George Karl thinks we are Legit

[magnifier661]

He said the Blazers are the most underrated team in Basketball right now, saying they will eventually come down to Earth. He disagrees, saying they are doing to many different "good things" to think this is some fluke.

He said Lillard is a top 5 PG in the league and LMA is playing at an MVP level.

He said the 11-0 Eastern wins are a bit of a concern, but he believes they've already won many statement games against very good basketball teams.

That's some awesome shit right there!

 

[HailBlazers]

George Karl *Knows we are Legit!

 

[magnifier661]

George Karl *Knows we are Legit!

Good catch... My bad

 

[Mediocre Man]

Also said OKC was the team to beat in the west

 

[magnifier661]

Also said OKC was the team to beat in the west

I am going to have to agree with him on that. I think the WCF will be us against them.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I am going to have to agree with him on that. I think the WCF will be us against them.

I don't. I hope you are right

 

[Further]

I don't. I hope you are right

Well of course you don't, being average and all. But of course after the all star break all everything will change.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well of course you don't, being average and all. But of course after the all star break all everything will change.

It may or may not, but it will certainly give EVERYONE a much clearer picture on who we are.

 

[Further]

It may or may not, but it will certainly give EVERYONE a much clearer picture on who we are.

Ten games into the season I certainly would have agreed with you. But somewhere between then and now, 26 games in, I know I've seen more than enough to comfortably have a clear picture of what this team is and what they are capable of, and that's above average. Now I don't know if they have enough to win the west or get to the conference finals or anything quite that significant, I think it's all possible, but I also am pretty sure they aren't a middling team that will be will be fighting for 8th place. This is a 55+ win team, and there ain't anything average about that.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Ten games into the season I certainly would have agreed with you. But somewhere between then and now, 26 games in, I know I've seen more than enough to comfortably have a clear picture of what this team is and what they are capable of, and that's above average. Now I don't know if they have enough to win the west or get to the conference finals or anything quite that significant, I think it's all possible, but I also am pretty sure they aren't a middling team that will be will be fighting for 8th place. This is a 55+ win team, and there ain't anything average about that.

Portland has played 14 road games and are an incredible 12-2. 7 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 4 of them vs teams with winning records.

Portland has played 14 home games and are an incredible 12-2. 4 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 6 of them vs teams with winning records.

4 of Portland's 5 starters are in the top 40 players in MPG, and Portland's bench has exactly 1 contributing player with a PER of 15 of higher.

7-4 vs teams at or above .500

I'd like to see more is all.

 

[crandc]

I keep hearing Portland has not yet played this that or the other team. Well, this that or the other team has not played Portland. Do you think this that and the other team are looking forward to playing the Blazers right now? Or next week?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wonder what looking forward to playing has anything to do with this discussion?

 

[Natebishop3]

He also said on Olbermann this morning that he thinks we have the most talented starting five in basketball.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

It may or may not, but it will certainly give EVERYONE a much clearer picture on who we are.

I like your style MM. I say take it one step further, call the Blazers average all the way till the end of the year. By that time it will certainly give everyone a much clearer and precise picture of what kind of team the Blazers are.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I like your style MM. I say take it one step further, call the Blazers average all the way till the end of the year. By that time it will certainly give everyone a much clearer and precise picture of what kind of team the Blazers are.

But what about the lack of playoff experience. Maybe I'll wait til after the draft

 

[Natebishop3]

What the team has done to this point is definitely above average, BUT the key is whether or not we can keep it up. I don't want to be unrealistic, and I want to believe we will maintain the best record in the league, but I would be happy if we finished top three in the west. That would be outstanding in my book.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What the team has done to this point is definitely above average, BUT the key is whether or not we can keep it up. I don't want to be unrealistic, and I want to believe we will maintain the best record in the league, but I would be happy if we finished top three in the west. That would be outstanding in my book.

Given where we were last year, making the playoffs woul dbe outstanding, IMO. That would be hard to swallow for most fans after this start though

 

[Natebishop3]

Given where we were last year, making the playoffs woul dbe outstanding, IMO. That would be hard to swallow for most fans after this start though

I think the only way we finish below 5th (or out of the playoffs) would be from an injury. If Aldridge goes down for any length of time, or Lillard, that would definitely set us back considerably.

 

[dviss1]

I think the only way we finish below 5th (or out of the playoffs) would be from an injury. If Aldridge goes down for any length of time, or Lillard, that would definitely set us back considerably.

A sentence that can be said about every one of the top 10 teams in the league.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A sentence that can be said about every one of the top 10 teams in the league.

