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NewAgeBaller · 05-06-2008, 07:18 AM

The Blazers' goal for next season should be winning their first-round series (assuming they make the playoffs). As a young team and in Oden/Rudy's first year, that should be a good sign, and I'd be happy with that.

But lets try and make the playoffs before talking of 5-6 championships, right Zach?

World B. Free · 05-06-2008, 07:20 AM

Aaahhhh... It's nice to not have to see crandcs avatar. I love that block list!

MrJayremmie · 05-06-2008, 07:22 AM

I think New Orleans, LA, Portland and Utah are going to be the top 4 teams for a long, long time. But LA will drop out after like 3 years, as Kobe will be declining, imo.

The east will be Orlando, Cleveland (LeBron > All) and Atlanta, imo. As long as they all continue to progress and keep making the right moves, those teams have the core players right now to be really good.

But the West looks like it will continue to dominate for a long, long time.

Oh also, if Miami drafts Rose and re-signs Marion, they are a playoff team and maybe one of the best teams in the East. If they take Beasly, they aren't that smart, imo. They have Haslem and Marion, why take Beasly who is a hybrid? He is pretty much a younger Marion. Take Rose and have Rose, Wade, Marion and Haslem, imo.

*sigh* i won't understand if they don't take Rose, as he, imo, is clearly the best NBA prospect in the draft. MAYBE he will slip to #13!

Paxil · 05-06-2008, 07:35 AM

Gee Hap... one more win would be the least possible improvement we could make. =)

Having a team that *could* win a championship is the most I can hope for. The rest takes some luck. Now... I love the enthusiasm in here... after some hard times it sure is welcome... but we are not a lock for anything. Greg Oden will be wearing a target on his back and it will be a few years before teams can't neutralize him by running straight at him until he gets two fouls. We have a very bright future though... but again... nothing is guaranteed.

This year I think we snuck up on some teams... they were not expecting a solid effort and I think we snuck a few wins from teams that were not ready for us. I doubt that will happen next year. We have the potential to be great someday... I would definitely agree with that.

**Dornado** · 05-06-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrJayremmie

I think New Orleans, LA, Portland and Utah are going to be the top 4 teams for a long, long time. But LA will drop out after like 3 years, as Kobe will be declining, imo.

The east will be Orlando, Cleveland (LeBron > All) and Atlanta, imo. As long as they all continue to progress and keep making the right moves, those teams have the core players right now to be really good.

But the West looks like it will continue to dominate for a long, long time.

Atlanta really is the flavor of the day, aren't they. Chicago is the youngest team in the league, went to the playoffs for three straight years before taking a step back this year, and apparently played themselves out of being considered an 'up and coming team'. I wonder if that will happen when Atlanta misses the playoffs next year.

As for the West dominating for a long time... I think in 5 years the two best players in the NBA will be Lebron James and Dwight Howard... and its a superstar league.

MrJayremmie · 05-06-2008, 08:44 AM

The East has Wade, KG, LeBron, Howard and all that, but imo, it doesn't make them the better conference. It does mean they have an edge on all-star weekend i guess.

I also think that Chris Paul will be better than Howard. Howard can't shoot (specially Free Throws) and doesn't have the greatest post moves.

Quote:

I wonder if that will happen when Atlanta misses the playoffs next year.

when?

Anyway, the east is weak, and will still be weak next year unless some big trades happen, imo. So i think they will make it. They will have Bibby for a whole year. Most likely, 4 of the top 6 draft picks will be in the West also.

I think the playoffs will also bring a lot of their fans back, and make their home court a much better advantage than this year.

I think that Atlanta can pass up Philly and Toronto, but i also think that if Miami draft Rose and keeps Marion, and has a Rose, Wade, Marion, Haslem and a center as their line-up, they will be in the playoffs in the east next year. If Dwayne Wade is healthy, he is a top 5 player in the NBA, imo.

Edit - i'm one of the people that thinks LeBron James is the best player right now, so i totally agree w/ you that LeBron will be the best player 5 years from now.

Mr. Chuck Taylor · 05-06-2008, 09:24 AM

While I think it's wise to have somewhat tempered expectations for next year, I can't help watch New Orleans in the playoffs and smile. They won 39 games last year (2 less than Portland this year) and jumped up to 56 wins in one season. Not to mention, they are looking great against San Antonio in the playoffs. The changing of the guard is happening faster than I thought it would. Phoenix, Denver and Dallas are already scratching their heads about their future, and the defending champs are down 2-0 against a young team. Our time is coming, perhaps sooner than we think.

