ESPN Preseason Outlook Revisited

[BIG Q]

Below is the link for ESPN's Dime Magazine preview. Thought it would be interesting to see what was said/forcasted for our team.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-PortlandPreview0809

Here is Hollingers Blazers projection;

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/train...=hollinger_john&page=TrailBlazersForecast0809

Here is Hollingers player projections. The preseason predicted rating is in the small blue print;

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/rankings

The highest Portland was ranked to finish was sixth in the West, but the median was seventh. Portlands only shot at being good would be due to Oden being a monster, not because of Roy, Aldridge and the other players continuing to improve and team chemistry. Odd that the chemistry thing was never mentioned as it is a huge factor in the teams success the past two seasons.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well, I think we've already bested some of their expectations.

 

[LameR]

They've surpassed most people's expectations. Which makes me laugh a bit every time someone makes one of the "WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT DONE" "THE SKY IS FALLING!" kind of threads. This is only the beginning of the Blazers' ascent.

 

[THE HCP]

George Jefferson style! 'Cause we movin' on up!

 

[mgb]

We didn't make a trade, now we are screwed! No playoffs!!

 

[Pinwheel1]

We didn't make a trade, now we are screwed! No playoffs!!

Under the bus! KP threw them right under the bus.

 

[ebott]

All these predictions are useless without win totals. Holinger had us at 2nd in the division 8th in the conference. That's not so bad. Especially with how tight things are. A couple balls bounce the wrong way, lose some confidence and we could fall into 8th. But he only had us at 42 wins. Way off.

There were three other people that predicted us to end up the 8th seed. If we stay at the 5th seed it seems like a bad prediction. But what if they predicted 50 wins. Then it's not so bad.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Jemele Hill of ESPN.com
NORTHWEST: 2 | WEST: 6 Without Oden, Portland was a 41-win team that was, at times, brilliant. With Oden, they'll win 50 games and possibly imitate the run New Orleans went on last year.

It looks she was the best projectionist of all the espn analysts. Chad Ford said something similar.

Chad Ford of ESPN.com
NORTHWEST: 2 | WEST: 6 A sixth seed might be wishful thinking, but I love this team. If they can stay healthy (which seems to be a big obstacle) I think you're looking at team that could win 48 games.

In a way I am glad that lots of espn writers and tnt analysts wrote us off this year. They had no concept of how team chemistry can change a team regardless to how old or experienced they are.

 

[crandc]

Coming very soon, results of the Western Conference Prediction Game. Remember that? A lot of you played.

 

[tlongII]

Bake it!

 

[Nate Dogg]

Prep It!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Aren't the Blazers going to finish somewhere around 6th? It seems to me that's what they were all saying?

 

[Paxil]

Yeah... 6-8... look like they all were right on. Amazing really.

 

[Natebishop3]

We didn't make a trade, now we are screwed! No playoffs!!

I think that's an exaggeration. Most of the people who supported a trade, did so because we felt the Blazers were leaving a huge chip on the table. RLEC was a major asset, one which could have netted value in return, and we did nothing with it. I don't think it had much to do with being screwed or missing the playoffs (unless you're MIXUM). Almost nobody thinks this team is lacking talent, but a few of us believe that we need to consolidate some of this young talent, simply because we will not be able to hang onto all of it for very long. Some of these guys are going to leave, either by their own accord, of because we are forced to trade them.

 

[PapaG]

I think that's an exaggeration. Most of the people who supported a trade, did so because we felt the Blazers were leaving a huge chip on the table. RLEC was a major asset, one which could have netted value in return, and we did nothing with it. I don't think it had much to do with being screwed or missing the playoffs (unless you're MIXUM). Almost nobody thinks this team is lacking talent, but a few of us believe that we need to consolidate some of this young talent, simply because we will not be able to hang onto all of it for very long. Some of these guys are going to leave, either by their own accord, of because we are forced to trade them.

How does trading RLEC for a player (or players?) "consolidate" talent? Seems easier to consolidate talent by sending out multiple players and receiving one or two in return.

 

[Natebishop3]

How does trading RLEC for a player (or players?) "consolidate" talent? Seems easier to consolidate talent by sending out multiple players and receiving one or two in return.

It was sort of a separate point; one, that we should have traded RLEC, and two, that we are going to have to consolidate. Most of the rumors we heard though, involved RLEC +1, and I think most of the speculation revolved around Batum. I don't know if that was ever confirmed.

 

[Natebishop3]

Coming very soon, results of the Western Conference Prediction Game. Remember that? A lot of you played.

I tried to find this, but I couldn't.... do you have a link Crand?

 

[PapaG]

It was sort of a separate point; one, that we should have traded RLEC, and two, that we are going to have to consolidate. Most of the rumors we heard though, involved RLEC +1, and I think most of the speculation revolved around Batum. I don't know if that was ever confirmed.

Thanks for clearing that up. I do wonder when we'll see a consolidation deal, and I have a strong feeling that either Batum or Webster will be involved as a part of it in addition to Sergio.

 

[Natebishop3]

Thanks for clearing that up. I do wonder when we'll see a consolidation deal, and I have a strong feeling that either Batum or Webster will be involved as a part of it in addition to Sergio.

I'm starting to think that Batum is nearly untouchable though. If KP really did turn down Gerald Wallace for RLEC + Batum (and that's a big if), then I'm not sure Batum will be traded at all.

Also

http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127126&highlight=Western+Conference+Prediction+Game

and

http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126541&highlight=Western+Conference+Prediction+Game

I was sure that I posted a Western Conference prediction, but maybe not... I can't find it. Here's the two that I did find though. I think it's funny how badly people thought the Nuggets were going to do.

 

[crandc]

I tried to find this, but I couldn't.... do you have a link Crand?

No, it was too long ago, but I put all predictions in Excel spreadsheet and after the last regular season game I will calculate winner.

 

[Natebishop3]

No, it was too long ago, but I put all predictions in Excel spreadsheet and after the last regular season game I will calculate winner.

I got em, see my above post Crand.

 

[MARIS61]

No, it was too long ago, but I put all predictions in Excel spreadsheet and after the last regular season game I will calculate winner.

Found mine over oon BBF.

1) Portland TrailBlazers
2) Phoenix Suns
3) New Orleans Hornets
4) Dallas Mavericks
5) Houston Rockets
6) San Antonio Spurs
7) Denver Nuggets
8) LA Lakers

Blazers let me down again.

 

[Natebishop3]

Found mine over oon BBF.

1) Portland TrailBlazers
2) Phoenix Suns
3) New Orleans Hornets
4) Dallas Mavericks
5) Houston Rockets
6) San Antonio Spurs
7) Denver Nuggets
8) LA Lakers

Blazers let me down again.

[video=youtube;u-g7yosMKdw]

 

[Minstrel]

Found mine over oon BBF.

1) Portland TrailBlazers
2) Phoenix Suns
3) New Orleans Hornets
4) Dallas Mavericks
5) Houston Rockets
6) San Antonio Spurs
7) Denver Nuggets
8) LA Lakers

Blazers let me down again.

The Suns let you down even more.

On the up side, the Lakers more than fulfilled your expectations!