Please forgive me: I can't get too excited

[Pinwheel1]

I def feel they need LA more than Dame. His size and presence and what he is able to do isn't replaceable on this team. Some of the things Dame does is replaceable and can be found by Mo Williams and CJ McCollum when he returns. LA is important.

You better add Watson to that mix because McCollum can not play PG. If Damian goes down you are looking at last year's Jazz PG rotation.

We can get by with minor injuries (10 games or less) but losing either Damian or LMA for months......Not good.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Fans have to live with disappointment. They shouldn't have to live with getting kicked in the teeth.

I will always root for the Blazers...but I will probably never again trust Paul Allen or anybody who works for him.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Fans have to live with disappointment. They shouldn't have to live with getting kicked in the teeth.

I will always root for the Blazers...but I will probably never again trust Paul Allen or anybody who works for him.

Why?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Every now and then, I go back and watch Brandon Roy's miracle 4th quarter against Dallas. Sure, the Blazers lost that series, but in my case as time has progressed, the joy I derive out of that one moment in time far outweighs the team losing the series.

Moments like this are why I'm a fan, and why I love the only real reality TV ... sports.

Thanks for letting me relive it whenever I choose, pinwheelempire!

[video=youtube;cB-FGLPT-fo]

I bought the game on Itunes.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

do you also relive this wonderous moment?

[video=youtube;thTIYCXcx90]

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Realistically though, we're a playoff team. I hope we make the playoffs and get past the first round, that's what I'm hoping for. Anything on top of that is gravy, but I'm not reading too much into this hot start, its happened before. We're not the champs until we're the champs.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Why?

Every team makes mistakes. The Blazers have made an art form out of it.

Outside of Adelman (who was fired for no real reason) and Trader Bob, every hire under Allen has been mediocre to awful. Front office, coaching staffs, scouts, medical staff - everybody. He is just as ineffective as Dolan in NY.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Every team makes mistakes. The Blazers have made an art form out of it.

Outside of Adelman (who was fired for no real reason) and Trader Bob, every hire under Allen has been mediocre to awful. Front office, coaching staffs, scouts, medical staff - everybody. He is just as ineffective as Dolan in NY.

I felt the same way as you. I wanted him to sell three years ago.

But...something is going on. I can't put my finger on it. Both of his franchises are being run differently. Seahawks are rolling as his Blazers. It's almost like the light has turned on upstairs. The McMuffin, Moda Center aside. I love the McGowan hire. Neil Olshey, I spent a year doubting him. But he is batting about .800 with some of his choices and decisions. Terry Stotts is again proving to be another winner decision. Since 2010 I would say Allen has been on point. What are your thoughts on what is going on right now?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Seriously?! No we all want a title as a fan, but reality grounds us to know only one team is a champion. There is nothing wrong to be a fan of a team through the hills and valleys. Obviously your need to bring in no chemistry players because you think you need superstars to win titles.

In the playoffs NBA basketball is a different game. I never once said chemistry does not matter I said in the regular season chemistry matters more and I believe in the playoffs skill overtakes the chemistry. That's not saying chemistry isn't important but in the playoffs is where the real stars are made and that's where stars shine the most. This isn't college basketball this is the NBA and like it or not it is a superstar driven league with superstar calls.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, we're a major trade away (outside of Lillard/LA) to having a window open.

 

[PapaG]

So your OK with loosing in the playoffs if you see good basketball?

Yeah. I hope the Blazers win a title this year, but if they don't, I'll have memories as a fan that I'll look back on and smile about them.

The 10-game streak is already going to be one of those things in a season that I'll think positively about for years afterward.

 

[Strenuus]

Yeah. I hope the Blazers win a title this year, but if they don't, I'll have memories as a fan that I'll look back on and smile about them.

The 10-game streak is already going to be one of those things in a season that I'll think positively about for years afterward.

Same here, papaG. This is an awesome ride!

 

[PapaG]

Good points.

I think it's obvious this retool and how it's being seen out is built around LA.

LMA's recent comments make it seem to me like he wants to stay in Portland, too, as a franchise player. The comments where he mentioned how long and hard he worked to be in the position he is in as a leader in PDX, as opposed to going somewhere else and having to adjust his game.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

In the playoffs NBA basketball is a different game. I never once said chemistry does not matter I said in the regular season chemistry matters more and I believe in the playoffs skill overtakes the chemistry. That's not saying chemistry isn't important but in the playoffs is where the real stars are made and that's where stars shine the most. This isn't college basketball this is the NBA and like it or not it is a superstar driven league with superstar calls.

