Are the Blazers going to peak at the right time?

by Odenrising on Mar 16, 2009 11:07 PM PDT

So Rudy is back shaking off the cob webs. Roy, LA, Joel, and possible Travis are playing the best basketball of their careers. It looks like GO will be back this week, which should be just enough time for the big guy to get his mojo back by playoff time.

Even if we lose 2 more road games on this trip we should be able to win 51-52 games and have Denver at home for the last game of the season. It wouldn't be beyond reason to think that game could determine the division title and home court advantage....that sets up the possibilty of a first round win.

Given, alot could go differently than as stated above, yet even just a first round exit will accelerate the developement of such a young team and wet the appetite of such a competitive leader as Roy.

It all raises the question , How far can we go this season? But more importantly How much better will we be next year?

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something like this

chances of…

Playoffs: 100%

First Round Exit: 75%

Second Round Exit: 15%

WCF Exit: 6%

Finals Exit: 3%

NBA Champs: 1%

all stats pulled direct from my backside.

Free Sergio... no really, please, take him.

by eyeotiger on Mar 16, 2009 11:21 PM PDT reply actions

and yet

they all seem very solid. I like!

- Neil

by Blazin'aTrail on Mar 16, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions

like his backside

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 16, 2009 11:43 PM PDT up reply actions

no REAL streaks YET!!!

It has been discussed a few times on here lately that there has been no long win streaks (like last years 13 game win streak) and no real long losing streaks either… it has just been consistent.

This season has been impressive so far when considering what our real expectations were… 44 to 46ish wins was the likely story… and it looks like Portland is gonna get 50ish. But, I do not believe we have seen the BEST that these Blazers have right now in their games. Some nights on some nights off, what will life be like if all cylinders are firing for a nice stint? WOW, look out.

a STREAK could be in our near future…

by Portland Dynasty on Mar 16, 2009 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions

no streak yet...

Portland showed a 13 game win streak last season. Nothing like that so far this season… yet Portland is on pace to out perform what most thought would be this season’s “Good Season” mark of 44 to 46 games. It is likely we will hit 50 wins at this point.

IF Portland can hit on all cylinders we could see a season ending streak to catapult the team into the playoffs. I believe it is a good possibility.

by Portland Dynasty on Mar 16, 2009 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's save our 13 game win streak for the playoffs this time

by pualo on Mar 17, 2009 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions

16, please

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Mar 17, 2009 1:35 AM PDT up reply actions

No, no, no. Stern will put us into submission under the martial law or something if we dare to win 16 in a row.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Mar 17, 2009 4:34 AM PDT up reply actions

13 works

Home court in the first round
Win/Win/Lose/Lose/Win/Lose

Then win 13 in a row!

by Zaig on Mar 17, 2009 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions

I think it's the fiber that does it

by pualo on Mar 17, 2009 12:58 AM PDT up reply actions

I'd switch things up a bit:

Playoffs: 99% (would require a total collapse to miss out).

First round exit: 60% (highly matchup dependent, goes down to ~45-48% if we get homecourt).

2nd round exit: 25%

WCF exit: 10%

Finals Loss: 4.5%

Finals Win: 0.5%

by jksnake99 on Mar 16, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions

wow

I gave us way too good a chance to make the finals. Let’s try again:

Playoffs: 99% (would require a total collapse to miss out).

First round exit: 60% (highly matchup dependent, goes down to ~45-48% if we get homecourt).

2nd round exit: 30%

WCF exit: 9%

Finals Loss: 0.9%

Finals Win: 0.1%

by jksnake99 on Mar 16, 2009 11:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice Try

They all should be 100%!

by tominhawaii on Mar 17, 2009 5:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Except the exits, those should be 0%.

by tominhawaii on Mar 17, 2009 5:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Probably just as good

as Hollinger’s!

by Odenrising on Mar 16, 2009 11:33 PM PDT reply actions

Will the Blazers peak at the right time?

It all depends on whether an NBA strike happens in a few years.

Oh, you meant this season. I wouldn’t worry about that.

by Timmay! on Mar 16, 2009 11:37 PM PDT reply actions

we still have our secret weapon

Raef LaFrentz!

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 16, 2009 11:44 PM PDT reply actions

Has Raef connections with the Mafia?

It might help.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Mar 17, 2009 4:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Raef gets the team steroids

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 17, 2009 4:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Is it all about chemistry but team chemistry.

Nobody told Sergio anything about steroids, so Jerryd “The Muscle Mass” Bayless could win the PG back up. Bad teammates!.
Roy is also getting stronger while Rudy remains slim. Roy is also jealous and wants to keep it secret.
Why Nate did only take to dinner LMA, Oden and Brandon? Because they were eating steroid steaks.
Why did Nate hug Jerryd? So he could check the steroids effect in his body.
Why is Travis criticized because he doesn´t do enough in summer?. Because he eat fish and doesn´t take steroids.
Why is the media always talking about soft players? Because they want more steroid bodies and steroid mind types.

You Americans, and your hamburguers and pizzas, are all about steroids.

Free Iberian Jam!

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Mar 17, 2009 5:38 AM PDT up reply actions

U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!

by Mortimer on Mar 18, 2009 12:46 AM PDT up reply actions

The perfect timing for an earthshattering Blazergasm is crucial!!!!

Blazer's Edge Ambassador to The Dream Shake Blog
LMA Rocks and B-Rex ROARS!!
RRRRRRROOOOOOOWWWWWRRRRRRSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by LaMarvelous on Mar 16, 2009 11:54 PM PDT reply actions

I have thought about this as well. If Oden comes back soon, we could really do some damage.

The types of teams that have given Greg a lot of trouble are fast, small teams. We will not see those teams in the playoffs. It will be a slower game, which will play to his strengths quite a lot. No, he won’t dominate probably, but just having two legit centers will be a huge advantage, as well as Marty coming back, which will hopefully spread the floor a little. I am pretty excited about this possibility.

by dario argento on Mar 17, 2009 12:06 AM PDT reply actions

What do you expect

From Webster after such a long time missing practice?

Positive Vibes For Oden

by Air Norv on Mar 17, 2009 12:53 AM PDT up reply actions

And losing conditioning

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Mar 17, 2009 1:36 AM PDT up reply actions

Solid bench play?

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Mar 17, 2009 4:36 AM PDT up reply actions

A mere 18 points in the third quarter

by Zaig on Mar 17, 2009 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

now that would be quite underwhelming

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 17, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I fear Roy will be tired come playoff time

But I didn’t expect us to make much alarm in the playoffs this year anyway.

As for our peak years/championship window, the only real problems I can foresee are called LeBron James and long lockout 2011 – …

by Norsktroll on Mar 17, 2009 6:48 AM PDT reply actions

Peak is now

We are going to peak about now.
Oden will help with the center giving us the best center combination in the NBA

bbk

by BBK on Mar 17, 2009 7:49 AM PDT reply actions

Considering our youth, I would sure hope we can outlast some of the older teams

Basketball-wise, I’m not sure this team really peaks (or bottoms out for that matter) as much as some others.

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Mar 17, 2009 8:37 AM PDT reply actions

Blazers wont have a peak this year.

They’ve been consistently inconsistent. They’ve mostly beat the teams they’re supposed to beat, been decent against .500+ teams at home, and been awful against .500+ teams on the road. They haven’t had any huge runs (short of home wins in a row, but those don’t really count for much), they haven’t had any horrible losing streaks or gone through any long stretch of sub-.500 ball.

I predict a 7th seed playoff position and a first round exit. 2 wins at the most in the playoffs.

"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP

by Arby on Mar 17, 2009 3:34 PM PDT reply actions

Ahhh...realism. It's refreshing.

by clonigro on Mar 17, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Blazers peaked in November

They’ll play pretty much .600 bsll from here on out, and if they get a favorable first round matchup (read: New Orleans) they may advance, but after that any success is mere gravy and takes us further away from DeJuan Blair (or his brother, DeOddaJuan Blair).

Say it aloud, it’s funny.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Mar 17, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions