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Not at all. It assumes Simons would be in the regular rotation, and would be the first person removed from it if we needed to add Snell's size at the wing.
2021 Blazers Training Camp
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UKRAINEFAN
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Was this posted yet? I think it's from today....
Scalma
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Lol more shade throwing at Stotts in here, this time from Ant.
https://theathletic.com/2858217/202...s-backup-point-this-is-the-chance-right-here/
After two days of practices, Anfernee Simons says he can feel it. Heck, it’s more than that, he can see it.
His role on the Trail Blazers is changing.
The fourth-year guard has spent much of his three seasons as a shooting guard, with limited, if not cameo appearances at point guard last season. But this season, new coach Chauncey Billups has been clear that he wants Simons to share the team’s backup point guard spot with CJ McCollum.
“This is the chance, right here,” the 22-year-old told The Athletic. “This is what I’ve been working for, waiting for … this moment. I have to take full advantage of it.”
The Blazers haven’t had a traditional backup point guard since Shabazz Napier in 2018. Instead, McCollum has served admirably running the team while Damian Lillard rests. But on Wednesday, when Billups was asked if he still envisioned McCollum as the team’s primary backup, he was emphatic.
“Nah,” Billups said. “I want CJ and Ant to be playing some backup point guard. A lot of my conversations with (Simons) is about that — him being able to play a lot of backup point guard minutes, you know, running the show.”
What makes this more than just talk is what Simons has experienced in the first two days of practices. He said he has almost exclusively been running the second unit at point guard.
“After two days, I can feel it,” Simons said. “So I get that feeling they are putting me in a position where I can get better and more comfortable at running the point. I feel it after two days of practice that that’s who they want me to be.”
Billups’ vision for the backup point guard is two-fold. One, he thinks Simons is ready for a bigger role than the 17 minutes a game he played last season. Second, he wants to ensure that McCollum and Lillard are playing “efficient” minutes. Lillard and McCollum will still lead the team in minutes, Billups said, but he doesn’t want them playing tired.
Still, he admitted it will be a change for McCollum, who often feasted on second-team point guards.
“It will be a change for CJ … a little bit of an adjustment,” Billups said. “But the way we run a lot of things, the (point guard) and (shooting guard) are pretty much the same. So, say Ant and CJ are in there together, you don’t know who is going to bring it up. Whoever kind of gets it and goes … go hoop and play, you know? So it’s not really a designation like that. We have play-makers out there.”
And that’s what has Simons excited about this opportunity. In his first three seasons, he was more or less limited to being a shooter. Last season, when he did play point guard while McCollum nursed a broken foot, he said he never felt he had the freedom to create. It was more or less direct orders to feed the ball into Carmelo Anthony in the post.
“When I did run plays, it was to get somebody else the ball,” Simons said. “So it didn’t really feel like a point guard, you know what I mean? I wasn’t really treated as such, I was more of a two-guard who came in and ran a play for somebody else. Now, based on the offense and stuff, it’s more predicated on what I want to do. Like, I have more freedom to be aggressive when I can.”
Two of the Blazers’ coaches were NBA point guards — Billups and Scott Brooks — and Simons said they have “been in my ear” about two facets of the position: talking more and getting him to balance his scoring with playmaking.
“You guys know Ant, he’s really quiet. Really quiet,” Billups said. “As a point guard — and I’ve talked to Dame about this, too — you have to be more vocal. You have to use your voice. You have to step outside of yourself sometimes.”
Although Simons is much more talkative than when the Blazers drafted him as a 19-year-old with the 24th pick in the 2018 draft, he understands he has to work on being more forceful.
“I’m trying to find my voice at different times,” Simons said. “Like, I don’t ever envision myself being a chatterbox out there. But when things need to be said, I need to say them, in a respectful but stern way. I feel like I’ve been getting better at it each and every day.”
But perhaps most important is finding the balance between shooting and setting up teammates. He said this summer he worked on his playmaking while several trainers helped create different looks in which he would have to make passing decisions.
