Next 18 games

[PtldPlatypus]

It's because the draft is only 7 deep. People say that the playoffs are the worst case scenario, but for me it's picking between 8 and 14.

Who are your 7?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

It's because the draft is only 7 deep. People say that the playoffs are the worst case scenario, but for me it's picking between 8 and 14.

In January before Lillard was drafted he wouldn't have been even in the top 14 of his draft class. MUCH too early to say it is only 7 deep.

 

[BBert]

Even if we end up on the short end of the lottery (say 8-14) it's still a possible trade chip, or maybe someone the Blazers like falls?

Some are lamenting the loss of RHJ, and he was picked somethings like 23rd.

And Meyers was picked 11th so clearly there is gold to be found. (ducks)



Seriously though, wasn't Drummond like 10th or something? (Ok ninth).

 

[KingSpeed]

First of all, why the 18 games? I mean I love the optimism, but why can't you just enjoy a couple of great wins and leave it at that? I'm looking at that same schedule and see 6 MAYBE 7 wins.

Hahahaha. You're so out of touch and don't understand basketball.

 

[PCmor7]

But what happens if were a borderline team next year? Do we miss the playoffs then as well?

You're point about having another trade asset is debunked by the fact that we can trade a future first from 2018 instead of waiting till 2019. That 2018 pick will be a bit more valuable.

I just don't think someone like Jakob Poeltl moves the needle at all. We got Meyers at 11 and all y'all hate him. Is that what you wanna miss the playoffs for? Another Meyers?

That's how losing cultures develop. Don't give the losing culture a chance to grow. Stomp that shit out with a playoff appearance

I'm on the record as not being a fan of Poeltl, and I don't hate Meyers. But you can't draft anyone if you don't have a pick ... talk about not moving the needle at all.

There is no losing culture. There never has been. You look at the guys on this team. But missing the playoffs doesn't mean you have a losing culture. And missing the playoffs is not the worst thing that could happen to this franchise ... but this has been discussed ad nauseum.

As far as next year, who knows? We aren't trying to miss the playoffs. We aren't trying to miss the playoffs this year. It just happens to be probably the better scenario for this team.

Why do you think the 2018 pick will be more valuable? I'm not following you on that reasoning.

 

[PCmor7]

Even if we end up on the short end of the lottery (say 8-14) it's still a possible trade chip, or maybe someone the Blazers like falls?

Or someone another team really wants. There are a lot of possibilities.

 

[BonesJones]

Who are your 7?

Skal, Brown, Ingram, Simmons, Dunn, Bender, Rabb

In January before Lillard was drafted he wouldn't have been even in the top 14 of his draft class. MUCH too early to say it is only 7 deep.

Lillard was an anomoly. I mean maybe Kay Felder rises up the board but I doubt it.

 

[BonesJones]

It's a win-win scenario. Make the playoffs and have more leverage in free agency, or miss and keep the pick. There is no better scenario, it all depends on what Olshey does this off-season.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Skal, Brown, Ingram, Simmons, Dunn, Bender, Rabb

No love for Murray, Ellenson, Stone, or Korkmaz?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Lillard was an anomoly. I mean maybe Kay Felder rises up the board but I doubt it.

I would bet it is not as rare as you think. I would guess 50% of drafts have someone outside the top 14 in January that goes in the top 7 come late June.

 

[illmatic99]

I was watching Poeltl against Oregon last Thursday........not understanding the love. Not in the lottery anyways.

Coming to this conclusion as well after getting interested in him initially.

The guys who are setting themselves apart that have caught my eye and then actually kept my attention have been:

1. Simmons
2. Dunn
3. Ingram
4. Hield
6. Sabonis
7. Jaylen Brown

Can't find anything about Bender and he's the guy I'm most intrigued about.

 

[blue9]

The Blazers are going to lose that draft pick anyway one way or another. Sooner or later really makes little difference.

