Should the Blazers make the playoffs?

[Blazinaway]

I hope they pull out of this nosedive, but if they don't and we miss the playoffs it could lead to a very, very active summer of changes which in some ways may not be a bad idea

 

[HailBlazers]

The team is not melting down though. They are playing as they should

More or less.

 

[Eastoff]

it is mathematically impossible for us to drop to 12th to keep our pick.

 

[Blazinaway]

it is mathematically impossible for us to drop to 12th to keep our pick.

oh my god! I am not very optimistic here but I have not gone down that far to consider that! LOL I better stock up on the booze and start checking out draft prospects which I had been hoping was totally unnecessary

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I don't think any team wants us.in the playoffs. We could just as easily.start shooting hot again and land a first round upset.

 

[maxiep]

The team is not melting down though. They are playing as they should

I do think there's some truth to this statement. Without LA, this is a mediocre team. So much of how we play is based on the mismatch he provides. You can see how inefficient Lillard has become. It's no coincidence.

Where we disagree is the ceiling of this particular team. You still think it's an average or above average team. I think if everything falls the right way, this is a Championship level team. However, EVERYTHING has to fall the right way. In that sense, we're kind of like the Dallas team that won the championship.

 

[maxiep]

If we miss the playoffs after a 24-5 start, we need to seriously evaluate the way this roster is built. Could call for some big changes like trading LA/Nic/Wes.

Nah. Olshey has a plan, and patience is part of that plan. We stay on the same course.

My guess his secret prediction was between 40-43 wins for this season. We're a damn sight better than that. The rebuilding is ahead of schedule.

 

[illmatic99]

I don't think any team wants us.in the playoffs. We could just as easily.start shooting hot again and land a first round upset.

TBH, I think it's the exact opposite. Our current problems are a result of more than just poor shooting. We have some glaring flaws that opponents are all exposing.

 

[maxiep]

it is mathematically impossible for us to drop to 12th to keep our pick.

Is it? Couldn't we miss the playoffs and then get a top three pick in the lottery?

 

[illmatic99]

What's our magic # to make the playoffs? I can't see other teams' records atm

 

[maxiep]

TBH, I think it's the exact opposite. Our current problems are a result of more than just poor shooting. We have some glaring flaws that opponents are all exposing.

The most glaring flaw is not having the best PF in the game. It's a pretty easy flaw to expose. Even Mo Cheeks could figure that one out.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Not really a meltdown, because it wasn't exactly hyperbolic, or crazy.

Yeah, neither of those adjectives are strong enough.

 

[BlazerWookee]

If we miss the playoffs after a 24-5 start, we need to seriously evaluate the way this roster is built. Could call for some big changes like trading LA/Nic/Wes.

So, because the improvements Olshey made to the roster at very little cost weren't enough so that we can't play .800+ basketball with the best PF in the league out with an injury, we need to blow up the core?

 

[cmeese47]

The most glaring flaw is not having the best PF in the game. It's a pretty easy flaw to expose. Even Mo Cheeks could figure that one out.

Well we only had the best PF in the NBA for like a month, and even that was debatable. But I see the point you were trying for.

 

[cmeese47]

So, because the improvements Olshey made to the roster at very little cost weren't enough so that we can't play .800+ basketball with the best PF in the league out with an injury, we need to blow up the core?

24-5 start 8-5 without LA that is 32-10 the problem is the 13-17 record between those.

 

[Eastoff]

Is it? Couldn't we miss the playoffs and then get a top three pick in the lottery?

I suppose you're right. That is the only possible way.

 

[BlazerWookee]

24-5 start 8-5 without LA that is 32-10 the problem is the 13-17 record between those.

Lamarcus was playing at far below 100% with the groin injury for several games. Losing Joel Freeland hurt, too, as he was more than serviceable and WAY steadier than both Robinson and Leonard.

No need for dynamite yet. Look what Olshey did to the bench without using any significant assets. Ya gotta have faith.

 

[Kaydow]

So, because the improvements Olshey made to the roster at very little cost weren't enough so that we can't play .800+ basketball with the best PF in the league out with an injury, we need to blow up the core?

