Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #5 - BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - OCTOBER 30, 2024 - WED - 7:30 PM - KATU 2.2 - BLAZERVISION

Not exactly sure why beating a Clippers team where Norman Powell is arguably their best player is the game that quiets the "haters"

Championship here we come!

 

You're right it's what I expect and that makes me pretty fucking angry so I choose to post about what I hope will happen.

At the very least Jerami's value doesn't go up if we sit him after the trade deadline and he is not going to be better than he is right now when guys like Scoot, Shaedon, Rayan or whoever it is that pops or guys that we still haven't drafted, are ready to contribute to playoff wins the way Jerami is right now. If the offer from the Lakers is one FRP, one guy with positive trade value that we could flip (Hachimura), one guy with negative trade value (Vincent) and an expiring contract (Reddish) then get that fucking FRP or go to another team and get more. Anyway, if he continues to sit on our depreciating assets, I'm going to continue to be pissed.

 

Good performance. Lot to be happy about.

I know there are some that don't want to win. Relax. The Blazers probably won't. There's just not enough consistent shooting on this roster and not enough experience to overcome that. Plus, it's the West ... there are too many other teams that already have the pieces and that's going to keep the Blazers out of the play-in. We'll be in the lottery, and, with a little bit of luck, we'll move up in the draw.

Plus, there are good trade chips on this team.

And, if we don't lose? Then enjoy it. It means somebody in this organization knows what they're doing. It means the conglomeration is better than the sum of the parts with a lot of room to get better, considering the youth. It means we're good and we need less to be great.

I think we're in a good situation right now. I think we're going to win and be more competitive, but circumstances will keep us in the lottery so we'll be adding some quality assets.

 

It’s kind of interesting that nobody mentioned this picture of Shae going up for a huge dunk earlier this evening! Throwing it down on one of the coaches, extremely hard!

 

They had Harden and Zubac. We were missing our best player too. And we were on the road. It was an impressive win.

 

I honestly think you are seeing a couple players being showcased at this point. I can't imagine Simons and Grant not playing starter minutes. You have the Lakers looking at Vanderbilt foot injury and you have both the Heat and Bucks needing a PF. Then there is Philly and PG. There are teams out there that have positional needs and the Blazers have a couple of working vets that may be available at what are now reasonable contracts.
Do those teams have a way to get players? IDK but you have to admit Simons and Grant could help a few teams this year.

 

It goes back to the moment Dame was traded, we should have worked to move every vet for picks.

We've actually done the opposite of that by sending picks out to bring in Deni. The early returns have that looking like a Roco 2.0 move.

Now I agree with you it's super frustrating. But what the best moves are for this franchise and what the franchise actually is doing are two very different things. That's what happens when you have poor management and some of the worst ownership in the league.

 

Scoot has been playing much more under control lately, and you see it in his shooting volume going down and efficiency going up. But now we have Simons dribbling into double teams and getting rejected/missing. He's only shooting 47% at the rim. What happened to drawing a double team and finding the open man?

 

I know the Clippers had some early wins but that's a really bad roster without Kawhi, probably third worst in the west behind us and Utah. I'm not worried we're going to be a .500 team or anything.

However the short term benefit of when Ant, Ayton, Grant lead the offense doesn't provide a benefit to the Blazers in the short term and it hurts the team long term. That's why it's so frustrating to have them all still on the roster and so unexciting to "root" for them to win.

I'd love to have a roster where we can root for the team to win 100% of the time led by Camara, Rupert, Clingan, Scoot, Sharpe. Maybe throw one vet on the roster to that mix, but not all 5 vets of Grant/Ant/Ayton/Thybulle/Timelord.

 

Philly and the Bucks have no way to match salaries.

Heat and Blazers have bad blood I don't think either wants to talk.

Lakers for Grant is the only one that makes sense. Both parties should pull the trigger on a FRP. If Cronin is insisting on two as is rumored a deal will never happen IMO.

 

Scoot play is encouraging.

I'm not worried about Simons offense, that's small sample size.

The problem with Simons isn't his play it's that a veteran who will be on an expiring contract next year makes no sense for a franchise in our position.

 

This is wrong. There is always a way.

Business before pleasure. Bad blood is in your (The Fans) head. I'm sure Joe is willing if the price is right and I'm also sure Pat Riley has more experience than that.

 

Oh shoot. Zubac and a 35 year old Harden sounds like a championship squad.

Great statement win!

 

In case anyone needs a reminder of our future.

 

Well sure, but what is the benefit to using vets to get these wins now?

I'd rather not have to fake injuries and play multiple g league scrubs for half the season as we've done for four years. Would be far more enjoyable to just root for our youth to win all year long, they get wins it means we have great young talent they lose and we get a great draft pick.

 

Like...KEEGAN?

Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, the fans start to worry about their young star forward...