Why give up? Playoffs 2008!

[Argyle]

It's somewhat concerning to me that people are already talking about next year and discarding the playoffs for this year as a forgone conclusion.

In my opinion, the 8 seed will need about a .600 win percentage, right now the Blazers are sitting at around .584, with 34 games remaining. Look at their schedule!

Detroit - L
Indiana - W
Houston - W
Dallas - L
Sac - W
Sea - W
Sea- W
Boston - L
LAL - L
LAC - W
LAL - W
GSW - W
PHX - W
Milwaulk - W
NYK - W
Cleveland - L
Minne - W
Sacremento - W
Minne - W
Phx - L
LAC - W
LAC - W
Seattle - W
Washington - W
GSW - L
Charlotte - W
LAL - L
Houston - L
San Antonio - L
LAL - W
Sac - W
Dal - L
Memphis - W
Phx - L

Projected record - 22-12
Final projected record 50-32 for a win % of .610

NOTE-
I gave losses against against the following teams
LAL (2)
PHX (2)
HOU
DAL (2)
BOS
CLE
DET
GSW
SAS

Imagine if a few of those games are "stolen"... 6 seed?

[Spykes]

I don't see us getting nearly that many wins. This is how I see the rest of the season breaking down...


Detroit - L
Indiana - W
Houston - L
Dallas - L
Sac - W
Sea - W
Sea- W
Boston - L
LAL - L
LAC - W
LAL - L
GSW - L
PHX - L
Milwaulk - W
NYK - W
Cleveland - W
Minne - W
Sacremento - L
Minne - W
Phx - L
LAC - L
LAC - W
Seattle - W
Washington - L
GSW - L
Charlotte - W
LAL - L
Houston - L
San Antonio - L
LAL - L
Sac - W
Dal - L
Memphis - W
Phx - L

15 - 19

Final: 43 - 39

This final part of the season is REALLY tough. We're going to be running into a lot of teams trying to make a playoff push and I think there is a chance we let some slip that we shouldn't.

And honestly, I'd still be incredibly happy with that record. No one expected this team to have anywhere near 40 wins for the year, let alone be over .500 for the season. And as I've stated before, this is looking like a good lotto to be in considering the needs this team has.

[Mr Odd]

I know I stated that since ESPN said the Blazers
were not going to do any trades then we wont
make the playoffs and i'll stick to that.. .Im not
saying they cant, just saying its my opinion.. .

Im saying this because we have players with
nagging injuries and we hardly beat a team
without their three best players. But I also
know the Blazers seem to play up to whom
ever they are playing, for the most part.. .

Im not trying to be a downer, its just my opinion.
-

Anyway heres my W-L list!!

Detroit - L
Indiana - W
Houston - L
Dallas - L
Sac - W
Sea - L
Sea- W
Boston - L
LAL - L
LAC - W
LAL - L
GSW - L
PHX - L
Milwaulk - W
NYK - W
Cleveland - L
Minne - W
Sacremento - W
Minne - W
Phx - L
LAC - W
LAC - W
Seattle - W
Washington - W
GSW - L
Charlotte - L
LAL - L
Houston - L
San Antonio - L
LAL - L
Sac - W
Dal - L
Memphis - W
Phx - L

Projected record - 15-19 (edit: I added wrong!! haha)

Hopefully im wrong & they make the playoffs!!

[PDXKnight]

You definitely went overboard on the number of wins on the final stretch IMO. Anything can happen but I think 22-12 might be going overboard a little bit (MAYBE .500 in the final stretch).

[mojomarc]

I'm thinking .500 would be a pretty nice accomplishment considering how the two teams in the West we still have to play the most are the two that have just upgraded the most as well.

[Yadadimean]

I think we absolutely have a chance to make the playoffs still. Consider that the team is playing at a level far from what they have shown to be capable of and are still winning half of our games. I'm fairly certain that there's another hot streak or two left in this team. The bad shooting cant continue forever. Plus, who knows whether or not KP will make a trade. Statements like that (that there wont be a trade) could just be posturing to get the most out of any trade while giving up as little as possible. That said, I dont think a trade really needs to be made in order to have a shot at the playoffs.

[Argyle]

Mr Odd

0-4 vs the Lakers? Ouch!

[Yadadimean]

As long as Kobe keeps playing like trash and Gasol doesnt want to be physical in the paint I think 2-2 vs the Lakers or possibly even 3-1 is not entirely out of the question.