**Yao Mania** · 05-07-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Entity

I like reading the Chinese version of show titles, just looking at your avatar. Instead of calling it "Gutou" which means "bone", they made a chengyu (four character phrase) "Shi Gu Zhuizong" which (throwing in some help words) basically means "one (or those) who knows bones and follows a trail" or "knowing bones to follow a trail". Sometimes Chinese is just simpler at getting the meaning across...

...well, if you know it.

I'm watching Bones on TV in Hong Kong right now as we speak.... you're everywhere Zack

back on topic, I'll definitely have you guys penciled in as a playoff team next season, pending on summer transactions and barring no major injuries. Anything less than a ROY campaign from Oden should be considered a disappointment.

**STOMP** · 05-07-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crandc

I don't expect a championship next year. But I've said before and I still think that in the next couple of years the two top teams in the West will be New Orleans and Portland. I can see those two basically interchanging titles and some great rivalries.

In the West, the Big Three of Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are clearly starting to fade. They are still going to be playoff teams but not the top contenders. LA depends on whether they can stay healthy and keep the soap opera under control. Golden State has no size. In the East I'm not sure if I'd call Atlanta an up and coming team, let them get to .500 first.

If you look at who has the highest ceilings, I have to say it's New Orleans and Portland.

Depending on Bynum, I'd throw LA into that mix. I like the potential of Biedrins and BWright forming a nice frontcourt in GS so I'd disagree with your size analysis. I'm guessing they'll have a new coach/philosophy next year and ditch the frantic small ball. The Jazz should remain tough, but unless Brewer metamorphs to another level they don't seem to have the upside. Houston may also contend if Yao can hold together. Orlando has some upside in the east, but they lack superior guard play... is there a past champ with such a weak back court?

But at the end of the day, Portland looks to be a cut above to me. Some may read that and think thats a homer comment and that I should set more realistic goals for my rooting interests, but honestly thats how I see it. Given health I see them being the favorites for years. Next year they should make the playoffs and maybe make some noise advancing... after that, look out league.

STOMP

wizmentor · 05-07-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazerCaravan

Zack is a loon when it comes to basketball. Anything he says is pretty much the most outrageous hyperbole you'll see here.

I strongly disagree with the sentiment. Zach may let his fanaticism get the best
of him, but it's the off-season. It's not a time for measured reason. It's a time for

making outrageous trade suggestions,
actually getting excited about watching a summer league game,
thinking your team will do much better than it actually will,
ignoring all possibilities of injuries to your players,
thinking that 2nd rounder will put your team over the top,
obsessing which first rounder we'll take.

It's a time to dream,
It's, it's, it's ZACHADDY Time, baby!!!!

I'm not speaking to just BlazerCaravan when I say...
Don't think that telling all of us fanatics that there is no Santa Claus
during the Christmas season is "measured reasoning" - it's knowledge
without wisdom.

Go Blazers, Win that Lottery!!!!

It's_GO_Time · 05-07-2008, 08:26 AM

I'll go against the grain:

NO will not be a dynasty or a championship contender for the next 5-10 years.

Yes they are having a great year and they have young pieces . . . but I want to see that small market team maintain the players and the chemistry year after year.

They won't do it. CP3 and all, they won't do it. Maybe a trip to the finals one year, but they won't become a Detriot, SA or Lakers. I don't think they will even achieve a Dallas or Phoenix status.

NO will be tough, but there will be other teams more threatening to the Blazers than NO.

[No, I do not have a link]

BIG Q · 05-07-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by It's_GO_Time

I'll go against the grain:

NO will not be a dynasty or a championship contender for the next 5-10 years.

Yes they are having a great year and they have young pieces . . . but I want to see that small market team maintain the players and the chemistry year after year.

They won't do it. CP3 and all, they won't do it. Maybe a trip to the finals one year, but they won't become a Detriot, SA or Lakers. I don't think they will even achieve a Dallas or Phoenix status.

NO will be tough, but there will be other teams more threatening to the Blazers than NO.

[No, I do not have a link]

I am tending to agree with this. I think that NO has a very good starting five, that could use an upgrade at SG, but has very little depth. They will be paying big money to Paul, West, Chandler and Peja for some time. That will not leave much money for a quality bench. Factor in that Peja is not young they could be needing a replacement for him in the next few years.

But the lack of depth could kill them eventually. A team like Portland, that can go 10+ deep could really do some damage. Especially if GO could get Chandler into foul trouble or even if LA could get West into foul trouble. But the depth will really be an issue for them getting deep in the playoffs.

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