I wouldn't be on board with blow up/reset mode. Rebuilding sucks. But if we end up missing the playoffs, it would be a massacre. Had we not started 31-9, missing the post season isn't the end of the world. But we're talking about a "would be" historical collapse & basically being a victim of our early success. The organization would almost have to make changes or just get roasted the fans/media. You just don't see teams that melt down like that stay together.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Lamarcus was playing at far below 100% with the groin injury for several games. Losing Joel Freeland hurt, too, as he was more than serviceable and WAY steadier than both Robinson and Leonard.

No need for dynamite yet. Look what Olshey did to the bench without using any significant assets. Ya gotta have faith.

Serious question: without picks or cap space, just how is the roster going to improve next season? The only trade assets are the starters, so some degree of "blowing things up" is the only way changes can be made.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Serious question: without picks or cap space, just how is the roster going to improve next season? The only trade assets are the starters, so some degree of "blowing things up" is the only way changes can be made.

Our team will have the MLE next season. Some may think that'll be the saving grace for the franchise. However, I have my doubts.

 

[riverman]

Trust in Olshey! Bring on the playoffs and let the chips fall where they may..I think we'll win a series. I plan to enjoy the last 10 regular season games without freaking out. This is NOT last season and it's tiring having them constantly compared. Dame has never been in a playoff game and I think he'll step up big time when it happens.

 

[jlprk]

What is the as-of date for this diagram?

 

[blue9]

Dame has never been in a playoff game and I think he'll step up big time when it happens.

Honestly, that's the ONLY thing that interests me about the Playoffs. We're going to get creamed, but I want to see how Lillard plays. I think/hope that the Playoffs are where we'll see the Lillard we've been sold on come into being. My worry is that Stotts still won't have figured out a way to deal with the opposition aggressively jumping P/Rs. If he can figure that one thing out then I'm excited about watching Lillard rise to the occasion. If he doesn't, then I fear Lillard will continue to look very ordinary.

 

[Rhal]

This team played above its head early in the season and we have taken a nose dive and are playing much worse. This Blazers team is more in the middle of what we have seen.
If anyone told you this is how we stood at the beginning of the season everyone not named Mags would have been stoked. Our expectations rose with the level of play this team sustained through 35 games and now those expectations have seemed to come crashing down in a fiery plane crash because of some very mediocre to horrible basketball after the next 35 games.
We have 45 wins with 11 games left and we are getting our best player back, seems like a good thing to me.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[Hobbesarable]

FTFY

We have 45 wins with 10 games left and we are getting our best player back, seems like a good thing to me.

 

[KingSpeed]

Trust in Olshey! Bring on the playoffs and let the chips fall where they may..I think we'll win a series. I plan to enjoy the last 10 regular season games without freaking out. This is NOT last season and it's tiring having them constantly compared. Dame has never been in a playoff game and I think he'll step up big time when it happens.

Will you enjoy the last 10 games if we lose most of them?

 

[maxiep]

Will you enjoy the last 10 games if we lose most of them?

I will. I love my Blazers, win or lose.

 

[HailBlazers]

What is the as-of date for this diagram?

About when we began to slide, Jan 15th:

NBA strength of schedule ranks. Sorry Portland, the free ride's over.

 

[riverman]

Will you enjoy the last 10 games if we lose most of them?

If they compete, sure. I enjoy the local high school team here and they lose more often than not but play with a lot of heart. I enjoyed the Miami loss because of the 4th qtr and the heart the team showed. I love basketball. Blowouts are boring. I think we'll win 50 games, maybe 52 this season and if you haven't noticed, the west is deeper than I can ever remember it being this year.

 

[riverman]

Will you enjoy the last 10 games if we lose most of them?

I've also been a fan since the team first arrived and enjoyed every season on some level. If I didn't, I'd be a die hard Spurs fan. Love the game and don't expect things is my motto. I've been really surprised this season all said and done. We lost our fair share of nail biters and then there's the Charlotte blowout which I admit, I did not enjoy.