Chemistry is just as important as skill in the playoffs. Just look at successful post season teams in the last few years. The Spurs, The Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pacers.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

LMA's recent comments make it seem to me like he wants to stay in Portland, too, as a franchise player. The comments where he mentioned how long and hard he worked to be in the position he is in as a leader in PDX, as opposed to going somewhere else and having to adjust his game.

Nice catch, Papa.

And I like the adjustments you have made in your own game on this board. Kudos to you.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Put on the Mags sunglasses and you'll be just fine.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, we're a major trade away (outside of Lillard/LA) to having a window open.

Well according to some we already have all the pieces in place. Just look at all the chemistry.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

no one believed in the titans either, but coach boon took them to the championship, and now everyone remembers the titans

 

[Rhal]

Its easy to get gunshy with all this team has gone through for the last 13 years, especially the last 3, but thats what makes these wins so great. I wasn't a believer in the streak, I thought we would come crashing down to earth but I cherish the wins and the intensity this team seems to show in the third to come back in games where it seems like we are going to lose. This team shows heart and even when I get down and it seems like all the momentum is heading the wrong way the Blazers have stayed strong so far and haven't given up and thats what I want to see.
If we lose it sucks but its when we lose and we just give up that I can't stand. I still watch Brandon Roy highlights, and I watch that comeback in Dallas once every few weeks and its because those highlights are the most memorable. It doesn't matter the heartache we went through with Roys knees failing him or Odens body failing him, because those highlights, those few games where both shined(Oden in the Miami game in 2010) are what I truly remember. Those memories are stronger and more important to me then the 00 game 7 loss, then the series lost to Dallas 02 when Randolph showed us what he could do or any of the losses that knocked us out of the playoffs in recent years.
If we suck this season and this winning streak is the only highlight of it then next year and every year after that, that is what I will remember most about this season. Not the individual losses or if were knocked out of either playoff contention or if we make it to the playoffs when were knocked out of them. With sports I take the good and the bad but years later when I think back on the teams I root for (Cowboys/Blazers) I don't remember the bad times off the top of my head, I remember the times when my teams surprised me and made my day, it takes a little more digging to remember the times they ruined my day.

 

[magnifier661]

Put on the Mags sunglasses and you'll be just fine.

Oh that's good!

 

[magnifier661]

Well according to some we already have all the pieces in place. Just look at all the chemistry.

Prove to me we don't? So far those fans are write and you're wrong. You wanted Melo who can't even get 4 fucking wins (no chemistry and a superstar) and look at us at 12-2 (chemistry without a superstar)

 

[julius]

Every team makes mistakes. The Blazers have made an art form out of it.

Outside of Adelman (who was fired for no real reason) and Trader Bob, every hire under Allen has been mediocre to awful. Front office, coaching staffs, scouts, medical staff - everybody. He is just as ineffective as Dolan in NY.

Adelman hasn't progressed as a coach, in over 20 years since he was fired as the Blazers coach.

that says enough.

 

[e_blazer]

What we know...

1.) Our team looked pretty bad when Aldridge wasn't playing.

2.) Aldridge is our leading scorer.

3.) Aldridge is our leading rebounder.

4.) This team needs Aldridge as much as they need Dame.

I'm not taking anything away from Dame or the team for that matter, but our success is on the shoulders of Aldridge right now. Dame may take over soon enough, but it's not now.

Agreed on all points. Seeing the Blazers as being all about Damian, as good as he is, would be like seeing the Spurs success as being all about Tony Parker. I'd rep you, but apparently I have to find some other joker on this board who's worthy of some rep before I can give you more.

 

[mook]

FWIW:
Here are how other hot Blazer starts wound up:
1990-91: 22-2 (63-19)
1999-00: 13-2 (59-23)
2013-14: 12-2 (?)
1979-80: 11-2 (38-44)
1977-78: 10-2 (58-24)
1992-93: 9-2 (51-31)

If you had to ballpark it based on this, we seem to be in for a 55 win or so team.

Unless somebody Bill Waltons, in which case we are fucked.

 

[julius]

FWIW:
Here are how other hot Blazer starts wound up:
1990-91: 22-2 (63-19)
1999-00: 13-2 (59-23)
2013-14: 12-2 (?)
1979-80: 11-2 (38-44)
1977-78: 10-2 (58-24)
1992-93: 9-2 (51-31)

If you had to ballpark it based on this, we seem to be in for a 55 win or so team.

Unless somebody Bill Waltons, in which case we are fucked.

Good work. Although I think the 80 team is probably more realistic than the 91 team.

And with the exception of the 90 and 92 team, those teams were underwhelming (or had a collapse due to injuries).