Can this team win in the playoffs?

[Natebishop3]

What are your thoughts? Can this team make a run in the playoffs as it's currently constructed?

Obviously it depends on the opponent, but I like our chances against the Spurs or Lakers right now.

 

[B-Roy]

I think it depends on the matchup. I think we have a good shot against San Antonio and OKC.

I really hope we play OKC, they've got no one who can guard new LaMarcus.

 

[RR7]

Don't care. Going to enjoy winning while we are. What I have seen from this board is the lows get way too low(season over, trade everyone), and the highs get way too high(can we win a title now?!). Not, obviously, saying you are saying that.
To answer the question, to get past LA in 7, we need a trade. Or Joel to get back to 100%. Not this limping around stuff. And even then, we need a trade. He has no offense whatsoever. We can not afford to play 4 on 5 against them in the playoffs. I'll take a hit on his D for an increase in O.

 

[Sug]

Nope, season is over, Nate sucks, and LMA is not a franchise player.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm not sure. Everybody ahead of them in the standings seems like kind of a bad matchup, and without home-court advantage I don't think I'd go as far as to say they can beat the Mavs, Lakers, Spurs, or Thunder 4 out of 7 times. I really want to see Cho make one move with Joel's expiring or with some other guys to get a solid starting caliber player (preferably a big or a solid point guard) before I'd pencil them in to the second round.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not sure. Everybody ahead of them in the standings seems like kind of a bad matchup, and without home-court advantage I don't think I'd go as far as to say they can beat the Mavs, Lakers, Spurs, or Thunder 4 out of 7 times. I really want to see Cho make one move with Joel's expiring or with some other guys to get a solid starting caliber player (preferably a big or a solid point guard) before I'd pencil them in to the second round.

Yeah, I was thinking we might be able to pull something off with Joel and maybe Babbitt or something like that. It would be nice to get a backup point guard or a backup forward.

 

[PapaG]

I don't really care. I'm just enjoying the ride right now. Everybody on the team, coaching staff included, is proving their worth in terms of worth in the NBA and showing effort.

This Blazer team should be one of the most embraced in Portland's history, but I think most real fans are so beat down by injuries/bad news that we're not appreciating a very positive story. I just hope that no matter what happens, Blazer fans step back and realize how bad things could be right now without a very good coaching staff and a player in LMA that has exploded into being a star. I get chills when I reflect where I was when Oden's injury news came out, and then Roy's news came out a few months later.

Thank you, Blazers, for just playing hard and caring. That's all any fan can ask.

 

[PapaG]

Nope, season is over, Nate sucks, and LMA is not a franchise player.

Is this sarcasm? Or just some bitter fan with overinflated expectations?

 

[illmatic99]

Depends on the opponent. I like our chances vs. OKC and SA. But it will be much easier to answer if we make some moves to get a backup big at the deadline.

 

[RoyToy]

All I ask for is a more entertaining series than the playoff series last year against the Suns. 3/6 games were total blowouts.

That said, don't really want to fuck with the Spurs or Lakers. Leaves either the Mavs or Thunder and both would be tough so it doesn't really matter.

 

[oldguy]

Hell yes they can win in the playoffs. I'm hopeful that Brandon will bring scoring punch in time for the PO's. I'm confident that Marcus will be back by then.

When Marcus comes back we're just fine with Joel and LA backing up at C. Marcus adds the length they need to compete with LA's and SA's. Marcus will bring the rebounds they've been missing, and the extra possessions those rebounds bring. They're better defensively on the perimeter this year with Wesley. With MC back, with his shot blocking skills, they're tough defensively in the middle.

We now have the dominate low post scorer we've needed since Zach left. Only LA plays D. Defense and a killer low post game wins in the playoffs.

WE'RE #5, WE'RE #5, WE'RE #5!!1! Geez, guys....it's ok to be happy when the team is winning.

