When Did Our Team Take The Dip South?

[ABM]

Can't quite place my finger on it.

I mean, here we were talking HCA in the playoffs and all that, then, BAM.........wondering if we'll even get 8th seed.

What happened?

 

[Nikolokolus]

"What happened?" Are you being serious? Our lone all-star has missed a month, and he's still at about 60%, our two starting centers crumpled in a heap on the court, and what happened is that what's left is either too young or too borderline defensively to win night and night out.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Injuries and chemistry problems from too many players that are about as good as each other and play similar positions.

That being said, does anyone else REALLY want Aaron Brooks? I wonder if we could find a way to make a major trade this summer for Battier/Brooks... Brooks would be excellent off Roy. Dead eye shooter, good playmaker and can rack up assists when he needs to.

A Bayless/Miller/Rudy/Przybilla/1st/cash for Brooks/Battier and a contract would be nice. Doubt Houston wants to trade Brooks at all though, considering he is going to be a star and is already a stud.

 

[RoyToy]

Injuries. Injuries. Injuries.

The team has played stretches without Oden/Przybilla/Roy/Outlaw/Rudy/Batum this season. Ridiculous. Fully healthy the team is easily a top 4 seed, maybe higher. We'd be saying, "OKC who?".

 

[ABM]

"What happened?" Are you being serious? Our lone all-star has missed a month, and he's still at about 60%, our two starting centers crumpled in a heap on the court, and what happened is that what's left is either too young or too borderline defensively to win night and night out.

Totally serious. At one time, the team was even winning without Roy in the lineup. Perhaps, they just got burnt out.

 

[RagingBull04]

Totally serious. At one time, the team was even winning without Roy in the lineup. Perhaps, they just got burnt out.

I'll answer it for you. I noticed it the day Rudy came back and even more the day Nicolas came back. Yes, Roy hasn't helped. But I think Nate is still struggling with chemistry and finding playing time for everyone.

 

[ABM]

I'll answer it for you. I noticed it the day Rudy came back and even more the day Nicolas came back. Yes, Roy hasn't helped. But I think Nate is still struggling with chemistry and finding playing time for everyone.

Now that you mention it, you may very well be right.

 

[RagingBull04]

Now that you mention it, you may very well be right.

This team has quit "scrappin". And it stopped right about the time they both showed up.

 

[RoyToy]

I'd like to point out the Blazers are only 3 W's off last years pace. Through 57 games last year the Blazers were 35-22. They're currently 32-25. If they had 3 more wins sprinkled in there they would have had the same exact record through 57 games this year they had last year.

They can still catch fire like they did last year. They went 18-6 over the last two months last year and that's what pushed them to a top 4 seed. Hell right now they're only 2GB of the 5th seed. To match last years run they'd have to start right now with only 25 games left, but still, there's still time left to put something together and improve their positioning, because they will make the playoffs. No doubt in my mind about that.

 

[hasoos]

The final straw was Roy getting hurt, which I had talked about coming because he was carrying too much of the load on the team. It was easy to see it coming. Right after he got hurt, the team ran on adrenaline for about 5 games or so and then you could see it dissappear. Since then I don't think any of the guards have had more than one good game in a row, and the effort has been spotty at best.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Totally serious. At one time, the team was even winning without Roy in the lineup. Perhaps, they just got burnt out.

They have a sub .500 record without Roy ... just saying.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd like to point out the Blazers are only 3 W's off last years pace. Through 57 games last year the Blazers were 35-22. They're currently 32-25. If they had 3 more wins sprinkled in there they would have had the same exact record through 57 games this year they had last year.

They can still catch fire like they did last year. They went 18-6 over the last two months last year and that's what pushed them to a top 4 seed. Hell right now they're only 2GB of the 5th seed. To match last years run they'd have to start right now with only 25 games left, but still, there's still time left to put something together and improve their positioning, because they will make the playoffs. No doubt in my mind about that.

We don't quite have the same soft second half of the season like we did last year, and honestly I think the team overperformed -- which isn't to say lightning can't strike twice, but I certainly wouldn't bank on it.

 

[MIXUM]

abm... you seem like a good guy but these last 2 questions about camby starting and why we went south.... im beginning to wonder about you.

 

[RoyToy]

We don't quite have the same soft second half of the season like we did last year, and honestly I think the team overperformed -- which isn't to say lightning can't strike twice, but I certainly wouldn't bank on it.

The rest of the schedule this year isn't necessarily tough either, imo. They are really no tough stretches and there will be a lot of time to rest in there.

Starting tonight Brewer is gone and Okur is questionable. That brings Millsap off the bench and gives them no depth. Then they could easily win 4 or 5 of their next 6.

After that they play in Denver(L), then they play SAC/@GS/@SAC/TOR. Over that 5 game stretch they could go at least 3-2, 4-1 if they can beat GS. After the TOR game they have 4 days off then play WAS at home.

Not a hard stretch at all imo.

 

[MIXUM]

blazers vs thunder debate


westbrook>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> miller(not close)

roy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>seflosha (whatever his name is)

durant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>doesnt matter

la>>>>>>>>green

oden/camby>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>doesnt matter

bench

harden>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rudy (its not close)
bayless/maynor is a wash
pryz/camby>>>>>>>>>collison
ebaka>>>cunningham
batum.....doesnt matter since durant never sits


they have the best bench player

 

[MIXUM]

okur is 100% out tonight


brewer tore his hammy and is out a mpnth for grizz. happened in his first game with grizz. grizz btw are done.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The rest of the schedule this year isn't necessarily tough either, imo. They are really no tough stretches and there will be a lot of time to rest in there.

