Pelton: Blazers Project As 2014 Lottery Team

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Jul 24, 2013.

Moderators: 6

Moderators

  1. BrianFromWA
  2. Chris Craig
  3. Darkwebs
  4. Ed O
  5. PtldPlatypus
  6. SlyPokerDog
Page 1 of 5
  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    Messages:
    125,231
    Likes Received:
    145,444
    Trophy Points:
    115
    Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com takes an early look at the Western Conference for the 2013-14 season, concluding that the Minnesota Timberwolves will beat out the Portland Trail Blazers for the eighth and final spot in the playoffs.

    8. Minnesota Timberwolves (2012-13 finish: 12th)
    The biggest improvement the Timberwolves can make will be better health. After losing more games to injury than any team in the past four years, Minnesota should be at full strength. Rick Adelman also has more shooting at his disposal with the addition of Kevin Martin, though the defense could be weakened.
    Assuming the Timberwolves lock up center Nikola Pekovic, a restricted free agent, they'll be at the top of the race to go from the lottery to the playoffs.


    9. Portland Trail Blazers (2012-13 finish: 11th)
    The Blazers are right on Minnesota's heels after a solid offseason that saw GM Neil Olshey rebuild their bench on the cheap. Only second-year center Meyers Leonard figures to remain in the rotation from last year's historically bad second unit, while Robin Lopez slides in for J.J. Hickson to solidify the starting five.
    If rookie C.J. McCollum contributes immediately and Thomas Robinson plays like he did in Las Vegas Summer League -- where he was a terror on the glass -- Portland will return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.


    http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9504710/early-look-western-conference


    http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/7/24/4553590/pelton-blazers-project-as-2014-lottery-team

    ​
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jul 24, 2013
    #1
  2. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    26,096
    Likes Received:
    9,073
    Trophy Points:
    113
    kinda odd...we "project as a lottery team" only if CJ doesn't contribute immediately or Robinson doesn't play like in Summer League, or if we can't beat out the Timberwolves. I don't see any of those 3 not happening.
     
    BrianFromWA, Jul 24, 2013
    #2
  3. Draco

    Draco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2008
    Messages:
    9,315
    Likes Received:
    3,004
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Kevin Martin, Love, Pek, that Twolves team will be far worse than us on defense. If all we have to do to make the playoffs is outplay them I love our chances.
     
    Draco, Jul 24, 2013
    #3
  4. santeesioux

    santeesioux Just keep on scrolling by

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    Messages:
    10,744
    Likes Received:
    5,322
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Trolling the internet
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    How many years in a row now have the Timberpups been projected to make the playoffs? They're becoming the Dallas Cowboys of the nba.
     
    santeesioux, Jul 24, 2013
    #4
  5. HomerLovesKoolAid

    HomerLovesKoolAid I have a well-known member.

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,352
    Likes Received:
    7,513
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Damn......here come the cock pictures.
     
    HomerLovesKoolAid, Jul 24, 2013
    #5
  6. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    44,783
    Likes Received:
    27,542
    Trophy Points:
    113
    9 would be a disaster
     
    Mediocre Man, Jul 24, 2013
    #6
  7. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    Messages:
    33,147
    Likes Received:
    13,316
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The west is very good. Lakers, Clippers, Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Nuggets and Worriers are all better. If no injures happen I think Kevin Pelton could be pretty sport on.
     
    BigGameDamian, Jul 24, 2013
    #7
  8. santeesioux

    santeesioux Just keep on scrolling by

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    Messages:
    10,744
    Likes Received:
    5,322
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Trolling the internet
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    What is the protection on our pick? Wouldn't it be something to be the 9th seed and lost our pick?
     
    santeesioux, Jul 24, 2013
    #8
  9. santeesioux

    santeesioux Just keep on scrolling by

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    Messages:
    10,744
    Likes Received:
    5,322
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Trolling the internet
    Location:
    Southern Oregon
    Good thing the Lakers have a significant injury then. I'm not sure about the Nuggets either.
     
    santeesioux, Jul 24, 2013
    #9
  10. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    57,713
    Likes Received:
    56,216
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    Same as this year I thought. 12 and higher --> pick goes to CHA.

