The rest of the season

[Shooter]

By all means, jump ship if you want because our 3rd (maybe 4th) best player got hurt.

Who said anything about jumping ship? I've been a Blazer fan since day one, and I always will be.

Oden is not done for his career. He's only 21. This may be a setback for a few years, but I see him playing sensational basketball in his prime years, ages 26-32.

I hope you're right, but it doesn't seem likely. He's proven to be very injury-prone, and now for the rest of his career he's going to be playing on two surgically repaired knees.

It's not as big a blow as you are makinng it out to be.

Hey, I'm the biggest Blazer fan in the world, but I can also call a spade a spade. This is a huge blow, and everybody knows it.

If you saw tonight's game, you saw that we have a star who can carry us against a very good opponent. We can win without Oden.

Roy cannot save us every night. We need a trio of star players to win a championship.

 

[KingSpeed]

The team will be fine in the short-term so long as Roy stays healthy. I predict we might even win at a greater rate than when we did with Oden. But we needed this season to incorporate Oden into how the team played-- not play identically to how we played last year. Oden's proven he can't be relied on. Even if Oden comes back 100%, this is another year removed that we may be able to get the team used to playing with a high-level center (which so far, we've seen is not something easy). Unless we somehow trade for Lebron or Kobe or Dwight, or our defense improves by a factor of a million (both equally unlikely) our chances for a championship with our "core" is pretty much shot.

I agree with everything but your last sentence. Roy and Aldridge are better players than you give them credit for. They're only in their 4th season and they're about to explode especially with the more comfortable offense they'll be playing with Oden out. I think we can definitely win a championship by building around Roy. Definitely.

 

[KingSpeed]

Roy cannot save us every night. We need a trio of star players to win a championship.

That trio will either be Roy-LMA-Miller, Roy-LMA-Rudy, Roy-LMA-Outlaw, or Roy-LMA-Bayless. Miller is already a star (who will probably be traded for maybe another star.) Outlaw has shown what he can do when given the chance in the 4th quarter. Rudy and Bayless are very young players with HUGE upside. I think we still have a helluva lot of talent.

 

[Miksaid]

I agree with everything but your last sentence. Roy and Aldridge are better players than you give them credit for. They're only in their 4th season and they're about to explode especially with the more comfortable offense they'll be playing with Oden out. I think we can definitely win a championship by building around Roy. Definitely.

Make no mistake, Roy's a star and Aldridge is a solid player who may some day become a star. While our offense might be adequate this season (better, even), at the end of the day, you need to play defense to win championships and we just lost a big part of ours today. Joel can't play it by himself.

 

[KingSpeed]

Make no mistake, Roy's a star and Aldridge is a solid player who may some day become a star. While our offense might be adequate this season (better, even), at the end of the day, you need to play defense to win championships and we just lost a big part of ours today. Joel can't play it by himself.

Oden couldn't do it by himself either. Joel is a fine substitute for Oden defensively. Provided the rest of the team plays as well defensively as it has for most of this season, we should be okay. Let's see what Joel can do with 36 mpg.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, but I think he's a bit too rosy on this season and too pessimistic on Oden's long-term future.

The main problem I see this year is depth, not lack of "star power." Roy and Aldridge and Miller returning to form would definitely make up for Oden's lost production, but it won't make up for the lack of depth. The team actually still has a nice top-five...Roy, Aldridge, Miller, Przybilla, Fernandez (assuming he's back soon, oy) is still quite good talent. And Bayless has looked good this year so far.

But after that, boy, the team is in trouble. Blake can provide competent minutes, Cunningham might be NBA-caliber...eh...and that's that.

Oh I completely agree with you. I was just surprised at how JH approached his article, it wasn't what I was expecting. But I do agree with JH's assertion that it is now very difficult to build the team around Greg, he's shown himself to be officially injury prone and will have missed far too many games in his first 3 years that you would want to count on getting 70+ from him going forward. They're going to have to try and find some kind of front-court player that can compliment Aldridge, preferably a low post scorer of some kind and good rebounding skills. But somebody that can also fit in with Oden if/when he's back and able to play.

