After two brutal losses, where are your expectations?

[Strenuus]

And besides, I said "where are your expectations" and I said "Getting a seed right now would be great" Not that we are fighting for seeds or any of that, just that my expectations are lessened. There is a difference. And I'm just asking everyone where theirs is at right now.

 

[blue9]

My expectations are exactly the same as they've always been: One. And. DONE.
Next year? Maybe we'll make it to the 2nd round. Maybe.

 

[KingSpeed]

Lessened by TWO games???? What happened to the rest of the season you told me about?

 

[Strenuus]

Lessened by TWO games???? What happened to the rest of the season you told me about?

You're not understanding. And I have spent time trying to get you to, and it's not happening. I know what I meant by it, and that's all that matters. I love you.

 

[MAS RipCity]

After the Miami game, our 4th quarter execution just went to hell. Unless we find that swagger, we'll probably lose in five games.

 

[Strenuus]

After the Miami game, our 4th quarter execution just went to hell. Unless we find that swagger, we'll probably lose in five games.

I think if we face SA we have a chance.... houston and LA I say 5 games... OKC I say 7.

 

[Kaydow]

The 2 brutal losses didn't rattle me. It was the 5 before that. 7 gut check losses in 14 games. Indy, OKC, Clips, Spurs, Lakers, Mavs, Hou. Had lead late in EVERY one of those games. 2-5 in those games would be brutal. 0-7 is almost incomprehensible. We've lost because we've missed shots, missed FTs, turned it over, bad luck, bad calls . . . can't get a stop, a rebound, a decent bounce. We've lost on lobs at the rim, last sec 3s to force OT twice. You can deal with the occasional Ellis or Bosh buzzer beater when they are sandwiched between some quality wins. But this? 1 win since Jan 18 vs winning team (Tor), and that was almost another blown 4th Qrt lead disaster. And the way the losses have come - ALL down to the wire.

Tonight was the worst though. They didn't come out flat and get down early. They didn't sleep walk on defense. They finally played mad, with urgency. And they were close to brilliant for over 40 minutes. It didn't feel like we were going to lose. Even when it got close it felt like we were due. This was our game. We deserve some breaks, some calls, some loose balls . . . and they fought with everything
they had. Just wasn't enough, and it hasn't been in a long while. Expectations? 7, 8, or 9th in West. There just aren't enough home games vs tanking cream puffs left on the schedule to realistically expect more. It's just been too long since we've beaten a decent team and the confidence of every team has a breaking point.

 

[Strenuus]

The 2 brutal losses didn't rattle me. It was the 5 before that. 7 gut check losses in 14 games. Indy, OKC, Clips, Spurs, Lakers, Mavs, Hou. Had lead late in EVERY one of those games. 2-5 in those games would be brutal. 0-7 is almost incomprehensible. We've lost because we've missed shots, missed FTs, turned it over, bad luck, bad calls . . . can't get a stop, a rebound, a decent bounce. We've lost on lobs at the rim, last sec 3s to force OT twice. You can deal with the occasional Ellis or Bosh buzzer beater when they are sandwiched between some quality wins. But this? 1 win since Jan 18 vs winning team (Tor), and that was almost another blown 4th Qrt lead disaster. And the way the losses have come - ALL down to the wire.

Tonight was the worst though. They didn't come out flat and get down early. They didn't sleep walk on defense. They finally played mad, with urgency. And they were close to brilliant for over 40 minutes. It didn't feel like we were going to lose. Even when it got close it felt like we were due. This was our game. We deserve some breaks, some calls, some loose balls . . . and they fought with everything
they had. Just wasn't enough, and it hasn't been in a long while. Expectations? 7, 8, or 9th in West. There just aren't enough home games vs tanking cream puffs left on the schedule to realistically expect more. It's just been too long since we've beaten a decent team and the confidence of every team has a breaking point.

That was very, very well said. That's pretty much how I felt tonight too.

 

[Sinobas]

This team has been playing very poorly against teams they should beat, and they've been playing well against tough teams on the road, and just choking it away at the end. So I think they are under-achieving right now. LA and Lillard have certainly played much better basketball.

Anyway....for this team, it doesn't seem to matter if they play at home or on the road. I don't see that the seeding matters worth a damn. Just get into the playoffs. Though I expect them to get bounced in the 1st round, in true blazer fashion.

 

[Strenuus]

This team has been playing very poorly against teams they should beat, and they've been playing well against tough teams on the road, and just choking it away at the end. So I think they are under-achieving right now. LA and Lillard have certainly played much better basketball.

Anyway....for this team, it doesn't seem to matter if they play at home or on the road. I don't see that the seeding matters worth a damn. Just get into the playoffs. Though I expect them to get bounced in the 1st round, in true blazer fashion.

I've been thinking the same thing... just get in there.

Never know what can happen when you do.

 

[KingSpeed]

13-6 finish.

55 wins.

22 win improvement on last year.

 

[Strenuus]

13-6 finish.

55 wins.

16 win improvement on last year.

I like it.