“Obviously, they know I can score the ball, and they don’t want to take that away from me,” Simons said. “But right now they are kind of opening up my game and seeing what I can do and grow into becoming.”
Billups thinks Simons is ready to grow into an expanded role after averaging 7.8 points and 1.4 assists while making 42.6 percent of his 3-pointers.
“I think Ant is primed to have a really good year, man,” Billups said. “Because we can use him.”
It’s similar to the speech he delivered to third-year forward Nassir Little, and it has created a feeling of empowerment for the youngsters in the early days of this training camp. A source said Little has been superb in the first two days, and Simons is being thrust into prime point guard moments.
“I’ve been on him, trying to make him a better playmaker,” Billups said. “And guys like him and Nas, who are kind of finding their way, I don’t want them to think that scoring baskets is the only way they are going to stay on the floor. Because that ends up making you shoot a lot of bad shots, take a lot of chances. It’s not going to be (scoring) that keeps you on the floor. Love that, being able to shoot and stuff, but they have to be some of the hardest-playing dudes on the floor. They have to do some of those kinds of things. I think we have a pretty good understanding.”
Indeed, Simons says the message has been delivered, clearly.
“That’s all I want really, a dialogue,” Simons said. “I believe I can do it, and he and the coaching staff have been pushing me to step into that role and be that guy who comes off the bench at plays point guard.”
The chance at a bigger role couldn’t come at a better time for Simons, as he is eligible for a rookie contract extension. A source said the Blazers and Simons’ agent, Bill Duffy, have not yet engaged in discussions, but are expected to closer to the Oct. 18 deadline.
“I don’t know anything about the extension; I’m focused on the season,” Simons said. “I know it’s a big season for me. So I’m not worried about it. My priority is to go out there and play well.”
And from the looks of it, he will have that chance with a new role.
https://theathletic.com/2858217/202...s-backup-point-this-is-the-chance-right-here/
After two days of practices, Anfernee Simons says he can feel it. Heck, it’s more than that, he can see it.
His role on the Trail Blazers is changing.
The fourth-year guard has spent much of his three seasons as a shooting guard, with limited, if not cameo appearances at point guard last season. But this season, new coach Chauncey Billups has been clear that he wants Simons to share the team’s backup point guard spot with CJ McCollum.
“This is the chance, right here,” the 22-year-old told The Athletic. “This is what I’ve been working for, waiting for … this moment. I have to take full advantage of it.”
The Blazers haven’t had a traditional backup point guard since Shabazz Napier in 2018. Instead, McCollum has served admirably running the team while Damian Lillard rests. But on Wednesday, when Billups was asked if he still envisioned McCollum as the team’s primary backup, he was emphatic.
“Nah,” Billups said. “I want CJ and Ant to be playing some backup point guard. A lot of my conversations with (Simons) is about that — him being able to play a lot of backup point guard minutes, you know, running the show.”
What makes this more than just talk is what Simons has experienced in the first two days of practices. He said he has almost exclusively been running the second unit at point guard.
“After two days, I can feel it,” Simons said. “So I get that feeling they are putting me in a position where I can get better and more comfortable at running the point. I feel it after two days of practice that that’s who they want me to be.”
Billups’ vision for the backup point guard is two-fold. One, he thinks Simons is ready for a bigger role than the 17 minutes a game he played last season. Second, he wants to ensure that McCollum and Lillard are playing “efficient” minutes. Lillard and McCollum will still lead the team in minutes, Billups said, but he doesn’t want them playing tired.
Still, he admitted it will be a change for McCollum, who often feasted on second-team point guards.
“It will be a change for CJ … a little bit of an adjustment,” Billups said. “But the way we run a lot of things, the (point guard) and (shooting guard) are pretty much the same. So, say Ant and CJ are in there together, you don’t know who is going to bring it up. Whoever kind of gets it and goes … go hoop and play, you know? So it’s not really a designation like that. We have play-makers out there.”
And that’s what has Simons excited about this opportunity. In his first three seasons, he was more or less limited to being a shooter. Last season, when he did play point guard while McCollum nursed a broken foot, he said he never felt he had the freedom to create. It was more or less direct orders to feed the ball into Carmelo Anthony in the post.
“When I did run plays, it was to get somebody else the ball,” Simons said. “So it didn’t really feel like a point guard, you know what I mean? I wasn’t really treated as such, I was more of a two-guard who came in and ran a play for somebody else. Now, based on the offense and stuff, it’s more predicated on what I want to do. Like, I have more freedom to be aggressive when I can.”
Two of the Blazers’ coaches were NBA point guards — Billups and Scott Brooks — and Simons said they have “been in my ear” about two facets of the position: talking more and getting him to balance his scoring with playmaking.
“You guys know Ant, he’s really quiet. Really quiet,” Billups said. “As a point guard — and I’ve talked to Dame about this, too — you have to be more vocal. You have to use your voice. You have to step outside of yourself sometimes.”
Although Simons is much more talkative than when the Blazers drafted him as a 19-year-old with the 24th pick in the 2018 draft, he understands he has to work on being more forceful.
“I’m trying to find my voice at different times,” Simons said. “Like, I don’t ever envision myself being a chatterbox out there. But when things need to be said, I need to say them, in a respectful but stern way. I feel like I’ve been getting better at it each and every day.”
But perhaps most important is finding the balance between shooting and setting up teammates. He said this summer he worked on his playmaking while several trainers helped create different looks in which he would have to make passing decisions.
“Obviously, they know I can score the ball, and they don’t want to take that away from me,” Simons said. “But right now they are kind of opening up my game and seeing what I can do and grow into becoming.”
Billups thinks Simons is ready to grow into an expanded role after averaging 7.8 points and 1.4 assists while making 42.6 percent of his 3-pointers.
“I think Ant is primed to have a really good year, man,” Billups said. “Because we can use him.”
It’s similar to the speech he delivered to third-year forward Nassir Little, and it has created a feeling of empowerment for the youngsters in the early days of this training camp. A source said Little has been superb in the first two days, and Simons is being thrust into prime point guard moments.
“I’ve been on him, trying to make him a better playmaker,” Billups said. “And guys like him and Nas, who are kind of finding their way, I don’t want them to think that scoring baskets is the only way they are going to stay on the floor. Because that ends up making you shoot a lot of bad shots, take a lot of chances. It’s not going to be (scoring) that keeps you on the floor. Love that, being able to shoot and stuff, but they have to be some of the hardest-playing dudes on the floor. They have to do some of those kinds of things. I think we have a pretty good understanding.”
Indeed, Simons says the message has been delivered, clearly.
“That’s all I want really, a dialogue,” Simons said. “I believe I can do it, and he and the coaching staff have been pushing me to step into that role and be that guy who comes off the bench at plays point guard.”
The chance at a bigger role couldn’t come at a better time for Simons, as he is eligible for a rookie contract extension. A source said the Blazers and Simons’ agent, Bill Duffy, have not yet engaged in discussions, but are expected to closer to the Oct. 18 deadline.
“I don’t know anything about the extension; I’m focused on the season,” Simons said. “I know it’s a big season for me. So I’m not worried about it. My priority is to go out there and play well.”
And from the looks of it, he will have that chance with a new role.
Scalma
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Norman Powell didn’t get playing time? How about Nurk?
THE HCP
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It’s like my daughters club soccer team. The coach is super respected, but as we went to this team from our old team we heard nothing but bad stuff about him. Guys been fantastic. Just realizing that the only people that bitched where the parents and players who didn’t get playing time who played for him previously.
HailBlazers
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Simons, MIP. Book it!
BBert
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It would have been impossible under Stotts. It's possible under Billups (though very unlikely). I feel like Billups will have much more leeway to game plan with different lineups if he chooses. Players will respect him.