Bottom line: I see this maybe being a 38 win season if everything goes OK (as in no more long-term injuries, to ANYBODY!) on the plus side maybe we'll find out that Roy and Miller work just fine with each other and that may carry over in to the next season. I'm also pretty encouraged with the work I saw Bayless putting in tonight. He was a huge difference maker in my opinion, even if he did commit some silly fouls and did make some young player mistakes. He was in Brooks' hip pocket whenever he covered him and his jumper looked pretty good.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Bottom line: I see this maybe being a 38 win season if everything goes OK (as in no more long-term injuries, to ANYBODY!) on the plus side maybe we'll find out that Roy and Miller work just fine with each other and that may carry over in to the next season. I'm also pretty encouraged with the work I saw Bayless putting in tonight. He was a huge difference maker in my opinion, even if he did commit some silly fouls and did make some young player mistakes. He was in Brooks' hip pocket whenever he covered him and his jumper looked pretty good.

So 25-36 from here? I think that's a little pessimistic. If Rudy comes back and everyone else stays pretty healthy I think we could go slightly better than .500...somewhere around 33-28 or better for about a 46 to 48 win season.

 

[B-Roy]

Ugh. Depth really is a problem.

No backup 5 without Greg.

No competent backup 4.

No backup 3 until Batum gets back in March.

No backup 2 until Rudy gets back.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Ugh. Depth really is a problem.

No backup 5 without Greg.

No competent backup 4.

No backup 3 until Batum gets back in March.

No backup 2 until Rudy gets back.

I'd add:

NO competent SF period.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So 25-36 from here? I think that's a little pessimistic. If Rudy comes back and everyone else stays pretty healthy I think we could go slightly better than .500...somewhere around 33-28 or better for about a 46 to 48 win season.

We've already played the softest part of our schedule, so even going .500 from here on out is looking less likely. Secondly you qualified your statement with, "if Rudy comes back and everyone else stays pretty healthy" At this point I don't think you can assume that's a likelihood. Certainly we seem to have used up our allotment of bad luck in the injury department, but would you bet on no more losses from this point forward?

I guess anything is possible, but if I'm just taking my hopes and wishes out of the equation, it's clear to me that we are completely decimated in the front court and are now completely fucked if LMA or Joel gets into any kind of foul trouble or if they go down for even a few games; the margin for error just effectively evaporated into a puff.

 

[KingSpeed]

You guys are losing your minds. We're gonna win at least 50 games this year. Our best players will still be on the court.

 

[B-Roy]

We've already played the softest part of our schedule, so even going .500 from here on out is looking less likely. Secondly you qualified your statement with, "if Rudy comes back and everyone else stays pretty healthy" At this point I don't think you can assume that's a likelihood. Certainly we seem to have used up our allotment of bad luck in the injury department, but would you bet on no more losses from this point forward?

I guess anything is possible, but if I'm just taking my hopes and wishes out of the equation, it's clear to me that we are completely decimated in the front court and are now completely fucked if LMA or Joel gets into any kind of foul trouble or if they go down for even a few games; the margin for error just effectively evaporated into a puff.

Brandon Bass

Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass.
Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd add:

NO competent SF period.

God I'd give anything to see martell even go 2-5 on a night at this point. He just looks so ... "ugh"

 

[Nikolokolus]

Brandon Bass

Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass.
Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass. Blake for Bass.

fuck yes. Though I'm sure Orlando knows they'd have us over a barrel and are desperate, so I imagine his price just went up to something like Blake, and some draft picks and/or draft rights.

 

[B-Roy]

God I'd give anything to see martell even go 2-5 on a night at this point. He just looks so ... "ugh"

He's still not terrible starting. Past two games have been bad, but he's been serviceable for the most part.

 

[Miksaid]

You guys are losing your minds. We're gonna win at least 50 games this year. Our best players will still be on the court.

KingSpeed,

Even if I disagree with you that Oden WAS one of our best players and concede that Joel can provide solid minutes at center if he plays like last year, I think you're overlooking the value of depth. Right now, we have none.

