disagree. We had a bad start not just because of injuries. We had a brand new roster and traveled probably 5x as many miles as the next closest team (we have played more road games than any other team, and the blazers usually average 3x as many miles traveled as the next closest opponent due to location).
Now our players have developed at least a small amount of chemistry. And now we have 13 of our next 16 games at home. We can easily get back to 500 by the new year.
Our home record is 1-4. Not exactly pointing to how well the team does at home.
I guess we will find out shortly. I still haven't seen us play defense against an average or better than average team. Until the team shows that they can defend for several games in a row, I don't see it. And adding Carmelo to the starting lineup does not help my confidence (although I like what he adds offensively).
We are 6-12, with 37 games left to the All Star Break. No way Nurkic is back before that, and Collins well after that.
If you extrapolate, we will be at 18-37, likely 10 games out of the 8th spot.
Unless the team majorly turns it around, my count looking game by game is about the same.
Nurkic's best case return is ASB. If he even makes that, it will be another month before he is likely playing remotely close to where he was.
Collins will only be back just before the playoffs and will certainly be rusty.
With all that, for the remaining 27 games after the ASB, Blazers would have to 20-7 just to make the 8th seed--maybe.
