MIXUM will be a MODERATOR by seasons end. My first official move will be to ban HCP for being a homer.
Did things really "go well" last year? The previous season was the most draining, thing I've ever gone through as a fan; they won fifty, but it was one of the best examples of a Pyrrhic "victory" I've ever seen -- It felt a lot like a WW II, B-24 bomber returning from a run with two engines on fire, stuck landing gear and a half dead crew, skidding into the landing field with a cup of fuel to spare.
Thank you nik! last year was simply a fucking nightmare unless you listened to wheels at work. god it must have been suicide wtach for homers when that show got cancelled. but yeah I think the team is worse now then they were 6 months ago. No Oden, Joel, Webster or Rudy. We are better? Really?
None of those players you listed did jack shit last year. How is that going to hurt us? I understand you liked Webster and all, but he was a hot pile of garbage. He reminded me of Corky from Life Goes On with teh basketball in his hands
Look at it this way: things were at their worst after Przybilla and Oden were injured and done for the season. That was pretty inarguably the low point of the season, and the record wasn't very good at that point (it was okay, but below expectations). Things only went up from there, but the tone of the board didn't improve as the team's record improved despite the adversity. In fact, I'd say the tone got more and more negative. The thing is, the baseline always gets ratcheted, even within a season or circumstance. What would you call a successful season for next season? Reaching the WCF? I'll bet that even if they reach the WCF, if they get swept by the Lakers or lose the series with a blow-out loss or two or lose the series in seven games with a close loss, there will be a great deal of bitching about the team (pathetic if swept, chokers if they lose in game 7) and even you, yourself, will not be saying "Wonderful season." The moment they reach the WCF, that will instantly become the "baseline," and not winning beyond that point will be seen as failure. The nature of this board is not to evaluate where they saw this team going into the season and measuring the season based on that...it is to view every success with a day of celebration and then "But keep winning or else you're failures all over again." That's my observation of how things go here.
No kidding. As down as people get about a 50 win season you'd think our 21 win season never happened. I used to be worried that this team would languish in irrelevance for a decade or more like the Clippers or Warriors. When you win 21 games, more often than not you tend to have multiple seasons of equal futility. At least the bomber flew out, delivered a payload and returned home, instead of getting shot down just as it left the air strip.
I thoroughly enjoyed last year even with all its ups and downs. But I guess that comes with being a Homer, I enjoy the games no matter what happens. What doesn't break you only makes you stronger and I believe the Blazers gained some much needed character last year. Just listen to the leader B-Roy during his media day interview. This team has truly grown and I'm expecting nothing less than a spectacular year. Especially considering the condition of the west.
As well as they could have given the unfortunate circumstances. There are two ways to go through life - you face what life gives you an enjoy the good things that happen, even if they are small, or you go through life like a miserable lout. Last year, even when this team showed resolve, went through some magnificent wins and got into the playoffs against all odds - there was still a ton of whining. If people can't enjoy life and want to feel miserable for themselves - so be it, it's up to them - but I am not going to feel sorry for those that can't appreciate the good things there are. Sure it was tough, but it was also uplifting. It also showed that when the front office told you they were after character first - they did they job right. It showed you that you got a bunch of fighters playing for your team that you can be proud off. I am not buying the idea that nothing was gained - and given that non of the injuries were career ending - Pyrrhic victory is too strong a description in my opinion. But, honestly, I have nothing else to say about it. You guys want to be crying about the glass half empty - do it. I enjoy this team, I enjoyed it last year even when all these horrible injuries happened - and I am looking forward to a better year.
There were two things that were hard to take last year that sort of ruined it for me. 1.) Bad things kept happening to good people. I get that life is fair but damn was last year an object lesson is just how bad that can be. I would like Oden to be successful because it would help the team. I would also like him to be successful because no one needs to go through life having the label bust hanging over their head. I want Batum to succeed because I love the kids attitude AND because he is a Blazer. Same with Roy. The team couldn't catch a break last year and that sucked to watch. It was good that they didn't fold up their tents and give up. I am just not going to pretend that watching them soldier on was as fun as it would have been if they had all been healthy. 2.) The self generated turmoil in the front office. There was no reason to keep KP around for months when everyone knew he was going to be fired. That left a bad taste in my mouth that still lingers. I don't think KP was a perfect gm. Far from it. I just think it was handled in an extremely unproffessional manner when it could have been done swiftly and decisively. I am really hoping this coming season does a lot to erase the memories of the last one.
This thread was supposed to predict the future, and it evolved backward in time into dissecting the past.
