ESPN Predicts 35 Wins - Over or Under?

[BNM]

ESPN predicts the Blazers will finish 10th in the West with a 35 - 47 record.

Here's summary of their 2022-23 Western Conference predicted final records:

1. Phoenix Suns: 56-26
2. Golden State Warriors: 55-27
3. Denver Nuggets: 53-29
4. Memphis Grizzlies: 51-31
5. LA Clippers: 50-32
6. Dallas Mavericks: 49-33
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 49-33
8. New Orleans Pelicans: 43-39
9. Los Angeles Lakers: 42-40
10. Portland Trail Blazers: 35-47
11. Sacramento Kings: 34-48
12. Utah Jazz: 26-56
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: 25-57
14. San Antonio Spurs: 24-58
15. Houston Rockets: 22-60

So, what say you?

Over 35 wins
Exactly 35 wins
Under 35 wins

I'm taking the over.

[m0ng0]

Seems about right

[Brandon-Clyde]

A healthy Dame alone is worth 35+ wins. If Simons continues his play of last season, Nurkic is healthy most of the season and Grant proves he was worth the effort to acquire I could easily see a 45+ win team.

[Goldbum]

This team isn't 15 wins behind the T-Wolves...geez if that was the Vegas line I would lay down a 6 figure bet.

[mighty_duck]

Over, but not by much.
I got us at 38 wins.

[BNM]

This team isn't 15 wins behind the T-Wolves...geez if that was the Vegas line I would lay down a 6 figure bet.

Caesar's Sportsbook has MIN at 48.5 wins and POR at 39.5 wins.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think MIN and PDX both end up closer to 40-42 wins.

[ebott]

Until they get on the court and prove otherwise I'm saying this is a bad team and I'm taking the under. In theory this team is supposed to be better on defense but as long as you've got a backcourt of Dame and Ant I have a real hard time believing we're not one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

[monopoman]

I think this team is at least a .500 team, so 35 wins is an easy over for me. It might not mean we get a much higher seed but ESPN is vastly underrating this team.

[PDXKnight]

42 wins on paper to me maybe 50 if a lot goes well

[Wickzki]

Depends on the improvement of Ant and Nas.

Could be anywhere from 30 to 50 wins. I'll be conservative and say 40.

[elias808]

35 seems a little low, but not by much. The West, on paper, will be better than last year with the consolidation of talent and players returning from injury on teams already better than us. Around 40 wins and 8th seed/play-in feels about right if everything clicks and there are no major injuries.

[monopoman]

I think a big aspect is how much Little and Simons progress, if last season was just a taste of what's to come this team could be way better than most think right now.

[Norm2953]

35 wins does give Portland a top 10 pick in a draft rich in SF/PF and an elite player at the top with
Victor. I'd be fine finishing 9-10 which is what Tankathon has Portland.

[GEE]

ESPN predicts the Blazers will finish 10th in the West with a 35 - 47 record.

Here's summary of their 2022-23 Western Conference predicted final records:

1. Phoenix Suns: 56-26
2. Golden State Warriors: 55-27
3. Denver Nuggets: 53-29
4. Memphis Grizzlies: 51-31
5. LA Clippers: 50-32
6. Dallas Mavericks: 49-33
7. Minnesota Timberwolves: 49-33
8. New Orleans Pelicans: 43-39
9. Los Angeles Lakers: 42-40
10. Portland Trail Blazers: 35-47
11. Sacramento Kings: 34-48
12. Utah Jazz: 26-56
13. Oklahoma City Thunder: 25-57
14. San Antonio Spurs: 24-58
15. Houston Rockets: 22-60

So, what say you?

Over 35 wins
Exactly 35 wins
Under 35 wins

I'm taking the over.

First off, ESPN giving Portland only 35 wins is Locker Room billboard posting materiel. It's good to be under the radar with low expectations and this prediction by those dorks, should provide plenty of motivation.

