What YOU guys need to realize

[DaRizzle]

Your team isnt built for this year.Unless you HONESTLY think they have a chance this year to win it all(rocketeer, Kingspeed) then you gotta view this year just as development for the next year. Everything will be much more clear by then. There are a lot of opinions going on around here that might help this year but not be good in the big scheme of things...Let the team play and grow an identity. Dont try to start labeling people incorrectly and then freak out when they dont live up to unrealistic expectations.

This thread isnt me trying to talk trash about your team at all. Even the best players in the league needed a few years to realize their potential.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Most of us realize that, we just are hoping for playoffs..not unreasonable expectations imo

 

[bodyman5001]

We want to see major improvement. You gotta get while the getting is good or something.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

MY expectations are also playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs I think the season is a failure.

 

[DaRizzle]

MY expectations are also playoffs. If we don't make the playoffs I think the season is a failure.

So if they miss the 8th seed by one game with say 44 wins then the season is a failure?

 

[MAS RipCity]

44 wins would be a disappointment, yes*



*Assuming Greg plays

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

So if they miss the 8th seed by one game with say 44 wins then the season is a failure?

yes

 

[Nikolokolus]

So if they miss the 8th seed by one game with say 44 wins then the season is a failure?

Nope, not for me.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Nope, not for me.

So an improvement of 3 wins from last year while adding Batum, Bayless, Oden and Rudy to this team and missing the playoffs wouldn't be a failure? Please explain.

This years team is more talented than last years

 

[DaRizzle]

So an improvement of 3 wins from last year while adding Batum, Bayless, Oden and Rudy to this team and missing the playoffs wouldn't be a failure? Please explain.

This years team is more talented than last years

This isnt last year...Sure you have more talent but its all young talent that need to learn the NBA AND each other

 

[rocketeer]

So if they miss the 8th seed by one game with say 44 wins then the season is a failure?

absolutely. no playoffs and only a 3 game improvement couldn't be anything but a disappointment. if the blazers don't make the playoffs, they are a disappointment there really isn't any other realistic way to look at it(i could say assuming health, but not being healthy would be a disappointment in itself).

 

[Sug]

100% Agree with this. The point was made on the Game the other day that if Brandon Roy was on another team he would be considered a young player. On our team he is the vet leader.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

This isnt last year...Sure you have more talent but its all young talent that need to learn the NBA AND each other

Rudy definitely is not your average young talent guy. He's more prepared than all the other rookies on our team by far.

This isn't taking into account our guys from last year that should have developed more too.

 

[Ed O]

So an improvement of 3 wins from last year while adding Batum, Bayless, Oden and Rudy to this team and missing the playoffs wouldn't be a failure? Please explain.

This years team is more talented than last years

Last year was still a bit of a fluke to me. They had one incredible run where they won about a third of their games... all in a row. The team overachieved last year in finishing at .500.

Ed O.

 

[DaRizzle]

last year was still a bit of a fluke to me. they had one incredible run where they won about a third of their games... all in a row. The team overachieved last year in finishing at .500.

Ed o.

qft

 

[RoyToy]

I'd be a little disappointed if the Blazers didn't make the playoffs...and I think the team would be as well.

I don't think the Blazers have to make the playoffs for this season to be a success, but I'd still be a little disappointed. My one expectation is this team should be better than last year.

 

[DaRizzle]

I'd be a little disappointed if the Blazers didn't make the playoffs...and I think the team would be as well.

I don't think the Blazers have to make the playoffs for this season to be a success, but I'd still be a little disappointed. My one expectation is this team should be better than last year.

This team will be better than last years. BUT there is a good chance their record wont show it if all you are gonna use is record. Sounds weird but true.

 

[RoyToy]

That's my expectation though. I think should post a better record than last year. It's a better roster than last year with more experience.

My expectations are to improve on last years record, with a goal of making the playoffs. Not crazy expectations imo.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So an improvement of 3 wins from last year while adding Batum, Bayless, Oden and Rudy to this team and missing the playoffs wouldn't be a failure? Please explain.

This years team is more talented than last years

It's hard to quantify, but James Jones' presence on this team did a lot to boost the team's win production during the team's "hot" period and the team was notably around a .400 squad when he was out with injuries (this was punctuated by the 50% 3 point shooting he delivered during the 13 game win streak and winning 17 of 18 in December/January) Frankly I think the team overperformed last year -- not that they were lucky to go .500, I just think they played outside of themselves a little bit for awhile.

So take Jones' 44% from three point range and veteran presence out of the equation and then add in Rudy and Batum (Greg maybe, Bayless who knows?) and I think you make up most of that loss and add a few wins back. I predicted this team would win 47 a few months back and 44 would be pretty close to that prediction. Does that make the season a failure? Maybe mildly disappointing, but not exactly a face plant either.

 

[noknobs]

This thread isnt me trying to talk trash about your team at all.

