Expectations for next year.

[KingSpeed]

You know, I never heard a single Blazer player or coach talk about winning the championship this season. Or even winning a series. It was all about making the playoffs and they celebrated once they did. Roy even said "We're just happy to make the playoffs" at one point. They achieved their goal and I'm happy for that. Now, it's time to raise the bar. Remember, two years ago, when we said we'd be competing for a championship in "two to three years." Well, "two to three years" has arrived. Here are my expectations:

1. LaMarcus Aldridge joining Brandon Roy on the All Star team

2. Greg averaging something around 14 & 9 and winning Most Improved Player of the Year.

3. 60 wins and a trip to the WCF.

I think all three of these goals are EASILY achievable. I hope the team feels the same way.

Go Blazers

 

[LittleAlex]

You know, I never heard a single Blazer player or coach talk about winning the championship this season. Or even winning a series. It was all about making the playoffs and they celebrated once they did. Roy even said "We're just happy to make the playoffs" at one point. They achieved their goal and I'm happy for that. Now, it's time to raise the bar. Remember, two years ago, when we said we'd be competing for a championship in "two to three years." Well, "two to three years" has arrived. Here are my expectations:

1. LaMarcus Aldridge joining Brandon Roy on the All Star team

2. Greg averaging something around 14 & 9 and winning Most Improved Player of the Year.

3. 60 wins and a trip to the WCF.

I think all three of these goals are EASILY achievable. I hope the team feels the same way.

Go Blazers

I agree with all three. I think these goals are within reach, but I am not sure how easy they will be. Number 3 depends on 1 and 2 being met.

 

[tlongII]

Sign me up for all three as well.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think 1 and 2 are reasonable (although I couldn't care less about the awards)

As for 3, that would all be great, but it's certainly not my expectation level with this current roster. I want to see what KP does to improve the team before I start thinking about win totals -- plus it's much, much more difficult to improve from 50+ to 60+ wins than it is to go from 40+ to 50+

I heartily disagree that all three are "EASILY" achievable, you're setting yourself up for some disappoint if you think that.

 

[Tince]

It's premature to know what we should expect. What if we add an all-star this off season? What if we let Outlaw, Blake, Frye, and Sergio go and just give Batum and Bayless the majority of the minutes. Way too early to determine our expectations IMO.

 

[STOMP]

I agree with all three. I think these goals are within reach, but I am not sure how easy they will be. Number 3 depends on 1 and 2 being met.

As far as cause and effect, if #2 happens then I could easily see the other two falling in line. If Greg takes the 2nd year back from microfracture bump thats been speculated, it will make the team much more potent on both ends. Combined with internal improvement from the still very young roster, a 4th strait 10 win improvement season would seem easily within reach and teams on pace to win 60 games usually find themselves with more then one representative at the AS game.

Further speculating, if KP is able to consolidate some of his many assets into a vet upgrade at PG (AMiller?) and/or SF (JChildress?) and they avoid the injury bug, 60 wins may be an afterthought.

STOMP

 

[Tince]

I think 1 and 2 are reasonable (although I couldn't care less about the awards)

As for 3, that would all be great, but it's certainly not my expectation level with this current roster. I want to see what KP does to improve the team before I start thinking about win totals -- plus it's much, much more difficult to improve from 50+ to 60+ wins than it is to go from 40+ to 50+

I heartily disagree that all three are "EASILY" achievable, you're setting yourself up for some disappoint if you think that.

Great post.

 

[alex42083]

I'm still not quite sure LA will make the All-Star team, unless we go on quite the early-season tear and he averages 20 ppg.

I would love to see Nate make Greg the starter, he's got to be there in the starting lineup. Joel is great, no doubt about it, but I think his offensive deficiencies were exposed a bit in the playoffs. For us to be a great team, Greg needs to be in there blocking shots and putting down his thunderous dunks, and developing a go-to post move.

And my expectation is winning AT LEAST one series and moving into the second round. If it's a first round and out, it'd be extremely disappointing. We need to take that next step in the progression.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

58 wins and lose in the WCF.

 

[blue32]

My mother f'n expectations for next year is to utilize our god damn big named Greg Oden in some sort of consistent offensive scheme regarding the god damned pick and roll, and post-up. Also, I expect Bayless to get some sort of fucking burn so he can turn into an Aaron Brooks-ish guard that runs all over the place and makes some freaking plays. I also expect Sergio to do the same, and us to get rid of Blake or Sergio.

