Anyone Still Thinking 50+ Wins?

[ABM]

I dunno. Originally, I was forecasting 52-53 wins. Now that they've played 10, barring a significant trade, I'm coming down a bit to 47-48.

We're a good team, just not that good. Know-what-I-mean?

Blake is more so-so than I was hoping; Sergio's not quite there yet; we're still relying too much on the long ball, Oden still looks relatively awkward; Frye's over-rated; Travis still looks too helter-skelter for my ease; we still struggle guarding the perimeter; etc., etc., etc...............

 

[e_blazer]

I'm just the opposite. The fact that the Blazers are 6-4 after the starting schedule they've had, plus the injury to Oden, makes me feel like the odds of winning 50-plus have increased.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I said 46-48 before the season started and I'm sticking to my guns ... Frankly I think this team is well ahead of the curve considering I thought they had better than average chance to start the season at 6-12. January and February are relatively easy months, so we could see some really nice stuff if this team can hover around .500 by the end of December when their brutal part is over.

 

[Tortimer]

I'm actually really happy with our record considering the schedule we have. I thought we would be lucky to be 5-5 and that was thinking Oden would not get injured and he had played better. I'm really happy the way Oden has played the last couple games and if the Blazers come through the first 24 games 14-10 or somewhere around that record we will end up with 50+ wins IMO.

 

[alex42083]

We are way ahead of schedule IMO.
We've played just THREE home games, compared to seven on the road.
3-0 at home, 3-4 on the road. That's really good. We have one of the best home courts in the league, and if we can stay around .500 on the road, 50 wins is certainly possible.

 

[Furball]

I've said I'd be happy with 48 wins, playoffs or not. The West is looking a little shaky. Dallas is down. Spurs are looking old and brittle. I think the Hornets are going to get burnt on Byron Scott any day now. I didn't think we could win 50 games, but with Rudy off the bench and if Greg can go 13-10-3 a night, we may crack it.

 

[Uther TheGardener]

weve are playing in the hardest start in the league and we are a strong 6-4!

 

[hasoos]

Yep still shooting for 55+.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Oden stays healthy we're a 50 win team. The "Oden effect" is already happening in games. GO is only playing 24 minutes a game, add another 10-12 minutes and increase his numbers roughly 30% that's scarey. When he's in there teams are shying away from the middle. His rebounding is already as good as Pryz and his shot blocking is amazing. The funny part is I always considered Pryz a decent shot blocker but then you see a real shot blocker like Oden swat one from about a foot and a half above the rim. Pryz's blocks are usually him stopping a guy from getting his shot off not swatting it out of the air.

If our two main guys GO and Roy stay healthy I think we get at least 50 wins.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I think the Blazers have looked very good. I wouldn't be surprised if they hit 50 wins. They seem to have a lot of room to grow this season- with Oden becoming comfortable, Webster coming back and the possible emergence of Bayless.

I don't think they need to make a trade this year.

 

[LittleAlex]

I figured the team would win 48 games and I still think that is true. However, if they continue to find ways to win they will eclipse that total.

As of right now, they have won 60% of their games. If they keep up that pace, the will win approx. 49 games. I think that is enough to get into the playoffs in the west this year. Last year was a anomaly.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I predicted 48 wins. I'm stickin with it, but i think that I may be off because I predicted 48 wins and the EIGHTH SPOT... I think he may be 6-7 actually.

But for people predicting 50+ wins, you have to be encouraged with this start. If anything I think that we are ahead of schedule, and I possibly sold us short. We will see... I actually really hope I am wrong!

 

[andalusian]

Once we are over the initial tough stretch - we get a marshmallow of a schedule in late december/january - and GO will be back to game shape.

This team will win 48 as a minimum - but 50-52 is the more likely outcome.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm still at 48.

 

[malarky]

I predicted 52 wins and think we are on target. As someone mentioned, if we can stay around .500 on the road while dominating at home we will be golden.

 

[Stepping Razor]

55 wins

 

[oldmangrouch]

Never thought we would crack 50 wins, and I haven't changed my mind. 45-48 depending on how many more games Penknife misses.

 

[Celtic Fan]

with the Spurs struggling and the Mavs not looking strong, I think the Blazers can win 50 and get the 6-7 seed.

The Lakers, Suns and Jazz look strong in the west now, The Hornets and Nuggs are so-so and the Spurs are hurting but treading water fine.

With the Grizz, Sonics.. whoops Thunder, Kings, Clippers and Minny looking bad, there's a lot of opportunities for easy W's.

The Rockets may be alright but not a real threat if T-Mac is busted up.

So yeah the Blazers could win 50ish this year for sure. Being so young they should continue to improve and jell.

 

[Minstrel]

I dunno. Originally, I was forecasting 52-53 wins. Now that they've played 10, barring a significant trade, I'm coming down a bit to 47-48.

We're a good team, just not that good. Know-what-I-mean?

Hmm, I'm just the opposite. I came into the season predicting less than 50 wins. I actually had them pegged for 47-48 wins. The early season has led me to believe that I may have underestimated them.

