He said the Blazers are the most underrated team in Basketball right now, saying they will eventually come down to Earth. He disagrees, saying they are doing to many different "good things" to think this is some fluke. He said Lillard is a top 5 PG in the league and LMA is playing at an MVP level. He said the 11-0 Eastern wins are a bit of a concern, but he believes they've already won many statement games against very good basketball teams. That's some awesome shit right there!
Well of course you don't, being average and all. But of course after the all star break all everything will change.
Ten games into the season I certainly would have agreed with you. But somewhere between then and now, 26 games in, I know I've seen more than enough to comfortably have a clear picture of what this team is and what they are capable of, and that's above average. Now I don't know if they have enough to win the west or get to the conference finals or anything quite that significant, I think it's all possible, but I also am pretty sure they aren't a middling team that will be will be fighting for 8th place. This is a 55+ win team, and there ain't anything average about that.
Portland has played 14 road games and are an incredible 12-2. 7 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 4 of them vs teams with winning records. Portland has played 14 home games and are an incredible 12-2. 4 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 6 of them vs teams with winning records. 4 of Portland's 5 starters are in the top 40 players in MPG, and Portland's bench has exactly 1 contributing player with a PER of 15 of higher. 7-4 vs teams at or above .500 I'd like to see more is all.
I keep hearing Portland has not yet played this that or the other team. Well, this that or the other team has not played Portland. Do you think this that and the other team are looking forward to playing the Blazers right now? Or next week?
He also said on Olbermann this morning that he thinks we have the most talented starting five in basketball.
I like your style MM. I say take it one step further, call the Blazers average all the way till the end of the year. By that time it will certainly give everyone a much clearer and precise picture of what kind of team the Blazers are.
What the team has done to this point is definitely above average, BUT the key is whether or not we can keep it up. I don't want to be unrealistic, and I want to believe we will maintain the best record in the league, but I would be happy if we finished top three in the west. That would be outstanding in my book.
Given where we were last year, making the playoffs woul dbe outstanding, IMO. That would be hard to swallow for most fans after this start though
I think the only way we finish below 5th (or out of the playoffs) would be from an injury. If Aldridge goes down for any length of time, or Lillard, that would definitely set us back considerably.
I think where the difference between us and most other teams is the 3 other starters. Portland relies SO much on their starters that if Wes, Batum or Lopez went down, we would be in more trouble than say if Hill, West or Stephenson went down, or if Chalmers or Battier went down I thin kfor those of us saying we would be in trouble if.....don't really mean one of our two best players because obviously every team would be in trouble if that happened