I also expect Martell to come back and play the three, and have Outlaw and Frye trade for a new serviceable big.

I expect Rudy to still come off the bench for Roy, but to also play more minutes, something like 25+ a game.

I expect Batum to be on the bench next year behind Martell, but to improve his offensive game.

I expect us to at least win the same amount of games, but develop our god damned rookies, See Big Baby Glen Davis. He has been kicking ass for Boston lately and he can freaking shoot. How can Greg not be that good?

 

[Minstrel]

My expectations:

1. Aldridge plays at an All-Star caliber (predicting who actually makes it is hard and his making the team isn't very important for me)

2. Oden reduces his fouling through experience and a returned explosiveness and stays on the floor enough to average around 15/10 with strong defense

3. Rudy adds a little muscle to his frame and attacks the hoop a bit more

4. Batum refines his shot and becomes more assertive on the offensive end

Those are my expectations. Until I know what Pritchard does in the off-season, I don't yet have expectations for what the team will do in terms of record.

 

[Trader Ed]

My hopes are centered around Oden (pun intended)

I feel its extremely important for him to bust his butt this offseason and prove himself.

1) He must do cardio all summer and get in shape. He looks liek he is tirted all the time and shuffles his feet back to the timeouts.
2) He must do drills to become much quicker. He is picking up many of his fouls becuawe he is nto shuffling his feet to get in postion and thus reaching and fouling.
3) He must become a dominant scoring threat int he post. Hire a skilled big man to show him foot work and shots
4) He must be energetic and have the hustle and desire that Rudy has... diving after loose balls
5) Wear knee pads like Hakeem did



and yes, significant upgrades at starting PG with Blake the backup, SF upgrade and a bakcup PF who will be a real beast

 

[e_blazer]

My hopes are centered around Oden (pun intended)

5) Wear knee pads

Gees, I hope he doesn't have to do that to get more PT.

 

[Stevenson]

1. LaMarcus Aldridge joining Brandon Roy on the All Star team

2. Greg averaging something around 14 & 9 and winning Most Improved Player of the Year.

3. 60 wins and a trip to the WCF.

Totally agree.

I think when your goal is to "make the playoffs" then you inevitably have a letdown once that happens. That is one reason we didn't go further.

Big goals are good.

 

[LittleAlex]

My expectations:

1. Aldridge plays at an All-Star caliber (predicting who actually makes it is hard and his making the team isn't very important for me)

2. Oden reduces his fouling through experience and a returned explosiveness and stays on the floor enough to average around 15/10 with strong defense

3. Rudy adds a little muscle to his frame and attacks the hoop a bit more

4. Batum refines his shot and becomes more assertive on the offensive end

Those are my expectations. Until I know what Pritchard does in the off-season, I don't yet have expectations for what the team will do in terms of record.

5. Bayless comes into camp and takes the starter job from Blake.

 

[hasoos]

The Blazers will need the following things to take another step:

1. One of the younger players has to step up and play at high level, and establish some consistency.
2. The Blazers need to bring in a player to take up some of the slack and provide depth. Antonio McDyess or Jermaine Oneal to be a back up banger.
3. Some players on the team need to take another step physically to be able to compete. Quit coming in as skinny as a post and put some fucking meat on your bones, if you will.
4. Greg has to get to a point where you can count on him for so 25+ minutes a night.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Expectations?

Joel and Blake just had their career years, and at their age it is highly likely that they will regress. Barring a big trade, 50 wins could be optimistic.

 

[Minstrel]

Expectations?

Joel and Blake just had their career years, and at their age it is highly likely that they will regress.

That's somewhat true. What you've forgotten is that at the ages that Oden, Rudy, Batum, Bayless and Aldridge are, it's highly likely that they'll improve. And probably by much more than Przybilla and Blake will regress (Blake has had another year as good as this one, Przybilla has had two previous years as good as this one).

 

[SodaPopinski]

Wow ... we're going from two wins in the first round against an inferior opponent to the Western Conference Finals?

I think we're still 3-4 years away from advancing past the second round of the playoffs.

-Pop

 

[e_blazer]

I think we're still 3-4 years away from advancing past the second round of the playoffs.

-Pop

Really? While the West is still going to be tough next season who, other than the Lakers, do you see as leaps and bounds better than the Blazers? Who has better assets to make needed roster adjustments than the Blazers? What team has more potential for improvement from this season to next than the young Blazers?

