Portland Trail Blazers' cushion over the Thunder

[SlyPokerDog]

Gods of Wind and Thunder Cushion!

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[KingSpeed]

Gods of Wind and Thunder Cushion!

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Nice!

 

[KingSpeed]

Thunder 3-11. We should win our next 3 to go 11-3. That's a nice cushion.

 

[magnifier661]

Thunder 5-12. We are 12-4. We are 7.5 games up on them. Is that enough?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Thunder 5-12. We are 12-4. We are 7.5 games up on them. Is that enough?

Bro, we lost to Memphis. The season is over. You should start watching college b-ball so we know who to draft with our lottery pick.

 

[KingSpeed]

Thunder 5-12. We are 12-4. We are 7.5 games up on them. Is that enough?

I hope so. Gotta watch out for Denver too.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I hope so. Gotta watch out for Denver too.

I'm not sure we do. DET? IND? OKC (after losing to them once)? LAL? CHI minus Rose?

They beat (after losing to) PHX, so ok. They beat CLE (after losing to them), so ok. They got swept by us and SAC.

I'm ok putting DEN in the "spunky, but not contender" category.

 

[julius]

Thunder 5-12. We are 12-4. We are 7.5 games up on them. Is that enough?

Nope.

As much as I love Lillard, Westbrook is at a whole 'nother level when it comes to taking a team on his back. Good or bad, he could carry that OKC team (without Durant) to the playoffs on his own, imho.

 

[kjironman1]

It's a team game. Just play the game the right way and continue to get better.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not sure we do. DET? IND? OKC (after losing to them once)? LAL? CHI minus Rose?

They beat (after losing to) PHX, so ok. They beat CLE (after losing to them), so ok. They got swept by us and SAC.

I'm ok putting DEN in the "spunky, but not contender" category.

We haven't swept Denver yet.

 

[PDXFonz]

"I don't feel safe"

 

[BrianFromWA]

We haven't swept Denver yet.

we played two games against them. We won both. So did SAC.

I agree that we haven't "swept the season series", but I assumed both of us knew that there were 4 division games and we'd played two, so the context of past tense coupled with knowing the schedule meant that they, indeed, have not been victorious against us yet in all of their (2) tries.

 

[KingSpeed]

we played two games against them. We won both. So did SAC.

I agree that we haven't "swept the season series", but I assumed both of us knew that there were 4 division games and we'd played two, so the context of past tense coupled with knowing the schedule meant that they, indeed, have not been victorious against us yet in all of their (2) tries.

Gotcha. I'm worried about Tuesday. Theyr'e playing better. At least they play at Utah the night before.

 

[magnifier661]

Gotcha. I'm worried about Tuesday. Theyr'e playing better. At least they play at Utah the night before.

Will you Jinxspeed the game?

 

[KingSpeed]

Will you Jinxspeed the game?

I'm going,

 

[blue9]

Thunder 5-12. We are 12-4. We are 7.5 games up on them. Is that enough?

Not enough. Not until we start beating some good teams.

 

[julius]

Not enough. Not until we start beating some good teams.

So far that has been the biggest negative about this season. Losses at home to Golden State and Memphis are telling.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Updated numbers:

I have been using a lower case scenario of .600 ball for us for the rest of the season and a higher case scenario of .750 ball for them for the rest of the season as an example.

Blazers 13-4, 65 games remaining

65 games x .600 ball = 39 more wins + 13 current wins = 52 wins

Thunder 5-12, 65 games remaining

65 games x .750 ball = 48.75 more wins + 5 current wins = 53.75 wins

 

[blue9]

So far that has been the biggest negative about this season. Losses at home to Golden State and Memphis are telling.

Earlier in the season Nate made a thread about this year's "hot start" feeling different than last season's hot start. At the time I agreed with him, but I have to admit that I'm starting to feel a little iffy about our record.

 

[tlongII]

So far that has been the biggest negative about this season. Losses at home to Golden State and Memphis are telling.

Well, we should have beaten Golden State. We got screwed by the refs and we choked as well. Memphis wacked us, but those games happen.

 

[Boise Blazer]

I feel like the loses to GSW and LAC we both crap and shouldnt have happened. The losses to MEM and SAC we just got beat fair and square.

Although I am still a little frustrated by that bad ref call right in the middle of a big run vs MEM

 

[magnifier661]

I feel like the loses to GSW and LAC we both crap and shouldnt have happened. The losses to MEM and SAC we just got beat fair and square.

Although I am still a little frustrated by that bad ref call right in the middle of a big run vs MEM

Yes, we were robbed against the Clips and Warriors games. We really should be 15-2 and Top in the west.

 

[Strenuus]

Yes, we were robbed against the Clips and Warriors games. We really should be 15-2 and Top in the west.

How were we robbed in the GS game? We fucking sucked at inbounding the ball, that's not on the refs, regardless of if we called time or not. It's fundamental basketball to inbound the damn rock.

 

[riverman]

I don't want to cross my fingers in hopes that the Thunder stay injured. I want the Blazers to whoop their ass at full strength. Sure it helps our division standings but I think a motivated, clicking Blazer team can beat Westbrook and Durant. Swagger comes from belief.

 

[KingSpeed]

How were we robbed in the GS game? We fucking sucked at inbounding the ball, that's not on the refs, regardless of if we called time or not. It's fundamental basketball to inbound the damn rock.

Batum called timeout and the refs didn't blow the whistle. Then Wes was fouled on the inbounds and refs didn't call it. We won that game.

 

[magnifier661]

How were we robbed in the GS game? We fucking sucked at inbounding the ball, that's not on the refs, regardless of if we called time or not. It's fundamental basketball to inbound the damn rock.

What KS said...

 

[Strenuus]

Batum called timeout and the refs didn't blow the whistle. Then Wes was fouled on the inbounds and refs didn't call it. We won that game.

Gotta play through it. We were only down 1 and had the ball again. Couldn't inbound. Then down 3 we couldn't do it AGAIN! Come on now.

 

[PDXFonz]

Honestly, the more I think about it the more I feel it is ridiculous to assume that the thunder won't make the playoffs. Catching us might prove to be a different story, but they aren't that far out of the mix. The only concern as has been mentioned is whether or not Durant is rushing back. They can, should, and probably will keep him out as long as Westbrook can keep the team winning more than losing.

Regardless of when Durant comes back it could be interesting seeing how the team gels. It could end up being great for the team, developing some of their players. Which could end up making them very dangerous come playoff time.

Long story short, I wouldn't count the Thunder out.

 

[riverman]

Westbrook, like Rondo, plays a risky style of basketball for injury. He's a guy who lands pretty hard after a dunk and likes the showboat. I think he alone can only carry that team so far before he's going to run out of gas. They still will win some games with KD out. Better be at 500 halfway through though to have a shot.

 

[PDXFonz]

Westbrook, like Rondo, plays a risky style of basketball for injury. He's a guy who lands pretty hard after a dunk and likes the showboat. I think he alone can only carry that team so far before he's going to run out of gas. They still will win some games with KD out. Better be at 500 halfway through though to have a shot.

Don't you think he will play like that regardless of whether or not KD is on the floor with him? Also, does this mean you have concerns about dame since he has made it more of a focus to be explosive and get to the rim, even though he's not on Westbrooks level in that regard?