TBpup
Writing Team
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2013
- Messages
- 22,657
- Likes
- 34,641
- Points
- 113
The Next 7: Gauging after a good start (2-0)
Portland just finished off a 4-0 road trip to push their early season record to a gaudy 10-2. But as surprising as that start has been, most fans and many in the media are reserving judgement until they play tougher competition. Well here is their chance to see where they really stack up.
CHICAGO - players and coaches will tell you the first game back after a long road trip is often the toughest. Chicago isn't quite what they were two years ago but they still play defense and Rose is figuring out his way back.
@ Golden State - If the first game back after a long road trip is tough, where does a b2b on the road at the Warriors come in? Hopefully Portland can get a win versus Chicago or they could easily be looking at two losses in a row as the Warriors are a tough matchup for anyone and 5-0 at home so far this season.
NEW YORK - The 'break game in this tough 7 game stretch. Carmelo is driving his teammates batty and the dysfunction is rivaling James Dolan's inadequacy as a GM.
@ Phoenix - The Suns have come back to earth after a quick start but they are still playing teams tough and close for the most part even in losses. Portland struggles in the Valley of the Sun regardless of how the Suns are playing but if the Blazers are for real, this is a game you want them to win.
@ Lakers - This could be Kobe's first game back....great timing for Blazer fans. So far, the Lakers have been NJ-East with tons of injuries and lackluster play.
INDIANA - Want a measuring stick game? Here it is. Big, slow defensive centers, perimeter scorers and scoring PGs. These teams mirror each other a bit with similar type players having advantages at different positions.
OKC - Measuring stick 2.0 Oklahoma gives the Blazers fits because Westbrook can out-Damian Lillard, Durant toys with Batum and Ibaka is enough of a defensive presence to bother Aldridge.
After these 7 games, we should get a much better feel for where the Blazers are and what we might expect going forward for the rest of the season. I want to say 5-2 but somehow I can see a 'surprise' loss in there somewhere to go 4-3. Two of the toughest three games are at home which bodes well. Where do you see them ending up at the end of this stretch?
Portland just finished off a 4-0 road trip to push their early season record to a gaudy 10-2. But as surprising as that start has been, most fans and many in the media are reserving judgement until they play tougher competition. Well here is their chance to see where they really stack up.
CHICAGO - players and coaches will tell you the first game back after a long road trip is often the toughest. Chicago isn't quite what they were two years ago but they still play defense and Rose is figuring out his way back.
@ Golden State - If the first game back after a long road trip is tough, where does a b2b on the road at the Warriors come in? Hopefully Portland can get a win versus Chicago or they could easily be looking at two losses in a row as the Warriors are a tough matchup for anyone and 5-0 at home so far this season.
NEW YORK - The 'break game in this tough 7 game stretch. Carmelo is driving his teammates batty and the dysfunction is rivaling James Dolan's inadequacy as a GM.
@ Phoenix - The Suns have come back to earth after a quick start but they are still playing teams tough and close for the most part even in losses. Portland struggles in the Valley of the Sun regardless of how the Suns are playing but if the Blazers are for real, this is a game you want them to win.
@ Lakers - This could be Kobe's first game back....great timing for Blazer fans. So far, the Lakers have been NJ-East with tons of injuries and lackluster play.
INDIANA - Want a measuring stick game? Here it is. Big, slow defensive centers, perimeter scorers and scoring PGs. These teams mirror each other a bit with similar type players having advantages at different positions.
OKC - Measuring stick 2.0 Oklahoma gives the Blazers fits because Westbrook can out-Damian Lillard, Durant toys with Batum and Ibaka is enough of a defensive presence to bother Aldridge.
After these 7 games, we should get a much better feel for where the Blazers are and what we might expect going forward for the rest of the season. I want to say 5-2 but somehow I can see a 'surprise' loss in there somewhere to go 4-3. Two of the toughest three games are at home which bodes well. Where do you see them ending up at the end of this stretch?
Last edited:
