ESPN's summer forecast predicts the Blazers to finish 4th in the West @ 51-31

[Denny Crane]

Is Chandler and upgrade over Dalembert?

 

[Boob-No-More]

The Mavericks won 49 games last season. They're basically replacing Marion with Parsons and Dalembert with Chandler. Seems like the slight upgrade they're predicting is right to me.

They also lost Vince Carter and Jose Calderon - their 3rd and 4th leading scorers. They replaced Calderon with the Player Formerly Known as Devin Harris and Fat Boy Felton. Calderon ain't great, but that HAS to be a downgrade at the PG position...

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Is Chandler and upgrade over Dalembert?

Health wise, yes. He played 80 games to Chandler's 55. The Mavs also lost Dalembert's back-up DeJuan Blair. Who is going to step in and start at center for them when Chandler goes down for the 6th time in 7 years?

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

Harris played for them last year.

I'm not sure losing their 3rd and 4th leading scorers is a big deal. Someone else will be their 3rd and 4th leading scorers instead. What matters is how good is Dirk and how much of an upgrade is Parsons.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Also, while he had a very nice resurgence last year, Dirk is now 36. His offensive game has never relied on freakish athleticism, but is there ANYONE in the league he can actually guard at this point in his career. As amazing as Dirk's career has been, he's no Tim Duncan. Timmie is STILL damn effective on BOTH ends of the court (as we saw during the playoffs).

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Harris played for them last year.

I'm not sure losing their 3rd and 4th leading scorers is a big deal. Someone else will be their 3rd and 4th leading scorers instead. What matters is how good is Dirk and how much of an upgrade is Parsons.

Their bench is weaker, Dirk is a year older and their starting center is injury prone. I just don't see them improving WRT all the other playoff teams in the West (which is what ESPN predicted - everybody else wins less, Dallas wins more).

BNM

 

[Denny Crane]

Health wise, yes. He played 80 games to Chandler's 55. The Mavs also lost Dalembert's back-up DeJuan Blair. Who is going to step in and start at center for them when Chandler goes down for the 6th time in 7 years?

BNM

Greg smith. He was hurt last season, but should be recovered this. The season before with Houston, he was a solid backup for Asik.

Torn meniscus

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/16/us-nba-players-meniscus-idUSTRE7BF23P20111216

 

[Boob-No-More]

Greg smith. He was hurt last season, but should be recovered this. The season before with Houston, he was a solid backup for Asik.

Torn meniscus

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/16/us-nba-players-meniscus-idUSTRE7BF23P20111216

Wasn't aware they picked up Smith - a decent back-up when healthy. Really more of a 4 than a 5, but will likely (if healthy) back up both Chandler and Dirk. Until Chandler goes down and they are forced to start Smith at center.

BNM

 

[KingSpeed]

Pacers are going to be awful this year. No Stephenson or George? Miami will be much better than predicted. They start three All Stars still.

 

[Denny Crane]

Wasn't aware they picked up Smith - a decent back-up when healthy. Really more of a 4 than a 5, but will likely (if healthy) back up both Chandler and Dirk. Until Chandler goes down and they are forced to start Smith at center.

BNM

They also re-signed Brandon Wright who played 58 games at C for them averaging 9/4 in 18.6 minutes for them. 17.5/8.2 per 36. A PER of 23.5.

They got Jefferson to replace Carter, too.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That Dallas team you all just described suggests to me that they will again be competitive during the playoffs due to their veteran experience, (and time off between games) but maybe not improved in the regular season when they have to endure an 82 game marathon.

 

[Denny Crane]

That Dallas team you all just described suggests to me that they will again be competitive during the playoffs due to their veteran experience, (and time off between games) but maybe not improved in the regular season when they have to endure an 82 game marathon.

ESPN says they improve by 1 win - only a very slight improvement in regular season wins.

 

[Pinwheel1]

ESPN says they improve by 1 win - only a very slight improvement in regular season wins.

Interesting. They improve by only one win, yet they have them moving up 3 spots. I just don't see it. I see them in the 7-8 spots.

 

[maxiep]

Pretty generous to us, not in wins, but in seeding.

I'll take it.

