loyalty4life

The Blazers were off to a great start, and got us pumping at the beginning with hope and excitement. Now, obviously that excitement has cooled down a bit, and we're losing on a fairly frequent basis.

So, I just wanted to ask: Is your mindset changing? Specifically, has your attitude on this season changed?

For me, it has. It looked for a while that we had the possibility of perhaps nabbing a playoff spot if we do well enough. Now, that idea is all but over. So, as it has been well mentioned before, there is a great draft class approaching in 2007. I would not mind seeing this season in the 20-30 win range if it means we have a chance to get a top 3 pick, especially the #1 (Oden... oh, the possibilities).

So, again, has your mindset changed at all? Now, I've basically just readjusted my mind to where losing is okay for me this year, with little disappointment. I don't mind waiting another year to see how this team could be drastically improved.

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MAS RipCity

Yea, I am now more preparing my self for the team to lose. Man all my teams suck in sports, this blows.

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PDX Fan Since '90

Schilly

I was thinking we'd be a mid 20 win team, so no.

Dan

interesting, I had set my expectations higher than whats realistic, and every time the team doesn't live up up those expectations, I hyperbole.

I mean, how is it that Martell isn't playing to MY personal standards?

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alext42083

Certainly, losing eight of the last 10 isn't something to get excited about. And those two wins come against New Jersey.
While it's disheartening, we're not even one-fifth through the year.
The Blazers need to win these next two games (Orlando and Atlanta) to get any confidence heading into that brutal six-game, nine-day road trip.
If Brandon can come back, play the rest of the season, and if Martell can get it going somehow, and the team plays hard and wins 30 plus games, I'll be happy.
I just hate this looking ahead to the draft already. The season just started.

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Xericx

no. still lovin' the team and direction. kind of worried about the 1/2/3 spot with so many young guys competing for minutes, but that's no problem.

Outlaw is turning into one of my favorites on the floor. He's been looking better and better!

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Samuel

I thought Portland would win 30-35 games, and I stand by that prediction.

But if health remains an issue, things could get ugly like last year.

dudleysghost

Mines the same, but I've been looking forward to the 2007 draft since after the AS break last season. I liked the moves management made this summer a lot, but they seemed to be more for the future than the present. Late last season Nate said publicly that he wanted us to trade the pick for a veteran guard, but instead the team went out and bought two more picks!

AFter the draft and the Magloire trade, I was looking forward to an estimated 32 win season, which would be an improvement but still more losses than wins. The team played well and I adjusted my expectations to a 32-36 range. I was surprised by how good and how NBA ready Roy and Aldrige play, and also how poorly Magloire has played. Now my expectations, after wobbling only a little, are back at 32 wins for the season.

We're about at that pace right now, and it will probably continue. That should give us a top 10 pick in the draft next season, or better depending on how the league shakes out. Right now we have the 10th worst record in the league, but I think the Wiz, Bulls, Bucks, Nets will definitely pick up their winning pace. Even Philly, Charlotte and Toronto potentially will, and Memphis definitely will when Gasol gets back. Of the teams ahead of us, I don't see many dropping below except maybe Boston, Atlanta or Seattle. In short, we're going to have a nice draft pick.

I think management just built the team for the future. There was an interview somewhere with Pritchard, who basically admitted as much. He said that if they wanted, management could make trades and make us a winning team right now, but they wanted to do it slowly in a way that could make us an eventual contender. The fact that they didn't get Nate a veteran guard, through trade or using the MLE, tells me that they aren't trying to win more games this season.

Just judging by the moves made this summer, I think management is targetting the 2007-2008 season to actually try to push for wins. We have piles of young talent now, we'll add another piece and then examine how it all fits together. I expect to see some major trades and a MLE FA signing (if there is salary room after trades) to bring in veteran talent, rather than more young talent. When we stop acquiring young players and start acquiring proven veterans, that's when you will know that management has decided to end the rebuilding and start winning. It hasn't happened yet, but I expect it to start in the summer of 2007.

dudleysghost

I'm also disappointed with Martell. Near the end of last season it really looked like he was making strides on both ends of the court, and I fully expected him to take the starting SF spot from the injured Miles this year, even before I knew Miles would be out with MF. Right now though, he looks worse than Udoka and Outlaw at SF and Dixon at SG. He's in Stephen Graham territory, and that's disappointing. He's still very young, and I'm definitely not giving up on him or anything, but I just expected a lot more.

dkap

I'll only be satisfied if we lose bad enough to nab 2 of the top 3 picks in this year's draft...

Dan

dkap

... which brings up an interesting question. Hypothetically speaking, let's say a team lands the 1st and 3rd picks and believes that Durant is a true franchise player and that Noah might be as effective as Oden. Taking Oden first means likely missing out on Durant. Would any GM be brave enough to take Noah or Durant first, knowing: a) that the team picking second would take Oden (thus giving them the two players they want), and b) that they would be second guessed for it the next 15+ years?

Dan

sports4life

Our DEFENSE will make or break our season. At this level there should be no excuse for not being able to execute on defense. A player may have an off night on the offensive end but having a off night on the defensive end is hard to explain. Glad to see Joel is back..........but our defense is not competitive right now. That is all about attitude and not seeing that is the difference between a playoff team and a team that consist of players who think the other guy should have guarded that guy. When you are getting paid to play you would think if for no other reason you would want the fans to watch you work rather than go at 50% on Defense. If this team does not pick up on defense they will not be a playoff team.............no defense means no fast break points and it allows the opponent all the time in the world to set up and play defense against us. AGE has nothing to do with what you should be doing on defense......I am so tired of hearing well this guy is 19 or this guy is 20 etc.............You know what? If you are playing pro ball............you should be able to shuffle your feet and deny the pass and block out.........

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dudleysghost

Now, if that GM really believes that Durant is a better talent than Oden, then he will be second guessed, but he should go with his own personal feeling. What I think you are saying though is that if a team had needs at SF and C, they would try to game the system to fill more of their needs.

It makes sense in theory, but in practice it's not a good idea. First of all, if Oden were only projected to be as effective as Noah, then it wouldn't be an issue, but that's not the case. What you are talking about is potentially passing up on the best player in favor of one who may not be as good with the first pick, just so you can fill positions of need better. I don't like that at all. Take the best player available with a high draft pick, always. The team is still in transition and still sorting out who will play for them in the future. If we have too much talent at one position, we can patiently work to trade it later, but the draft is about maximizing pure talent, especially in the top 5.

And anyway, this draft looks full of other good SF prospects. Noah is not as good as Oden, but he may be about equivalent to some of those other prospects. If we had #1 and #3, we should pick Oden, let #2 pick Durant and still pick the BPA with #3. If that's Noah, then we have a pile of great big men and we can trade one later. If that's someone at a different position, then it isn't an issue. Or, we could trade down the #3 if another great asset was offered.

Todd