    Ya there's no real way I see Minny being better than us.

    Isn't Gallo out for a while too?
     
    illmatic99, Jul 24, 2013
    #10
  11. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2008
    Messages:
    44,783
    Likes Received:
    27,542
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Top 12 again.
     
    Mediocre Man, Jul 24, 2013
    #11
  12. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    26,096
    Likes Received:
    9,073
    Trophy Points:
    113
    it's top 12 again. 30 teams, 16 make the playoffs, it's almost a lock that the 13th- and 14th-best records come from the West, so being the 9th or 10th seed would be the worst-case--no playoffs and no pick.
     
    BrianFromWA, Jul 24, 2013
    #12
  13. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2008
    Messages:
    28,303
    Likes Received:
    5,884
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Merchant Banker
    Location:
    Denver, CO & Lake Oswego, OR
    I really don't want to make the playoffs this upcoming year. We need more assets. I think if we wait a year, we can get someone good and then make our run.

    I think there's a small part of Olshey that hates how quickly Lillard adjusted to the NBA game. I don't think his rapid development was part of the plan.
     
    maxiep, Jul 24, 2013
    #13
  14. The_Lillard_King

    The_Lillard_King Westside

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    12,405
    Likes Received:
    310
    Trophy Points:
    83
    I think it's a toss up on who is a better team this year between the Wolves and the Blazers. Many different "expert" opinions out there, but most I have seen have the Wolves and Blazers pretty close. As more predictions come out I think you will see a trend of Minny and Blazers being predicted to finish somewhere between 7-12
     
    The_Lillard_King, Jul 24, 2013
    #14
  15. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    Messages:
    59,328
    Likes Received:
    5,588
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Cracking fools in the skull
    Location:
    Lancaster, California
    I think Stotts needs to grab this article and post it in every player's locker. Post all the negative comments about how this team is mediocre around the practice facility. Make all our players play with a chip on their shoulder and shove there words down their throats.
     
    magnifier661, Jul 24, 2013
    #15
    dviss1 likes this.
  16. dviss1

    dviss1 Emcee Referee

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2011
    Messages:
    29,612
    Likes Received:
    27,503
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I concur. Repp'd.
     
    dviss1, Jul 24, 2013
    #16
  17. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    34,325
    Likes Received:
    43,687
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If we don't make the playoffs this year, that means (IMO) that Lillard isn't the budding superstar we need him to be in order to be title contenders. This isn't like when the Thunder were terrible for two years after drafting Durant; they had nobody else. We have an all-star PF, a potentially all-star SF (if healthy), and a SG that many appear to believe is top-10 in the league for his position. If Lillard is title-caliber big-3 worthy, he needs to be good enough to get us to the playoffs this year.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jul 24, 2013
    #17
  18. Masbee

    Masbee -- Rookie of the Year

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    2,856
    Likes Received:
    97
    Trophy Points:
    48
    If this team is an 8 seed THIS year, the year of a great draft where barely making the playoffs doesn't just mean we have a lower pick - it means we don't have fucking pick at all:

    I WILL BE FUCKING PISSED!!!!

    9th or 10th is even worse.
     
    Masbee, Jul 24, 2013
    #18
  19. blazedanugz

    blazedanugz Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    2,217
    Likes Received:
    1,550
    Trophy Points:
    113
    agreed that lillard needs to take the next step but if anyone should take us to the playoffs it better be lamarcus. with all that crap about him wanting out...if we put him into a position for him to get us to the second round(which with lillard it could be) he better flippin get it done
     
    blazedanugz, Jul 24, 2013
    #19
  20. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    Messages:
    59,328
    Likes Received:
    5,588
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Cracking fools in the skull
    Location:
    Lancaster, California
    Not gonna happen. The additional bench alone will put us in a position to out of a pick. Only way we get a draft pick is trading Aldridge and Batum for picks and young inexperienced players.
     
    magnifier661, Jul 24, 2013
    #20
Page 1 of 5

Share This Page