*Merged* offseason buzz (espn)/Blazers will win 60 games

[Eastoff]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi...espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=4434705
anyone have an insiders account?

 

[hypnosmurf]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

It's probably just an article from the Tribune or the Oregonian, just check abm's posts and I'm sure you'll find the original story.

 

[Shooter]

ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

A young 54-win team that kept all its parts and added a veteran point guard, Andre Miller, to the mix means the Rose Garden may finally be ready to live up to its name. Assuming Brandon Roy and Greg Oden stay healthy -- no small assumption -- the Blazers could flirt with 60 wins this season. A fantastic regular season, though, is only going to heighten expectations to get out of the first round, a pressure the Blazers blanched under last spring. And if Roy, Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge are truly a championship-caliber triumvirate, getting out of the first round is a must.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi...espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=4434705

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi...espn.go.com/nba/insider/news/story?id=4434705

Man that would be so sweet. I think this is the year that we take the NW crown.

 

[Public Defender]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

ESPN didn't say the Blazers WILL win 60 games. The above quote says they'll "flirt" with 60 wins. Subtle distinction, but an important one.

That being said, if the Blazers win 60 games, and are healthy at the end of the year, I would bet money at this point that they'll get out of the first round.

Let's face it - if the Blazers don't sputter out of the gate in Game One of the Rockets' series, that series goes 7 games, and the Blazers likely win - with homecourt advantage. There's a big, big difference between a team's first time in the playoffs, and their second, and I don't think there's any way the Blazers come out flat and overwhelmed in Game One, like they did last season.

 

[ABM]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

ESPN didn't say the Blazers WILL win 60 games. The above quote says they'll "flirt" with 60 wins. Subtle distinction, but an important one.

That being said, if the Blazers win 60 games, and are healthy at the end of the year, I would bet money at this point that they'll get out of the first round.

Let's face it - if the Blazers don't sputter out of the gate in Game One of the Rockets' series, that series goes 7 games, and the Blazers likely win - with homecourt advantage. There's a big, big difference between a team's first time in the playoffs, and their second, and I don't think there's any way the Blazers come out flat and overwhelmed in Game One, like they did last season.

'xactly right.

+1

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

60!

I LOVE IT!

I also love your avatar Shooter!

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

ESPN didn't say the Blazers WILL win 60 games. The above quote says they'll "flirt" with 60 wins. Subtle distinction, but an important one.

That being said, if the Blazers win 60 games, and are healthy at the end of the year, I would bet money at this point that they'll get out of the first round.

Let's face it - if the Blazers don't sputter out of the gate in Game One of the Rockets' series, that series goes 7 games, and the Blazers likely win - with homecourt advantage. There's a big, big difference between a team's first time in the playoffs, and their second, and I don't think there's any way the Blazers come out flat and overwhelmed in Game One, like they did last season.

Man, we could have easily been in the second round last season if we had drawn anyone but the Rockets. It was the one team that we absolutely didn't want to face. We all knew it. Regardless, it's experience that we hopefully learned from, and will use next season when we get to the playoffs.

 

[barfo]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

ESPN didn't say the Blazers WILL win 60 games. The above quote says they'll "flirt" with 60 wins. Subtle distinction, but an important one.

Actually, it doesn't even say that. It says they "could flirt" with 60 games.

barfo

 

[ABM]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

Actually, it doesn't even say that. It says they "could flirt" with 60 games.

barfo

I wonder if they make it to 2nd base in the other 22?

 

[barfo]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

I wonder if they make it to 2nd base in the other 22?

No, I think the other 22 give them a fake phone number and then laugh at them.

barfo

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

No, I think the other 22 give them a fake phone number and then laugh at them.

barfo

At least a couple of them were cock blocked by friends.

 

[Eastoff]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

Man, we could have easily been in the second round last season if we had drawn anyone but the Rockets. It was the one team that we absolutely didn't want to face. We all knew it. Regardless, it's experience that we hopefully learned from, and will use next season when we get to the playoffs.

Dallas

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

Dallas

I would have taken Dallas over Houston. Houston man-handled us, and they had a decided advantage in the post. Who would Dallas have put on Oden/Joel?

 

[repda503]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Trending Up: Greg Oden

Last season: 18.13 PER
2009-10 projection: 19.11 PER

Oden should enter this season as the unquestioned starter at center, but the major battle will be keeping him on the floor. That applies on multiple levels. First, he needs to stay healthy after missing big chunks of time in his lone college season and both pro campaigns. Second, he must avoid foul trouble long enough to stay on the court.

Clearly, he can average a double-double if he gets in the high 20s in minutes, and he'll spike it with a shooting percentage in the mid-50s and nearly two blocks a game. That may not live up to the Shaq/Ewing/Robinson hype that greeted Oden coming out of high school, but he's still a heck of a player.
-- Hollinger

Bucher's Name to Know: Andre Miller

He has the reputation of dominating the ball and being more of a scorer than an orchestrator, which is why some question how well he'll fit into an already established -- and successful -- hierarchy. But the various teams he's played for haven't had a surplus of scoring power and needed points from him to win. The other oft-heard knock -- quiet and withdrawn -- is a tough trait when you're looking for leadership from your point guard. Fortunately, the Blazers don't need that from him because they have Roy. All they need is Miller's size and strength against the bigger guards in the West.

