Here's the problem mon frere, you're basically saying the team sucks, but if you call them out for it, you're, "calling them names". If you expect them to play with energy, show some heart, play hard, you're expectations are too great. No one has called them a dream ever... heck we consider ourselves lucky when we get an "All-star selection". We all understand that Injuries have played a big role in their struggles this year, but it doesn't mean that they have to stand around take contested jumpers, show 0 signs of life on defense. There are things under their control that are frustrating to watch unfold.
You pick them LOW every year that I can find and call it "realism", and call out posters who pick them too high and that's ok, but how did you think this thread would be received? When you're calling out people who have "higher-expectations" then not just implying it, but telling them well expecting good things from this team is just setting themselves up for heartbreak.
The Blazers told us they were a championship team all summer, people looked at them on paper and said yeah they could be really competitive, the fact that they aren't is disappointing, and pointing out that it's not just the injuries but also their style of play, the lack of effort, the matador defense, doesn't make one not a fan of the team.
What do you think Gamethreads should look like when they play like they did last night? Should it be, "Oh man look at how awesome they looked standing still when SGA went around them?" Or well, "Nerlens Noel outworked the whole team for another rebound, but at least their blessing us with another basketball game tonight, I'm just thankful I get to watch it."
I get it, the Blazers aren't good, but the thing is those "expectations" for me at this point is just someone on the team looking pissed off about losing, I've seen teams with much less talent just flat out play better basketball then what the Blazers are playing right now. They need Ed Davis types, if you're running low on talent find dudes who will outwork the other team. They don't have that right now, except Dame but you can't expect Dame to be Lebron and carry 4 guys the same way.