And now for the Tough part

[TBpup]

The season began as mostly soft with a few tough games sprinkled in but not the Blazers it a stretch over the 18 games beginning and ending with Miami where if they continue to play like they have been, wins will likely be very few and far between.

@Mia*
@Tor*
@Min
MIL*
CHA
@Hou*
@Dal*
@Okc
GST
DAL*
IND*
HOU*
@LAL*
UTA*
@Den*
SAS
@Uta
MIA

* = with a winning percentage over .629. Almost all of those teams currently have HCA in the Playoffs.

Only the Timberwolves, Hornets, Warriors and Spurs are under .500 and only the T-Wolves and Warriors currently have a worse winning percentage than the Blazers.

How many wins are in that stretch?

 

[brooklynballer]

Yikes, this is the Blazers season right here in these next 18 (though it’s likely already been decided IMO). The way they’ve been playing, especially on the defensive end, I can’t see the team winning more than 6-7 of those games. The only caveat I’ll add is unless they make a “needle-moving trade” in that timeframe.

 

[Mediocre Man]

8 wins

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

The only caveat I’ll add is unless they make a “needle-moving trade” in that timeframe.

Which way are we moving the needle? Right now I’m inclined to move the needle toward draft picks and young potential rather than aging, overpaid, injury-prone talent (see Love, Griffin, etc.).

 

[James lamphear]

The way we are playing no more then 5 wins.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Am I being too pessimistic? Even MM say 8 wins. Going down the list, I would be surprised if we won 4.

 

[calvin natt]

5

 

[SlyPokerDog]

18 wins!

 

[hoopsjock]

The season began as mostly soft with a few tough games sprinkled in but not the Blazers it a stretch over the 18 games beginning and ending with Miami where if they continue to play like they have been, wins will likely be very few and far between.

@Mia*
@Tor*
@Min
MIL*
CHA
@Hou*
@Dal*
@Okc
GST
DAL*
IND*
HOU*
@LAL*
UTA*
@Den*
SAS
@Uta
MIA

* = with a winning percentage over .629. Almost all of those teams currently have HCA in the Playoffs.

Only the Timberwolves, Hornets, Warriors and Spurs are under .500 and only the T-Wolves and Warriors currently have a worse winning percentage than the Blazers.

How many wins are in that stretch?

After this though the schedule is about as easy as a schedule can be the rest of the way. The optimist side of me says if they can just go 8-10 in this stretch or so they still would likely finish the season above .500 and in the playoffs, maybe even as a scary team if healthier and with a couple of new acquisitions. The pessimist side of me thinks they will get destroyed during this stretch but then win just enough games to be in the late lottery instead of the middle of the lottery.

Hopefully the trade deadline brings something to be optimistic about next year.

 

[wizenheimer]

for perspective, I'm adding a couple of games taking it to 20 games more, then the all-star break. I'm expecting a 21-35 record or a 22-34 record by the break. Either way, that's too deep a hole in my view, with only 26 games left in the season. I mean, at that point if they go 18-8 over the closing stretch they'd still be below .500. And 18-8 translates to 57 wins over a season when they only won 53 last year. If they are 22-34 they'd have to go 19-7 to win 41; if they are 21-35, they'd have to go 20-6 to hit .500 at 41 wins

Dame almost always seems to get his '2nd wind' around the all-star break, if not a little before. For anything good to happen for the Blazers, record-wise, Dame has to start playing like a superstar again, but he just looks more wore down by this season than he has in the past

 

[CupWizier]

Which way are we moving the needle? Right now I’m inclined to move the needle toward draft picks and young potential rather than aging, overpaid, injury-prone talent (see Love, Griffin, etc.).

It also doesn't need to be either of those as there are other ways to improve the team. Identifying a diamond in the rough or an up and coming player that might blossom with a change of scenery.

 

[e_blazer]

18 wins!

Pessimist.

82 wins!

 

[BonesJones]

7-11

EDIT - Scratch that, 5-13... Why the poll doesn't let me change my vote is beyond me!

 

[VanillaGorilla]

 

[Labinot41]

http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/wh...be-crucial-for-the-rest-of-the-season.351298/

Told ya a month ago, the Blazers didn't take care of Business in December, it's going to bite them now. I would be shoked if the Blazers win 5+ games over this Stretch

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

3-15

 

[kjironman1]

The season began as mostly soft with a few tough games sprinkled in

Seriously i don't remember anyone calling the beginning of the season easy. 10-10 was pretty much the most optimistic look anyone had.

 

[Propagandist]

I never thought we'd be here staring into the abyss, never thought to myself, "Well, it could be worse," until right now...

 

[Chris Craig]

The will be lucky to win 4....they might win 3 here in this stretch

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I’m still hoping that we’ll pull it together and play well through the rest of the season. Not sure when but I’m still hopeful.

 

[Orion Bailey]

The season began as mostly soft with a few tough games sprinkled in but not the Blazers it a stretch over the 18 games beginning and ending with Miami where if they continue to play like they have been, wins will likely be very few and far between.



@Mia*
@Tor*
@Min
MIL*
CHA
@Hou*
@Dal*
@Okc
GST
DAL*
IND*
HOU*
@LAL*
UTA*
@Den*
SAS
@Uta
MIA

* = with a winning percentage over .629. Almost all of those teams currently have HCA in the Playoffs.

