The Next 7: Getting a gauge after a very good start

The Next 7: Gauging after a good start (2-0)

Portland just finished off a 4-0 road trip to push their early season record to a gaudy 10-2. But as surprising as that start has been, most fans and many in the media are reserving judgement until they play tougher competition. Well here is their chance to see where they really stack up.

CHICAGO - players and coaches will tell you the first game back after a long road trip is often the toughest. Chicago isn't quite what they were two years ago but they still play defense and Rose is figuring out his way back.

@ Golden State - If the first game back after a long road trip is tough, where does a b2b on the road at the Warriors come in? Hopefully Portland can get a win versus Chicago or they could easily be looking at two losses in a row as the Warriors are a tough matchup for anyone and 5-0 at home so far this season.

NEW YORK - The 'break game in this tough 7 game stretch. Carmelo is driving his teammates batty and the dysfunction is rivaling James Dolan's inadequacy as a GM.

@ Phoenix - The Suns have come back to earth after a quick start but they are still playing teams tough and close for the most part even in losses. Portland struggles in the Valley of the Sun regardless of how the Suns are playing but if the Blazers are for real, this is a game you want them to win.

@ Lakers - This could be Kobe's first game back....great timing for Blazer fans. So far, the Lakers have been NJ-East with tons of injuries and lackluster play.

INDIANA - Want a measuring stick game? Here it is. Big, slow defensive centers, perimeter scorers and scoring PGs. These teams mirror each other a bit with similar type players having advantages at different positions.

OKC - Measuring stick 2.0 Oklahoma gives the Blazers fits because Westbrook can out-Damian Lillard, Durant toys with Batum and Ibaka is enough of a defensive presence to bother Aldridge.

After these 7 games, we should get a much better feel for where the Blazers are and what we might expect going forward for the rest of the season. I want to say 5-2 but somehow I can see a 'surprise' loss in there somewhere to go 4-3. Two of the toughest three games are at home which bodes well. Where do you see them ending up at the end of this stretch?

 

The true measuring stick game is Golden State, regardless who is the toughest team in this stretch. We've always played them for losses in Golden State. If we win that game, then they just kicked a huge monkey off their back.

On the OKC game, I would really like Wes Matthews on Durant. Durant can still shoot over Batum, so his length isn't an issue. Where Durant has problems is against physical players. Hopefully the refs will allow Matthews be physical though.

 

Very interesting take. I think that would be fun to see. If only we had a way to whisper in Stotts ear.

 

Chicago will be on their second leg of a B2B and GSW will also be on their own 2GoB2B

 

Stotts used it last year and we ironically won. Most the defensive duties on Durant was using Matthews, while batum played him while Matthews was on the bench. He only did it once because I believe Matthews was injured the next game (not sure though)...

 

Well if Stotts did it once, and we won, then I would hope and expect he or at least Matthews remembers!

 

I like the idea of switching Matthews on Durant and Batum on to Westbrook for stretches.

 

Can't think of a better one-two punch against Durantula.

 

The key to the OKC game will be keeping Scott Foster out of the Moda Center - preferable done by making sure he dies in a fire.

 

Now, now we don't need to wish people to die in a fire.... unless they are a L*kers fan.

 

I say 5-2, especially if we get the first one tomorrow night against Chicago (they are in Denver tonight, fwiw) and maybe 6-1 if Curry is still out with concussion-like symptoms. That team couldn't even crack 85 in Overtime against the Grizz without Steph.

 

Also, is it wrong that the @Phoenix game scares me the most of any on that list?

 

Nope, the Blazers will be fighting the whole season.

 

It scares me too. Phoenix is just one of those teams I always worry about, regardless how good or bad they are. They seem to always have our number

 

I've watched the Lakers play some this year and I'm not sure what you mean by lackluster play? What I've seen is an undermanned team with a lot of injuries who are still finding ways to be competitive. A lot of relative unknowns who are hustling; kind of remind me of Phoenix so far. In LA, with or without Kobe, this one will also be tough.

 

Yep, no game against Lakers will ever be easy. There has and always will be a weird rivalry between the two clubs. I truly think the fans and teams hate each other.

 

So if I am thinking this through right we should be rooting for close overtime victory for Bulls tonight.

 

I think 2-6 if lucky. This is gonna be quite a meltdown on here.

 

You must be so excited