Forum Game POLL: do we WANT to beat the Suns? (7 Viewers)

[Rastapopoulos]

Obvious question - if we make the playoffs we lose our pick to Chicago.

 

[Cugel]

Show me a single member with the balls to look a Blazer in the eye and tell them “lose for the pick”. If you can’t do that then move along.

 

[e_blazer]

The Blazers would have to lose twice to keep their pick. I’m not rooting for that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I honestly don't care which option happens. I enjoyed this season despite the frustrating injuries.
I think the future looks bright either way, especially if we can bring back a healthy Williams.
Thybulle as well, but I think his position is a little more easily replaceable.

So who in the draft would make a difference long term alongside these 25 and under players:
Scoot, Sharpe, Tou, Deni, DC.

I am sure we can find someone decent at #14..... but a difference maker? It is always possible, and it would make the next few months more fun.
But playing SA would be fun as well, and a good experience for the young players, even though we would lose.

 

[crandc]

Show me a single member with the balls to look a Blazer in the eye and tell them “lose for the pick”. If you can’t do that then move along.

Some members have ovaries. And want the Blazers to win.

 

[THE HCP]

Show me a single member with the balls to look a Blazer in the eye and tell them “lose for the pick”. If you can’t do that then move along.

YOU RANG FAMS?

 

[BigGameDamian]

We can beat Phoenix!

 

[GoZers]

Lose.

 

[HailBlazers]

Will be rooting hard for the Blazers as always but I'll be very happy if Book hits a game winner.

 

[THE HCP]

Where is the Clippers/Warriors game being played? I think we have a better shot at beating Golden State to be honest.

 

[Cugel]

YOU RANG FAMS?

Sure you should speak with the team on throwing the game. Who first?

 

[wizenheimer]

I think the Blazers are heading into another era of mediocrity....but I only have rooted for a Blazer loss when Portland has been fully engaged in a tank. They haven't been doing that since 2024. Again...I don't think this is smart....but go Blazers

I think Blazers have a decent chance of beating Phoenix. If they lose, then they could have to beat the Clippers a 3rd straight time (not easy) or beat the Warriors with an engaged Curry (danger zone)

I'd give them about a 65-70% chance at the playoffs. If they face OKC they'll go 0-4; if it's Spurs, 1-4

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Duh - forgot that losing to the Suns wouldn't eliminate us. Now we need a new poll asking which team (OKC or Spurs) we'd prefer to face. I say OKC

 

[tlongII]

I’ll never root for the Blazers to lose. Just can’t do it.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I’ll never root for the Blazers to lose. Just can’t do it.

I can't either. But when they do, it's nice to have something positive that comes from it. In this case, a late lottery pick.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Play to win, period. Let the chips fall where they may.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I can't either. But when they do, it's nice to have something positive that comes from it. In this case, a late lottery pick.

Which should be small consolation, not a goal.

 

[HailBlazers]

Duh - forgot that losing to the Suns wouldn't eliminate us.

If only - it was that simple.

 

[blazerkor]

Just along for the ride. If we win that'll be great for the players and coaching staff. If we lose both games then we have a lotto pick.

On a side not, @Rastapopoulos if we do go to the playoffs there is no possible way our pick will be top 3. The only way we lose it is if it's 15 or later.

 

[GoZers]

I’m just not excited enough about being boat raced by OKC and/or SA to be willing to lose a great pick in a great draft. If Lillard was playing maybe I would feel differently. Way too important to get a lotto pick.

 

[Idog1976]

Get the pick, get lucky, have a championship core in three years and give Chicago our 20 something pick next year. A decent percentage of championship teams in the past 30 years had massive strokes of luck, plus tanking to get there. You can only control one of those variables. Sure I wish we had Sam Presti, but we don’t. We should have tanked this year. Huge mistake unless we get lucky. I would rather miss 15 straight years of playoffs and win a single championship after a few bites at the apple, rather than be mired in 1st round exit mediocrity and “competing”.

 

[Idog1976]

If only - it was that simple.

We needed to lose that LAC game or hell ANY ADDITIONAL GAME and we would be in good shape to lose one of the two. Absolutely idiotic management/coaches. We should have avoided the play-in but since that has been set for awhile needed to maximize chances to lose and keep the pick. Next year’s draft is much worse and our pick will be as well with Dame back. Insane decision making.

