Game Thread 2022-23 Game #1 - BLAZERS @ KINGS - OCTOBER 19, 2022 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

[1 Eye Jack]

for Portland to have a shot at the playoffs they will need a best version of Dame; not some lesser diluted version that gets frozen out of possessions too often

or you need other players to make significant jumps. Ant and Sharpe both have that potential. Other option is defense improves dramatically. I really really like our late defense and that was without GP.

 

[wizenheimer]

Maybe not with some average NBA player, but this is one of the best 3-pt shooters in the NBA. I expect better than 1-8 almost every night. That’s not far from 10% shooting.

3-13
1-6
3-14
5-17
3-15
1-10
1-9
1-13
2-10
1-8
1-7
1-6
0-9
2-10
2-10
1-7
1-10
2-9
5-20
1-11
1-8
2-11
3-12
2-14
3-13
1-11

those were Stephen Curry 3 point shooting games the last couple of seasons; and we know he's the greatest 3 point shooter of all time with a much higher assisted FG rate on his three's than Dame

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Honestly, yeah.

You can call him a 32-year-old who hasn’t played a regular season game in 9+ months.

But he’s also an all-star and one of the best players in the NBA. So yeah, fully. His poor performance last year was chalked up to his abdominal injury which was supposed to be taken care of.

Maybe not with some average NBA player, but this is one of the best 3-pt shooters in the NBA. I expect better than 1-8 almost every night. That’s not far from 10% shooting.

He looked like he lost some of his speed hopefully it was just early season game. I’ve been saying for a while his weakness is his ball handling, I think Ant is better ball handler at this point in Dames career and based on last few possessions I think Billups thinks the same thing.

 

[Haakzilla]

 

[PCmor7]

we know he's the greatest 3 point shooter of all time with a much higher assisted FG rate on his tree's than Dame

I don't think we need to bring horticulture into this.

 

[HailBlazers]

Everyone? I thought Ant was fantastic last night. Showed real playmaking chops that is what will differentiate him from being called CJ 2.0.

Like... that drive and crosscourt kick to Shaedon for his first shot was a thing of beauty.

Ill add. My early eye test sees Ant eclipsing CJ as a defender (not hard I know).

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Ill add. My early eye test sees Ant eclipsing CJ as a defender (not hard I know).

i saw that too. Legit.

 

[Eastoff]

How many games can Dame go 1-8 from 3 before we start getting concerned?

10 games

 

[illmatic99]

when was the last time dame made a hit-ahead pass to a wing while up by 2 points and 22 seconds left on the clock?

you know he's normally gonna pound the ball to milk the clock and then jack up a step back, or simply wait to get fouled. Dame succeeds in that role aa lot, but still the pass to Hart was a sign of Dame improving for the better so that we can get easier scores.

(also... that said, if Hart woulda missed that layup, there woulda been hell to pay given the time and score as he coulda simply waited to get fouled. quite a bold attempt by him but shows his confidence.)

 

[PCmor7]

I like Hart's game so much more than Norm Powell's and I don't mean that as a slight to Norm, but I think a lot of teams have slept on Josh Hart, who is so versatile and also just comes off as a great teammate and someone who brings a good vibe with him.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Offensively, pretty good although some plays the Kings were completely leaving Winslow to trap anyone else.
On defense, it's 3-on-5.

So you're riding with the false narrative that Ant can't play defense ?

 

[THE HCP]

I think HCP might be right. Sharpe won't be a player this year.

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

 

[julius]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

You mean the Brandon Jennings who a: was 6'1" b: made all rookie team, c: scored in double figures for the first 25 out of 26 games? And d: was a solid pro the first 6 years of his career?


*That's* the argument you're making?

 

[THE HCP]

Blazers offense looks like shit. No motion and no ball movement. Just stand around and wait for Dame to do something.

Was this team better when Dame was injured and guys like Simons/Nurk/Hart all shared in the offense?

It's easy to figure out....go google the team's record during that time FAMS.