Go Blazers

 

[EGame]

It depends what Roy can bring us and if he can be somewhat a shell of his former self while still realizing that we need to go to Aldridge as much as possible then we can be dangerous. However, I do not want to face the Lakers (even if they do look miserable now) or Spurs in the first round. Thunder would be ideal and even though they beat us twice at there place this season, I wouldn't mind the Mavs since both those games were very close and we seem to match up much better with them lately. Plus if Caron is still out by then, that could be nice...

 

[Minstrel]

I think this team could win a playoff series, especially if they grab a 5/6 seed.

If the catch the Spurs or Lakers, they still could win, but the chances drop. At least, assuming the Lakers can snap out of the funk they're in right now. The Lakers have slumped in the past few seasons too, so I'll wait til they actually fail in the playoffs before I view them as non-elite team.

 

[BrianFromWA]

4 games from HCA

 

[Natebishop3]

I think it all hinges on Aldridge. If he can stay healthy and keep playing at this level, I really like our chances.

 

[Klinky]

Everyone in the west is vulnerable, even the Spurs might breakdown or run out of gas. The Lakers have looked pretty sour as of late, but they always seem to bring it come playoff time. I don't think anybody is going to rollover, but what with our better play as of late and the worse play of some of the other western teams, it gives me some hope of a potential playoff series victory.

A win against L.A. would be a big booster, especially if Roy can contribute somewhat, while not affecting LaMarcus' game.

 

[maxiep]

4 games from HCA

Those two close losses to OKC earlier in the season haunt us right now.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Those two close losses to OKC earlier in the season haunt us right now.

Yep--5 point leads late in each. Hold on to both games, and we're tied for the division lead right now.

 

[Mediocre Man]

No.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

No.

What if they switched coaches.

 

[e_blazer]

Yes, although there may be a TRADE COMING SOON that could impact their chances.

 

[PapaG]

My scout friend tells me that Nate doesn't actually coach this year, and is merely a puppet for Bernie Bickerstaff, who is pulling the strings.

So, maybe?

 

[Mediocre Man]

What if they switched coaches.

Funny, but No still

 

[BlazerBeav]

The problem with the playoffs is that the scheduling greatly helps the older teams - particularly LA and SA. We've seen what happens to the Lakers when they have to play 4 games in 5 nights. I don't want to play LA because we all know that Kobe can hit that switch when needed. The Spurs, though, are a good matchup personnel wise for us.

Dallas and OKC are both very tough opponents, but again we have the right personnel to match up with them. Butler is officially done for the year, right?

 

[maxiep]

Butler is officially done for the year, right?

Yep. If we faced Dallas, the key to the series would be the respect Aldridge received from the refs. A couple of cheap flops by Dirk and LA could be on the bench.

 

[maxiep]

I'd love to see a first round game with OKC. The key to that series would be our ability to contain Westbrook.

 

[hasoos]

I believe they can if the matchups are right. For instance, San Antonio seems to have a ton of problems with us. About the same amount of problems that Houston caused us a couple of seasons back when they seemed to have our number.

 

[MIXUM]

Hollinger weighs in...

Brett (Fargo, ND)

They way the Blazers are playing right now, once healthy, they might be one of the scariest dark horses out there? I know if I'm a higher seed in the West that I dont want to play these guys!
John Hollinger (12:13 PM)

I actually don't see the Blazers as being that scary unless Roy comes back as productive sixth man. Right now they're scraping by with a paper-thin rotation by playing everybody 40-plus minutes, but you can't get through the last three months that way. Add Camby and a halfway-decent Roy to the mix, though, and it becomes a much different proposition. Otherwise, the bottom seed in the West that is the scariest for top seeds is definitely Memphis.

 

[LittleAlex]

Sure, they have a shot.

It's not a great one but they have a chance to get to the second round.

 

[andalusian]

I think that OKC as it is currently constructed and the current Blazers are very close We only lost in the previous games with Roy being hobbled and LMA not displaying his current aggressive go to the post self.