While I hardly think getting to the WCF is a probability, I certainly see it as achieveable next year.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Really? While the West is still going to be tough next season who, other than the Lakers, do you see as leaps and bounds better than the Blazers? Who has better assets to make needed roster adjustments than the Blazers? What team has more potential for improvement from this season to next than the young Blazers?

While I hardly think getting to the WCF is a probability, I certainly see it as achieveable next year.

I'm going to need to see some roster improvements before I buy the 2010 WCF.

If you go off of KP's track record of only looking to improve the team through small acquisitions, organic growth and draft picks, you have to believe we have some more growing pains to go through.

Now I have faith that KP can change his tactics to become a player in the trade/free agent market, but it hasn't happened yet. So the smarter bet is to believe what we know, and to me that means a slow ascension to the top, with some difficult bumps ahead.

Don't forget that we'll have a target on our back for 82 games next year. There won't be any sneaking up on opponents going forward.

-Pop

 

[elcap15]

With the way the west is now, I think it is a big possibility to make the WCF finals next year. Hell, I think you could have gone to the WCF this year if they had been in the other half of the western bracket.

Oden will make huge leaps next year if he can stay healthy. Big men need to learn footwork and angles and timing that they just cant learn outside of the NBA. It takes time. Injuries are Oden's biggest obstacle.

KP will probably finally listen to everyone who said that you need a couple vets on the team and bring in a vet PG or SF. That will help.

Dont get so beat up. I really think the Blazers got matched up against the one team that had their number this year. You would have beaten Utah, Dallas, Spurs and maybe even Denver.

 

[LittleAlex]

Dont get so beat up. I really think the Blazers got matched up against the one team that had their number this year. You would have beaten Utah, Dallas, Spurs and maybe even Denver.

Other then Dallas, I agree. For whatever reason Dallas is a flat out nightmare for Portland. I would add the Hornets to this list.

 

[LittleAlex]

I also expect Portland's road record to improve by a few games. They must all realize now that the loses to OKC and Memphis cost them dearly in this post season.

 

[craigehlo]

3. 60 wins and a trip to the WCF.

I think all three of these goals are EASILY achievable.

That's what the Hornets said last year.

The playoffs aren't a given for this team going forward. This team isn't talented enough to get complacent. There's a LOT of work to do in terms of the team's style of play on both ends of the court.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You know, I never heard a single Blazer player or coach talk about winning the championship this season. Or even winning a series. It was all about making the playoffs and they celebrated once they did. Roy even said "We're just happy to make the playoffs" at one point. They achieved their goal and I'm happy for that. Now, it's time to raise the bar. Remember, two years ago, when we said we'd be competing for a championship in "two to three years." Well, "two to three years" has arrived. Here are my expectations:

...

Wait a second, what? Who was saying we'd be competing for a championship in this coming season, two or three years ago? Coaches or some fans?

The notion that this team would be in contention for a title in 2009-2010 when they were a bottom feeder eeking out 32 wins a couple of years ago is outright laughable. The best I remember management talking about was trying to compete for a playoff spot this year or next, the true contention window was always 5 or 6 years off from the day Roy and Aldridge were drafted.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

60 Wins. 2nd Round.

 

[illmatic99]

WCF or bust.

Regular season win total doesn't matter to me anymore.

 

[oldmangrouch]

That's what the Hornets said last year.

The playoffs aren't a given for this team going forward. This team isn't talented enough to get complacent. There's a LOT of work to do in terms of the team's style of play on both ends of the court.

Bingo. As they say on "Mythbusters", failure is always an option. Teams that just assume they are going to stay good/get better have a nasty habit of making a crater with their face.

 

[Masbee]

You know, I never heard a single Blazer player or coach talk about winning the championship this season. Or even winning a series. It was all about making the playoffs and they celebrated once they did. Roy even said "We're just happy to make the playoffs" at one point. They achieved their goal and I'm happy for that. Now, it's time to raise the bar. Remember, two years ago, when we said we'd be competing for a championship in "two to three years." Well, "two to three years" has arrived. Here are my expectations:

1. LaMarcus Aldridge joining Brandon Roy on the All Star team

2. Greg averaging something around 14 & 9 and winning Most Improved Player of the Year.

3. 60 wins and a trip to the WCF.

I think all three of these goals are EASILY achievable. I hope the team feels the same way.

Go Blazers

Excellent goals.

Easily achievable? No way. Very hard.