First 20 game prediction

[magnifier661]

http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por/seasontype/2/portland-trail-blazers

Home in bold:
1.) Philly
2.) Sacramento B2B
3.) Denver
4.) Clips
5.) OKC
6.) Lakers
7.) PHX - B2B
8.) Cleveland
9.) Clips
10.) Orlando - B2B
11.) SAS
12.) Houston - B2B
13.) NOLA
14.) ATL
15.) TOR
16.) Detroit - B2B
17.) Sac
18.) mem - B2B
19.) GS - B2B2B
20.) PHX

What's your guess on our record? I think 17-3 (only losses to OKC, SAS, Clips on road). Maybe 16-4. The Golden State B2B2B game maybe a toss up too.

 

[BrianFromWA]

in before ABM's 20-0.

 

[magnifier661]

in before ABM's 20-0.

That was last year's prediction. Or was I high when I read that?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

13-7 ish would be nice

 

[BrianFromWA]

Getting the Clippers twice in the first 9 games might be a big benefit. MIA took a long time to gel last year, and we could be getting LAC's post-Opening Night hangover mixed with unfamiliar faces.

Other than OKC, the first 8 games don't scare me. We could very easily go 0-4 in games 9-12, but I doubt it. The L*kers home/PHX road back-to-back has potential to have us run off the floor. It kind of sucks that at this point we've had one full practice with our entire team playing (minus Oden, of course)...and now we're supposed to make predictions?

I can't believe I'm saying this. 16-4 would be unbelievable...but also maybe a disappointment.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

13-7 gotta shake off some rust and get used to new players.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

OK, I'll bite:

1.) Philly--W
2.) Sacramento--W
3.) Denver--W
4.) Clips--L
5.) OKC--L
6.) Lakers--W
7.) PHX - B2B--W
8.) Cleveland--W
9.) Clips--W
10.) Orlando--L
11.) SAS--L
12.) Houston--W
13.) NOLA--L
14.) ATL--W
15.) TOR--W
16.) Detroit--W
17.) Sac--W
18.) mem--L
19.) GS--L
20.) PHX--W

Looks like I'm putting us 13-7. 5-5 on the road, 8-2 at home.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Lost to NOH on the road and MEM at home, hm? Interesting.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Lost to NOH on the road and MEM at home, hm? Interesting.

I think Memphis is better than people think--I predicted them 3rd in the west. As for NO, I had to pick an upset somewhere. I could see that as a let-down game in the middle of a long road trip. I almost picked the TOR game as a loss too. I also think that Phoenix game (2nd half of home-road back-to-back) is going to be very tough.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

14-6

 

[Nikolokolus]

12-8

 

[THE HCP]

13-7

 

[magnifier661]

To be honest even the 12-8 could be just as real as 10-10 or 17-3. It all depends on how our team can rebound on this tight schedule. Also, we must take care of the games we are supposed to win. Something I've been a little worried about the past 3 years.

 

[Kaydow]

12-8

Sounds right to me. I don't see anybody getting off to a really hot start with the condensed schedule, shortage of practice time/preseason games, and guys not being in the best shape. "Parity" is such a buzz word in the NBA these days, but I can't think of another word to describe what I think we'll see given the circumstances.

 

[Brock]

these prediction things always scare me!

 

[Nikolokolus]

these prediction things always scare me!

It won't bite. I promise.

 

[THE HCP]

these prediction things always scare me!

Because you have to prove or in your case admit you have no hoop knowledge to speak of!

 

[blue32]

10-10

 

[Mediocre Man]

I have 12-8

 

[Nikolokolus]

I have 12-8

Smart man.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Smart man.

It might have been lower, but I didn't want to get banned

 

[BrianFromWA]

Keep talkin' Mister...I hear SlyPokerDog has some infraction points with your name on them!

 

[Nikolokolus]

It might have been lower, but I didn't want to get banned

It'll either be you or me. That's why I'm on my best behavior; the angry mob was getting too close with their firebrands and farm implements.

 

[BrianFromWA]

"shush, Harriet...that's a sure way to get him killed!"

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Here's mine:

1.) Philly--L
2.) Sacramento--W
3.) Denver--L
4.) Clips--L
5.) OKC--L
6.) Lakers--L
7.) PHX - B2B--W
8.) Cleveland--W
9.) Clips--L
10.) Orlando--W
11.) SAS--L
12.) Houston--W
13.) NOLA--W
14.) ATL--L
15.) TOR--W
16.) Detroit--W
17.) Sac--W
18.) mem--L
19.) GS--W
20.) PHX--W

Looks like I'm putting us 11-9.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I guess Mags and I are the only true fans in here.

Seriously, what's the reasoning behind losing to talent-inferior teams? I know it happens, but you'd think that with our lineup and flexibility (and ESPECIALLY if we start running the ball a bit more) we have a team now that has the potential to step on throats when we go up 15. That's not how we've operated for years. Losing to PHI or MEM at home, or to GSW?

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but what have you seen that I'm obviously missing?

 

[Masbee]

13-7

 

[magnifier661]

I guess Mags and I are the only true fans in here.

Seriously, what's the reasoning behind losing to talent-inferior teams? I know it happens, but you'd think that with our lineup and flexibility (and ESPECIALLY if we start running the ball a bit more) we have a team now that has the potential to step on throats when we go up 15. That's not how we've operated for years. Losing to PHI or MEM at home, or to GSW?

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but what have you seen that I'm obviously missing?

That's what I was kinda thinking too. I maybe wrong, but I don't think a GS can match up with us anymore. They can't exploit that we are unable to score many points and just try to outscore us.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I guess Mags and I are the only true fans in here.

Seriously, what's the reasoning behind losing to talent-inferior teams? I know it happens, but you'd think that with our lineup and flexibility (and ESPECIALLY if we start running the ball a bit more) we have a team now that has the potential to step on throats when we go up 15. That's not how we've operated for years. Losing to PHI or MEM at home, or to GSW?

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but what have you seen that I'm obviously missing?

My reason is being out coached.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Seriously, what's the reasoning behind losing to talent-inferior teams? I know it happens, but you'd think that with our lineup and flexibility (and ESPECIALLY if we start running the ball a bit more) we have a team now that has the potential to step on throats when we go up 15. That's not how we've operated for years. Losing to PHI or MEM at home, or to GSW?

I'm not saying you guys are wrong, but what have you seen that I'm obviously missing?

I disagree with your premise that MEM is talent-inferior; I'd say their starting five (except for SG) is equal or better across the board. The GSW game is the 5th in 6 nights, on the road directly after two home games. We also have 6 game/9 day/6500 mile road trip, which includes games against inferior teams (NOH, TOR, DET) that we could lose simply due to the rigor of the schedule.

I don't doubt that we could go 16-4, but I'd have to see more than just one preseason game against a bad team without its best player before I believe that it will happen.