I don't think it can be so easily dismissed as the team also added Ariza and Bazemore was no longer in the rotation, both contributors to the ten game stretch as well as the emergence of GTjr. All three of those factors will continue going forward.
They also underperformed mightily at times too, which could be considered an outlier too. Just depends how you look at it. Thats why I just look at overall record.
Exactly, completely agree. Which has let to being 5 losses behind the #8 spot, which is hystorically poor for the West.
as somebody else here pointed out, I forget who, Portland's record got a sizable bump from Dame going supernova. They won 5 of 6 and were 7-3 over a 10 game stretch. But Dame came back to earth and when he did, Portland was 2-4 over their last 6 games before the break take out that 7-3 stretch and Portland was 18-28. If Dame just plays normal and you apply that winning rate to that 10 game stretch, Portland's record right now would be 22-34. That would put them 7 games behind Memphis for 8th seed. And they'd be 12th seed right now (perfect opportunity for subtle tanking) if Memphis goes 12-15 over the rest of the season, Portland would have had to go 18-8 just to tie them, and that's assuming Portland would own the tiebreaker. If they split the last two games, Memphis would own tiebreaker as it is, Portland probably has a better than even chance of catching Memphis, providing Dame doesn't miss 6 or more games. But Dame going on a historical run is the only reason Portland is in this position
But the team mightily underachieving is the only reason why Dame needed a historical run to be in this position. Too often I only see one side of the coin being looked at. You can divide up a small sample of anything and claim it was an outlier. You could claim mightily underachieving for our 10 worst games as an "outlier".
Yeah, with Dame injured and 5 games out, at this point, tanking appears to be a bit more palatable. Tanking in terms of, "develop the youth!"
LOL. And I was ridiculed for suggesting it. "But but but.....tanking is for LOOOOSERS! " LMAO fuck off. We're tanking, get over it.
Because of the stretch where the Blazers went 7-3, about as high in the Lottery as they could get would be #10. Outside of that stretch, would be in striking distance of around #6.....which would have been a nice asset to have. Still, the Blazers need all the talent they can get whether it is as a pick or using that pick in a trade to upgrade another way.
It seems like a bad year to have a bad year. The draft seems pretty meh, and every GM probably knows that too, so unless theres a guy some GM is in love with the trade asset is going to be less than other years too. Totally understand the people saying just shut it down and try again next year, but for the most part that just seems like wasting Dame’s prime to me.
The year we drafted Roy and Aldridge was a TERRIBLE year. We just happened to get the two good players. Think I'm exaggerating? Okay, so there was Reddick, Rondo, Lowry and Gay in there too. And hey, we also ended up with Sergio and Freeland!
Getting to the post season is at least a minor success. Getting a high pick in the draft is a certain consolation. Doing neither - which is where we are heading - is a total failure. Fans who make excuses for losing while mocking people who want to "tank" are being disingeneous. If you are going to dismiss our poor play as nothing more than injuries, why would you flame fans who want a good draft pick? Don't even get me started on people who stretch the definition of tanking to include anybody who takes long term concerns into account.