I think where the difference between us and most other teams is the 3 other starters. Portland relies SO much on their starters that if Wes, Batum or Lopez went down, we would be in more trouble than say if Hill, West or Stephenson went down, or if Chalmers or Battier went down

I thin kfor those of us saying we would be in trouble if.....don't really mean one of our two best players because obviously every team would be in trouble if that happened

 

[Natebishop3]

A sentence that can be said about every one of the top 10 teams in the league.

But none of those other teams are the Portland Trail Blazers, and the only way I see the Portland Trail Blazers finishing below 5th in the west is because of a serious injury.

 

[Further]

MM, I guess what's the point in not just waiting till the season is over first before you decide if the team is above average? I mean, you say the all star break, well that's after 65% of the games have already been played, so not much analysis needed from that point. I'm fine with your waiting, im not trying to pester you about it, I just don't understand how you can be a fan of this team(which you are) and this far into the season still not believe that this team is above average.

Almost nobody, even Mags, thinks the Blazers will have the best record at seasons end, but it seems to me there is plenty of evidence that this team is good.

They win on the road. check
They beat teams they should beat. check
They have won the majority of games against good teams. check
They have the PG who is tied for most game winners in the NBA since he was drafted and the most this year. check
They have an all star PF who is generating MVP buzz his play has been so amazing. check
They have a very well rounded starting 5 who compliment perfectly. check
They have the number one offense in the NBA. check
Yet they still win on bad shooting nights. check
Their D in third quarters is a drtg drop of double digits over the first half, they learn at halftime and get after it. check
Their bench is not the worst in the league anymore. check (this is the one real issue I see. a better bench and I would be looking for championship)
The team wins back to backs like a motha skunt.

 

[Mediocre Man]

MM, I guess what's the point in not just waiting till the season is over first before you decide if the team is above average? I mean, you say the all star break, well that's after 65% of the games have already been played, so not much analysis needed from that point. I'm fine with your waiting, im not trying to pester you about it, I just don't understand how you can be a fan of this team(which you are) and this far into the season still not believe that this team is above average.

Almost nobody, even Mags, thinks the Blazers will have the best record at seasons end, but it seems to me there is plenty of evidence that this team is good.

They win on the road. check
They beat teams they should beat. check
They have won the majority of games against good teams. check
They have the PG who is tied for most game winners in the NBA since he was drafted and the most this year. check
They have an all star PF who is generating MVP buzz his play has been so amazing. check
They have a very well rounded starting 5 who compliment perfectly. check
They have the number one offense in the NBA. check
Yet they still win on bad shooting nights. check
Their D in third quarters is a drtg drop of double digits over the first half, they learn at halftime and get after it. check
Their bench is not the worst in the league anymore. check (this is the one real issue I see. a better bench and I would be looking for championship)
The team wins back to backs like a motha skunt.

I think this team is above average right now. It;s not the way I think they will end up, and I am not changing that opinion until after the break....if I change it at all.

 

[ponderguy]

Portland has played 14 road games and are an incredible 12-2. 7 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 4 of them vs teams with winning records.

Portland has played 14 home games and are an incredible 12-2. 4 of those 14 are against the pathetic eastern conference, and 6 of them vs teams with winning records.

4 of Portland's 5 starters are in the top 40 players in MPG, and Portland's bench has exactly 1 contributing player with a PER of 15 of higher.

7-4 vs teams at or above .500

I'd like to see more is all.

PREACH

 

[Natebishop3]

I think this team is above average right now. It;s not the way I think they will end up, and I am not changing that opinion until after the break....if I change it at all.

What do you think will cause the bubble to burst? Injury? The bench can't possibly play worse than it is, and I don't think the starting five are playing that high above their heads. Wes has come back to earth a bit.

 

[magnifier661]

Further MM is a stubborn mule. He "will not" change his mind unless there is an absolute.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What do you think will cause the bubble to burst? Injury? The bench can't possibly play worse than it is, and I don't think the starting five are playing that high above their heads. Wes has come back to earth a bit.

I said at the beginning of the year that I thought it would be injury. Our starters play a ton of minutes.

That being said, we a a jump shooting team, and against good teams, if we are off, we are really vulnerable.

Also, if Lopez goes down for even a few games, our front court depth is so inexperienced.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Further MM is a stubborn mule. He "will not" change his mind unless there is an absolute.

Stubborn mule is another word for jackass, so that's a personal attack.

had you said stubborn goat, you would have been fine.

 

[Natebishop3]

I said at the beginning of the year that I thought it would be injury. Our starters play a ton of minutes.

That being said, we a a jump shooting team, and against good teams, if we are off, we are really vulnerable.

Also, if Lopez goes down for even a few games, our front court depth is so inexperienced.

If history has shown us anything, the injuries (especially to Aldridge) don't come until much later in the season. The long minutes won't take their toll until later in the year, so it's difficult to predict something like that.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Video: Karl on Dame: