Joe_Wiz wrote:I think those of you who are predicting fewer than 20 wins are giving into cynicism
See . . . told ya so.

Nothing more to read here. Just keep moving.
Joe_Wiz wrote:I'm officially predicting a record of 34-32.
I think this is probably the key, though:
Joe_Wiz wrote:I have become increasingly ignorant about the team as time goes by . . . Still, when has ignorance ever stopped a sports fan from expressing an opinion?
and in my defense, there is this:
Joe_Wiz wrote:I think 20-25 wins is about right, but in my ongoing quest for happiness via unrealistic optimism, I'm officially predicting a record of 34-32.
If anyone cares to see the whole thing free of selective editing, I'll save you the trouble of going back; it's quoted in full below. But in any event, since my official prediction was way, way off, I hearby eat crow and accept whatever mockery might be delivered unto me.
Joe_Wiz wrote:I have to admit I have become increasingly ignorant about the team as time goes by -- I just haven't been following them carefully for over a year and have barely paid any attention to this offseason. Still, when has ignorance ever stopped a sports fan from expressing an opinion?
I think those of you who are predicting fewer than 20 wins are giving into cynicism -- you look cooler if you predict a lousy record and they outperform it, while you look foolish if you predict a better record than they actually achieve. I think 20-25 wins is about right, but in my ongoing quest for happiness via unrealistic optimism, I'm officially predicting a record of 34-32.
Blatche is better than many give him credit for, and he and the other young veterans (i.e., non-rookies) have another year of age and experience under their belts when they still haven't hit their peaks. And most of the starters and a number of the bench players have a year or more of experience playing together, so they don't have to learn to play together from scratch.
Did I mention I didn't watch any of the preseason games? Maybe ignorance is bliss, but I say 34-32.