Adande: Blazers 14-3 but doubts remain

[BBert]

Blazers spotty play of late has me worried about tonight. Indy is legit. Another back-to-back for Portland. We'll need the crowd to get into this one from the start. Pity I won't be there.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I think it is safe to say we are not as good as our record. In other words we are not the best team in the west. Not yet anyways. I love our start but we are still a work in progress. The good thing is that the team seems to know this as well and will keep working hard to get better.

Doesn't mean we are not a good team, just that we are not quite title contenders yet. The bench is better, but still needs to improve as the year goes on.

But how nice is it to know that we have played well no matter what our schedule or opponent we can get better? So hopefully the getting better and the future stronger opponents/"back down to earth" evens each other out resulting in a very good team.

 

[Natebishop3]

Also remember him dunking on Gasol later that season at the RG and then flashing 2 fingers in Gasol's face (as in, gotcha twice). His game is more refined these days, if not as high flying.

It's probably safer to his health the way he plays now, but I still miss the slashing Batum.

 

[Kaydow]

It's probably safer to his health the way he plays now, but I still miss the slashing Batum.

Me too. But if I had to choose between Triple Double Batum & Slashing Batum . . . too bad we can't have both.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Me too. But if I had to choose between Triple Double Batum & Slashing Batum . . . too bad we can't have both.

Maybe thats the next step in the evolution of Batum. Learing how to slash and still be a play maker. He is still young

 

[magnifier661]

They've done it 14 times in 17 tries. The knock on them is that they aren't winning many against the league's best teams. Only four of the 14 have come against teams that currently hold winning records.

We beat Denver, SAS, Phoenix, Chicago when they had a winning record and with Rose, and Golden State. This is such a bullshit stat.

How about we look at real stats, like 7-2 on the road? Or maybe we played more b2b games than any other team and won all of them? How about the defensive efficiency rising from day one? How about our 2 of 3 losses to one team?

 

[magnifier661]

The same could be said for the Pacers, and yet everyone is calling them "legitimate" already.

The legitimacy is based on making it to the wcf and almost winning last season against the champs

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Blazers spotty play of late has me worried about tonight.

What I am enjoying about the team this year is that while their play may be spotty at times, the generally find a way to win. Too often in the past they would not have done so.

I am looking forward to tonight's game. It should help us get a (another) good measure of where we stand.

Gramps...

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

The legitimacy is based on making it to the wcf and almost winning last season against the champs

I don't recall the Pacers being in the WCF last year.



Gramps...

 

[magnifier661]

I don't recall the Pacers being in the WCF last year.



Gramps...

Oops I meant eastern conference

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Fact, after we win tonight it will only be because granger is out with an injury. Fuck the media.

 

[Natebishop3]

Fact, after we win tonight it will only be because granger is out with an injury. Fuck the media.

Granger is always out with an injury

 

[Boise Blazer]

Fact, after we win tonight it will only be because granger is out with an injury. Fuck the media.

Or even better because IND is on a b2b while completely disregarding that we are as well.

 

[Rhal]

Fact, after we win tonight it will only be because granger is out with an injury. Fuck the media.

Its Indy as well so the story of the day will be in small print at the bottom of the page reading "Blazers beat some team from the east called indy. Havent heard of them before I'd guess they were an explansion team added last year".




Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Shooter]

We beat Denver, SAS, Phoenix, Chicago when they had a winning record and with Rose, and Golden State. This is such a bullshit stat.

Don't forget the Lakers. They had a winning record until we beat them last night. But Adande is talking about teams that "currently" have a winning record, not teams that had a winning record when they faced the Blazers.

How about we look at real stats, like 7-2 on the road?

Or even 8-2 on the road.

Or maybe we played more b2b games than any other team and won all of them? How about the defensive efficiency rising from day one? How about our 2 of 3 losses to one team?

Excellent points.

 

[e_blazer]

Are you sure? Indiana plays in the Eastern Conference, which is much weaker than the West. Their record has been amassed against a lot of so-so teams.

Most of the teams they've played would be looking up at so-so. They've played exactly 1 game against a team with a winning record and that was yesterday's win over the Clippers.

 

[Natebishop3]

Most of the teams they've played would be looking up at so-so. They've played exactly 1 game against a team with a winning record and that was yesterday's win over the Clippers.

They played Chicago a couple times, with Rose in both? Maybe only one of them with Rose.

 

[THE HCP]

What impresses me about the Pacers is their defense. They kill it in all the stats. We need to be moving the ball....swinging it and not playing 1on1. Gonna' be a tough one tonight.

 

[e_blazer]

They played Chicago a couple times, with Rose in both? Maybe only one of them with Rose.