Two added plusses: Steve Blake, last year's starter, is ideally suited to be a tempo changer off the bench; and Miller is a workhorse, having missed only five regular-season games in his 10-season career. The biggest area of concern is his best scoring attributes are his post-up game and his ability to pull up in -- or around -- the paint. He is not a 3-point threat, so it's going to take a lot of creativity from the coaching staff to integrate all that with two centers (Przybilla and Oden) who can't step away from the basket and Roy, who also does his best work at mid-range. If everyone has an eye on the bigger prize, though, it can be done.
-- Bucher

 

[Eastoff]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

I would have taken Dallas over Houston. Houston man-handled us, and they had a decided advantage in the post. Who would Dallas have put on Oden/Joel?

I was going off of the regular season. We were 1-2 (with roy's crazy game winning shot) against houston. We were 0-3 against Dallas.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Miller is known as a scorer?

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

I think he's more of a distributor, but he can put the ball in the hole. His scoring average is nearly at 15 ppg over his career.

 

[BenDavis503]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Miller is known as a scorer?

Yeah, take away his rookie year and he has never averaged under 13 a game. His most was 17 a game his 2nd year in Phila.

What is weird, he averaged 16.5ppg, 10.9apg, 4.7reb and 1.6stl in the year that Cleveland let him go. Those are nearly 3rd team all NBA type numbers for a 3rd year player. Then the poor guy gets traded to the Clippers. For guess who, Darius Miles.

 

[PapaG]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

Actually, it doesn't even say that. It says they "could flirt" with 60 games.

barfo

At least it doesn't say "possibly could flirt", so that's a win.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Yeah, take away his rookie year and he has never averaged under 13 a game. His most was 17 a game his 2nd year in Phila.

What is weird, he averaged 16.5ppg, 10.9apg, 4.7reb and 1.6stl in the year that Cleveland let him go. Those are nearly 3rd team all NBA type numbers for a 3rd year player. Then the poor guy gets traded to the Clippers. For guess who, Darius Miles.

I would love to see the 10 assist per game Miller return to form.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Re: ESPN: Blazers will win 60 games

I would have taken Dallas over Houston. Houston man-handled us, and they had a decided advantage in the post. Who would Dallas have put on Oden/Joel?

During the regular season, Dallas played at least as well agianst the Blazers as the Rockets did. As poorly as the team played (at least in games 1 and 6), we weren't going to beat anybody with a pulse.

 

[PapaG]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

I would love to see the 10 assist per game Miller return to form.

It would be nice, but I don't expect Miller to get the minutes to average 10 assists, unless the idea is to make Brandon Roy primarily an off-the-ball player.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

It would be nice, but I don't expect Miller to get the minutes to average 10 assists, unless the idea is to make Brandon Roy primarily an off-the-ball player.

Dre isn't Sergio... he IS capable of scoring. I don't see any reason why he and Roy can't play together for long stretches of time.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Yeah, take away his rookie year and he has never averaged under 13 a game. His most was 17 a game his 2nd year in Phila.

What is weird, he averaged 16.5ppg, 10.9apg, 4.7reb and 1.6stl in the year that Cleveland let him go. Those are nearly 3rd team all NBA type numbers for a 3rd year player. Then the poor guy gets traded to the Clippers. For guess who, Darius Miles.

That was the problem - he was *too* good for a team committed to a "tank-for-Lebron" plan.

In that respect, Darius was a perfect pick-up. When he and Big Z got into a fist-fight in practice, the Cavs' front office probably had a collective orgasm. They lowered their talent level and introduced team dissension in one fell swoop!

 

[PapaG]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Dre isn't Sergio... he IS capable of scoring. I don't see any reason why he and Roy can't play together for long stretches of time.

Based on his ASST/36 numbers in Philly, when he averaged 7.0, 6.7, and 6.5 ASST/36, Miller would have to play roughly 52 minutes a game to average 10 assists.

I also see his minutes being more limited than they were in Philly in order to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Having a capable back-up in Blake will be a luxury this season. Miller won't have to average 10 assists to have a great season. Besides, IMO, he was brought in more for the postseason, so that's when his evaluation will begin.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

Based on his ASST/36 numbers in Philly, when he averaged 7.0, 6.7, and 6.5 ASST/36, Miller would have to play roughly 52 minutes a game to average 10 assists.

I also see his minutes being more limited than they were in Philly in order to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Having a capable back-up in Blake will be a luxury this season. Miller won't have to average 10 assists to have a great season. Besides, IMO, he was brought in more for the postseason, so that's when his evaluation will begin.

We also have more weapons than Philly, though. He can choose from Roy, Aldridge, Rudy, Batum, Oden, and Outlaw, depending on who is on the floor. I would be ecstatic if he averaged 10 apg, but I could really see him putting up 8-9 apg.

 

[PapaG]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

We also have more weapons than Philly, though. He can choose from Roy, Aldridge, Rudy, Batum, Oden, and Outlaw, depending on who is on the floor. I would be ecstatic if he averaged 10 apg, but I could really see him putting up 8-9 apg.

I hope Miller puts up 12 apg. I'm just pointing out some factors that may hinder his ability to do so, and to consider these factors when assessing Miller assist totals as the season progresses.

 

[Natebishop3]

Re: offseason buzz (espn)

I hope Miller puts up 12 apg. I'm just pointing out some factors that may hinder his ability to do so, and to consider these factors when assessing Miller assist totals as the season progresses.

I'm not saying he WILL put up 10 per game, I'm just saying it would be fan-fucking-tastic if he did. I think he's the first point guard we've had in years who is actually capable of doing it.

 

[andalusian]

I honestly do not care how many points, assists, rebounds or blocks he gets as long as the team wins. If the team wins with him being the equipment guy and loses with him putting 20/20/20/20 - I would rather have him be the equipment guy.

I have to say that while I like his traits, on paper, specifically providing another guy that can attack the rim from the dribble, I am just waiting to see how this thing works.