Portland's starting 5 is good already, they have the worst bench in the league. We're not talking just 'bad' here, statistically speaking they are one of the worst benches ever. Portland has a lot of spending money next year in a deep FA pool so if they can shore up their bench they'll be a good team, and they've already got a complete core as is. I'd argue Portland is in better position than us, they have an elite two-way wing in Batum > Parsons. They have an elite PG who can hit threes > Lin. They have a franchise center piece PF who also frequently slots into the 5, arguably is the most versatile and complete superstar PF in the NBA today and a true post threat > Patterson & Asik. The only thing we have over them is Harden.
Like I said, they are also good in addition to being lucky. I imagine that if they make it to the playoffs, they will be more feared over the rockets.
I agree with you everything but the underlined part. Lillard..elite PG? Are you kidding me? Rookie of the Year..yes..but right now he's on Brandon Jennings level which is real good for a rookie but not elite at all. The hype is out of control with this kid. I don't see anyone ever mention his bad games..which you can't blame him for because it's the normal process of being a rookie..but it has to be taken into account. Sure he's got elite potential but he's really being oversold now.
It's funny. Every time a team goes on an unusual run filled with close wins, people start pumping them up like they're the next big thing. And eventually these teams disappear off the spotlight because law of averages goes against them sooner or later. The most recent example is probably the Bobcats, who won a bunch of close games early to start off around .500, and then proceed to get their asses kicked for the rest of the season. I'm much less concerned about Portland as I am about Minnesota or, to a lesser extent, even the Lakers. Overachieving teams tend to disappear. Teams that have injury issues or chemistry issues that still hang around are threats.
Dafuq with Portland :madface: !!! I confused how the team with such a bad (If not the worst) bench, can survive West Conference and now treating our position. Dafuq man, I mean their starter are robot or something ?!?, The coach keep playing the starter for non-stop 35++ minutes every single game (even some starter for more than 40++ minutes occasionally.) And up till now they still survive the injury. Well I mean no team can survive injury scare. With this kind of trend they are playing, I think its only matter of time, before one or two from the starter will get injured and eventually make them suffer. I hating them more than Jazz and Knicks and I wanna my revenge on them in the next two games.
Very annoying team. Eventually this **** has to stop. I didn't see this game, but I'm guessing they were down by like 7 or something with 3-4 mins left and it looked like Dallas had the W...then they just threw **** up there and drained every single three.
I was watching the game I thought it was over once Dirk hit that late three but nope Lamarcus ties it back up with his 3 then hit the gw jumper... OJ Mayo though good god is he horrible in crunch time
Portland has a winning record against Western Conference teams whereas we have a losing one, a very, very bad one at that. Given that the majority of our games are played against Western teams and we're only one game ahead, we're in a lot of trouble unless we our young team has another surprise in them. I think another key difference is the fact that we have no home crowd, the Toyota Center is always empty whereas there's a play-off atmosphere at Portland home games. That would certainly help their morale and imo is a major factor behind their inspired runs and clutch wins. I watched the 4th quarter and the Mavericks folded like a lawn chair, they got scared. Meanwhile the Trailblazers just kept coming and coming, and it took a miracle heave from Collison with nothing on the clock to give them some space and even then Portland kept coming and coming. Their team is fearless at home, Batum, Mathews, Lillard and Aldridge are all ice cold down critical stretches. I can see the difference between their squad and our Rockets who can come into the fourth with a ten point cushion and still look like they're about to lose the game.
Portland has a tough schedule for the rest of the season and their starting 5 (playing 40 mpg) is going to get tired very soon. Lillard is no better than Kemba. They don't really bother me.
Exactly that. Mavs were up like 20 in the 3rd and it looked like a blowout. And then they slowly crept back and were down like 6 or so with a minute left. Batum nailed a 3, Aldridge nailed a 3, and then a buzzerbeater jumper for the win..same damn miracle win bull**** everytime.
this might make you guys feel a little better <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8x8cOjDtl68" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
First, nothing you said here is even remotely relevant for this season. I'm not talking Portland in the future. I'm talking Portland now, and Portland has very severe weaknesses which they have managed to mask through a lot of luck. Secondly, I think Portland actually is in a very nasty situation, because the point that I've been trying to make is that this team, with good health and a ridiculous amount of luck, is barely .500. Realistically, they should have a record closer to what the Mavs and Lakers have right now. They don't actually have that much cap space ( don't forget that Hickson's a free agent, and there's no one out there in the free agent market that's a great center aside from one who's not coming to Portland for just 12 million) and aside from Leonard, don't have a lot of high-potential guys. They're not a team that threatens the Rockets both long-term and short-term.
Your posts are so hilarious man. Not sure everyone gets every reference - maybe I don't either... This ones great
They outscored the Mavs 10-3 in the last 55 seconds. Yes, I said 55 seconds! After Dirk drilled a 3, they were down 3 points with 11 seconds left and won in regulation! Mayo was called for charging with 1.4 seconds left. When that happened, we all knew the Blazers would hit a buzzer-beater.
Nearly fell out of my chair when that happened. Beautiful ending! Good to see a team like the Wizards have something to celebrate. Crawford had the good sense to shoot late enough that time expired as the ball went through the basket. Otherwise, the Blazers would have hit a miracle shot to tie and send the game into OT.
portland are more dangerous than dallas... portland is possibly looking to create a bench come trade deadline and that will help them put them over the top to make the playoffs... i mean the first 5 are super legit. The bench not so much although they have stints of being good. I see them either trading JJ hickson for some bench players.. like 2 if thats possible and moving Leonard to the starting lineup.. Leonard brings the same thing as Hickson. well almost.