 

[blazerkor]

We needed to lose that LAC game or hell ANY ADDITIONAL GAME and we would be in good shape to lose one of the two. Absolutely idiotic management/coaches. We should have avoided the play-in but since that has been set for awhile needed to maximize chances to lose and keep the pick. Next year’s draft is much worse and our pick will be as well with Dame back. Insane decision making.

I think we'll lose to Phoenix. I think the Warriors will beat the Clippers. I don't think we'll be favored to beat the Warriors in a single elimination game, even though we'll be at home. So we might get that lotto pick this year.

Also if it goes down the way I've outlined we'll share the odds of the 11th and 12th spot in the lotto with the Clippers and there will be a coinflip to see who gets the 11th spot if neither us or the Clippers move up.

 

[riverman]

We needed to lose that LAC game or hell ANY ADDITIONAL GAME and we would be in good shape to lose one of the two. Absolutely idiotic management/coaches. We should have avoided the play-in but since that has been set for awhile needed to maximize chances to lose and keep the pick. Next year’s draft is much worse and our pick will be as well with Dame back. Insane decision making.

Nobody on this coaching staff or roster wants to tank for a draft pick that could replace their job and losing is how coaches get replaced. It would be idiotic for Tiago to lose on purpose or any player on the roster. Boston didn't tank to win championships nor did Denver. Cooper Flagg hasn't gotten Dallas a ring yet either. It's a crap shoot. We don't have roster spots for our current young talent as it is. I think you play the game to win. As a fan I don't think tanking is good basketball regardless of the ping pong balls. Toumani and Deni sure weren't our draft picks.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I’ll never root for the Blazers to lose. Just can’t do it.

OK, root for the Suns to win, then.

 

[tiredhunter]

Control the things we can control. Which, as a fan, is just our engagement with the team. If I'm watching, I'm along for the ride.

 

[blazerkor]

Where is the Clippers/Warriors game being played? I think we have a better shot at beating Golden State to be honest.

It's being played at Intuit Dome in LA. I don't know who would be the better team for us to try and win against. I feel like all of the playoff experience on the Warriors would make them a tough opponent but the Clippers probably have the better overall talent and talent wins.

I have an off topic question for you. I thought I saw on the postgame that your boss, meaning the lead guy at Blazers Broadcasting, is leaving to work for the league, does that along with new ownership have all of you guys who work for Blazers Broadcasting worried about your jobs?

 

[KingSpeed]

Get the pick, get lucky, have a championship core in three years and give Chicago our 20 something pick next year. A decent percentage of championship teams in the past 30 years had massive strokes of luck, plus tanking to get there. You can only control one of those variables. Sure I wish we had Sam Presti, but we don’t. We should have tanked this year. Huge mistake unless we get lucky. I would rather miss 15 straight years of playoffs and win a single championship after a few bites at the apple, rather than be mired in 1st round exit mediocrity and “competing”.

I actually disagree with this. 15 years of not having a team to root for one great season in the distant future if I’m even still alive? No thank you. A championship isn’t that important to me and 15 years of competing could organically lead to a title anyway.

 

[KingSpeed]

Nobody on this coaching staff or roster wants to tank for a draft pick that could replace their job and losing is how coaches get replaced. It would be idiotic for Tiago to lose on purpose or any player on the roster. Boston didn't tank to win championships nor did Denver. Cooper Flagg hasn't gotten Dallas a ring yet either. It's a crap shoot. We don't have roster spots for our current young talent as it is. I think you play the game to win. As a fan I don't think tanking is good basketball regardless of the ping pong balls. Toumani and Deni sure weren't our draft picks.

Boston’s star players were obtained in the draft.

 

[Idog1976]

I actually disagree with this. 15 years of not having a team to root for one great season in the distant future if I’m even still alive? No thank you. A championship isn’t that important to me and 15 years of competing could organically lead to a title anyway.

I said first round exits not competing for a title obviously I will take 15 WCF’s in a row. Im talking perennial first round exits which is what we are looking at without a HUGE upgrade in talent.