Don't be mad at "THE", but................

[ucatchtrout]

Look at the 7 game stretch last month: Kings, Suns, @Magic, @Heat, @Mavs, @Spurs (no Roy), Nuggets. How many did you see us winning?

Look at the roster last month. How many more players did we have?

 

[KingSpeed]

HCP has a point. Look at this months schedule and ask yourself how many of those games you see us winning.

You see it a lot from a team after a big trade or when they fire a head coach. Everybody rallies and steps their game up. I hope I'm wrong, and will be the first to admit it, but talent is what wins in this league and we are missing a ton of it.

The truth is that this team is playing better now than before Oden went down. Oden's injury brought the focus back to Roy and he loves it that way. He even intimated so in post game quotes.

 

[KingSpeed]

Look at the roster last month. How many more players did we have?

Ummm Joel went down during the Dallas game and Roy missed the game in SA. Oden, Rudy, Outlaw missed all 7 games.

 

[alex42083]

I think we'll hang on and grab a playoff spot. The only worry is we need one more big body who can play (sorry Shav, it's not you). Rudy and Nicolas will be a huge help when they return, and I think we have enough talent to pull through. I don't bet against B-Roy.

The only thing I don't see is fulfilling our preseason expectations of winning a first-round playoff series.

 

[mgb]

Roy and LMA playing a lot of mins is eventually going to catch up with them. It all depends on how the rest of the team does and how long it takes for players to come back from injuries. I do expect a period when shots don't drop and we'll struggle, but we have shown that we can slow down the pace and make almost any game a close game if we have to. Even if we do struggle at some point that doesn't mean we won't make the playoffs though I can already see the reaction from some posters when we do struggle.

 

[Samuel]

We'll play well for a while, but through this we haven't solved the riddle of fast break points and the creation of high percentage shots on offense. It was the same story 2 years ago after the streak--we were absolutely bananas from deep that season.

 

[MIXUM]

HCP... im not saying your wrong but i just read this morning that Rudy and Travis will be back by the end of the month....


Batum and Rudy Fernandez are expected to return sometime later this month from injuries and that could cut into the playing time, if not end it completely, for Cunningham and Pendergraph. But in the meantime, the Blazers will continue to rely on the surprising rookie duo.



I think we all know it will be a tough month but as long as we can get maybe 5-6 wins... in a long January... i think we will be ok.

 

[Paxil]

When this team is against the wall... they seem to play better. When they schedule is tough... they play tougher. I will not count them out. Sure logic would say it will be tough... I understand that... but you have to play the games. Anyone thinking they can relax because the Blazers and underhanded, has had a rude awakening. Against the Warriors we played a style I haven't seen yet this year against a team that should have been better at it and yet... somehow... we won.

I am a bit worried about riding out big horses too much though. How will Roy hold up? Do we really want to risk major injury to him just for a first round exit?

So far I have been shocked at how well and hard the team has played. This team has dug deep... and when everyone the planet would have understood a letdown... they came back even stronger. They remind me of the knight in Monty Python that gets its limbs cut off and yet they keep battling. AND WINNING.

This team has heart. This team has guts. Will reality catch up to them? Maybe. Maybe. But instead of cashing it in... it is obvious they are going to play hard and make teams beat them. As a fan... that is all I can ask.

 

[oldguy]

hcp.... its really simple then. you are saying our core sucks and we cant win without joel or oden.

Our 3 best players in Roy, Rudy and LA and we cant make the playoffs? Well then we are over rated. I mean give me a break. I realize till LA, Blake and Rudy come back things will be hard but if you and all the posters on here wanna talk about "our great future" then roy, la, and rudy should get us the 8 seed at worst. This team didnt even play well with oden. And even though we miss outlaws offense... are you fucking kidding me that a team that you all say is gonna win future titles cant make the playoffs with 3 main players of the core?

THAT IS WEAK! We have 22 wins in EARLY JANUARY. 10 more wins from now till the all star break would get us 32 in Feb. We really arent gonna win 15-17 games from Mid Feb through April? Really??? Cause Oden and Joel are out lol? So HCP and some other fools really think that this team wont win 25 more games this year? All yu will need in the west is about 47-48 wins. book it.

You guys kill me on here yet you have no faith in your best players yet you defend them over the thunder and kings rosters. If roy rudy and la cant get us the 8th seed... its time to rethink your little core.

p.s. didnt HCP say this after the spurs win. he is still waiting for us to fall apart. do the mikes know about this? what a fucking joke.

Its safe to say we are the New York Mets from this past baseball season. We had huge expectations and lost half the team to injuries. You can only fix so many holes. Eventually... you just have no answer. mets didnt make a trade... we wont either.


season over.

And here I thought you were consistent. You say this kind of shit, then jump down other posters' throats for saying the same thing. Whatever.

