If The Blazers Had Remained Totally Healthy This Season...

[Minstrel]

You're forgetting Stacy "Gamechanger" Augmon!

Loved Augmon. (Very) mini-Pippen!

 

[THE HCP]

Wow. You say some dumb shit sometimes, but...

Healthy, Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden is worse than a team led by Bonzi Wells, Detlef Schrempf, Brian Grant, Greg Anthony and Jermain O'Neal? Really? I know you like to say outlandish shit, and any time you are calle don it, you just ignore the conversation as if it never happened, but really?

You forgot about Sabonis, Damon, Sheed, Pippin and Augmon.

 

[Minstrel]

You forgot about Sabonis, Damon, Sheed, Pippin and Augmon.

They were starters, other than Augmon. Hasoos was comparing the current starters to the 2000/2001 bench.

 

[LameR]

No team stays COMPLETELY healthy, but if we were relatively healthy I think we would be.

 

[STOMP]

I think a healthy Trail Blazers would have challenged for 60 wins and the #2 seed. My expectation would have been reaching the Western Conference Finals and losing to the Lakers there in 6 games or so. But they would have been good enough where if everything fell together, they could have made a dark horse run to the title. But I'd have put that chance at around 10-15%.

I predicted 60+ wins (depending on health). Given that they have been far from healthy and yet are on pace to win 46 games, it's not an unreasonable projection of where they'd be if things had gone smoothly.

That pace would have them at roughly the same as the West leading Lakers, so to answer the OP question... yes

STOMP

 

[THE HCP]

Ahhhhh, my bad, nevermind!

 

[Nikolokolus]

...do you think they'd be in the Title hunt right now?

They would have gone 18-0

 

[EGame]

It is hard to tell. Everyone knows we had a horrible start to the season with a near fully healthy team (had Oden, Roy, Pryzy, and Outlaw for awhile). For some reason, we weren't winning. Roy was looking awful when he played with Oden and when Nate eventually started Miller, which should have happened from day 1, but Nate was an idiot. Oden was looking much improved, but this team had chemistry issues and how to use everyone effectivley. I think as the season would have went on that would have solved itself and everyone could adjust to playing with one another (Miller and Roy did adjust and I have no reason to doubt they could adjust to playing with Oden while he still would be getting his own offense and looking efffective). Now here is the problem, since that was not fully worked on once Oden went down, I think we will see the exact same thing next season, how does Roy look like Roy while we try and get Oden into some sort of groove? We will have big growing pains again next year, but hopefully the team works it out relatively quickly.

 

[ABM]

They would have gone 18-0

I was in favor of the 18-0 before I was against it?

 

[Ed O]

I agree with several others who said we'd be pushing for the #2 seed. I guess that puts us in the "hunt" for a title, but I think we'd still be a step down from the Lakers and the Cavs and the Celtics in terms of winning the title.

Next year we should be at least at that level, and given that we'll be older and more experienced, I would be more likely to say we'll be a legit contender than we woulda been if we'd stayed healthy this year.

Ed O.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Nah. Nate would have kept futzing up the rotation until the locker-room melted down.

 

[BlazerBeav]

I realize that mixum is Mr. Doom-and-Gloom himself, but what is with the new-found OKC love? They're no better than us as injury plagued as we've been, and their schedule isn't nearly as soft after the all-star break.

To answer the question, yes. We're not that far out of the #2 seed as is, and I'd have to think a complete roster would have made up that ground.

 

[Sug]

They would be top 4 in the West, so I guess by default that is a yes.

 

[Entity]

Would they have been considered contenders? Yes. Would they have had a realistic shot of winning the title? No. I think they would have won about high 50's, which gives you the label, but doesn't necessarily mean you are ready to be contending.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I don't really think that we were playing great early in the season - however we were without Batum (and I'm really seeing how this kid may very well become a legit, highly respected SF in this league).

With the above noted, I think had all other players stayed healthy, it would have taken time (right about January) to have settled in on team chemistry, etc. I think KP would be making a key trade (missing piece), and we'd be in contention for a title.


I think that the team has played way over their collective heads (late December/January) and reality is now setting in a bit.


Can we make the playoffs this year? Depends on Roy's return. But I also reamain with the belief that we need to acquire a Center if we want to have any sort of chance once we reach the playoffs.


Re: Mixum - There are times that I grasp his thoughts - his train of thought. But then there is the reality of his "presentation" - which too often takes an odd left turn? Not sure why? Seeking controversy perhaps? You got me!

 

[LittleAlex]

I don't think so.

The discontent on the team was actually aliviated early on by Batum's then Outlaw's injuries. If they had stuck around Nate would have even had a harder time juggling players which would have led to some real locker room issues.

I don't see Nate being able to coach the current group of players to a playoff victory, much less getting to the western conference finals. KP needs to modify the roster so that Nate can concentrate on things other then playing time issues.

The real question would be if KP would have made a consolidating trade by now if the full roster was available. As to that I haven't the slightest idea.

 

[hasoos]

Wow. You say some dumb shit sometimes, but...

Healthy, Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden is worse than a team led by Bonzi Wells, Detlef Schrempf, Brian Grant, Greg Anthony and Jermain O'Neal? Really? I know you like to say outlandish shit, and any time you are calle don it, you just ignore the conversation as if it never happened, but really?

Actually you say some dumb shit sometimes. It was actually Anthony, Augmon, Rasheed Wallace, Detlef Schrempf and sometimes Arvydas Sabonis, and occasionally Jermaine Oneal. And yes, that unit would own this team something serious. Because they played the right way. Tough ass defense and they won in the paint.

 

[maxiep]

...do you think they'd be in the Title hunt right now?

Without question.

 

[RR7]

Actually you say some dumb shit sometimes. It was actually Anthony, Augmon, Rasheed Wallace, Detlef Schrempf and sometimes Arvydas Sabonis, and occasionally Jermaine Oneal. And yes, that unit would own this team something serious. Because they played the right way. Tough ass defense and they won in the paint.

Rasheed Wallace started all but 4 games he played that season. Arvydas started all but 5 games he played that season. That's not bench players. Here's where you're wrong, and generally leave a thread. Continue if you choose to, but actually looking up the bench on that team might make more sense. Looking up ANYTHING you say before spouting shit off would likely help you a TON.

 

[STOMP]

Rasheed Wallace started all but 4 games he played that season. Arvydas started all but 5 games he played that season. That's not bench players. Here's where you're wrong, and generally leave a thread. Continue if you choose to, but actually looking up the bench on that team might make more sense. Looking up ANYTHING you say before spouting shit off would likely help you a TON.

here is a link to the stats in question

STOMP