Is Portland for real?

[Mediocre Man]

Ok, serious question.

I mean a real championship contender

They are now 18-6, which is a damn fine record, but who have they beat? I pointed out in another thread that their record vs teams above .500 wasn't very good, and that they have had an easy schedule. They now have the third easiest strength of schedule in the league and their record vs teams above .500 at this point in the season is 2-4

Please don't merge this. I am genuinely interested in having a discussion about this. Is everything as rosy as it seems to be?

 

[magnifier661]

I think they are for real. One main reason is we haven't even played our best basketball. Our offense will eventually come around, which is our main calling card.

With the added defense, and when the offense comes around, we should be a top 3 western conference team

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Depends on definition of for real. We are for real enough to win another series. I don't see us in WCF at this point though. Of course that could change and hopefully we get even better as the season goes on.

Edit: See you said Championship contender. I see us as possible contender but not one I would bet on at this point.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think they are for real. One main reason is we haven't even played our best basketball. Our offense will eventually come around, which is our main calling card.

With the added defense, and when the offense comes around, we should be a top 3 western conference team

This is not to be combative, although it may come off that way, but what makes you think we haven't played our best basketball, and that our offense still needs to come around?

6th in scoring is pretty damn nice

 

[Blazinaway]

I think they are "for real" as far as having a pretty decent chance to advance to the second round of the playoffs, our bench is better but we could still us a more dynamic scoring wing like a Gerald Green and/or a better overall backup PF, it seems we have the pieces to perhaps add one or both of those pieces but does Neal think this way? I don't know

 

[magnifier661]

This is not to be combative, although it may come off that way, but what makes you think we haven't played our best basketball, and that our offense still needs to come around?

6th in scoring is pretty damn nice

Because most games all the players have been shooting very inconsistent. We had one complete game vs Dallas.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Because most games all the players have been shooting very inconsistent. We had one complete game vs Dallas.

Maybe that's the exception and not the rule?

 

[magnifier661]

Maybe that's the exception and not the rule?

Nah we've seen Batum have decent shooting stats his entire career. The fact that he's been so dismal at shooting is one indicator. The second has been how we've been so inconsistent in shooting from one game to the next. Matthews can go 6-8 from three, then 1-15 the next.

Good shooters are streaky of course, but not that streaky.

 

[blue9]

Nope.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Nah we've seen Batum have decent shooting stats his entire career. The fact that he's been so dismal at shooting is one indicator. The second has been how we've been so inconsistent in shooting from one game to the next. Matthews can go 6-8 from three, then 1-15 the next.

Good shooters are streaky of course, but not that streaky.

Maybe last year we snuck up on people? Could it also be that teams are taking us more seriously this season in their scouting reports and designing defenses to make us shoot where we don't want to shoot from?

 

[Hobbesarable]

Maybe last year we snuck up on people? Could it also be that teams are taking us more seriously this season in their scouting reports and designing defenses to make us shoot where we don't want to shoot from?

NBA Strength of Schedule (games played so far):
http://espn.go.com/nba/stats/rpi/_/sort/SOS

 

[KingSpeed]

Good posts, MM. Who knows? The Kings beat lots of good teams last season and didn't make the playoffs. 18-6 is s good record no matter who you're playing. These other top teams like Houston, Memphis, and GS got bounced in the first round last year. We've shown we can win a series. We've got a strong mental toughness. We don't choke like the 91 and 2000 teams were prone to doing. I personally think the top 7 teams in the West are all contenders. It will be fun to see what happens. I'm rooting for us to get the best record but I don't think seeding will matter. Plus, OKC is coming on strong. That means 8 contenders in the West. Crazy.

I hear what you're saying about teams scouting us and that being a reason our offense isn't as good this year but we are mostly adjusting to that. I'm happy with where we're at.

 

[Stevenson]

They are good, not great. Maybe they will get to the WCF, but I doubt it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Please don't merge this. I am genuinely interested in having a discussion about this. Is everything as rosy as it seems to be?

I'll merge whatever the hell I want to!

Screw that, $10 or I'm deleting it. PM me for my paypal info.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Yes, this team is for real. LMA's game is expanding, Lillard's game is expanding, Matthews' game is expanding, all have gotten better. Stott's and the players are looking to use Lopez more on offense. Batum is having a down season but he will pick back up to career averages. Our bench is better. Blake and Kaman give us more consistent scoring and versatility with our line ups.

I know I'm wasting my breath saying this but some of you over-analyze this team. The moment by moment overreaction of everything each player does during the game is ridiculous. This team is getting better at defense. This is a team that last year everyone wanted in the first round of the playoffs. Even if we don't have HCA no one is going to want to face us in the opening round of the playoffs. This team is for real.

 

[magnifier661]

Yes, this team is for real. LMA's game is expanding, Lillard's game is expanding, Matthews' game is expanding, all have gotten better. Stott's and the players are looking to use Lopez more on offense. Batum is having a down season but he will pick back up to career averages. Our bench is better. Blake and Kaman give us more consistent scoring and versatility with our line ups.

I know I'm wasting my breath saying this but some of you over-analyze this team. The moment by moment overreaction of everything each player does during the game is ridiculous. This team is getting better at defense. This is a team that last year everyone wanted in the first round of the playoffs. Even if we don't have HCA no one is going to want to face us in the opening round of the playoffs. This team is for real.

Hear hear! And you and I can enjoy the season and success while the others will try and say "well this was why I think this" and cover.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Is SA for real?
Their SOS is essentially the same and our record is better.

Honest answer to the OP: It's too early. I would say that GS is, unfortunately.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Based on their strength of schedule and lack of "marquee" wins (however you want to define that) I'd say the answer to whether or not they are "for real" is probably no, if "for real" means legitimate threat to win a title. Then again there are guys on the team like Nic that who are playing below their career averages, so I guess there's still time for improvement from within.