Go Blazers

 

[BlazerBeav]

It's the NBA - consistent effort, especially on defense, will be enough to get us into the playoffs even with a depleted effort. We have one of the best players in the league to help us overcome the mediocre clubs and even give us a shot against the contenders.

 

[the ob]

hcp.... its really simple then. you are saying our core sucks and we cant win without joel or oden.

Our 3 best players in Roy, Rudy and LA and we cant make the playoffs? Well then we are over rated. I mean give me a break. I realize till LA, Blake and Rudy come back things will be hard but if you and all the posters on here wanna talk about "our great future" then roy, la, and rudy should get us the 8 seed at worst. This team didnt even play well with oden. And even though we miss outlaws offense... are you fucking kidding me that a team that you all say is gonna win future titles cant make the playoffs with 3 main players of the core?

THAT IS WEAK! We have 22 wins in EARLY JANUARY. 10 more wins from now till the all star break would get us 32 in Feb. We really arent gonna win 15-17 games from Mid Feb through April? Really??? Cause Oden and Joel are out lol? So HCP and some other fools really think that this team wont win 25 more games this year? All yu will need in the west is about 47-48 wins. book it.

You guys kill me on here yet you have no faith in your best players yet you defend them over the thunder and kings rosters. If roy rudy and la cant get us the 8th seed... its time to rethink your little core.

p.s. didnt HCP say this after the spurs win. he is still waiting for us to fall apart. do the mikes know about this? what a fucking joke.

I never thought rudy was one of our three best players.

 

[RR7]

Is January's schedule really THAT difficult?

Golden State - W
Clippers
Memphis
Lakers
Cavaliers
Milwaukee
Orlando
Washington
Philadelphia
Boston
Detroit
New orleans
Utah
Houston
Dallas


Boston, Lakers, Cavs and Magic are all better teams than us, and 4 likely losses. Of course, if Boston isn't healthy by then, that game becomes more interesting. Dallas should be a tight game. Houston has played well, and could potentially look different by that time, if McGrady is shopped, but I still think we're a better team than they are. Not saying there are "easy" games, but Milwaukee, Houston, Memphis, new Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Philadelphia are all winnable games. It's not an easy schedule, but not the difficult schedule I have heard people make it out to be.

 

[Entity]

The only thing that would concern me is that they become worn out before they can get some players back, but Portland could have 12 players by the end of the month. Hopefully not having a true center won't hurt them too much like it's not necessarily hurting Houston.

 

[tlongII]

And here I thought you were consistent. You say this kind of shit, then jump down other posters' throats for saying the same thing. Whatever.

Go Blazers

MIXUM is just being contrarian. That's his schtick. Once you realize this it won't bother you too much.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Is January's schedule really THAT difficult?

Golden State - W
Clippers
Memphis
Lakers
Cavaliers
Milwaukee
Orlando
Washington
Philadelphia
Boston
Detroit
New orleans
Utah
Houston
Dallas


Boston, Lakers, Cavs and Magic are all better teams than us, and 4 likely losses. Of course, if Boston isn't healthy by then, that game becomes more interesting. Dallas should be a tight game. Houston has played well, and could potentially look different by that time, if McGrady is shopped, but I still think we're a better team than they are. Not saying there are "easy" games, but Milwaukee, Houston, Memphis, new Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Philadelphia are all winnable games. It's not an easy schedule, but not the difficult schedule I have heard people make it out to be.

If you're being objective (looking strictly at matchups, strength of opponent, home and away, back to backs, etc.) you could pencil in 9 losses and not think twice about it. That doesn't mean they will go 6-9, but I'd probably take that and be happy with it.

 

[BlazerWookee]

...........I still don't think we will make the playoffs. What this team is doing right now is simply amazing! BUT..................... there is no way they can continue this. Brandon is carrying way too much on his shoulders and it is making me nervous. I am so proud of my team, but the law of averages have to catch up with us anytime right? I just realistically don't believe my boys can keep this up. Go BLAZERS?

HATER! BURN THE HERETIC!

<Trying to keep a straight face>

 

[Eastoff]

HCP... im not saying your wrong but i just read this morning that Rudy and Travis will be back by the end of the month....


Batum and Rudy Fernandez are expected to return sometime later this month from injuries and that could cut into the playing time, if not end it completely, for Cunningham and Pendergraph. But in the meantime, the Blazers will continue to rely on the surprising rookie duo.



I think we all know it will be a tough month but as long as we can get maybe 5-6 wins... in a long January... i think we will be ok.

Travis Batum? Or Nicolas Outlaw?

 

[Eastoff]

Is January's schedule really THAT difficult?

18-0 baby!

 

[mook]

This team as it is right now reminds me a lot of the post-Shaq Miami Heat. Superstar shooting guard, a couple of decent guys, and some "upside" guys who may pan out eventually. Mostly winning with scrappy defense and a superstar willing to carry the offense.

When Wade is healthy, that team's basically a .520 or so squad. When he's not healthy, well, maybe it's a good night to go catch a movie.