That said, I wouldn't change my prediction just yet. They've played very well considering the competition and being on the road so much, but they've won a surprising number of games right at the end that really could have gone either way. So, I think they may not be quite as good as their record but, on the other hand, they've done this without a fully ramped-up Oden, without Webster and without yet fully having figured out how to play the roster optimally.

So, I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[Haakzilla]

...I will stick with 52!!!

 

[MAS RipCity]

53-29

 

[Ed O]

Hmm, I'm just the opposite. I came into the season predicting less than 50 wins. I actually had them pegged for 47-48 wins. The early season has led me to believe that I may have underestimated them.

That said, I wouldn't change my prediction just yet. They've played very well considering the competition and being on the road so much, but they've won a surprising number of games right at the end that really could have gone either way. So, I think they may not be quite as good as their record but, on the other hand, they've done this without a fully ramped-up Oden, without Webster and without yet fully having figured out how to play the roster optimally.

So, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Exactly.

I don't see why someone would think this team is worse NOW than it was before the season started...

Ed O.

 

[ABM]

Exactly.

I don't see why someone would think this team is worse NOW than it was before the season started...

Ed O.

Well...

Blake is more so-so than I was hoping; Sergio's not quite there yet; we're still relying too much on the long ball, Oden still looks relatively awkward; Frye's over-rated; Travis still looks too helter-skelter for my ease; we still struggle guarding the perimeter; etc., etc., etc...............

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm still sticking with the homer-licious 58 wins. I was sweating a bit when Oden went down...but now that he's back and beasting (and we're 6-4) I feel good. I'm not saying we shouldn't have lost 2-3 of those games, but there've also been a couple we could have pulled out.

I think the team needs to be tweaked, and it will. If we can make it to December over .500, I really like what we can do in the latter part of the season.

 

[tlongII]

Yes.

 

[maxiep]

Once we are over the initial tough stretch - we get a marshmallow of a schedule in late december/january - and GO will be back to game shape.

This team will win 48 as a minimum - but 50-52 is the more likely outcome.

We've done as well or better during this stretch than I thought we would. Even in the games we lost (UTA, PHX, NO), we had a real chance to win.

 

[BatumKaboom]

Yeah I think it is still possible.

 

[Masbee]

I dunno. Originally, I was forecasting 52-53 wins. Now that they've played 10, barring a significant trade, I'm coming down a bit to 47-48.

We're a good team, just not that good. Know-what-I-mean?

Blake is more so-so than I was hoping; Sergio's not quite there yet; we're still relying too much on the long ball, Oden still looks relatively awkward; Frye's over-rated; Travis still looks too helter-skelter for my ease; we still struggle guarding the perimeter; etc., etc., etc...............

Blake has been about what I expected, not sure why you think a disappointment, but nobody was counting on him doing too much regardless, so little "loss" there.

Sergio isn't there, but who penciled him in for anything other than what he has done? We still have Bayless smoldering on the bench, ready for his shot. So, the depth will carry us through injuries that will level other teams.

Oden looks awkward because he is out of game shape. Give him a month before you form any opinions. And as Oden has played limited minutes, we have got GREAT contribution from Joel in his stead. So our dropoff from lack of quality time from our franchise center has been far less than other team's in this situation.

Frye has not been good. But more then made up by the unexpectedly stellar play of rookie Rudy Fernandez.

Travis has been fine, the usual Travis, with a little extra in a couple of games. Not sure why you think that is bad. In addition, we have found a contributor in Batum, that gives the coach options.

Really, the guy who seems a little lost so far is not Blake or Travis or Frye, it has been Aldridge. He needs to figure out how to be a consistent force.

Dude, we started with the toughest schedule in NBA history, and are coming out of it above .500. We have Oden working his way back, to hopefully help through the rest of the toughest part of the Blazer's season. If they can gut through this stretch as well as they already have, they would have the wind at their backs for an opportunity to pick up a bunch of games in the standings.

 

[hasoos]

Here is the reason I picked 55+ back when I did it.

We all know Portland was .500 last year.

I still think Oden is worth a 10 game improvement by the time it is all said and done.

Rudy and Bayless will be worth an easy 3 more games, if not more. Some of those games will be the same ones, Greg, above effects though.

I think that puts them at 55 easy if they are consistent.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I originally predicted 56-58 wins. I'm sticking to my guns and think they have a good shot to actually get 58 wins this season. In spite of the injuries to Martell and Oden, and the extrememly tough schedule, they are 6-4. Other than the opening night loss to the Lakers, they've been in every game late in the 4th quarter.

Last year, they struggled to win on the road, even against inferior teams. Last year, they lost their first nine road games and didn't get their 3rd road victory until December 16. This year, they won their 3rd road game on November 15 - a month ahead of last year's pace. I find that very encouraging and a sign that this team is making significant progress They are young and still learning to play together. They will only get better as the season progresses.

50 wins, no problem. Anybody think they can get 60?

BNM