We could have won it all this year

I'm dead serious. I believe that with a healthy Brandon Roy, we could have beaten any team in the league in a 7-game series. The Lakers, the Celtics, the Spurs, you name it. The team has been playing incredibly well of late, and Camby has made a huge difference. Our mix of veterans and youth, with the emergence of Batum, the improvement of Aldridge, the brilliance of Miller, and the leadership of Roy, would have made us a legitimate threat for the NBA title.

I didn't feel we were ready last season, but this season we were. This is the first title to get away from us in the Roy-Aldridge-Oden era, and I hope it's the last.

 

I think we had a punchers chance at a WCF appearance in us with Camby and a fully healthy Brandon, but a championship against the Magic or Cavs (more than likely) just isn't realistic yet, no matter how healthy or not this team was going to be

 

I have to disagree. The Blazers were coming together at the right time, and finally realizing their potential. It took awhile for Miller to find his groove, and for Camby to start fitting in, but it was happening in a big way in the last month of the season. The Blazers had a tremendous amount of momentum, and were starting to operate like a well-oiled machine.

Miller has been playing especially well, and our combination of inside-outside play, with the accurate outside shooting of Batum and Aldridge, would have given any team fits.

 

Are the Blazers the team of could/would/should haves?

Think about it. We could've had Bird, Jordan, Moses Malone, a late 70's dynasty, prime Sabonis, the 2000 NBA Championship.

And yet, sometimes, I feel like this team is the only team that can redeem us of this Blazers ghost. It's as if this team is the incarnate of the Blazers spirit past.

Roy as Drexler, Batum as Pippen, Aldridge as Rasheed, Oden as Walton/Sabonis/Bowie. You can see it; winner, cursed, potential.

All I know is if we ever win a championship again, I would send the rest of the league a very big f*ck you.

 

Where, oh, where would we have been had Joel and Oden not gone down?

 

I agree, Shooter. Even with all the injuries, we are still 8-2 against our bracket. With a healthy Brandon (and we could still him back if we get past Phoenix), this team could've beaten anyone in the West. Add Oden, Joel, Blake, and Outlaw, and I think we would've had a fighting chance to win the whole thing. As it stands, I believe we can get to the Finals with the current squad, but like Camby's 1999 Knicks, we will be overmatched against Cleveland and Orlando. With Oden and Blake, the two players we miss the most after Roy, we would've had a chance.

 

Deeper, 5 more wins, and the #3 seed, I think.

 

Had neither Roy nor Oden been injured AND Pritchard still traded for Camby (which seems unlikely, but who knows), I think Portland could have been a real title contender this year.

But with just Roy back, I don't think they'd beat Cleveland in a series. And I'd favour a (motivated) Lakers team over them too.

 

Better luck next year.

 

Yes, but I'm getting tired of saying that. We have to start winning titles one of these years.

 

With HCA against Phoenix....win. Then, probably a series win over Dallas or San Antonio (HCA)...and an ensuing trip to the WCF.

 

If we had the same home record as last year, we would be in second or third place with HCA!

In my mind however it will all be worth it if we resign Camby. .

 

Cavs woulda beat us. I think they're going all the way.

 

Actually we would have the #1 seed. With a 34-7 home record and the same road record, we would've finished this season 58-24.

 

Good Point KS, guess I was throwing in a little leeway.

If we have M.C. and G.O. next year we wont need any of that!

p.s. You like that MIXUM (haters), I said next year!

 

I think Pritchard would have still made the trade for Camby if either Oden or Przybilla had been healthy. I think if only Greg had gone down, Pritchard would've worrying about Howard as the only backup. If only Joel had gone down, Pritchard would've been worried about Oden hitting the equivalent of a "rookie wall" in his first full season, heading into the playoffs.

I think the Blazers with a healthy Roy would've taken the Suns to 7 games - but Phoenix is playing really good ball right now (beat both Denver and Utah recently, no?). Had the Blazers made it through that series, then I like their chances in the 2nd round against Dallas/ San Antone, but not against the Lakers/Denver/Utah.

 

Last season is a pretty full season as far as Oden goes. We can't keep calling him a rookie. He was drafted 3 years ago and Durant's already getting MVP votes.

 

It's been 33 years ... when you say 'have to' what do you mean exactly?

 

Disband the city as a failed experiment and everyone goes their separate ways?

 

Yeah, I guess it was fun while it lasted. Sigh...