Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #4 - BLAZERS @ KINGS - OCTOBER 28, 2024 - MONDAY - 7:00 PM - KATU 2.2 - BLAZERVISION

Got to get Ayton another double-double and keep his trade value up. Which seems to be the reason the Blazers exist.

Not for entertainment. Not for improvement. Not to win games. But to keep the trade value up for Simons, Ayton and Grant.

 

I get conditioning is a challenge for him, but a steafy 18 mpg should be the minimum

 

Or we're featuring Ayton. 59% shooting, 20 points, 11 boards and solid defense both in the paint and on the perimeter. Our team screaming at others that this is the 7 footer who played 36 minutes per game in a playoff run that ended at the finals.

 

The only thing wrong with this loss is that Ayton, Grant and Simons got 105 out of our 240 minutes. That's 43% of our minutes for three guys that I don't see on this team in the future. The three of them took 44 (over half) of our 83 shots. Besides Ayton they weren't effective and Jerami and Ant can't be as first and second options. The sooner these three are traded the better and I can't wait for Shaedon to get back from his injury but that's only a good thing if these three guys will let him get more or as many shots up as them.

 

A minutes restriction that low wouldn't make any sense. That much caution would simply be a DNP.

My guess is match-ups. Sabonis is one of the most active and mobile centers in the league, and Clingan was having a tough time staying in front of him. Ayton, on the other hand, is well suited to that task and was still enough of a presence to keep Sabonis from wanting to do much work in the paint.

Bring the young guy along slowly, and don't throw him in over his head while he acclimates to NBA game speed.

 

These are the vets we're keeping around so we don't "develop a losing culture"...

 

[QUOTE="

 

Seriously? You really think the only way for DC to experience any progress is NBA PT? Besides the physical transformation every young guy goes through just with natural maturation, proper nutrition, various training/workouts and practice all play major roles in getting their bodies and minds up to NBA speed. In my view all those factors are more important then PT for a 20 year old rookie who clearly is still ramping up physically to where he needs to be. I'd suggest to have some patience and enjoy the process. I bet he'll be getting more run as he gets stronger.

STOMP

 

Thybulle and RW3 are bigger wastes of cap space. Not that Portland can really do much with cap space anyway. But Simons, Ayton and Grant are very tradable, and Simons/Ayton expire before any of our young players are due.

 

I understand the bring the young guy along slowly mantra, but this is a throw away season. Portland needs to throw Clingan in the fire every game, match up be damned. Let him get cooked, learn and improve. That way he is ready to take over with Flagg or Bailey next season.

 

Because championship pedigree is just oozing from their pores!

 

Counterpoint: when we played the Kings in pre-season and Sabonis had a terrible game against Clingan.

 

The stream I was watching had the Kings announcers and they wouldn't shut up about how lengthy the Blazers were. This is a positive progression from the Dame/CJ era.

 

Because everyone gives 100% in preseason?

 

Length is nice, but I’ll be happier when the Blazers have anywhere near the number of shooters that the Kings do.