ESPN Western Conference Preview..........

[Wheels]

That's exactly what I was going to predict ... Damn, you must have espn or something dude!

he was talking about the Blazers not Thunder! I kid I kid

 

[maxiep]

Fine, let's hear your prediction.

1st or 2nd. 58-63 wins. We're going to dominate.

 

[maxiep]

Are you talking about the team or Blazers fans?

Mostly the team, but the fans being quietly confident would be nice.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Mostly the team, but the fans being quietly confident would be nice for a change.

Agreed.

 

[Masbee]

Perfect. We keep our mouths shut, fly under the radar and let our play do the talking. I bet Nate loves this ranking.

If we stay healthy, we're going to destroy teams. Not just beat them, but annihilate them.

That is a big IF - that health thing.

Last season Roy was hurt part of the year, and especially the most important time - playoffs. When healthy he is a SuperStar.

Last season Batum was hurt. He is an exciting, young, improving, up-and-comer who anchors the perimeter D.

Last season Oden was hurt. Before he went down, he had Top 5 Advanced stats. Because he likely never plays monster minutes, he won't be a Top 5 player, but Top 20 easy, and Top 10 and All-Star is within reach - IF IF IF, he stays healthy.

Last season Outlaw and Rudy were hurt and other good bench players had to start, taking us from a strong bench to a weak one. With health, our bench can be a strength again.

You are absolutely correct that IF this roster is healthy, we will crush teams.

 

[Nikolokolus]

he was talking about the Blazers not Thunder! I kid I kid

Oh, I must not have been clear. I predict the Thunder will post 62 wins and win the conference outright

 

[Wheels]

Oh, I must not have been clear. I predict the Thunder will post 62 wins and win the conference outright

lol touche'

 

[hasoos]

Mostly the team, but the fans being quietly confident would be nice.

I would be quietly confident if I could. But to be honest, I am in wait and see mode, mostly due to players health history. Last year when Greg went down was devastating. Hoping for the best. Believing none of it until it happens.

 

[Minstrel]

If healthy, the Blazers are going to be one of the top few teams in the NBA, not just the West. It's a shame, though, that health for several of the team's most important players is a real question.

 

[XXPrimusXX]

I can't wait to see OKC fall flat on its face.

While they were extremely fortunate last season health wise and over-achieved, they still finished below us. Not sure how a healthy Blazers team this year will finish with a lower win total than last year.

Oh, and our bigs destroy theirs.

They have: Green (seriously overrated), Aldrich, Ibaka, and Kristic.
We have: Aldridge, Oden, Camby, and Przybilla.

And the difference between Roy and Durant isn't as significant as everyone in the league makes it out to be.

To be clear, the difference between Roy and Durant is about 10+ FTA a game.

 

[hasoos]

To be clear, the difference between Roy and Durant is about 10+ FTA a game.

And that is the difference between elite scorers and non elite scorers in the league. The reason some players keep their averages so high is even when having a bad shooting night they will get to the line in abundance. In the games where they are scoring in abundance, the line gives them the added points to make it an elite scoring night.

 

[e_blazer]

To be clear, the difference between Roy and Durant is about 10+ FTA a game.

Too true. If I could have Brandon do one thing this off-season it would be to watch about 100 hours of Durant video to see how the guy draws contact. Sure, I think he gets some special treatment by the refs, but I also think that Brandon could improve his technique of taking a hit so that it's more obvious and harder for the refs to ignore. Flailing your arms after the play's dead isn't going to get it done.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

After reading the comments, I expected the article to predict the Blazers would finish 8th - or even in the lotto. A 5th place finish? A healthy Blazer team was 4th, a busted up team was 6th, so 5th seems about right.

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's a shame, though, that health for several of the team's most important players is a real question.

To be clear, the difference between Roy and Durant is about 10+ FTA a game.

Have to say it, FUCK the Ref's!

 

[XXPrimusXX]

And that is the difference between elite scorers and non elite scorers in the league. The reason some players keep their averages so high is even when having a bad shooting night they will get to the line in abundance. In the games where they are scoring in abundance, the line gives them the added points to make it an elite scoring night.

Too many times have I seen Brandon Roy get hammered going to the basket, and not a peep from the officials. Durant's fragile little frame gets sneezed on and the ref's break out the riot gear. If Brandon got the same treatment as Durant, he'd average 27-28 PPG.

Too true. If I could have Brandon do one thing this off-season it would be to watch about 100 hours of Durant video to see how the guy draws contact. Sure, I think he gets some special treatment by the refs, but I also think that Brandon could improve his technique of taking a hit so that it's more obvious and harder for the refs to ignore. Flailing your arms after the play's dead isn't going to get it done.

He shouldn't have to sell anything, sadly. When is a foul not a foul? In the NBA of course. If anything he should take lessons from Andre, now there is a guy who knows how to draw a foul. Unfortunately, you can't learn preferential treatment in the off-season.

Have to say it, FUCK the Ref's!

Agreed.