THE HCP
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Minor In Possession ?
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Amazing what the difference is when you no longer have a coach who only wants you to basically just "go stand in the corner" and shoot 3's or pass the ball off to a black hole.
Stotts was so horrible for the development of younger players, it's not even funny. Not saying Billups will be an all time great, but it sounds like he's going to put players in positions where they can suceed, instead of just shoot 3's.
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with the exception of Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, LeBron and the Greek Freak, (which are all almost unstoppable no matter who you have), where is the height in the league that is so frightening?
Forgot Joker.
5 players, of which 2 are on the same team, and another two they only see twice each...
illmatic99
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this isn't even remotely close lol
Scalma
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you may as well have been talking about Powell in the first sentence, so it’s not even just the young players he fucks over. It’s everyone not named Dame and CJ. We’ll see how things work with Billups, but it at least feels like a step in the right direction.
wizenheimer
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and one of the supposed 6'9 players was measured as 6'7.25 just a few months ago; and the other 6'9 player might not even make the team
riverman
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but at least our bigs can walk unlike the last two seasons when we had two 7ft towel wavers...in boots
illmatic99
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It's still a competitive disadvantage to have a SF who is 6'3. We saw as much in our series a few months back. While most teams don't have scorers at SF, they use their SFs to swing to defend scoring guards with their length and athleticism.
It's why I have been harping on Simmons.
We have no one who can even have a chance at checking guys like: Luka/Klay/Mitchell/George/Booker/Kawhi/Ingram/etc
I'm sure Chauncey can hide Powell in the regular season with playing rotations and matching up different lineups, but it's a problem in the playoffs when your best players all have to play more and together. If CJ isn't traded by the deadline for a wing, I'm guessing we move Powell for one. We better...
It's why I have been harping on Simmons.
We have no one who can even have a chance at checking guys like: Luka/Klay/Mitchell/George/Booker/Kawhi/Ingram/etc
I'm sure Chauncey can hide Powell in the regular season with playing rotations and matching up different lineups, but it's a problem in the playoffs when your best players all have to play more and together. If CJ isn't traded by the deadline for a wing, I'm guessing we move Powell for one. We better...
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Id rather they have a taller SF, but shitty team defensive schemes is what killed the team, not their height.
Wait, are you including Donovan Mitchell?
he's 6'1"...
wizenheimer
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tempting karma considering the two Blazer bigs have combined to miss 200 games over the last 3 seasons. That's like 67 games a year....yikes! Fortunately, Nance has only missed 70 games in the last 3 seasons...much better
illmatic99
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didn't help.
Every western team has at least 1 LONG defensive wing who they can stick on opposing perimeter scorers. Roco is a great help defender but is fairly average on the ball.
Utah-- O'Neale/Ingles (was surprisingly a good defender)
Phoenix-- Bridges/Crowder
Denver -- Gordon/Green
Clippers -- George/Batum/Kawhi
Dallas -- Finney Smith/Ntilikina
POR -- ?? Roco ??
Lakers --Ariza/Bazemore
Memphis -- Brooks
GSW -- Klay/Wiggins/Porter/Iggy
Spurs -- Johnson/ Aminu
Our best hope as is is for Nas to assume this role because only Roco ain't gonna cut it.
illmatic99
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think this is oversimplifying it. other teams have guys who can stop PGs/SGs. we don't. most starting wings are above average, versatile defenders.
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it's like larry nance doesn't exist.
illmatic99
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you expect him to guard perimeter scorers like Luka and Mitchell? what?
SharpesTriumph
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You expect 38 year old Ariza and Iggy to?
illmatic99
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sure, let's pick two guys out of like the 20 guys i listed to make a point.
what is the argument here? that Powell is going to lock guys down, or that we simply don't need one? Our coach literally said "it's going to get difficult" to play a 3 guard lineup in the playoffs today.
SharpesTriumph
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Aminu Bazemore.