Are the Blazers a gigantic Wild Card in the West?

[chris_in_pdx]

Besides Lillard, the Blazers have a bunch of "potential". I hate the word, because it basically says "I have no f'ing idea how the team is going to be". Which is, itself, a true statement.

Meyers Leonard, CJ McCollum, and Allen Crabbe are the returners that are going to be asked to shoulder the legacy role with Lillard, but they themselves are unknowns how they will react and perform with the spotlight shined directly on them on a consistent basis.

Of the newbies, it's all a crapshoot. Mason Plumlee, Al-Farouq Aminu, Noah Vonleh didn't exactly set their previous teams on fire with their performance, and Gerald Henderson was a "good player on a bad team". Ed Davis and Maurice Harkless... man, who knows? They could be 6th Men Superstars, or end-of-bench towel-wavers.

This is going to be one of those years where it's either going to be a surprising awesome ride, or a huge rollercoaster of suck that will make us wish in March for the season to be over. Not too much in between. I feel sorry for the season ticket holders who got sold on the LaMarcus Express, and now have to sit through another expensive "reloading".

 

[Hobbesarable]

Besides Lillard, the Blazers have a bunch of "potential". I hate the word, because it basically says "I have no f'ing idea how the team is going to be". Which is, itself, a true statement.

Meyers Leonard, CJ McCollum, and Allen Crabbe are the returners that are going to be asked to shoulder the legacy role with Lillard, but they themselves are unknowns how they will react and perform with the spotlight shined directly on them on a consistent basis.

Of the newbies, it's all a crapshoot. Mason Plumlee, Al-Farouq Aminu, Noah Vonleh didn't exactly set their previous teams on fire with their performance, and Gerald Henderson was a "good player on a bad team". Ed Davis and Maurice Harkless... man, who knows? They could be 6th Men Superstars, or end-of-bench towel-wavers.

This is going to be one of those years where it's either going to be a surprising awesome ride, or a huge rollercoaster of suck that will make us wish in March for the season to be over. Not too much in between. I feel sorry for the season ticket holders who got sold on the LaMarcus Express, and now have to sit through another expensive "reloading".

I don't know if our team is going to make the playoffs. Win or lose, I'm going to enjoy the season. Go Blazers!

 

[BigGameDamian]

All the non playoff teams are wild cards at this point.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Remember Phoenix a couple years ago? I feel like we're about there.

 

[blue32]

no

 

[PCmor7]

No.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

No.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The only way we'll affect the playoffs is if a player from a good team gets injured in a game against us.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'll ask the question after the first two weeks of training camp.

 

[kjironman1]

No.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

No.

 

[BonesJones]

We have the potential to be above average if they mesh right away. We have, in my opinion, above average starting big men. Average starting wings and a superstar PG. Our bench has a solid 6th man in CJ and solid bigs.

And you know who that reminds me of? OKC without Durant last year.

Lillard is our Westbrook.
Plumlee is our Kanter, only not as good on offense and better on defense.
Meyers is our Serge. Athletic big man that can hit 3s. If he can become a better than average defender they can have the same impact.
Aminu is our Anthony Roberson. Lockdown defender. Long and athletic. I think Aminu is a better rebounder and a better offensive player.
Henderson is our Jeremy Lamb.
Pressey is our DJ Augustin. Not quite as good but they play alike.
CJ is our Dion Waiters, only more efficient and a better defender.
Ed Davis is our Nick Collision. Very Solid defender who's meh offensively.
Vonleh is our Mitch McGary/PJ3. Young project player with loads of upside like McGary, who can shoot and put it on the floor like Perry Jones.
Crabbe is our Kyle Singler. Good shooter, solid defender, can't do much else.

That OKC team was 1 game away from the playoffs. That's our ceiling, and we only reach it if Dame puts the team on his back just like Westbrook did. If he can put up similar numbers and lead us to the playoffs, he'll be a top 5 MVP candidate, and we will go into the offseason with a chance to lure a top free agent.

 

[santeesioux]

We're going to be getting a top 4 pick next year, and if we get helped out like the Cavs did when Lebron fucked them over the first time, we're going to get a new Aussie SF!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Are the Blazers a gigantic Wild Card in the West?

Yes, to win the first pick in the draft.

 

[BonesJones]

We're going to be getting a top 4 pick next year, and if we get helped out like the Cavs did when Lebron fucked them over the first time, we're going to get a new Aussie SF!

you mean top 3? And either that or a Haitian PF. The Amazin Hatian FTW.

 

[Shooter]

Lillard is our Westbrook.

Oh, Lord, I wish that were true.

 

[ebott]

Yes, to win the first pick in the draft.

YES!!!!

 

[magnifier661]

Bitch ride the pine for that non believing bullshit!

 

[rasheedfan2005]

ill take a ring and top pick cause im greedy like that, but ill settle for a ring

 

[BonesJones]

Oh, Lord, I wish that were true.

