetang Shaedon "Deadly Nightshade" Sharpe is HIM

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    I agree 100 percent with espn's order.
     
  7. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

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    The wins are low but the 4th seed sounds about right. People outside of Portland though seem to be forgetting that we played a well below replacement level player a significant amount last season and didn't find our best 5 until the last 35 games or so.

    That alone is worth 3-4 more wins.
     
  8. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    I think the West may have improved almost top to bottom.

    Minny is going to win a lot of games, for example. Someone has to lose those games ;)
     
  9. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    They added Felton, Speights and Bass. They lost Aldrich and Jeff Green. I don't see any real improvement there.
     
  10. theprunetang

    theprunetang Shaedon "Deadly Nightshade" Sharpe is HIM

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    I'm with you. They did add size though, just not in the places you want size.
     
  11. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

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    I like their rookies, I like that Wesley Johnson's role is gonna expand. I hate their team but they have positioned themselves nicely.
     
  12. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    The Clippers will be better just by staying healthy. But if I were them I would have preferred to have kept Aldrich and Green over Felton, Speights and Bass. Green never really played with the Clips while Griffin was healthy. He and Wesley Johnson would have been a good combo at sf. Plus he plays PF as well. I am glad he left.
     
  13. rasheedfan2005

    rasheedfan2005 Well-Known Member

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    Clippers gonna get injuries from all the off balance play that happens naturally near feltons gravitational pull.
     
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  14. Dougnsalem

    Dougnsalem not barf

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    You are talking as in like, Jupiters gravitational pull, right?
     
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  15. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    I still don't know what to make about this team. They really over performed last season. At least to any rational fan. They probably were overlooked by a lot of teams last year, and that won't happen this year. We still don't have that big to take pressure off our back court, which is a legitimately great back court. Our defense on paper improved tremendously with Ezeli and Turner. Assuming no trades or major injuries take place, 44 wins and the 5th seed.
     
  16. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    People say they got better because they added Gasol but they lost Duncan, Diaw, Boban, and West. They downgraded. I think the 2 seed is definitely attainable.
     
  17. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

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    LO-mothatruckin-L.

    1.) Overperforming is the dumbest term in sports. You perform well if you're capable. Your performance defines you. There's no such thing as overperforming.

    2.) If we were so overlooked, why did we start 11-21, when teams were most likely to overlook us? And then how come we j were able to put together good stretches ending 33-17 when we were battling other teams for playoff spots?

    3.) I think the upgrade in ball handling and playmaking at SF (Turner over Aminu) will take as much pressure off them as any big would.

    4.) How can you say our defense improved tremendously but then say our CEILING is only as good as we were last year? Makes no sense.

    Some people act like pessimists are realistic while "homers" or "soccer mom's" have no logic. But thats not always the case...
     
  18. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

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    The Spurs are gonna drop heavily imo. I think Parker/Ginobili are on their last year of basketball, Pop post-Duncan is going to be interesting to watch. The Spurs are going to have to bank on Kyle Anderson turning into a stud. Their rotation is out of whack at this point too...

    Parker / Mills
    Green / Manu
    Kawhi / Anderson
    LA
    Gasol / Dedmon
     
  19. Blazer4ever

    Blazer4ever Finding a Way BANNED

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    I think we'd lose less than 30, even less than 25. We're that good.
     
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  20. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Posted out of jealousy because your phone wasnt ringing last night?
     

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