Rank the West & Vote where the Blazers finish

[SharpeScooterShooter]

7th without Any changes. With improvements at or before the trade deadline, 4th ( assuming we are upgrading to contend).

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

We don't even know what rosters will look like in the west yet....one of those teams may have Durant, etc.....and if you're going to be a top 4 contender in the west you're going to have to beat the good teams....with improved defense and a deeper bench I think we'll surprise the low ballers who predict us low now......if we're healthy and Dame is 100% I think we can push up to the 3 seed as it stands....the media will have us in the playin game at best.....local writers like Richman have us 10th ...he thinks we were more talented last year than this year...I don't. If I'm predicting early, I'm going to predict success.....3rd seed....Warriors, Clippers, Blazers.....(Clippers dependent on George and Kawhi being healthy) Point of attack defense is a game changer and we have that with the starters and the bench now.

Agree, but it is the long and boring offseason, so….

 

[calvin natt]

Blazers AHEAD of Wolves and Pels??????????

I only have the Wolves one behind Portland, mostly because I still dont have any idea why/how Gobert and KAT are a good combo and outside of their big three things get really thin. Depth matters. The Pelicans I dont think highly of. Had a good run when CJ got there, and obviously Zion changes everything. If he can stay healthy for the first time in his career, sure, move them up.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This seems relevant:
http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/whos-better-than-us-now-in-the-west.377598/

 

[PDXFonz]

Unpopular opinion, but people who have the Lakers missing the playoffs will be disappointed this year.
Health is always the question; I wouldn’t write them off.

If Russ can’t make the playoffs with Bron and AD then something is up. Like some Space Jam stuff…Really.

If AD is healthy he’s almost a lock for the playoffs himself just because of his win share contribution.

It was awesome having the lakers miss the playoffs too last season. Would love to see it again, but I’m not holding my breath. Too much talent with their stars. Unless Bron is done caring, I’m not writing them off.

Could be a first round matchup this year… The west playoffs will be brutal. No easy opponents for any of the home teams.

Could be the year we see record breaking upsets, if not…It’s coming. League is deep right now. Players like Paul George taking a backseat to Ja Morant.

Nobody talking about Kahwi because of his injuries. I still think this draft class will be legit; so the Magic should be a dangerous team in the coming years.

There’s just really nobody on the schedule you look at and say “thank goodness we are playing them tonight”.

 

[tykendo]

Mavs also welcome back Hardaway who was out with a broken foot last year

STOMP

A highly inconsistent player.

 

[tykendo]

I remember when the Blazers were going to have Oden back and were going to be scary good

games played in first 3 seasons:

Zion 85
Oden 82

Zion won't last 30 games if he hasn't lost 50 pounds from where I saw him last...



**********************************************

I don't think it's clear sailing for the Pels either. CJ is a ball-hog. He always has been but he's not good enough to consistently beat defenses with his mad-is0-over-dribbling. He's going to have to really ratchet down his tendency to call his own number when the ball is in his hands. Zion is a much better player than CJ; Ingram is a much better player than CJ; Valunciunas and Herbert Jones are more efficient than CJ and deserve their opportunities. If CJ ranks higher than 3rd on the Pels in FGA's the ball will be sticking in his hands too much and I doubt Zion and Ingram will be as patient with CJ's tendencies as Stotts was

Zion healthy , yes. I don't see Ingram as better than CJ, different yes. They are on par with each other IMO. CJ was the best player on that team at the end of the season.

 

[wizenheimer]

Zion healthy , yes. I don't see Ingram as better than CJ, different yes. They are on par with each other IMO. CJ was the best player on that team at the end of the season.

CJ at his best is not normal CJ, and CJ at his best never sustains. Compare his Pels regular season numbers to his Pels playoff numbers. In fact, compare his regular season numbers last year for Portland to his numbers for New Orleans. He sucked in the playoffs so his response to sucking was typical CJ....he shot more and passed less

Ingram is a better player and a much more valuable player. Nobody in their right mind would trade Ingram for CJ

 

[Chris Craig]

As of now...

1 GSW
2 LAC
3 PHX
4 DEN
5 MEM
6 POR
7 MIN
8 DAL
9 NOP
10 LAL
11 UTA
12 SAC
13 OKC
14 HOU
15 SAS

Blazers finish 6th

 

[SharpesTriumph]

We don't even know what rosters will look like in the west yet....one of those teams may have Durant, etc.....and if you're going to be a top 4 contender in the west you're going to have to beat the good teams....with improved defense and a deeper bench I think we'll surprise the low ballers who predict us low now......if we're healthy and Dame is 100% I think we can push up to the 3 seed as it stands....the media will have us in the playin game at best.....local writers like Richman have us 10th ...he thinks we were more talented last year than this year...I don't. If I'm predicting early, I'm going to predict success.....3rd seed....Warriors, Clippers, Blazers.....(Clippers dependent on George and Kawhi being healthy) Point of attack defense is a game changer and we have that with the starters and the bench now.

Could say this literally any time of the year except after the trade deadline Feb-June.

Middle of July to October is probably second with least amount of NBA roster changes.

 

[riverman]

Could say this literally any time of the year except after the trade deadline Feb-June.

Middle of July to October is probably second with least amount of NBA roster changes.

Unless a Kevin Durant happens to demand a trade...then every contender in the West is on pause until something sticks....this offseason is not a normal one with the KD demand...it's why we drafted Sharpe...every team with a good big man needed him to fill a Durant trade. What we wanted was on pause with OG...Collins...lots of players. The West will change big time if Durant gets moved.

 

[PDXFonz]

Why is Memphis better than us by so many?