Starting tonight Brewer is gone and Okur is questionable. That brings Millsap off the bench and gives them no depth. Then they could easily win 4 or 5 of their next 6.

After that they play in Denver(L), then they play SAC/@GS/@SAC/TOR. Over that 5 game stretch they could go at least 3-2, 4-1 if they can beat GS. After the TOR game they have 4 days off then play WAS at home.

Not a hard stretch at all imo.

Lots of road games, and we haven't exactly been dominant at home this year either. Anything can happen, but call it a hunch that this year's squad doesn't quite have the same hunger and mental 'freshness' that they had last year at the same point in the season -- this team just looks like they are fighting up-hill every night or are mentally drained.

 

[Minstrel]

they have the best bench player

Well, then, that seals it for the next decade. We're not winning a title in the "James Harden era."

Time to tear down and rebuild.

On another note, I think you're vastly overrating Westbrook. Exciting young talent though.

 

[hasoos]

Everybody knew that if Roy got hurt the Blazers were screwed. A couple of year back I would have hoped Lamarcus Aldridge would step up and become a #1 scorer if Roy went out. Unfortunately I have since learned that he is #2 draft pick that is merely a good role player. Then if you consider the fact that nobody else steps up on the team scoring wise for more than a game at a time, and often that person is Andre Miller who typically, has his worst games when he is trying to take too many outside shots, it doesn't work out that well.

What really needs to happen for the Blazers to get through this is for one of the young guards that so many folks make noise about like they are the second coming of Jesus Shuttlesworth, to actually step up and play consistently.

 

[Nikolokolus]

blazers vs thunder debate


westbrook>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> miller(not close)

roy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>seflosha (whatever his name is)

durant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>doesnt matter

la>>>>>>>>green

oden/camby>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>doesnt matter

bench

harden>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>rudy (its not close)
bayless/maynor is a wash
pryz/camby>>>>>>>>>collison
ebaka>>>cunningham
batum.....doesnt matter since durant never sits


they have the best bench player

I'm confused about what your conclusion is. and does more 'greater than' symbols mean anything in particular (I've never seen that particular equation before).

 

[RoyToy]

Lots of road games, and we haven't exactly been dominant at home this year either. Anything can happen, but call it a hunch that this year's squad doesn't quite have the same hunger and mental 'freshness' that they had last year at the same point in the season -- this team just looks like they are fighting up-hill every night or are mentally drained.

A lot of those road games are against so-so teams, and while the team hasn't been dominant, like I said, they're 3 wins off of last years pace so far through 57 games.

As for your mental freshness argument, they'll be getting a lot of rest next month with 3 and 4 day stretches between games. That usually helps.

Overall the healthier the team gets they better they will be. If Roy gets it going again then it is definitely possible, because there just aren't a lot of tough stretches left in the schedule. Even the upcoming road trip are against decent at best teams. The next month the Blazers have a chance to gain ground with the schedule the way it is. It all will depend on how much Roy can get back to normal.

 

[MIXUM]

ive said it before.... if teh blazers beat the bad teams we will be ok. we arent gonna win 50 games.... BUT... 48 is about the best we can do and should be enough for playoffs.

beat the following... (must wins imo)

utah (tonight)
@minny
@nets
Pacers
Knicks
Wiz
Kings X 3 (2 in Sac)
@clips
okc(at home)
raptors (at home)
@hornets wout paul hopefully


steal a game vs raptors or bulls on road

gets us 14 wins + a few unexpected wins and of course a few unexpected losses should get us 16-17 give or take. At the very least we need 15 more wins (least)

the good news is hornets have 3 fewer wins even if we lose tonight and hosuton has 4 fewer
wins after losing to the pacers which was a terrible loss for them

 

[hasoos]

With Roy as is, or posssibly without him, we are a .500 team the rest of the way unless somebody steps up. A flat out crapshoot to win every night.

 

[TripTango]

beat the following... (must wins imo)

"Must win"?

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[Sug]

ABM you are not this thick, so clearly you are being coy. Duh.

 

[ABM]

abm... you seem like a good guy but these last 2 questions about camby starting and why we went south.... im beginning to wonder about you.

Question about Camby starting??

 

[Crimson the Cat]

ive said it before.... if teh blazers beat the bad teams we will be ok. we arent gonna win 50 games.... BUT... 48 is about the best we can do and should be enough for playoffs.

So, we're making the Playoffs now? That's a relief. I thought you said we weren't. Whew.

 

[OddEnormous]

Can't quite place my finger on it.

I mean, here we were talking HCA in the playoffs and all that, then, BAM.........wondering if we'll even get 8th seed.

What happened?

WTF?

Even for someone like me who does not believe in Ronald McDillon as the "One", injuries have destroyed the team this season.

 

[ABM]

abm... you seem like a good guy but these last 2 questions about camby starting and why we went south.... im beginning to wonder about you.

Actually, I think RagingBull hit the nail on the head for me. There has been a bit of a chemistry challenge assimilating Rudy and/or Batum back into the lineup.

I'm still hopeful, though, that things will get worked out and the Blazers will be hitting on 7 cylinders come playoff time.

 

[MIXUM]

IF..........I SAID ..... IF

WE MAKE THE PLAYOFFS