Stopped reading here. There's QUITE a difference between sooner or later. If we keep this pick it means we have a lottery pick. With no changes this team should be better next season than this season. If we're flirting with the POs now, we should definitely be a strong candidate to make then next season - that's a non-lotto pick.
So we can either:
(a) keep a lotto pick this year and lose a non-lotto pick next year, or
(b) lose a non-lotto pick this year and keep a non-lotto pick next year, or
(c) keep a lotto pick this year, keep a lotto pick next year, and give up a second-rounder

For a building team option (a) is the best option. Keeping, say, pick #8 this year is a lot better than keeping, say, pick #18 next year.

 

[PCmor7]

It's a win-win scenario. Make the playoffs and have more leverage in free agency, or miss and keep the pick. There is no better scenario, it all depends on what Olshey does this off-season.

Miss the playoffs and keep the pick and you still have leverage in free agency, too.

I'll say this again: I think if the Blazers really wanted to make the playoffs, you'd see more of Kaman. The fact that you see almost nothing of Kaman is proof that they aren't as concerned about the present as the future.

 

[BonesJones]

Miss the playoffs and keep the pick and you still have leverage in free agency, too.

I'll say this again: I think if the Blazers really wanted to make the playoffs, you'd see more of Kaman. The fact that you see almost nothing of Kaman is proof that they aren't as concerned about the present as the future.

They want to make the playoffs while developing their talent.

And do you think Monroe goes to the Bucks last year id they miss the playoffs? I don't think he does

 

[BonesJones]

No love for Murray, Ellenson, Stone, or Korkmaz?

Murray's too slow to create his own shot consistently at the NBA level, and that's the main part of his game. Ellensons being labeled as a stretch 4 but he can't actually shoot. Stone has no offensive game and his defense isn't enough to make up for it and Korkmaz could become an Allen Crabbe type player at some point in his career. That could be 5 years down the road though

 

[Pinwheel1]

Miss the playoffs and keep the pick and you still have leverage in free agency, too.

I'll say this again: I think if the Blazers really wanted to make the playoffs, you'd see more of Kaman. The fact that you see almost nothing of Kaman is proof that they aren't as concerned about the present as the future.

I totally disagree. If Kaman was better or even healthy enough to last a whole season, he would be playing. He started out great last year, but declined quickly IMO. He is on the team for his leadership and in case of injuries.

Also if he had value....he would be a hot commodity for a trade. I guess we will find out in the next 30 days
if anyone wants him for the playoffs. He is rested.......

 

[BBert]

Kaman must be in horrible NBA condition by now. If the Blazers do look like they are going to make the playoffs, they'll have to spend a couple of weeks getting him ready. Makes more sense to keep him healthy for the playoffs by resting him all season, just in case, and it also makes sense to not let him take minutes from the players we are trying to develop and evaluate in the meantime.

 

[Pinwheel1]

bump

9-6 with 3 games left on that 18 game prediction. I said we could win maybe 11 , but more than likely 10.
I hate to jinx it....but 2 of the next 3 is very doable......

Even the 12-6 "far fetched" scenario I proposed is not out of the question, which would pull us within 1 game of 500.

 

[dviss1]

Miss the playoffs and keep the pick and you still have leverage in free agency, too.

I'll say this again: I think if the Blazers really wanted to make the playoffs, you'd see more of Kaman. The fact that you see almost nothing of Kaman is proof that they aren't as concerned about the present as the future.

If this is true why are we seeing so much of Henderson? Why is Moe Harkless getting DNP-CDs lately? I really don't think it's because Henderson is a part of the future. I think it's because he's being shopped for a trade. And why? To make the playoffs.

 

[THE HCP]

#Showcasing

 

[BonesJones]

If this is true why are we seeing so much of Henderson? Why is Moe Harkless getting DNP-CDs lately? I really don't think it's because Henderson is a part of the future. I think it's because he's being shopped for a trade. And why? To make the playoffs.

Kaman is our 5th best big...

 

[dviss1]

Kaman is our 5th best big...