Anybody want to bet on whether or not we finish higher than Memphis?

You can bet against me saying that we finish with a better record than the Grizzlies…

Steak Dinner, loser buys.

I’ll take this bet

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Unless a Kevin Durant happens to demand a trade...then every contender in the West is on pause until something sticks....this offseason is not a normal one with the KD demand...it's why we drafted Sharpe...every team with a good big man needed him to fill a Durant trade. What we wanted was on pause with OG...Collins...lots of players. The West will change big time if Durant gets moved.

Can you name one contender in the west on pause because of Durant possibly being traded?

 

[STOMP]

A highly inconsistent player.

Yet easily one of their best as well as their highest paid player. Specifically Hardaway is one of their top 3 point shooters which helps keeps the D spread for Luka to operate

STOMP

 

[riverman]

Can you name one contender in the west on pause because of Durant possibly being traded?

All of them...to my point. We'll see who ends up being a contender but if KD moves...the team trading for him loses depth.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

I think i see some people who are going to be let down by seasons end. Some have this team a bit overrated unless the Blazers pick up another player that might help their cause?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

I’ll take this bet

Winner, winner dinner for one!

 

[blazerkor]

I think i see some people who are going to be let down by seasons end. Some have this team a bit overrated unless the Blazers pick up another player that might help their cause?

That is a fairly easy position to take when you haven't made any predictions of any kind. Where do you have the Blazers in the Western Conference pecking order... today?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

That is a fairly easy position to take when you haven't made any predictions of any kind. Where do you have the Blazers in the Western Conference pecking order... today?

He is fairly certain they will be fairly good and fairly bad at times with a fair chance of making the playoffs but also a fair chance they are not a top four contender.

Im fairly certain of this anyhow.

Would that be fairly accurate @Fairly-Hard?

 

[blazerkor]

He is fairly certain they will be fairly good and fairly bad at times with a fair chance of making the playoffs but also a fair chance they are not a top four contender.

Im fairly certain of this anyhow.

Would that be fairly accurate @Fairly-Hard?

That's a fairly soft take, especially when you're casting ambiguous doubt on who knows whose predictions. He needs to try @Fairly-Hard er.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

That's a fairly soft take, especially when you're casting ambiguous doubt on who knows whose predictions. He needs to try @Fairly-Hard er.

Im fairly certain im just poking him fairly soft.

Wait… that doesn't sound right. At all!

 

[SlyPokerCat]

1 Warriors
2 Clippers
3 Suns
4 Grizzlies
5 Nuggets
6 Timberwolves
7 Pelicans
8 Mavericks
9 Blazers
10 Lakers
11 Kings
12 Thunder
13 Jazz
14 Rockets
15 Spurs

 

[Fairly-Hard]

That is a fairly easy position to take when you haven't made any predictions of any kind. Where do you have the Blazers in the Western Conference pecking order... today?

Not very good. It will be Fairly Hard for them to win a Championship.

 

[Ed O]

I voted 8th. If we stay healthy all season, we might be able to get up to 6 or so, but I could see us sliding down to 10 with a couple of key injuries and we have plenty of guys who can't stay healthy in Nurk, Winslow, Payton, et al.

So... I say 8th.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Unfortunately I think they will do better this year.

Fine… Edited my original post

You have the Nuggets as 10th in the West? They have the best player in the league and help is coming. Geesh. Lakers haven’t done anything to improve.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Unpopular opinion, but people who have the Lakers missing the playoffs will be disappointed this year.
Health is always the question; I wouldn’t write them off.

If Russ can’t make the playoffs with Bron and AD then something is up. Like some Space Jam stuff…Really.

If AD is healthy he’s almost a lock for the playoffs himself just because of his win share contribution.

It was awesome having the lakers miss the playoffs too last season. Would love to see it again, but I’m not holding my breath. Too much talent with their stars. Unless Bron is done caring, I’m not writing them off.

Could be a first round matchup this year… The west playoffs will be brutal. No easy opponents for any of the home teams.

Could be the year we see record breaking upsets, if not…It’s coming. League is deep right now. Players like Paul George taking a backseat to Ja Morant.

Nobody talking about Kahwi because of his injuries. I still think this draft class will be legit; so the Magic should be a dangerous team in the coming years.

There’s just really nobody on the schedule you look at and say “thank goodness we are playing them tonight”.

Maybe if Russ gets hurt, then Lakers could make playoffs. As it stands, he prevents them from winning. AD is never healthy so why should that change this year? It looked like he’d take a jump after the 2020 title, but he got worse and hasn’t improved since.

 

[THE HCP]

In the sense of the Wolves, chemistry matters, and in the sense of the Pelicans, health matters.

Until Zion can play a full season, relying on him for your estimation of how the Pelicans are going to do is foolish.

What about the Blazers health and talent level in this scenario? People above actually typed their prediction out thinking Sharpe is going to contribute….. the dude isn’t even going to play.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

the dude isn’t even going to play for a year or two.

FTFY

 

[PDXFonz]

You have the Nuggets as 10th in the West? They have the best player in the league and help is coming. Geesh. Lakers haven’t done anything to improve.

Those nuggets are fools gold!

What’s a prediction without a guess. Call it bold, call it incorrect. I’m sticking to it! Somebody good is going to have to lose for other teams to win.

 

[tykendo]

What about the Blazers health and talent level in this scenario? People above actually typed their prediction out thinking Sharpe is going to contribute….. the dude isn’t even going to play.

If he doesn't play, it's because he's been traded. I can't see in any way, they would have drafted a guy, that high, to get slivers in his ass.