Honestly though, it still feels like this team lacks a defensive ace or somebody on the bench that can come into a game and provide a threat night to night. Short answer, they probably need a trade if they want to go from good to great.

 

[magnifier661]

Is SA for real?
Their SOS is essentially the same and our record is better.

Honest answer to the OP: It's too early. I would say that GS is, unfortunately.

Golden State should win easily against the ADless Pelicants! Why are teams even showing up to play against them?!

 

[KingSpeed]

Based on their strength of schedule and lack of "marquee" wins (however you want to define that) I'd say the answer to whether or not they are "for real" is probably no, if "for real" means legitimate threat to win a title. Then again there are guys on the team like Nic that who are playing below their career averages, so I guess there's still time for improvement from within.

Honestly though, it still feels like this team lacks a defensive ace or somebody on the bench that can come into a game and provide a threat night to night. Short answer, they probably need a trade if they want to go from good to great.

We're on pace to win 62 games. We have the 2nd highest scoring Big 3 in the NBA (behind Cleveland). We are already great. Some of you just have a problem admitting we have a great team. Last season, we opened the season strong with wins against Indiana, OKC, Chicago (with Rose), and GS and you still wouldn't believe. We have the fourth best record in the NBA. Enjoy it. We are for real.

 

[Strenuus]

We're on pace to win 62 games. We have the 2nd highest scoring Big 3 in the NBA (behind Cleveland). We are already great. Some of you just have a problem admitting we have a great team. Last season, we opened the season strong with wins against Indiana, OKC, Chicago (with Rose), and GS and you still wouldn't believe. We have the fourth best record in the NBA. Enjoy it. We are for real.

Didn't rose get injured that game, though?

 

[RoyToy]

Win totals don't really mean much in today's NBA. Over half the league is irrelevant and it's all about racking up easy wins.

Portland needs a better bench if they want to win a championship

 

[Strenuus]

Win totals don't really mean much in today's NBA. Over half the league is irrelevant and it's all about racking up easy wins.

Portland needs a better bench if they want to win a championship

What, exactly then, do wins really mean?

 

[magnifier661]

What, exactly then, do wins really mean?

You fool, don't you know that Philly is pulling a Ali and win it all?!

 

[e_blazer]

Good enough to be in the discussion right now, at this point in the season? Sure.

Good enough to be a favorite to make the WCF? Probably not where the smart money would go.

Does any of this discussion matter at all? Not a bit. Contender status really amounts to the teams that can have a good enough regular season record to make the playoffs, preferably with home court advantage in at least the first round, and be healthy enough to compete at near full strength once the playoffs start. I think that the Blazers have enough going for them to accomplish making the playoffs with home court advantage, although there's not much margin of error in the West. I think they get home court because they're most likely to win the Northwest Division. The other thing I think they have going for them is health. This group of starters have been remarkably injury-free. OTOH, I think that the Warriors have several players with a history of being injury-prone.

All of that said, I'd like to see Olshey go all in with this group and pull off one major deal before the deadline to bring in another consistent scorer off the bench. Blake is a solid floor general and defender, but offense isn't his calling card. Kaman is good for 10 points a game. Maybe CJ will get healthy and provide some scoring punch, but I'd love to see a wing player added who has playoff experience and who can create his own shot.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

We are kind of for real. In the east, we'd be a contender. In a less-amazing west, we'd be a contender. In this year's west? No, we are not a contender. I don't see us beating Golden State or Memphis in a seven game series, which is a shame, because this is probably the best the team will be (maybe next year too, but then the door starts to close).

Good plan, great team, shitty situation because we're stuck in the most stacked NBA conference of all time.

 

[KingSpeed]

Winning the division doesn't guarantee home court advantage,e blazer.

 

[KingSpeed]

Didn't rose get injured that game, though?

Yes but we started dominating before he went down.

We are kind of for real. In the east, we'd be a contender. In a less-amazing west, we'd be a contender. In this year's west? No, we are not a contender. I don't see us beating Golden State or Memphis in a seven game series, which is a shame, because this is probably the best the team will be (maybe next year too, but then the door starts to close).

Good plan, great team, shitty situation because we're stuck in the most stacked NBA conference of all time.

Who on GS can guard Aldridge? He feasted on GS in our last meeting but the refs didn't see Batum call timeout so we got screwed at them end. We would win a series though. Remember last fall in GS? Mo and Wes got ejected and then Aldridge ABUSED the Warriors. Grizzlies are another story though.

 

[magnifier661]

Good enough to be in the discussion right now, at this point in the season? Sure.

Good enough to be a favorite to make the WCF? Probably not where the smart money would go.

Does any of this discussion matter at all? Not a bit. Contender status really amounts to the teams that can have a good enough regular season record to make the playoffs, preferably with home court advantage in at least the first round, and be healthy enough to compete at near full strength once the playoffs start. I think that the Blazers have enough going for them to accomplish making the playoffs with home court advantage, although there's not much margin of error in the West. I think they get home court because they're most likely to win the Northwest Division. The other thing I think they have going for them is health. This group of starters have been remarkably injury-free. OTOH, I think that the Warriors have several players with a history of being injury-prone.

All of that said, I'd like to see Olshey go all in with this group and pull off one major deal before the deadline to bring in another consistent scorer off the bench. Blake is a solid floor general and defender, but offense isn't his calling card. Kaman is good for 10 points a game. Maybe CJ will get healthy and provide some scoring punch, but I'd love to see a wing player added who has playoff experience and who can create his own shot.

Winning the division doesn't guarantee HCA

 

[KingSpeed]

By the way, the Warriors have basically the same roster as last year and they got bounced out of the first round. They're hardly invincible.