I'll guess we'll have to disagree about that. Meyers is garbage. IMO he is still better than Vonleh too. Kaman just isn't on our timeline.

 

[TBpup]

They are on pace to win quite a few of those 18 games but for the sake of balance, they have only beaten one team over .500. They are beating up on the sisters of the poor and losing to almost every +.500 team. They have 5 wins over .500 teams all season and not one road win over such an opponent. It's a nice run they are on but the quality of those wins is quite suspect. Now if they can get to .500 themselves and start mixing in an occasional road win over a quality opponent, that is where the next step in growth will be.

 

[Pinwheel1]

They are on pace to win quite a few of those 18 games but for the sake of balance, they have only beaten one team over .500. They are beating up on the sisters of the poor and losing to almost every +.500 team. They have 5 wins over .500 teams all season and not one road win over such an opponent. It's a nice run they are on but the quality of those wins is quite suspect. Now if they can get to .500 themselves and start mixing in an occasional road win over a quality opponent, that is where the next step in growth will be.

Yes but the point of the thread is that before the 18 games our schedule had been unbalanced with road vs home games.
I had mentioned that the 18th game was at the end of an easy 7 game home stand. And that after 51 games the Blazers would finally even out for home and away games. (Giving us 25 @ home 26 on the road)

At the time we were 7 games under 500 and I was thinking it was possible (Although not likely) that we could get close to being even by the end of the stretch. We knew that the 7 game homestand had some easier games. Most teams in the league are in the same boat as us. They win at home and lose to the good teams on the road. This 18 game stretch was just evening our schedule out with everyone else.

Now they need to finish.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'll guess we'll have to disagree about that. Meyers is garbage. IMO he is still better than Vonleh too. Kaman just isn't on our timeline.

You really ought to comment on the current discussion in the "start Meyers Leonard" thread, regarding his passing ability, his decision making which, though it appears timid, often leads to better than expected results, and his recent integral time in directing the offense while he's out on the floor (something I noticed for the first time last night). He appears to be becoming one of those "intangible/glue guy" players...somehow.

Honestly, I'm really conflicted on him at the moment.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If this is true why are we seeing so much of Henderson? Why is Moe Harkless getting DNP-CDs lately? I really don't think it's because Henderson is a part of the future. I think it's because he's being shopped for a trade. And why? To make the playoffs.

Or...perhaps they simply want to trade him in order to convert him into an asset that is more valuable long-term than a mediocre backup on an expiring contract.

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

Looking at the games for Feb, March, and April.

We have eight home games and four away for February. Four of the home games are against teams with better records as are all of the road contests.

March we have three home games against teams with worse records, one push, and two better teams. We have nine road games with only one of those against an inferior team.

April has four at home and two on the road. They are split 2/2 and 1/1 on winning/losing.

 

[PCmor7]

If this is true why are we seeing so much of Henderson? Why is Moe Harkless getting DNP-CDs lately? I really don't think it's because Henderson is a part of the future. I think it's because he's being shopped for a trade. And why? To make the playoffs.

Like someone else said, it might be to showcase him. Or maybe they aren't happy with Harkless's progress.

My guess is that there might be something to the playoff thought now. The rest of the West is a lot worse than we expected. The Blazers are better than expected. The Blazers probably are going to make the playoffs while still essentially trying out players for the future, so maybe they feel they might as well try to get in now.

I don't think that was the plan maybe even a month ago, but circumstances have changed.

 

[Trackjack]

If the kings and Utah continue to loose then properly will put us in playoffs. I just thinks this team is geling together at the right time.

 

[Pinwheel1]

First of all, why the 18 games? I mean I love the optimism, but why can't you just enjoy a couple of great wins and leave it at that? I'm looking at that same schedule and see 6 MAYBE 7 wins.

One game to go and the Blazers have reached the 11 wins. Toronto will be tough and I had penciled this one in as a loss. But if they can pull it out.......12-6.