 

[Denny Crane]

Interesting. They improve by only one win, yet they have them moving up 3 spots. I just don't see it. I see them in the 7-8 spots.

Looks like the East may win more games than last season. The Cavs are going to win quite a few more. The Heat aren't going to lose that many more. Cho has been going to town in Charlotte. The Bulls added Gasol, getting back Rose, and a draft pick they're hoping is an elite player.

 

[Minstrel]

Looks like the East may win more games than last season. The Cavs are going to win quite a few more. The Heat aren't going to lose that many more. Cho has been going to town in Charlotte. The Bulls added Gasol, getting back Rose, and a draft pick they're hoping is an elite player.

It's certainly possible that the East wins more games against the West, because last year seemed like it verged on historical in terms of quality divide. I just don't believe that the East winning more games will hurt all the West teams except Dallas, who will actually win an extra game while every other Western team is losing more games against the East.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Looks like the East may win more games than last season. The Cavs are going to win quite a few more. The Heat aren't going to lose that many more. Cho has been going to town in Charlotte. The Bulls added Gasol, getting back Rose, and a draft pick they're hoping is an elite player.

Yeah there is no where but up for the east. They pretty much hit rock bottom last season. Which is why I find it hard to believe they think Dallas will win one more game than last year. (while essentially everyone else in the west lose more)

 

[Denny Crane]

It's certainly possible that the East wins more games against the West, because last year seemed like it verged on historical in terms of quality divide. I just don't believe that the East winning more games will hurt all the West teams except Dallas, who will actually win an extra game while every other Western team is losing more games against the East.

Yeah there is no where but up for the east. They pretty much hit rock bottom last season. Which is why I find it hard to believe they think Dallas will win one more game than last year. (while essentially everyone else in the west lose more)

This is not exactly true. They have the Pelicans improving by 5 wins, Denver by 2, Lakers by 3, Kings by 1, Jazz by 1. TWolves drop 14 games

 

[riverman]

ESPN says anything positive about the Blazers and I'm amazed. I think the entire league is better east and west this upcoming season. Going to be some great basketball. Glad to see the Blazers 4th in the West but I'm not sure the Thunder are that much better.

 

[Hobbesarable]

They updated the rest of the west:

1. OKC
2. SAS
3. LAC
4. POR
5. DAL
6. MEM
7. GSW
8. HOU

DAL being a bit overrated here.

That was my first thought.

 

[HailBlazers]

Pretty generous to us, not in wins, but in seeding.

I'll take it.

IMO, scheduling will have a big impact on the final result. Anxiously waiting for it to be released.

 

[riverman]

I'm predicting the Blazers win the division this season. Don't think anybody is better than the Spurs in the West. Think the Grizzlies will surprise some folks this season and Golden State will be right behind Portland

 

[magnifier661]

Remember Blazers one 54 games last year and only finished 5th.

With 51 games, they would have barely made the playoffs.

Last season was tank central. So many "gimmie wins"

 

[rasheedfan2005]

Well, they actually have all four of the top teams winning fewer games this year than the last:

OKC from 59 to 58
SAS from 62 to 57
LAC from 57 to 56
POR from 54 to 51

The complete results aren't posted yet, but they also have HOU, GSW and MEM all winning less than 50 games this season. Looks like they are expecting much more parity in the league, over all, this season.

BNM

Perhaps making the league appear more even was a point of emphasis for ref camp

 

[illmatic99]

Perhaps making the league appear more even was a point of emphasis for ref camp

No need for making it appear like anything-- there truly is more parity in the league. Especially in the middle-top tier where we are.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

No need for making it appear like anything-- there truly is more parity in the league. Especially in the middle-top tier where we are.

This sounds scripted. Joey Crawford, is that you?

 

[Mediocre Man]

At the end of the year all WC teams play a virtually equal schedules, so using that as a crutch is lame, IMO

Some teams may have a break early or late, but it all works out for the most part

 

[magnifier661]

At the end of the year all WC teams play a virtually equal schedules, so using that as a crutch is lame, IMO

Some teams may have a break early or late, but it all works out for the most part

If I had a choice, I would rather have the least rest at the beginning of the season.