Oh sure, just like these emoticons in no way represent you... at all.











j/k

The record doesn't matter as much to me as making the playoffs. That's a realistic expectation to have, and I'll definitely be disappointed if it doesn't happen. That still wouldn't mean the season and the team were utter failures though.

BTW, am I the only one who sees the humor in a Laker fan telling other fans to be patient?... Got a good laugh outta that one.

 

[Minstrel]

Last year was still a bit of a fluke to me. They had one incredible run where they won about a third of their games... all in a row. The team overachieved last year in finishing at .500.

Hmm. I don't entirely agree with this. If you feel they won a disproportionate number of close games last year, that's one thing, and I'd agree that if they did, it inflated their record. But a long winning streak or losing streak isn't indicative of luck. The streak might be a fluke (putting them in a row), but the wins aren't, necessarily. Performance often clumps into strange shapes; you have to evaluate the macro-level end results, not the micro-level of winning streaks and losing streaks. The first is predictive, the second is just curiosity, IMO.

 

[Minstrel]

I'll put it this way: If the team has a superior scoring differential (points scored - points allowed) this season, I'll be satisfied. Team records tend to track very closely with scoring differential (no shock...points scored and allowed are what determine wins), but bad/good luck can cause a record to be out of step with scoring differential.

If the team has a greater scoring differential than last year, but not a better record, I'll be comforted that the team improved, even if the record didn't.

 

[DaRizzle]

BTW, am I the only one who sees the humor in a Laker fan telling other fans to be patient?... Got a good laugh outta that one.

I cant help it that Mitch is a genius GM that keeps us at the top.

 

[MARIS61]

They will be developing for years, but could certainly win the Title each and every year while they are developing.

It's up to the coach.

 

[noknobs]

I cant help it that Mitch is a genius GM that keeps us at the top.

Which is why so many fans wanted his head as recently as the beginning of last season...

I live down in smogville, I remember.

 

[DaRizzle]

Which is why so many fans wanted his head as recently as the beginning of last season...

I live down in smogville, I remember.

Because he is obviously smarter than us

 

[noknobs]

Because he is obviously smarter than us

Clearly, anyone who trades Caron Butler for Kwame Brown & Laron Profit is a genius... But you're right, he is smarter than Laker fans.

And that is why you have no room to preach to us about patience.

There are a lot of opinions going on around here that might help this year but not be good in the big scheme of things...Let the team play and grow an identity. Dont try to start labeling people incorrectly and then freak out when they dont live up to unrealistic expectations.

Oh, like when Laker fans were so up in arms that Mitch turned down that Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd deal? I mean, c'mon. Somehow hypocritical just doesn't do this justice.

 

[julius]

DaRizzle, if the Lakers make it to the finals, only to lose again, is that a bust?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Last year was still a bit of a fluke to me. They had one incredible run where they won about a third of their games... all in a row. The team overachieved last year in finishing at .500.

Ed O.

I think it was a scheduling fluke more than anything that resulted in the 13 game winning streak in December. They had an EXTREMELY friendly schedule last December. During that streak 10 of the 13 consecutive wins were at home. Prior to the 13 game winning steak, they were 5 - 12, with all 5 wins coming at home - including 4 in a row over NOH, MEM, DAL, DET in their first home stand. So, they had already shown they were capable of winning at home, even against some very good teams. The three road games they won during the streak were spread out with a couple home games in between each - no long road trips during the streak.

Many of their opponents during the streak were sub-.500 teams. About the only surprising wins during the streak were the road wins in Utah and Denver and if I remember right, Utah was below 0.500 at the time (they got off to a really slow start last season). If those same 13 wins, over those same 13 teams, would have been spread out over two months, nobody would have batted an eye. They just all happened in a row thanks to a very favorable schedule.

With a 28-13 record at home, including wins over many of the top teams in the league, the young Blazer last year showed that they were capable of winning at home against anyone. Their biggest hurdle this year will be the same as it was last year - winning consistently on the road. That is where their youth hurts them. With the home crowd behind them, they play their best and excel and are capable of beating anyone. As they mature, they need to play with that same intensity, energy and confidence on the road. The ability to win consistently on the road is what differentiates veteran teams from young, up and coming teams like the Blazers. Once they learn to win on the road they will be serious contenders, but until they do, they won't have home court advantage in the play-offs and will struggle to advance.

BNM

 

[DaRizzle]

Clearly, anyone who trades Caron Butler for Kwame Brown & Laron Profit is a genius... But you're right, he is smarter than Laker fans.

And that is why you have no room to preach to us about patience.

Well this thread isnt about the Lakers but at the time nearly everybody agreed with the trade. Lakers needed a big man desperatly..Kwame also led to Pau

Oh, like when Laker fans were so up in arms that Mitch turned down that Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd deal? I mean, c'mon. Somehow hypocritical just doesn't do this justice.

The situations are completely different. Do you guys have the best player in the league entering his prime? No. Me personally, I was hating Kobe more than anyone else in that whole situation.