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  • December 17, 2007 02:46 AM ET

Dare to dream...Portland will make the playoff this year!

Odenator...I'm Baack!!! (11-2-1) vs A throwdowner named NCshvDavid (1013-294-71)
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Yes, I was throwing myself off the bandwagon head first a couple of weeks back, but the ship has been righted.

I knew things would improve once James Jones starts playing. The facts supporting my argument are...

1) LaMarcus is a 18-8 guy and getting better.
2) Roy is a 18-5-5 guy and getting better.
3) Outlaw is playing out of his mind.
4) Jones does not miss.
5) Przybilla sacrifices his body for blocks and charges.
6) Blake keeps the TO's under control.
7) Jack is a disruptive force with his drives to the basket.
8) Webster will continue to improve his game.

I believe they can hold off the teams below them, while eventually catching and passing Houston and Golden State for the last spot or even better.

Remember Nate McMillan's last year in Seattle, how that team came out of nowhere and won some 50 games and made the playoffs? Look for it to happen again this year. Win or loose, we're going to make the playoff as a first step to redemption this year!

Damn, and we get Oden and Fernandez next year!


San Antonio

Dallas

Phoenix

are all WAY ahead of Portland and will stay ahead for the time being

Next you are looking at Utah and Denver- both of there solid teams that Portland is NOT going to be able to catch them eityher

SO those are 5 spots gone and will stay gone no matter how well Portland plays unless Drexler comes back at 25 years old

So fighting for 3 spots are

Houston
LA Lakers
New Orleans
Golden State
and Portland

you can Almost put the Lakers in no matter what- same as Houston - either team is still better

Leaving 1 spot

for New Orleans/Golden State/Portland

sorry- Portland is playing great ball- but we are less than 1/3 of the season gone and Portland simply does not have to horses to run to that 8th spot.


I disagree with your Denver pick...I think this team is too volatile and will eventually implode onto themselves. Likewise for GS.

I believe LA and NO will make it, so that makes 6 spots taken (SA, PHX, DAL, UTA, LA, NO).

With Houston struggling, and my prediction that GS and DEN will implode, I see Portland sneaking in.

Disclaimer: If Roy goes down, all bets are off. We can limp along with LaMarcus out as we are seeing, but Roy will be the deal breaker.


Disclaimer?

There are no diosclaimers in Ball!

Houston is struggling with a new coach and newish system - but they have a pretty good history of getting better as the season goes on.

And Denver is going to the playoffs- there is no way with the way Camby and Melo are playing are they missing the playoffs


Ok, I'll go with your no disclaimer argument since injury is part of the game.

Only time will tell how Houston recovers, and whether or not Denver and GS will implode (I stand by my prediction though).

But I am confident that Portland (as young as they are) are like a sponge and every guy is learning how to make consistent contributions. There are no dramas on this team...it's all basketball baby. That is all they are focusing on.


Still not going to happen

Portland is too young and too inexperinced to jump GST and New Orleans and the West has WAY too few playoff spots left open- this is not the East where they can be 3-4 wide open spots this is the West, where the Big Boys play and you are not getting in with less than 45 wins.

Comments (15) Add A Comment

December 17, 2007  04:55 AM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

portland are definatly a chance
spurs
dallas
pheonix
utah
lakers
denver
no

golden state, housten and portland fighting for the 8th seed....
and unless rockets pull there heads out portland are a chance. roy is a gun!

December 17, 2007  06:43 AM ET
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2 good arguments and a solid debut Odenator

Not this year, sorry Odenaor, its the West

Surprisingly if Oden was there they would probably make it because he is a defensive force

December 17, 2007  06:44 AM ET
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Having said that, Portland has done an AMAZING job cleaning house and rebuilding

They are like the Rockets though, are they still stockpiling PG's???? LOL

They need to start Blake and Roy together, bring Jack off the bench

December 17, 2007  06:46 AM ET
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Oh they are.....Good

Blake is a steady PG and Roy (while he is a fine passer) is more of a combo guard that can run the point for a short time

December 17, 2007  07:56 AM ET
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Give it like 2-3 years

December 17, 2007  08:05 AM ET
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Voting with the argument, not with the gut feeling for how it will actually play out... I was convinced as a Blazers fan that the season was lost when Oden went down... and while I still don't see the team making the playoffs, I am a little more convinced after the Odenator's arguments...

December 17, 2007  08:22 AM ET
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10 teams in West are .500 or better

In East, Blazers would be an up and coming powerhouse

December 17, 2007  08:29 AM ET
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Disclaimer? Haha. My vote goes to NCshvDavid, but I think the Hornets will almost definitely make the playoffs this season.

December 17, 2007  12:30 PM ET
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Odenator
Maybe you could share some of what you've been smoking. Then we could all be delusional. But I forgot-you're waiting for Kwame Brown...oh excuse me... Greg Oden to return. They're so much alike...sorry.

December 17, 2007  12:40 PM ET
Report Abuse | QUOTE

Thanks for the comments guys...

Please note I said "Dare to dream....", as I never said it's a given this year for Portland. But I see them being the Cinderella this year like GS was last year.

I know the season has a ways to go, and other teams will improve, but the same goes for Portland as well. Beating UTA twice, GS, and Denver CANNOT be a fluke! Something has clicked with this team.

Hllywd...I can always count on you to make some smack about Oden. That's cool...you have the right to your opinion and that's what this site is all about.

Hmmm...down 1-6 huh? Better get some re-inforcements. =)

December 17, 2007  01:22 PM ET
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I'd love for Portland to be there as I love the team but I agree with most of what's been said. Still too much talent in the west.

Plus, as a Suns' fan, I can tell you that James Jones does actually miss. He's streaky and great when he's on but terrible when he's off.

December 17, 2007  01:50 PM ET
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I'm going to go out on a limb here and say POR squeaks in. GS is looking a lot more mediocre this year than last and DEN is an implosion waiting to happen. It's all speculative, but I say they make it.

December 17, 2007  03:01 PM ET
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Portland will be good next year..and they're obviously vastly improving this year too but give it time there gettind Oden in there next year will make a huge difference and only improve anyone else..so next year I could see it happening but not this year..maybe they'll finish 9th

December 17, 2007  05:52 PM ET
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you guys are all drunk. Everyone knows aside from Boston Portland is the hottest team in the league. They are the youngest,a t 24.5, and the deepest. A.I. knows the truth, Utah and G.S. knows the truth, now everyone can jump on the wagon. ALL ABOARD!!!
Blazers-first round playoff nightmare for dallas or san an,
Blazers next year- Northwest Division Champs...

 
December 18, 2007  02:58 AM ET
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Eventhough Portland is a young and inexperience team, but I believe they will make a big difference this year.

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