Mind you, I don’t really care about the current state of America. portland trailblazersThey are over 500 and are battling through one of the toughest early schedules ever faced by any of the 30 teams.
But I won’t lie, I have some concerns. Area projected before the start of the season. The big man’s lack of depth, streaky shooting, and Damian Lillard’s health have all reared an ugly head at some point in recent weeks. Not to mention the countless sales figures that no one could have predicted.
And it’s a shame because they clearly beat the team Phoenix Suns The absence of both Damian Lillard and Anfernie Simmons on November 4 in Arizona is unlike any team that has been short in recent weeks.
Perhaps it was an injury and perhaps the opposition had time to scout the team. Perhaps the frenetic pace the team set early on was unsustainable. You know… the season.
Whatever the cause of the recent recession, one thing is clear: this team, as it is currently built, is not a competitor. It is fine.So General his manager Joe Cronin acknowledged multiple times.
That doesn’t mean the Blazers didn’t enjoy their time at the top of the Western Conference standings. A season series win against West favorites Phoenix Suns in early November was great. miami heat, new orleans pelicans, los angeles lakers Anphanie Simmons Masterclass 3rd Quarter Denver Nuggets It was pretty impressive.
But part of me is almost relieved that the warts are showing up now, not mid-February. I was blind to all the reality of the team’s flaws and looking at different realities. A hopeless era.
I honestly don’t think Cronin was that naive, but even the most ardent skeptic must have been swept away by this Blazers team, the early juggernaut. Mania, a phenomenon that leads to today’s topic.
The team has played many of its first 19 games, with another key rotation player sitting on the sidelines. Honestly, if someone told you that the Blazers were 11-8 after 19 games on this schedule, you’d be pretty happy with him for five big reasons.
- In their first 19 games, the Blazers had the fifth-toughest schedule, playing 58% of their games away.
- Damian Lillard has been out of the game for nine months. No one knew if he was going to be the superstar point guard of old.
- We had no idea how other roster players would fare, how they would play together, or how key rotation players would contribute to changing/increasing roles.
- We weren’t really sure when the team’s massive free agent signing and predicted defensive cornerstone at Payton would actually play. He hasn’t yet
- And it wasn’t yet known if Chauncey Billups was an NBA-level coach.
The uncertainty is so high that the more pragmatic Blazers fans will be Sacramento Kingsperhaps giving time to tackle any teething issues the team may be facing.
Fandom is a capricious business, a kind of politics
Those of you who peruse Blazers Twitter like I do are well aware of the manic nature of the fandom, especially when it comes to this team. I am Australian and do not intend to comment on US politics. I’m not that stupid But sometimes I think a person’s political stance is a lot like his sports fandom.
There are stalwarts on both ends of the spectrum. I mean, this team is great, but no matter what happens, this team sucks, with no evidence to pierce the emotional connection to their point of view. There’s a big hunk in the middle ready to pay for and change their minds as things go. Ready to live in “gray”.
Bringing this back to the Blazers, I’m sure there were still some fans watching the inspiring early play. The roster is garbage, Cronin has destroyed the team, Simmons needs to be off the bench and Damian Lillard needs to be traded as soon as possible.
Other diehards have used that early high as proof that the franchise is ready to fight, proof that the Blazers have the ability to win the title this year, regardless of how long the current funk lasts. , always pointing to the period of victory.
I tried to train myself not to go too high or too low, but I was reminded that the Blazers incarnation of Cronin wasn’t perfect and won’t be for a while. but I was prepared to accept the good and the bad and vice versa throughout this long season.
The Blazers will have another run unless injuries completely engulf this team, so when they have the likes of Damian Lillard, Anfernie Simmons, Jerami Grant, they have too much talent. health.
I think fandom is like a drug
It’s human nature to want good things to last. But when that euphoria leaves us, everyone reacts differently: After 19 games, the Blazers sit in the middle of the Western Conference standings. Obviously it’s not as good as the top.
But folks, lows don’t last forever, and highs don’t last. golden state warriors Not having the best time at the moment.
My only concern is that people who don’t realize how bad the hangovers and shakes are still trying to get another hit, but drinking is inevitable and important if you really want to enjoy this team.
Conclusion
I think what I’m saying is don’t let yourself lose to a 1, 2, 3 or 4 win streak or a losing streak.Never live unless you’re in the 90’s chicago bulls Or with the Golden State Warriors in their mid-teens, there are bad times.
Fun play, Lillard’s logo shot, Simons’ shooting streak, Grant’s defense and versatile offensive game, Hart’s tenacity, Little’s improved shooting, Sharpe’s incredible potential, Winslow’s Swiss Army knife skill set. , enjoy the size of Nurkic and the energy of Eubanks.
Whether this team can actually do damage in the playoffs remains to be seen. Trust Joe Cronin to steer the ship in the right direction. But if anyone thought the Blazers were on their way to championship glory in early November, there’s only one way to go from there and it’s down.
You want this team to win, that’s the goal, right? But nine months after losing a good chunk of the roster, that hasn’t happened. We need to look at upgrades and what we can do on the court for the next 63 games.