I think we'll go 8-4 for the rest of the month. I don't think that's terrible

Loss @ Memphis
Win @ San Antonio
Win @ New Orleans
Win Vs. Golden State
Win Vs. Milwuakee
Win Vs. Washington
Win @ Charlotte
Loss @ Miami
Win @ Orlando
Win @ Atlanta
Loss @ Chicago
Loss Vs Memphis

 

[rasheedfan2005]

We keep making changes to coach and roster because we want to hang someone. How about let them get some playoff experience together and start next season fresh and with good chemistry. I could see a small bench adjustment but why fire a coach and then learn a whole new offense and defense

 

[Mediocre Man]

Better than to start the year. I really thought they were still a year away from the playoffs, so making them will exceed my expectations.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

When LeBron went to Miami they seemed like a disappointment the first year together too. It takes time to put together the coaches plan and players mesh. If the season had a few less games and more time to practice perhaps teams would progress faster. As it sits I think 2nd round would be big for us and next year could be legit contenders. Of course I want a championship every year and think that should always be the goal, but it's not realistic that you actually achieve it every year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The team will finish with something like 48-50 wins. Well above my most optimistic prognostications. Yeah, still probably a one-and-done team in the playoffs (depending on their draw) but I guess it beats a ninth seed and no draft pick.

What they are able to do between the end of this season and the start of the next is my biggest question. Not much free agency money and probably not a lot of reinforcements coming from the draft. Does this current group have another leap forward in them and/or is Stott's the guy to lead them where they want to go?

 

[Strenuus]

The team will finish with something like 48-50 wins. Well above my most optimistic prognostications. Yeah, still probably a one-and-done team in the playoffs (depending on their draw) but I guess it beats a ninth seed and no draft pick.

What they are able to do between the end of this season and the start of the next is my biggest question. Not much free agency money and probably not a lot of reinforcements coming from the draft. Does this current group have another leap forward in them and/or is Stott's the guy to lead them where they want to go?

That's going to be the question. I like Stotts a lot... but I don't know if he is.

 

[Eastoff]

Blazers don't lose for the rest of the regular season, get number 1 seed, win the playoffs, championship!

Thanks Mike Barrett.

 

[DHawes22]

I tried to play schedule-maker as pessimistically as possible. I removed my red & black glasses and still came away with 13 wins - giving us 55 on the year. Still think we get 2/3 on this road trip and go 3-2 on the next five-gamer. Aside from these trips, our schedule is very home-heavy where I think we'll drop a couple but for the most part, handle business.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If we don't win another game against an above .500 team, we'll get 10 more wins, for a 52-win season. I'll go with that.

 

[blue9]

That's going to be the question. I like Stotts a lot... but I don't know if he is.

I like him more than I otherwise would, due to who his predecessor was. The games are infinitely* more enjoyable to watch than they were under Nate. But I've never thought that Stotts was the guy that would lead us to a Championship, or even a deep Playoff run.

*Hyperbole meter is reading high.

 

[RoyToy]

The Blazers are 1-10 against playoff teams in the west in 2014

This thread seems pretty relevant in the fact that maybe expectations should be tempered. There's just not a strong case to make that Portland is ready to go deep in the playoffs.

1 and done after one of the hottest starts in franchise history is a blow to the gut.

 

[PapaG]

1 and done after one of the hottest starts in franchise history is a blow to the gut.

I'll just be happy with a playoff team. I'll leave it to the experts to bitch about a first-round loss if it happens.

 

[Strenuus]

I'll just be happy with a playoff team. I'll leave it to the experts to bitch about a first-round loss if it happens.

This is how I feel.

I don't listen to the media now, so that stuff doesn't affect me.

 

[Rhal]

I'll be the first to say my emotions got the better of me last night and I may have said a few things that today I disagree about today so I decided to spend today at work thinking about this question(thanks boring job).
My expectations going into the game at Dallas and last night was a fifth seed with an outside chance at the fourth seed. The only thing to change in that is that I think an outside chance has changed to more likely about the same chance as New York winning the championship this year.
As for us how we do in the Playoffs I'm not scared of anyone we will most likely play but I'm not confidant we will a seven game series either. Ill only really be disappointed if we get knocked out five games or less.


Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Strenuus]

I'll be the first to say my emotions got the better of me last night and I may have said a few things that today I disagree about today so I decided to spend today at work thinking about this question(thanks boring job).
My expectations going into the game at Dallas and last night was a fifth seed with an outside chance at the fourth seed. The only thing to change in that is that I think an outside chance has changed to more likely about the same chance as New York winning the championship this year.
As for us how we do in the Playoffs I'm not scared of anyone we will most likely play but I'm not confidant we will a seven game series either. Ill only really be disappointed if we get knocked out five games or less.


Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

If we put a damn good showing and play 6 or 7 really hard fought games and lose... I'll be mad for sure, but it won't be disappointing. That's a good distinction to make on expectations you did, I like that.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I wasn't expecting the blazers to be blowing out these better teams, hopefully the luck of the draw helps a couple late shots to go in and they win the next one, or more importantly, the next 16 in the playoffs. Being in the game in the last minute is acceptable though, just need better late game execution to close them out.

 

[Strenuus]

Okay, now after 3 losses in a row... lol.

 

[HailBlazers]

Okay, now after 3 losses in a row... lol.

Regardless of record, my expectations are high for this team. Call me an optimist but I think this brutal March schedule will help them work out the kinks. And the light April schedule will have them hit their stride just at the right time for playoff success.

 

[Strenuus]

Regardless of record, my expectations are high for this team. Call me an optimist but I think this brutal March schedule will help them work out the kinks. And the light April schedule will have them hit their stride just at the right time for playoff success.

Hopefully. At worst we should go 4-3 in april, IMO.

But, this month, it could be really bad.