We're 22-13 right now. If we finish out the season playing .520 basketball, that's 25 more wins, or 47 total wins for the year. Some years that's good enough for the 7th or 8th seed.

However....Now it's always a little risky to say when you've hit rock bottom, because so often there's still another surprise in store. But I just have to believe this is as close to rock bottom as we'll see this year. Rudy and Batum will definitely come back. Maybe Outlaw too. Bayless has shown glimpses of All-Star talent. Aldridge and Miller tend to start slow and find their grooves midseason. Blake is finally getting his three point shot back (without it he's worthless). Pendergraph and Cunningham are starting to look serviceable.

If we start actually catching a few breaks, suddenly maybe we're better than the Heat and a .580 team instead, which translates to a 52 win season. In which case you're looking at maybe as high as a 5th or 6th seed.

Anyway, the 60 wins I predicted at the beginning of the season is clearly out the door. But I'm a long way from conceding the playoffs entirely.

 

[RR7]

Which 9 are you putting down as Ls? Lakers, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Memphis(back to back, they've been playing well), Dallas. MAYBE Philadelphia, because of our struggles with them. That would put us at 8-7, which, with our depleted roster, I would be alright with. Would put us at what, 30-20?

 

[LittleAlex]

If you're being objective (looking strictly at matchups, strength of opponent, home and away, back to backs, etc.) you could pencil in 9 losses and not think twice about it. That doesn't mean they will go 6-9, but I'd probably take that and be happy with it.

Portland could play .500 ball for the rest of the season and probably sneak into the playoffs. I am guessing they will win 4 or 5 of the 9 games which would be just fine with me.

 

[hasoos]

My best guess is right now that the team does what a Miami Heat team from the old days would have done. That is to overachieve and play at a high level during the regular season and make the playoffs, but they will not have another gear to go into when they hit the playoffs, becaue they are already playing as well as they can.

 

[ABM]

Portland could play .500 ball for the rest of the season and probably sneak into the playoffs.

I should say so. That would be 50 wins.

Edit that: 45-46 wins.

 

[Eastoff]

I should say so. That would be 50 wins.

Edit that: 45-46 wins.

I think that would put us just outside the play offs Phoenix had 46 last year and Utah had 48.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't think fans can expect a whole lot with Howard as the starting center for the rest of the year.

 

[andalusian]

I think that would put us just outside the play offs Phoenix had 46 last year and Utah had 48.

I think you need to get less wins to get in the playoffs this year, if only for the fact that the bottom of the conference is no longer as crappy as it was last year. Memphis, Sacramento and OKC play much better basketball. This means, it seems, that there is greater parity between the haves and have-nots in the conference, so I suspect that 45-46 will get you in the playoffs this year.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Which 9 are you putting down as Ls? Lakers, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Memphis(back to back, they've been playing well), Dallas. MAYBE Philadelphia, because of our struggles with them. That would put us at 8-7, which, with our depleted roster, I would be alright with. Would put us at what, 30-20?

Also a road game against the Rockets, who are very tough at home.

 

[Kaydow]

I can't remember anybody who referred to themselves as "THE" and was as universally and readily identified as HCP.

While I don't agree with your 20-30 prediction for the last 50 games (and missing the playoffs) I have to admit that you have reached the absolute pinnacle of fame. Everybody knows "Prince", "Madonna", "Pele'", "Meatloaf" . . . and now we add "THE" to the list. Remarkable.

 

[maxiep]

We're running Brandon ragged.

He's our only go-to guy; LaMarcus is not assertive enough and drifts WAY too much away from the paint.

KP's apparent plan is to overachieve while playing Roy 45 min/per.

I think LaMarcus is Part II of the disaster plan. Brandon has stepped up and has done what leaders do. I agree he can't do it alone, and my guess is Brandon knows it too. I'm sure there has been a sitdown with LMA telling him that he HAS to get down on the block, even if he doesn't want to.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I've said this a lot, but I really believe it. If you have a system, and everyone involved believes in that system, you will be more successful than the teams that either don't have as solid of a system or that don't have everyone within their system believing in that system.

Portland has Brandon Roy. He's been healthy. Everyone knows what he's going to do and plays their roles accordingly. If this continues, Portland will win more games than lose. Only a few teams have better systems or similar systems with better players. Portland will make the Playoffs as long as Brandon stays relatively healthy for the majority of the season. If he goes down, we'd still likely play .500 ball IMO, as a combination of Rudy, Jerryd, and/or Patty could take over a similar role and we'd best the average to sub-average teams in the league.

Brandon Roy is remarkable, but a lot of credit needs to go out to management, who has selected versatile, agreeable, skilled players for the past few off-seasons and to the coaching staff, who is using these versatile, agreeable, skilled players in ways that they can best help the team.

That culture that Pritchard preaches about in every interview is truly the sixth man for this team.