I'm not saying he's as good. Just in terms of style

 

[ripcityboy]

I realize I am reaching an early mid-life crisis and am now dreaming of a top pick. Ben Simmons..... Are you the one? If you come here, I will follow your AFL team I swear!

 

[LizardKing]

I don't think we're going to be as bad as people think. All of the dudes we signed play real hard D and are going to be competing for minutes with each other. Dame and CJ will be getting buckets and who knows who our rotation players will be but we're a much deeper team top to bottom than most teams in the League. If we can hash out a consistent 3rd scorer, either with the starters or the bench, I'd say we can hover around 500 all season long.
Is this a playoff team? Not in this conference. Is it going to be challenged offensively? Most of the time. But is it outright bad? I don't think so.

 

[PDXFonz]

I just randomly chose this thread to post this. Do you remember how hyped people were for that season?...Turned out to be one of the worst. Not a lot of people seem too hyped for this next season, maybe it will be one of the best.

 

[KingSpeed]

I just randomly chose this thread to post this. Do you remember how hyped people were for that season?...Turned out to be one of the worst. Not a lot of people seem too hyped for this next season, maybe it will be one of the best.

One of the worst? That was probably my favorite Blazers season of the last 10 years. It was the season where we went on a 13 game win streak which led me to following the team on the road. We didn't make the playoffs but we finished at .500 and a corner had been turned. Outlaw was fucking CLUTCH that season. Fun fun team.

 

[KingSpeed]

Oh wait, I was thinking you were talking of Rise With Us 2007-08 season. I didn't watch the video.

 

[KingSpeed]

Lockout season did suck.

 

[stampedehero]

Besides Lillard, the Blazers have a bunch of "potential". I hate the word, because it basically says "I have no f'ing idea how the team is going to be". Which is, itself, a true statement.

Meyers Leonard, CJ McCollum, and Allen Crabbe are the returners that are going to be asked to shoulder the legacy role with Lillard, but they themselves are unknowns how they will react and perform with the spotlight shined directly on them on a consistent basis.

Of the newbies, it's all a crapshoot. Mason Plumlee, Al-Farouq Aminu, Noah Vonleh didn't exactly set their previous teams on fire with their performance, and Gerald Henderson was a "good player on a bad team". Ed Davis and Maurice Harkless... man, who knows? They could be 6th Men Superstars, or end-of-bench towel-wavers.

This is going to be one of those years where it's either going to be a surprising awesome ride, or a huge rollercoaster of suck that will make us wish in March for the season to be over. Not too much in between. I feel sorry for the season ticket holders who got sold on the LaMarcus Express, and now have to sit through another expensive "reloading".

+> "Rollercoaster of suck" is a perfect phrase.... Also somehow I don't see Crabbe's name striking fear into opponents. For light hearted opinion, these names could have different expectations to other NBA fans: Meyers Leonard sounds like a litigation attorney and CJ McCollum sounds like a rodeo star. Mason Plumlee sounds like a high school chemistry teacher who took over Lynrd Skynrds place. Al-Farouq Aminu sounds like a halil meat deli in NJ, Noah Vonleh sounds like a Ob-Gyn specialist and Gerald Henderson sounds like a body in a Celtics uniform. Ed Davis.....hmmmm.. Dept of Transportation state worker and finally Maurice Harkless...golf pro at a small CC.
Really...I hope we end up 10 games over .500, then the team can appoint a mascot bully (Allen Crabbe) .

 

[dviss1]

Oh, Lord, I wish that were true.

He lights Westbrook up every time they play.

 

[dviss1]

+> "Rollercoaster of suck" is a perfect phrase.... Also somehow I don't see Crabbe's name striking fear into opponents. For light hearted opinion, these names could have different expectations to other NBA fans: Meyers Leonard sounds like a litigation attorney and CJ McCollum sounds like a rodeo star. Mason Plumlee sounds like a high school chemistry teacher who took over Lynrd Skynrds place. Al-Farouq Aminu sounds like a halil meat deli in NJ, Noah Vonleh sounds like a Ob-Gyn specialist and Gerald Henderson sounds like a body in a Celtics uniform. Ed Davis.....hmmmm.. Dept of Transportation state worker and finally Maurice Harkless...golf pro at a small CC.
Really...I hope we end up 10 games over .500, then the team can appoint a mascot bully (Allen Crabbe) .

And Kevin Durant sounds like the name of a CPA. Who gives a shit? I want D'lincoln Tramarsay Jones to come and fucking kill. I could give a shit what his name is.

 

[stampedehero]

And Kevin Durant sounds like the name of a CPA. Who gives a shit? I want D'lincoln Tramarsay Jones to come and fucking kill. I could give a shit what his name is.

Where did you come from??? Appears like.... Chill .. Relax...Be