Overachieving Again: Mostly Dame?

[wizenheimer]

saw this RPI table at ESPN (Portland 5th):




if you look over to the right, the Blazers, at 17-10, are 3 wins ahead of their expected wins using some theorem that may or may not carry significant weight. That +3wins looks to be easily the best mark over the expectations in the NBA

Essentially, Portland was 7-5 before CJ and Nurkic went down and are 10-5 since. Obviously, that's not all Dame; Kanter has been much better as a starter than Nurkic was; RoCo is playing much better; Trent & Simons have been contributing filling in CJ's minutes. Melo has had 2 or 3 hot games. Even Giles, Little, and Ellerby have been contributing.

but the leader of the band has been Dame...again. I'm wondering: I've heard a lot about glue-guys over the years like Shane Battier and Tayshaun Prince, and the intangibles they bring. Is Dame the glue-guy for the Blazers and his leadership the biggest intangible Portland has had over the last 20 years?

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't know.... Dame is doing Dame things. Kanter is doing Kanter things. Melo is doing Melo things.

It's RoCo, DJJ, Trent, Simons, and Little who have really stepped up and got us those wins. Obviously we don't win without Dame, he's the engine, but I also don't think we win without the hot shooting from Simons/Little/Trent. Roco's defense has been stellar all year, but his shooting over the past 10 games is all above his career averages. Jones has brought insane energy and defense.

Our biggest weakness right now is not having a backup center.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Some Dame.
Some Youngins producing.
Some we've finally overcome the new defense/insane sched/no training camp.

 

[B-Roy]

Give it till the end of the season. Historically in the Dame era, our EWL has been almost identical with our actual W/L. Last year our EWL was 34/40, and we were 35/39. Year before it was both 53/29.

 

[Hoopguru]

Dame hasnt been a real vocal leader he lets his play speak truth. RoCo has brought some nice leadership and chemistry also Melo of late. I noticed Trent talking on the floor more besides his shot.
Dame in last night's posy game interview mentioned good team chemistry and growth with younger players.
Keep in mind, the streak has been mostly non playoff teams so there is a lot more to prove.

 

[riverman]

I think it's a credit to our culture in Portland...extended trust amongst the roster....Dame is the best leader in sports...best closer in hoops...we're lucky...and we're building depth for the playoff run

 

[Natebishop3]

If you want to know if we're legit, you're going to find out very soon. Next Monday and Tuesday are going to be fucking brutal.

 

[Tince]

If you want to know if we're legit, you're going to find out very soon. Next Monday and Tuesday are going to be fucking brutal.

View attachment 36963

3-3 would be more than acceptable in that stretch. And I don't give a rip if we lose by 30+ in the 3 games we lose as long as we find a way to win the other 3.

 

[Natebishop3]

3-3 would be more than acceptable in that stretch. And I don't give a rip if we lose by 30+ in the 3 games we lose as long as we find a way to win the other 3.

I want to see us do well against some western conference playoff teams. I want to see that this isn’t just fools gold.

 

[Tince]

I want to see us do well against some western conference playoff teams. I want to see that this isn’t just fools gold.

I'm with you. I want to go 6-0 and beat everyone by 20.

I also know this team, with the injuries, is zero threat to make any noise in the playoffs. Right now, if we can continue to win half our games and hold onto a top 6 seed until everyone gets back and knocks the rust off, I will be beyond thrilled. I'm more worried about us beating WC playoff teams in the last few weeks of the season with a full roster.

I know I have lower expectations than some though.

 

[THE HCP]

If you want to know if we're legit, you're going to find out very soon. Next Monday and Tuesday are going to be fucking brutal.

View attachment 36963

Should go 3-3. Not sure what that tells us about ourselves though.

 

[THE HCP]

I want to see us do well against some western conference playoff teams. I want to see that this isn’t just fools gold.

It most definitely IS fools gold. Guys are fired up and stepping up when called upon. They can't keep this up against quality teams, no way.

 

[e_blazer]

Have the Blazers won the title yet? If not, they’re underachieving in my book!

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm with you. I want to go 6-0 and beat everyone by 20.

I also know this team, with the injuries, is zero threat to make any noise in the playoffs. Right now, if we can continue to win half our games and hold onto a top 6 seed until everyone gets back and knocks the rust off, I will be beyond thrilled. I'm more worried about us beating WC playoff teams in the last few weeks of the season with a full roster.

I know I have lower expectations than some though.

If I'm trying to be objective, I think we probably lose to Phoenix and Denver. I like our chances against the Lakers without Anthony Davis though. 4-2 is possible but there's always the trap game against Sac and GS is a tossup.

 

[RoseCityRebel]

I think it's a credit to our culture in Portland...extended trust amongst the roster....Dame is the best leader in sports...best closer in hoops...we're lucky...and we're building depth for the playoff run

I have to put Tom Brady, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Giannis ahead of Dame in leadership, solely because of results but Lillard is Top 5 in major pro sports I follow. I don’t follow the NHL so an have no clue about leaders there, and MLB is mostly an individual sport so managers there tend to be the leaders.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I want to see us do well against some western conference playoff teams. I want to see that this isn’t just fools gold.

I get where you are coming from here, but I am not sure a close game matters. We are 1-0 against the Lakers and 2-0 against Philly. Does that mean anything? Not really.

At this point, we are still just trying to hang on until we get some more depth back.
I mean we all know if we don't have a back center in the playoffs we are fucked anyways. (Especially against Jokic)

But I hear what you are saying, we want to see if we can match up well against the west. But if we get blown out because we are road-weary or because we are unhealthy that night, then that is not exactly an accurate picture of how we might match up with them in the playoffs. The same holds true if we blow them out. I may be wrong but didn't we have a decent record against the New Orleans the year they swept us?

 

[stampedehero]

I think it's a credit to our culture in Portland...extended trust amongst the roster....Dame is the best leader in sports...best closer in hoops...we're lucky...and we're building depth for the playoff run

Hopefully, Nurk will be back and help ease @Natebishop's worry regarding a back up center.

 

[BonesJones]

Other than Philadelphia, the last time we beat a team that was above .500 was January 1st against Golden State. 13 of our 17 wins have been against sub-.500 teams.

We're also 11-3 in close games, so were operating on a very thin margin. When you look at those close wins, its primarily due to Dame going superhuman, as he's been an absolute monster in the clutch this year.

So yes, I'd say it's mostly Dame.