Second... some very good points made, the overall consensus seems to be that we really just don't know how things will look. Cronin has definitely built something quite different for Chauncey, with the additions of J.Grant who I think will be great for us, but not just for the talent but largely because he clearly wants to be here. GP2 will also be a solid addition IMO. Add to that a healthy Dame (and Little to a lesser degree), and an entirely new team philosophy and a much better coaching staff... Again, we just don't know.

C Nurkic / Eubanks / Watford
F Grant / Hart / Winslow / Little
G Dame / Simons / GP2

IMO, the pieces are all there, with great young prospects in Sharpe / Walker / GB3 / Keon.

Previously mentioned was how Little and Simons' development may be the biggest determining factor of whether we win 35, or 50! Something to that tune, but I personally think this is not THE concern. I believe the biggest X-Factor will be if, and how well Dame buys into Chauncey's system. This is still a huge question mark to me, as I've yet to see Dame play Chauncey-ball, or at least struggled to adapt from his 8 years of Stotts-ball, before he ultimately shut things down to get his ABD surgery done. Change is hard. If Dame is able to fully buy in, I strongly believe this team could have a lot of success next season, with home court advantage in the playoffs not at all out of the question.

Looking at the above rankings, ESPN has us sandwiched between the Fakers and the Kings I think I see four tiers with us right in the mix for the 2nd:
1st>
1.Clippers
2.Warriors
2nd>
3.Suns
4.Blazers
5.Nuggets
3rd>
6.Pelicans
7.Grizzlies
8.Mavs
9.Lakers
10.T-Wolves
4th>
The Others

[HoopsFanAZ]

The West is stronger this year …
Everyone else will be healthy …
Minnesota is an improving young team …
New Orleans players love it there …
The Lakers will be better with a healthy AD and jettisoning their older players … and Russ is supported by his coach …
Sacramento is an improved team …
Memphis has a talented line-up outside of Ja Morant …
The Clippers will have PG13 and KL together again (little mention of load management when predicting their record???) …
Denver gets everyone back and they pick right up …
Ayton will be happy having got paid, CP3 is timeless, Cam Johnson getting paid next as option 5+ and Devin Booker dating a Jenner … no bad luck on the horizon, there …

I’m going to enjoy Lillard’s prove it season.

[Norm2953]

Remember the Blazers can be better and still finish at around 35-38 wins for the west is indeed stacked
and loaded with changes still be made.

[HoopsFanAZ]

Remember the Blazers can be better and still finish at around 35-38 wins for the west is indeed stacked
and loaded with changes still be made.

The sheer number of unknowns for the Blazers does reasonably make predictions of fewer wins understandable. Less than 41 seems unlikely as it’s Damian frickin’ Lillard. I’ve seen too many years of media narratives pumping up other teams’ drafts or moves — especially those who aren’t contenders — and then see the Blazers “over achieve” predictions yet get shat on for one and outs in the playoffs they were unlikely to have (or were projected as major underdogs) in the first place.

I’m sure fans of plenty other teams feel their teams are similarly less respected, too.

Anything less than a .500 record for the Blazers — even this year — is completely unacceptable.

[Norm2953]

It's a loaded western conference I've got the WC GSW, Memphis, Phoenix and LA Clippers on a
different level with the rest of the teams.

The Pelicans will be a team to watch if they get Zion back. Minnesota has some questions with
how Towns and Gobert work together. Denver and Dallas have questions while the Kings will
likely have a rookie of the year candidate (Murray) and will be solid up front with Sabonis,
Murray and Barnes. Even teams like Houston/OKC have a lot of young talent and will not be
pushovers.

A big question will be the Lakers for no team with Lebron and AD can be written off. If they end
up with Kyrie, look out.

I really think Portland could be much improved but unless Jerami Grant is the front court player
that can compete with the many quality front court players in the west, Portland will be over
matched physically up front. Portland will need Nurk to stay healthy for they are terribly thin
with Eubanks and Watford behind him.

I do think Portland will be over 35 wins but will struggle to approach 40 wins even if Dame plays
at an all NBA level.

[bob2]

If Lillard and Nurkic are healthy, it should be over 35.