[Argyle]

The bottom line is that while there are tough stretches of the schedule, there's also quite a few gimme games where should they take care of business, will put them in quite a nice position to make a push.

Games vs sub .500 teams

Indiana
Sacremento x3
LA Clippers x3
Milwaulkee
NY Knicks
Minnesota x2
Seattle x3
Charlotte
Memphis

Thats 16 wins right there.

[mojomarc]

The bottom line is that while there are tough stretches of the schedule, there's also quite a few gimme games where should they take care of business, will put them in quite a nice position to make a push.

Games vs sub .500 teams

Indiana
Sacremento x3
LA Clippers x3
Milwaulkee
NY Knicks
Minnesota x2
Seattle x3
Charlotte
Memphis

Thats 16 wins right there.

No way we go 16-0 against those teams. Maybe 15-1, probably more like 14-2. Teams just have bad nights sometimes, and any team can beat any other in the NBA on the right night.

[Klinky]

I still believe we have as good a chance as Denver, GS, Houston or even Utah. Only 5.5 games are seperating us from the #1 spot. There's going to be a lot of movement.

[Mr Odd]

Mr Odd

0-4 vs the Lakers? Ouch!

I know!!

The Blazers dont match up well, atleast I dont think so.

I almost thought 1-4 but then I thought the Lakers are
going to play tough because they want home court.. .

Kobe had two bad games but I dont think it will last.

I really dont like the Lakers because of Kobe and
I hope Im wrong tho & the Blazers get a few on them.

I cant stand players like Kobe & Melo,
they act like their own sh*t dont stink.

[TBpup]

I hope for the best but the team has not exactly been playing well of late. It took OT to beat a horrible Knicks team that was without Curry and QRich. Then they barely held of a bad Bulls team that was without Heinrich, Gordon and Deng.

Not exactly instilling confidence...

[SinceClyde]

That's the spirit! Playoffs!

[UGotThrilled]

If I had to bet on it now, I would bet that we would miss the playoffs this year. All of the teams around us are winning, and we arent doing too well. However, there is still a lot of bball to be played, and we have the ability to beat some tough teams, provided that Jones comes back and shoots the ball like he did during his first few games with us. We rely so much on shooting, which I think gives us the opportunity to overachieve when we are hitting, but underachieve when the shot isnt there.

[Mr Odd]

If I had to bet on it now, I would bet that we would miss the playoffs this year. All of the teams around us are winning, and we arent doing too well. However, there is still a lot of bball to be played, and we have the ability to beat some tough teams, provided that Jones comes back and shoots the ball like he did during his first few games with us. We rely so much on shooting, which I think gives us the opportunity to overachieve when we are hitting, but underachieve when the shot isnt there.

Not only are they winning, they seem to be
getting better thru trades and free agency!!

DOH!!

[J~Rush]

-= original quote snipped =-



Not only are they winning, they seem to be
getting better thru trades and free agency!!

DOH!!

Patience young padawan. The force will be clear when master Oden Wan Gregobi returns.

[Mr Odd]

-= original quote snipped =-




Patience young padawan. The force will be clear when master Oden Wan Gregobi returns.

Haha, I know.. .I know.

But even with Oden (which will most likely take
a few years before he gets "NBA good") & Rudy,
it will take another good player to make this team
a real playoff threat. Meaning to get past round 1.
imo
I mean no one knows the future, maybe ill be wrong!!

[J~Rush]

-= original quote snipped =-



Haha, I know.. .I know.

But even with Oden (which will most likely take
a few years before he gets "NBA good") & Rudy,
it will take another good player to make this team
a real playoff threat. Meaning to get past round 1.
imo
I mean no one knows the future, maybe ill be wrong!!

I respect your style odd, don't hope for too much so you don't get let down. But seriously, Oden? Take a few years to get NBA good?



Use the FORCE

[Spykes]

I hope for the best but the team has not exactly been playing well of late. It took OT to beat a horrible Knicks team that was without Curry and QRich. Then they barely held of a bad Bulls team that was without Heinrich, Gordon and Deng.

Not exactly instilling confidence...

Too be fair, the Knicks had been playing really good on that road trip. They nearly beat the Warriors in Oakland, were competitive for 3 quarters against the Lakers, and got beat on a almost last second shot by Durant in Seattle.

And the Bulls, even as banged up as they are, continue to play good basketball tonight as they currently have a lead over the Warriors.

There's no getting around that the Blazers haven't been playing inspiring basketball, but I think those two opponents deserve a little credit for their play as of late.