We will miss Oden just like we will miss Outlaw and Batum.

It doesn't look good.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

You guys are losing your minds. We're gonna win at least 50 games this year. Our best players will still be on the court.

King:

First, let me preface what I say by professing my fandom to the Blazers - for nearly 30 years.

I appreciate you being extremely positive - especially after the tradgedy of GO tonight!

To reality, I have been posting that (before Greg's injury) the Blazer's lack of chemistry could see us being at sub-500 by Christmas.

Oden's injury may change this! In some weird way, the guys may dig deep and win some games between now and Christmas. Roy may be able to penetrate and have some [scoring] success; Pryz may start playing now; and Miller will be counted upon to run this team.

But our lack of depth is our stumbling block.

By Christmas Day against the Nuggets - we'll be at 500 or under.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

We've already played the softest part of our schedule, so even going .500 from here on out is looking less likely. Secondly you qualified your statement with, "if Rudy comes back and everyone else stays pretty healthy" At this point I don't think you can assume that's a likelihood. Certainly we seem to have used up our allotment of bad luck in the injury department, but would you bet on no more losses from this point forward?

I guess anything is possible, but if I'm just taking my hopes and wishes out of the equation, it's clear to me that we are completely decimated in the front court and are now completely fucked if LMA or Joel gets into any kind of foul trouble or if they go down for even a few games; the margin for error just effectively evaporated into a puff.

I was trying to stay consistent with your post...I thought you were also assuming no additional significant injuries.

I also agree we've played a very soft schedule...but it was poorly played by Roy and LA and...well most everyone except Greg I guess...I think their play will improve and partially offset Greg's loss. Yes, our serious lack of depth (I can't even believe I typed that phrase about this team) will be a stumbling block, but at this point, even with the hell we've gone through, I don't see us losing 20 more games than we did last year...

One thing I do know for sure is these players are in for a serious gut check.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

By Christmas Day against the Nuggets - we'll be at 500 or under.

So we're going 3-8 from here until Christmas...strange but at this point I guess I'm the optimist. But you're right that stretch of 11 games doesn't look easy. I'm hoping 5-6 for a record at XMAS of 18-14...a little above .500...not by too much, but a bit...

 

[KingSpeed]

KingSpeed,

Even if I disagree with you that Oden WAS one of our best players and concede that Joel can provide solid minutes at center if he plays like last year, I think you're overlooking the value of depth. Right now, we have none.

We will miss Oden just like we will miss Outlaw and Batum.

It doesn't look good.

This is what you have depth for. To cover yourself when you have injuries. So there you go. Here are the injuries and are depth goes to work. EVeryone's going to play more minutes, yes, and that's not a bad thing. People will get into better rhythms and play better, I think.

 

[KingSpeed]

By Christmas Day against the Nuggets - we'll be at 500 or under.

Hell no. At worst, we go 5-5 in the next ten games. That puts us at a respectable 18-13 going into our home game against the Nuggets. We'll win that game on emotion alone. That puts us at 19-13, on pace for 49 wins.

 

[B-Roy]

This is what you have depth for. To cover yourself when you have injuries. So there you go. Here are the injuries and are depth goes to work. EVeryone's going to play more minutes, yes, and that's not a bad thing. People will get into better rhythms and play better, I think.

What happens when the depth (Yes, I'm using it as a noun) gets injured? (Which is what happened here)

 

[KingSpeed]

Bottom line: I see this maybe being a 38 win season if everything goes OK (as in no more long-term injuries, to ANYBODY!) .

bump

Blazers 36-27 despite long term injury to Joel.

 

[MIXUM]

hey speed can we find hcp predictions? i believe he said 33?? i wont stop till that thread is pulled up.

 

[Sug]

hey speed can we find hcp predictions? i believe he said 33?? i wont stop till that thread is pulled up.

Don't you have a search function on your version of this site? It is probably covered by the deviled horned Blazer player hallucinations you have.

 

[Nikolokolus]

bump

Blazers 36-27 despite long term injury to Joel.

I'll bet you think I'm unhappy they outperformed my expectation?