 

[Wheels]

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

OH SNAP!! HOLLINGER IS BRINGING IT!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

Regular season records are only relevant in as far as they effect the play-off seeding/HCA. The 4th seed is the 4th seed. That 54 win team had a healthy Roy (not a given). Predicting Oden will be healthy is dream casting. I will grant you that Miller and Camby are an up-grade to the supporting cast - but that is more than off-set by concerns over Roy's durability.

 

[Luther]

I don't care if we win 48 games. As long as we're healthy DURING the playoffs I'm confident this team will win at least one series. That's all I ask for this year. Win a playoff series...anything more is a overachieving.

 

[Shooter]

The bottom line for this season? No Outlaw, no Webster, no Blake. Our 3 favorite kicking-stools are out of here, and the bench is going to have a new look. Can't wait to see it.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Regular season records are only relevant in as far as they effect the play-off seeding/HCA. The 4th seed is the 4th seed. That 54 win team had a healthy Roy (not a given). Predicting Oden will be healthy is dream casting. I will grant you that Miller and Camby are an up-grade to the supporting cast - but that is more than off-set by concerns over Roy's durability.

You can spin it however you want in your head, only you can satisfy your own heart.

That said, a coin still has a 50% chance of landing heads no matter how much you wish it to be tails or how many times it has been heads previously. But no amount of history changes that facts that as we sit there is only a 13% chance that Oden gets injured and a 13% chance that Roy gets injured, and likewise a 13% chance Durant gets injured or Kobe gets injured. It will happen to someone, but unfortunately we don't get to control that and likewise we don't get to use any history when that 13% landed on us to attempt to adjust the facts that it will still only be 13% for all teams equally in the future and thus projections cannot logically be altered accordingly. But that still will never mesh with some minds, so I'll quit wasting your time and mine.

 

[maxiep]

I don't care if we win 48 games. As long as we're healthy DURING the playoffs I'm confident this team will win at least one series. That's all I ask for this year. Win a playoff series...anything more is a overachieving.

If we're healthy come the playoffs, unless we see the L*kers in the first two rounds, the baseline goal should be the WCF if not the NBA Finals. We have the talent and now we have the experience. There are no more excuses.

 

[MickZagger]

After reading the comments, I expected the article to predict the Blazers would finish 8th - or even in the lotto. A 5th place finish? A healthy Blazer team was 4th, a busted up team was 6th, so 5th seems about right.

A healthy but extremely young and inexperienced team was 4th.

 

[MickZagger]

And that is the difference between elite scorers and non elite scorers in the league. The reason some players keep their averages so high is even when having a bad shooting night they will get to the line in abundance. In the games where they are scoring in abundance, the line gives them the added points to make it an elite scoring night.

I think it has more to do with how the refs call the game. Durant is a current golden child of the NBA.

I don't know how it isn't painfully obvious.

 

[Idog1976]

59 wins. NW division title, WCF appearance.

Seriously get out of my head dude. This is like the second prediction post where you had everything I thought. Eerie!

 

[MickZagger]

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

Duh! Its his schtick.

 

[Idog1976]

And that is the difference between elite scorers and non elite scorers in the league. The reason some players keep their averages so high is even when having a bad shooting night they will get to the line in abundance. In the games where they are scoring in abundance, the line gives them the added points to make it an elite scoring night.

Shh...that's the NBA's secret sauce you're talking about there. This is a star driven league! Shut up and buy some Laker Gear already. Remember commissioner Stern is not as forgiving as I am:

 

[oldmangrouch]

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

Duh! Its his schtick.

Ah, the arrogance of youth.

 

[blazerboy30]

Just a correction. That wa a 4th "seed" due to the random tie-breaker rules. Technically speaking, our healthy team finished tied for 2nd in the West. And that was with a 70% moving Oden due to his microfracture recovery time and Blake instead of Miller at the point and Outlaw instead of Camby at the backup PG spot.

So it isn't logical to make a statement that a 2nd place healthy team with an inferior PG and backup PF and a much worse Oden would make sense around 5th. That's just making a statement looking for some attention you think you can raise out of it.

Ah, the arrogance of youth.

Can... not... parse...

 

[hasoos]

I think it has more to do with how the refs call the game. Durant is a current golden child of the NBA.

I don't know how it isn't painfully obvious.

Not just him. All the "elite" players get calls. I for one, am looking forward to the possible influx of new blood into NBA reffing by foreign refs I read about this year. But then again, it might be all for naught.

 

[Minstrel]

Regular season records are only relevant in as far as they effect the play-off seeding/HCA.

If we're talking about the quality of the team, which we were, it's far more correct to say that Portland was tied for second in the West that year, not that they were fourth. Tie-breakers hardly point to meaningful differences in quality. Regular season record is perfectly relevant as the largest sample size referendum on the team's quality for that season.

You're capable of providing logical dissent...why do you go out of your way to undermine that with semantic games aimed at underselling the team? Instead of always trying to be devil's advocate to counter what you probably view as homerism, why not aim for being as objective as possible? That includes seeing the positives of the situation. Your attitude is identical to what it was during the John Nash years, despite radically different results. Doesn't that give you pause. if you're trying to argue in good faith?