Only the Timberwolves, Hornets, Warriors and Spurs are under .500 and only the T-Wolves and Warriors currently have a worse winning percentage than the Blazers.

How many wins are in that stretch?

Holy hell......

thanks for this sobering forecast....


We are in trouble if something doesn't change quick. Whether it be better team ball, trade, coaching change, whatever....

im nibbling on your tank line again, like a fish. Not ready to swallow the hook and sink yet though.

 

[Cugel]

4 wins in that stretch

 

[kjironman1]

7-11 is what I’m thinking.

 

[TBpup]

The schedule does get easier to be sure after this stretch but they could very easily be around 20-34 after this stretch. That is too much of a hole to dig out of. Even if they do, they get a date with one of the LA teams.

Does anyone think the NBA is in any way going to let a large market top seeded team lose to a small market team even if Nurkic miraculously comes back and is his former self and somehow that fixes everything?

Just wait for those calls.....ugh.

 

[hoopsjock]

The schedule does get easier to be sure after this stretch but they could very easily be around 20-34 after this stretch. That is too much of a hole to dig out of. Even if they do, they get a date with one of the LA teams.

Does anyone think the NBA is in any way going to let a large market top seeded team lose to a small market team even if Nurkic miraculously comes back and is his former self and somehow that fixes everything?

Just wait for those calls.....ugh.

Don't look now but the Clippers are currently in the 4th seed. They don't really seem to care about anything but being healthy once the playoffs start. Get up into the 7th seed and we could face the Nuggets who we could beat or the Rockets with two notorious playoff chokers. Clippers and Lakers would have to play in the 2nd round in that scenario too. I'm not saying any of this is likely to happen but it's not anywhere close to a guaranteed 1st round exit if we make some savvy moves.

 

[TBpup]

Don't look now but the Clippers are currently in the 4th seed. They don't really seem to care about anything but being healthy once the playoffs start. Get up into the 7th seed and we could face the Nuggets who we could beat or the Rockets with two notorious playoff chokers. Clippers and Lakers would have to play in the 2nd round in that scenario too. I'm not saying any of this is likely to happen but it's not anywhere close to a guaranteed 1st round exit if we make some savvy moves.

The Clippers are 4th but they, the Nuggets and the Rockets are all 4 games back of the Lakers so it's almost a 3-way tie. And regardless of what has happend in the past, this version of the Blazers would not be beating the Nuggets or the Rockets. I know you said 'could' and of course, 'anything' could happen. But IMO, it would be a waste of a season. Getting a good Draft pick at least gives the team some type of additional resource which they obviously desperately need.

Been swept out of the Playoffs enough year after year. Either become a contender or reset. Enough treading of water.

 

[TBpup]

This stretch being rough is one thing. Seeing Dame have to play 42 minutes in a game where we trailed by 10-20 points for 90+% of the game is ridiculous. Why is Stotts doing this? It should be a deluge of the young players getting opportunities instead of running Dame into the ground.

Release the Ant colony - It won't be consistant, but Ant should be getting opportunities like he got against the Heat. Sometimes, he will look not so good/lost but other times you will see those flashes and hopefully he gets to where those are more consistant.

Lots of Little - why can't he even sniff the floor on most nights when we are getting torched? It just makes no sense. He needs run, opportunities and then to be coached up on what he does. Now I don't hold out a lot of hope for the last item on that list but the first two can't hurt.

More GTr. Have him shoot and put him in position to make decisions until you at least have some idea of what you've got. 'Hold him accountable' for getting more than just shots up.

Injuries have depleted this squad and the rest are stuck with the inane schemes of the head coach. Fine, but at least take the opportunities there are for future growth.

 

[BonesJones]

The Clippers are 4th but they, the Nuggets and the Rockets are all 4 games back of the Lakers so it's almost a 3-way tie. And regardless of what has happend in the past, this version of the Blazers would not be beating the Nuggets or the Rockets. I know you said 'could' and of course, 'anything' could happen. But IMO, it would be a waste of a season. Getting a good Draft pick at least gives the team some type of additional resource which they obviously desperately need.

Been swept out of the Playoffs enough year after year. Either become a contender or reset. Enough treading of water.

Is there really that much difference between the 13th and 16th draft picks?

 

[BonesJones]

The Clippers are 4th but they, the Nuggets and the Rockets are all 4 games back of the Lakers so it's almost a 3-way tie. And regardless of what has happend in the past, this version of the Blazers would not be beating the Nuggets or the Rockets. I know you said 'could' and of course, 'anything' could happen. But IMO, it would be a waste of a season. Getting a good Draft pick at least gives the team some type of additional resource which they obviously desperately need.

Been swept out of the Playoffs enough year after year. Either become a contender or reset. Enough treading of water.

Howd we gerbswept out last year? Hiwd we tread water? We made the WCF. I dintnsee hiw getting the 13th pick would be miraculous and getting the 16th pick and possibly making a run would be absolute doom.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Howd we gerbswept out last year? Hiwd we tread water? We made the WCF. I dintnsee hiw getting the 13th pick would be miraculous and getting the 16th pick and possibly making a run would be absolute doom.

I hate when my fingers are hitting the wrong buttons too.