The Bulls current record is 7-8, so by Adande's measuring stick they don't count. Yeah, they were a much better team with Rose, but then guess who Indy's lone loss it to...that's right...the Bulls.

 

[Kaydow]

Most of the teams they've played would be looking up at so-so. They've played exactly 1 game against a team with a winning record and that was yesterday's win over the Clippers.

Their schedule is pretty unbelievable. But this is where it gets interesting. 5 game/8 day road trip @ Clips, PDX, Utah, Okl City, & SA. Can you imagine having to play the Clips, us, OKC, & Sanantone on the road in a 1 week span? Then they go back home & get Miami, then go to Miami later that week. That's a tough way to start December.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Last year with all of its troubles....
We beat the Heat, Pacers, and Spurs - basically the best in the league.

We could lose by 20 or win by 20 tonight, neither would surprise me.

 

[magnifier661]

They played Chicago a couple times, with Rose in both? Maybe only one of them with Rose.

Chicago beat them when they had rose

 

[e_blazer]

Both the Pacers and Blazers should have something to prove tonight. The Pacers are getting a pass from the media because they were in the Eastern Conference Finals last season. I really don't have too much of a problem with that line of thinking. Everybody knows they're a really good team. A win tonight by the Blazers would really open some eyes around the league.

Wonder what kind of a reception Nate McMillan gets tonight.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Or even better because IND is on a b2b while completely disregarding that we are as well.

Correct they worked hard last night against the clippers who are clearly number 1 in the west if you removed everyone's records. Whilest the blazers blew by a sub par team.

Blake griffin.

Kia
Blake griffin.

 

[ponderguy]

Are you sure? Indiana plays in the Eastern Conference, which is much weaker than the West. Their record has been amassed against a lot of so-so teams.

Playing the Heat as well as they did last year in the playoffs got them a ton of respect nationally. If the blazers can make the WCF this year or make a deep 2nd round run they will get more respect next year. The Pacers are for real

 

[ponderguy]

Amare is crap this season and Chandler is injured. The Pacers are healthy and running like a well-oiled machine.

and felton is their PG

 

[Natebishop3]

Playing the Heat as well as they did last year in the playoffs got them a ton of respect nationally. If the blazers can make the WCF this year or make a deep 2nd round run they will get more respect next year. The Pacers are for real

This.

The Pacers have earned the right to be given the benefit of the doubt. When you get to the ECF, you are generally considered to be legit.

 

[riverman]

I'm used to the media dogging the Blazers...it's always been (fill in the blank) lose to the Blazers for (fill in the blank) reason. I'm not big on hearing it from the fanbase though. I think swagger comes with the territory. Difference between contenders and good teams is just pure swagger and confidence. Big difference maker is Aldridge finally really showing some fangs. Contenders want to duke it out with contenders. Indiana, tonight, in my opinion is facing a potential contender! Winning ugly now but when it really gets clicking, the Blazers are a nightmare for even a good defensive team. Hopefully the Pacers will have bad dreams tonight! Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

 

[ponderguy]

I'm used to the media dogging the Blazers...it's always been (fill in the blank) lose to the Blazers for (fill in the blank) reason. I'm not big on hearing it from the fanbase though. I think swagger comes with the territory. Difference between contenders and good teams is just pure swagger and confidence. Big difference maker is Aldridge finally really showing some fangs. Contenders want to duke it out with contenders. Indiana, tonight, in my opinion is facing a potential contender! Winning ugly now but when it really gets clicking, the Blazers are a nightmare for even a good defensive team. Hopefully the Pacers will have bad dreams tonight! Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

We've played 2 good defensive teams so far, the bulls and spurs. We barely beat the Bulls even with them losing their best player during the game. This will be one of the first real tests of Stotts offense versus an elite defensive team. We have reason for confidence but the team needs to keep this up to be acknowledged as contenders, right now they look like a strong playoff team. I think we have to be a top 4 team to be called contenders and while the record does say that I still feel like OKC and SAS are better playoff teams than we are. It is a fantastic start and everyone should be enjoying it but there's a long way still to go. I do want to see what happens tonight, if the offense comes out firing the defense should be good enough to contain Indiana's so so offense and it can be a big time W. The Pacers are the anti blazers, great on defense and average on offense. Their worst starter is at point while ours is at center while the other 4 positions are very solid. It will be fun to watch

 

[BBert]

Their schedule is pretty unbelievable. But this is where it gets interesting. 5 game/8 day road trip @ Clips, PDX, Utah, Okl City, & SA. Can you imagine having to play the Clips, us, OKC, & Sanantone on the road in a 1 week span? Then they go back home & get Miami, then go to Miami later that week. That's a tough way to start December.

Builds character.