If they don't win a lot of games for some reason but show a glimpse of future dominance will this year be a success?
No, I agree unless we have major injuries not making the playoffs will be a big step back and a failure IMO.
Ok, but what should happen if no injuries and we don't make the playoffs? No big trades after this year right? I don't want to get too excited. I don't want to take too much out of one season with Oden still a rookie.
If we don't have any injuries and don't make the playoffs I will be very disappointed unless it would take more then 50 wins to get the #8 seed. I do think the west is very strong but I have a feeling it isn't going to be quite as strong as the last couple years. I think Den, GS, even Dal, Phx and SA will be a lot weaker then before. I'm not sure which teams will fade but I'm guessing at least one from the Dal, Phx and SA plus Hou always has injuries and now with adding Artest they could implode if things don't go right. I guess if we win 50 games and miss the playoffs you can't be to upset because so many of these teams are getting older and won't keep winning at that rate. I'm still guessing we will be between the 6th - 8th seed.
If we have no major injuries and we fail to make the playoffs, I will definitely be disappointed and I will consider this season a failure... BUT... If we see progress and we see sparks of what this team can do, I believe I will preach patience. At least regarding the players. I might be up for going another direction with the coach... but the players are young and it's possible in the tough West that they just won't get it done this year. Ed O.
I am not going to freak out if the blazers lose a few games this year. The team is young, they'll make some mistakes. I'll be happy if they go 75-7 or better. barfo
I don't see how we won't make the playoffs assuming no injuries I just don't want to be disappointed. What kind of coach does this team need if not Nate?
We're talking hypotheticals, of course, but if the players play well and the team fails to make the playoffs, I could see style of play being an issue. We have a lot of athletes and a lot of young guys with young (if, in many cases, damaged) legs. Nate was a defensive-minded player and is considered to be a defense-oriented coach. Which is fine... but he's without a doubt a slow-it-down coach. Looking at the teams he's coached in the NBA, they are almost all near the bottom in terms of pace. I have no problem with having a slower paced team... if we're winning, or if our team is not suited to run and gun. I think that this team IS suited for a faster pace, though, so if we're not winning and we're not running then I could see Nate getting bumped for a coach with a different approach. Ed O.
I think Oden can block shots with enough skill to turn them into an outlet pass. Some of the shots he blocks it seems he knows are coming 3 seconds before he blocks them. Keep them inbounds and aim them for Roy or Bayless or Rudy and fastbreak baby. Nate always seems to talk about going uptempo, just talk?
The time has come to stop showing potential and to start achieving. Unless we're torn apart by injury, I would be extremely disappointed in this team if it didn't win at least 48 games.
