Harrumph... these preseason games have been tough to stomach. Judging by our performance, I predict that our patience will be sorely tested in the weeks to come. We clearly need to cohere more as a team and to develop some confidence about finishing games. It's likely to take some time, too. So I'm wondering about ways we might measure (and take heart in) our gradual improvement. If not the playoffs, then we can at least anticipate some signs of growth.

You can check out our season schedule here. I notice that in the first 16 games (finishing with Sacramento on Nov 25), 9 are at home and 7 are away. Then in our next 16 games (finishing with Sacramento on Dec 27), we again have 9 at home and 7 away. If anything, the second round of 16 games is a little harder; I count fewer easy games (although Phoenix and New Orleans are mysteries to me). So if we manage to win more in the second round, that's probably some indication of improvement. We can at least cheer for that sort of outcome.

I don't see any great purpose in creating a poll about our win differential here. It's just something to look for, and I'll probably bring it up again at the end of November. But since I like polls, I ask instead what you think our overall record will be after 32 games. 10-22? 14-18? 20-12? Let's see how bullish we are about the remainder of 2010.