Game Thread GAME# 68: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - MARCH 14, 2016 - MONDAY, 5:00 PM (PST), CSNNW

[SlyPokerDog]

Some of you are operating under the assumption that Olshey can just go to Stotts and the players and tell them to intentionally lose games.

Also, I would argue that by having as good a season as we are that we have more assets than if we had tanked. With the exception of maybe Meyers and Vonleh every player under contract next season has improved their trade value. They're worth more than what we used to get them. We have assets.

We have no bad contracts and lots of young players who are performing. We can make deals. We have an excellent GM who is outperforming even the best experts here in the forum.

We're ahead of where most thought we would be, the sky isn't falling, we've gained more assets than we would have if we tanked, get over it.

 

[TBpup]

Also, I would argue that by having as good a season as we are that we have more assists than if we had tanked. With the exception of maybe Meyers and Vonleh every player under contract next season has improved their trade value. They're worth more than what we used to get them. We have assists.

We're ahead of where most thought we would be, the sky isn't falling, we've gained more assists than we would have if we tanked, get over it.

I can't get over the difference between assets and assists.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I can't get over the difference between assets and assists.

Ha!

Fixed.

Thanks!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Seven of the Blazers' last eight losses have come against playoff teams and the eighth was against the Detroit Pistons, who are currently percentage points behind Chicago for the final playoff spot in the East. Portland has lost five straight road games, including back-to-back blowouts against two of the Western Conference elite teams in the Thunder and the Golden State Warriors.


Again how is being a sacrificial lamb in the playoffs better than having one more asset to use in a trade worse ?? SMH

Magical thinking. Some fans convince themselves that over-achievement today means over-achievement in the future. "We got 40 wins when we were expecting 30? That means we are going to win 50 next year!"

 

[Strenuus]

Magical thinking. Some fans convince themselves that over-achievement today means over-achievement in the future. "We got 40 wins when we were expecting 30? That means we are going to win 50 next year!"

It's funny, because people who say we shouldn't go to the playoffs are predicting the future too, are they not?

Have the playoffs been played? How do you know we are going to lose? Same thing you're saying applies to the doom and gloomers too.

 

[TBpup]

Magical thinking. Some fans convince themselves that over-achievement today means over-achievement in the future. "We got 40 wins when we were expecting 30? That means we are going to win 50 next year!"

Quite right. It is much easier to jump from 30-40 wins than from 40-50 and then even more difficult to go from 50-60. 30-40 just means you are beating more of the bad teams on a more consistent basis with a few good wins thrown in. The higher you get, the more often you have to beat good teams and do it on the road. Big difference.

Of the teams from #5 on down in the West, Dame is probably the best player. An argument could be made for Harden but he is a mental train wreck at times and a defensive sieve even more than the Blazer backcourt.

So more wins than those teams shouldn't have been too big of a surprise if he could get any help at all and he did in an explosion from CJ and some contributions from some other roles players. That lifted them out of the 25-35 win range but how much does that mean going forward to being a real contender?

 

[oldmangrouch]

It's funny, because people who say we shouldn't go to the playoffs are predicting the future too, are they not?

Have the playoffs been played? How do you know we are going to lose? Same thing you're saying applies to the doom and gloomers too.

Fair enough - but there is a difference.

I have always said there is no such thing as a "bad win." You never hear me talking about the other team's injuries or fatigue or whatever. Cry me a river. Every NBA team has to deal with those.

OTOH, the sunshine pumpers seem to be great believers in "moral victories". Every lose has a new excuse.

If I'm wrong and the team actually wins a play-off series, I'll be the first to applaud and say "I was wrong." If we get curb-stomped....we'll hear a chorus of excuses. It gets really old.

 

[Strenuus]

Fair enough - but there is a difference.

I have always said there is no such thing as a "bad win." You never hear me talking about the other team's injuries or fatigue or whatever. Cry me a river. Every NBA team has to deal with those.

OTOH, the sunshine pumpers seem to be great believers in "moral victories". Every lose has a new excuse.

If I'm wrong and the team actually wins a play-off series, I'll be the first to applaud and say "I was wrong." If we get curb-stomped....we'll hear a chorus of excuses. It gets really old.

I guess I'd put myself in the middle. I don't like making excuses (not at full strength, back to back, blah blah) if we lose. But, when it comes to "future tripping" I also like to wait. (My hope is that we take advantage of the lack of road trips and the "softer" schedule because of it.) That's my hope, but reality waits until the second it happens, so I too shall wait.

There was no "moral victory" or excuse for last nights game. But last nights game isn't indicative of the future either. If that were the case, that loss at Philly would be crushing for the whole season. It wasn't, and that's why I always say "Just let the games play out. Don't get too excited too fast, don't get too gloomy too fast" It's a big lesson I've learned this year.

The only reason we're talking about playoffs is because it's a pretty foregone conclusion right now. 99% is hard to argue against. Other than that, lets play all the other games and see if we can learn anymore.

 

[HolyBackboard]

If our defense doesn't step up, I want no part of the playoffs. Giving up 120+ points a night to the caliber of team we will likely see in the First Round does absolutely nothing for me. I was excited about postseason basketball a week ago when we had it rolling, but the schedule strength intensified and results haven't been pretty.

I'm still hopeful we can turn it around on this road trip (I'm looking at you, NOLA), but if we're going to play like this in late April ... pass.

 

[Tunchi]

If our defense doesn't step up, I want no part of the playoffs. Giving up 120+ points a night to the caliber of team we will likely see in the First Round does absolutely nothing for me. I was excited about postseason basketball a week ago when we had it rolling, but the schedule strength intensified and results haven't been pretty.

I'm still hopeful we can turn it around on this road trip (I'm looking at you, NOLA), but if we're going to play like this in late April ... pass.

That's what I said

 

[Strenuus]

That's what I said

You don't have a podcast.