If some of you know me, you know I like to think ahead and never live in the moment. I said Tom Brady would go down as the best player ever on this site in 2010. I said Lebron would win multiple rings when he had 0 and was quickly approaching 30 years old. I said Nadal would win a lot more majors after he had 2 knee operations and everyone on this site said he was done. I am a forward thinker. Now hear me out.
I never liked CJ Mccollum, I always thought he was soft, but this year, there is something different about him. He really impressed me with his efficiency when he was playing. Lillard, for the past few years, I've felt like Lillard has been the best pg in the league and one of the best overall players in the league. And this year has cemented it. He is, by far, the best PG in the NBA. You can say Curry, but he's not. And it's simple why. Lillard is one of the clutchest players I've ever seen. I don't mean this year, I mean all time.
I mean this guy is clutch like Jordan and Kobe. Like that. He isn't as clutch on defense as those two guys, those two wouldn't let you score on them at the end of games in the playoffs, but Lillard's killer instinct is the most I've ever seen like Kobe. I don't see another single player in the league that has that, not even Lebron or KD or Kawhi. It's fun to watch, in a generation of bball that's garbage.
Nurkic is also a big part of this team, and when healthy, he is one of the better big men in the Western Conference. I think CJ and Nurkic going out was a blessing in disguise for this team. It's making the NBA fear Lillard more, and it's given Portland a new player who is an absolute sniper--Gary Trent Jr. We saw flashes last year in the bubble and playoffs of this guy stepping up and dominating, but now he just lets it fly with pure confidence. Kanter has been a monster, playing the best basketball of his career.
And we know that Carmelo Anthony is one of the best bench players in the entire league. This is a guy who comes in games and can get 20 any given night, and he's gonna get it once every couple games. He has hit so many big shots for the short handed Blazers this year. Covington has been playing the worst basketball of his career. So he worries me. But he is a beast defensively, and that 3 point % has to kick up at some point, hopefully by the playoffs. Dr. Jones JR was a great add, he plays good D and went all the way to the NBA finals and played big minutes. He's not afraid of the moment.
Now what's the main reason why I think the Blazers will win it all?
The main reason is Lillard, and the second main reason is Carmelo Anthony. I think that when the playoffs roll around, these guys are going to go into another mindset this year. I think Carmelo Anthony knows that this might be the last year that he can play at this type of level, and he's going to go all out.
The main reason, in essence, is HUNGER. These guys are so hungry, you can literally feel it when they step on the court. They take games off, but they pretty much went undefeated in the bubble, made the playoffs, and lost in the first round to the eventual champs.
I think these guys can take the Lakers or Clippers in a 7 game series this year IF everyone is healthy. I really don't know how you can stop them from scoring.
And this team will crush Utah in a 7 game series. Please. Denver is not a threat to me. Jamal Murray will get shredded by Dame.
So is this a sure thing? No, it's a plus 6000 bet. But I think this is highly possible. The Lakers do not really impress me and they had the whole world behind them last year with the death of Kobe.
Lakers are still the favs because they are the champs, but I'd put the Clippers in there with them, and then at a close 3rd, I'm saying Portland. So give me +6000 on the third best team in the West.
I never liked CJ Mccollum, I always thought he was soft, but this year, there is something different about him. He really impressed me with his efficiency when he was playing. Lillard, for the past few years, I've felt like Lillard has been the best pg in the league and one of the best overall players in the league. And this year has cemented it. He is, by far, the best PG in the NBA. You can say Curry, but he's not. And it's simple why. Lillard is one of the clutchest players I've ever seen. I don't mean this year, I mean all time.
I mean this guy is clutch like Jordan and Kobe. Like that. He isn't as clutch on defense as those two guys, those two wouldn't let you score on them at the end of games in the playoffs, but Lillard's killer instinct is the most I've ever seen like Kobe. I don't see another single player in the league that has that, not even Lebron or KD or Kawhi. It's fun to watch, in a generation of bball that's garbage.
Nurkic is also a big part of this team, and when healthy, he is one of the better big men in the Western Conference. I think CJ and Nurkic going out was a blessing in disguise for this team. It's making the NBA fear Lillard more, and it's given Portland a new player who is an absolute sniper--Gary Trent Jr. We saw flashes last year in the bubble and playoffs of this guy stepping up and dominating, but now he just lets it fly with pure confidence. Kanter has been a monster, playing the best basketball of his career.
And we know that Carmelo Anthony is one of the best bench players in the entire league. This is a guy who comes in games and can get 20 any given night, and he's gonna get it once every couple games. He has hit so many big shots for the short handed Blazers this year. Covington has been playing the worst basketball of his career. So he worries me. But he is a beast defensively, and that 3 point % has to kick up at some point, hopefully by the playoffs. Dr. Jones JR was a great add, he plays good D and went all the way to the NBA finals and played big minutes. He's not afraid of the moment.
Now what's the main reason why I think the Blazers will win it all?
The main reason is Lillard, and the second main reason is Carmelo Anthony. I think that when the playoffs roll around, these guys are going to go into another mindset this year. I think Carmelo Anthony knows that this might be the last year that he can play at this type of level, and he's going to go all out.
The main reason, in essence, is HUNGER. These guys are so hungry, you can literally feel it when they step on the court. They take games off, but they pretty much went undefeated in the bubble, made the playoffs, and lost in the first round to the eventual champs.
I think these guys can take the Lakers or Clippers in a 7 game series this year IF everyone is healthy. I really don't know how you can stop them from scoring.
And this team will crush Utah in a 7 game series. Please. Denver is not a threat to me. Jamal Murray will get shredded by Dame.
So is this a sure thing? No, it's a plus 6000 bet. But I think this is highly possible. The Lakers do not really impress me and they had the whole world behind them last year with the death of Kobe.
Lakers are still the favs because they are the champs, but I'd put the Clippers in there with them, and then at a close 3rd, I'm saying Portland. So give me +6000 on the third best team in the West.