Do you guys believe that Portland is a contender?

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bbwSwish

bbwSwish

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I read these forums pretty frequently and I'm just curious, do guys think the Blazers are contenders this season?
 
unless there is a major coup on the trade market I don't see them contending this year. Even if they stand pat for the most part they could be a contender next though

STOMP
 
Yes. If by "Contender" you mean WCF participant or better, then yes.
 
No. But I wouldn't be completely shocked if they found a way to get passed the first round. Greg will have to become a bigger focus offensively and also avoid getting plagued by fouls for Portland to even sniff the 2nd round.
 
I think they can be contenders this season (without trading) if the stars line up just right! Meaning during the playoffs the level of play by the Blazers increases on offense and defense and if a few teams have some injury's to key players down the stretch while we stay healthy. I think we will be in the playoffs for sure so you never know what could happen. We are also still waiting to see what a fully healthy Webster will bring but a completely healthy and confident Blazers team could be very scary for other teams in the Playoffs.
 
I think that if Roy, Oden, and LMA can consistently fire on all cylinders for more than a 2 game period, than yes.
 
Nope, not until they can win big games on the road against teams at full strength. The goal is to make the playoffs and see what happens, but it's asking a lot to go very far in the post season when you're the youngest team in the league. Anything can happen though.
 
No.

They are good but not "next level" yet.

Contenders are: Lakers, Celtics, Cavs (even that's iffy as far as playoffs) and Spurs.

everyone else would be a surprise to win it all.
 
We have good-to-excellent talent, depth and energy. These overcome lack of experience and other weaknesses in the regular season.

I don't believe we have, yet, the experience and peak talent to kick it up a notch against the elite teams in the playoffs. I agree with those above who say we might get out of the 1st round depending on matchups and which side of the pendulum we are playing on for that 1st series.
 
A title contender? No. Oden is still developing and is not reliable at this stage to be depended upon both offensively and defensively, the PGs are below average or at best even in terms of the elite teams, and the SF position is a loss against teams like Boston, Orlando, and the Lakers.

Can this team make the WCF? Perhaps, depending on who they match up with if they make the playoffs. Next season, however, if the teams stays healthy and upgrades either PG or SF, I see 55+ wins and a legitimate shot at beating any other team in a series.
 
This team as currently constructed is not good enough defensively to be considered a legit contender. I put them pretty firmly in the "good enough to get to the playoffs and possibly win a series depending on a favorable matchup" category. But until I see them fix their pick and roll defense and until Oden can demonstrate that he can stay on the court and not get into early foul trouble this team will be an also-ran.
 
Not this year, unless we land a star SF through a trade.

Next year, the Blazers should contend - once the players get steadier, up the intelligence level of the defense. Speaking of intelligence, did I mention that Trout+Raef might help us get a great SF?

iWatas
 
I did think that ... until the Celtics game in Boston. We're just not there yet. We're getting there though.

If we made a move though to bring in Gerald Wallace or Vince Carter, that would change my mind.
 
Not even remotely close.

Portland is a contender to make the playoffs, but that's not a sure thing. We are at least 1 player away from seriously contending for anything, and probably another year at least until we contend for a title of any sorts.


Anyone who says differently is fooling themselves and is more than likely a homer
 
Anybody can be a contender if you get hot. What has Nate been talking about the last couple of weeks? Getting hot. A team on a roll can make some amazing things happen. Just make sure that roll is going into the playoffs, and its all the better. So, the Blazers just need to make the playoffs, and get on a roll. Then they can at least make some teams sweat.
 
If you mean do we have a chance... sure... if you mean we would be listed in the favorites... no way. I think we have a change... but I wouldn't call us contenders. I'd use that for about 4 teams.
 
They could be with a trade for Butler or maybe Carter. Otherwise, this team is going to make it to the second round. Which is a damned sight better than we're used to.
 
Absolutely they are. We are getting better almost every game and we have the 4th best record in the West. If that's not a contender I don't know what is?
 
Who do you guys think have a better chance to win it all this year, Spurs or Blazers?
 
mook said:
They could be with a trade for Butler or maybe Carter. Otherwise, this team is going to make it to the second round. Which is a damned sight better than we're used to.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I'm amazed that some posters on here are all or nothing with their hopes for the team. Yes, the ultimate goal for every team should be winning the championship, but we all know the Blazers aren't designed or built to win championships this year or even next. Growing, as players and a team, is the short term goal. And the first bullet on that list is making the playoffs which, barring a major rash of injuries, will happen this year. I would think that a first round playoff victory and making it to the second round is a lofty, yet realistic goal for the team THIS YEAR. Next year? 2nd round or WCF. Starting in 2010-11? That should be the beginning of the window for this team as it is now. Roy and Aldridge will be the veteran cornerstones, Oden will be the rock in the middle dictating everything on the floor, and Batum/Webster/Bayless/Sergio will be on the wings wrecking havoc.

I can see some people's point about patience being run out, and wanting some results... but doesn't 30-17 count for anything? After where this franchise has been the past half-decade, isn't a playoff berth something to get excited about? Rome wasn't built in a day, as the old saying goes.
 
This forum may have some crazies, but most of us are pretty realistic about the expectations this year. So no, we're not contending this year unless we get a guy like Caron for cheap which probably won't happen.
Most of us were probably happy before the season just to see this team make the playoffs.
 
it's_GO_time said:
A lot of "experts" didn't think NO was a contender at this time last year.
Click to expand...

And as the Spurs demonstrated, the Hornets were in fact NOT a contender last year, they were a paper tiger (just like us).
 
Not close to being one at all.

Assuming no Pau Gasol caliber trade (ie, unused/unloved parts for All-Star talent). And even then, I don't think team defense can be fixed mid-season.

Too young. Too inexperienced. Never been a team with defense this bad to win it all.

With the injury to Bynum and the Spurs more dependant than ever before on their Big 3, the Blazers are a dark-horse candidate to make it to the finals.

If the Lakers/Spurs have further injury problems to key players, the Blazers stay healthy, they go into the playoffs in the top bracket (avoiding 3 tough series), get favorable matchups, AND they get hot, they have a shot to sneak into the finals. Once in they would be crushed by the Celtics/Cavs who have great defenses.

But the immortal words of wisdom from our esteemed elders should guide our actions:


<DL><DD>Lloyd: The least you could do is level with me. What are my chances? <DD>Mary: Not good. <DD>Lloyd: You mean like one out of a hundred? <DD>Mary: More like one out of a million. <DD>Lloyd: So you're tellin' me there's a chance. </DD></DL>THERE IS A CHANCE!


So, the Blazers should play for a top 4 seed.

And once they get that they should play to win the series.

And the next one.

And the next one.

And, if they should find themselves in the Finals, they should, you know.....


Play to Win!
 
Not this year without a ridiculously lopsided trade. Next year? I think they have a shot.
 
I don't think we are... I think Batum, Oden and Bayless need to develop more for us to be a top contender.
 
Are there about six or eight teams who project to be better in the playoffs than us? Sure. So in that sense, we're not a contender because we're not an elite team (Lakers, Cavs, Magic, Celtics, I'd put the Spurs in there)...

But are we a dangerous team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs? Absolutely. We're playing four rookies in the rotation! They're all already better than they were two months ago, and they'll be better in another two months.

And especially the way this team plays at home, us getting HCA means we just might make it to the second round. And in the second round, you're only one series away from the WCF.

So no, we're not a contender for a title. Except that we'll be 1 of 16, maybe 1 of 8 with a shot... and then, who knows...
 
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