 

[andalusian]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

Brandon Jennings was small and light for an NBA player, he was no athletic specimen and his game, for all practical purposes, iirc, was being super fast with the ball, nothing else that looked like a real NBA player at the time. He still became a first-team rookie.

I am going to say that while I am sure Sharpe will have his issues in the league as part of the growth and learning the league, his athletic ability and what we have already seen with his ability to play within half court with turn around buckets and step backs - there is a lot more to his game than just one skill. He is not a Greg Brown that can jump like crazy but seemed lost for most of last year. He already seems to have much more skill and much better awareness. I think it is very likely that he will see 15-20 minutes per game on average by the end of the year. He seems to have the pace and skill and does not seem to just have a spot because of his athletic ability.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

Yeah, he will have his ups and downs this year for sure. He will need to adjust and he will hit the rookie wall at some point. Having said that his skill set and athleticism will be hard to stop even if they know it is coming.

Just give him his 18 minutes a game and let him continue to develop.

 

[THE HCP]

Jabari Walker might be better for the team than Grant.

.....

 

[blazerfan11]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

How do you "figure out" a player standing in the corner shooting threes?

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Someone save this for the stretch of this season when Damian has a hot stretch and Eric all the sudden forgets he suggested such an asinine thing.

My statement had nothing to do with how great Dame plays.

 

[Strenuus]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

Truth.

The BIGGEST hurdle for professional athletes when they get to the highest level: the adjustments after being scouted. Its why I don't get hyped for any short term success from a rookie (good to great numbers in the first month) because the next two months they will have a playbook on how to attack them (and defend them). If it's an entire season of success that's different (different sport, but look at Julio from Seattle Mariners).

So I'll be excited for him months down the road if he is still good, like I did with Julio. When we see how he adjusts to what scouts find. Julio had an entire season of success (minus April).

 

[TBpup]

That seems easy to adjust to if that is true. Winslow has good handles for a PF and will attack the basket. Plus he tends to hang out around the basket. Let them leave him alone.

As for 3-on-5 defense...so you are agreeing that it is an improvement over the 1-on-5 defense from previous years?
Bottom line is that unit can outscore a lot of lineups down the stretch when most games are decided. You have 4 good ball handlers and 4 good free-throw shooters. Plus you can always substitute defense for offense in the last minute when needed.

Coaches can sub out their poor defenders....but most times don't do it when it is their 'stars'.

So you're riding with the false narrative that Ant can't play defense ?

Don't see anywhere that I said anything like that. Ant can play defense. It's just not very good most of the time.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

..then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick.

I think you are right here but there were some other things that cannot be scouted. He hit contested looks from three. He played defense pretty well. He is very athletic and moves well without the ball.
The thing that will get scouted is his handles. He will have to work very hard on that issue. They will pick him clean when they get the scouting report.

 

[Labinot41]

Did you honestly expect a 32-year-old who hadn't played in a regular season game in 9+ months to come out in mid-season form in game 1?

yes

 

[Pinwheel1]

Coaches can sub out their poor defenders....but most times don't do it when it is their 'stars'..

Yes, this is unfortunately true. However in the last minute of a game when there are a lot of timeouts you see it with star players who are in foul trouble. They know they are going back in on offense so it makes it easier to do.

Regardless I was saying it in response to your 3/5ths remark. The Blazer can increase it from 60% good defenders to 80% by simply putting in Gp2 for Ant when they are on defense in that scenario. (Although I think Simons has gotten much better) Or if they need a rim protector put Nurk back in for him. The only downside is neither are reliable free throw shooters.

 

[tykendo]

That was a fun game. Josh, Jeremy, and Justice are junk yard dogs. Go Blazers!

 

[Labinot41]

Btw what happened to @Scalma ? Is he not here anymore?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Btw what happened to @Scalma ? Is he not here anymore?

Apparently hasn't been on the forum since 10/3

 

[Tince]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

I think your point that you can't measure a player until they've truly been scouted, then if they appear to be great, are they the #1 priority on the opponents scout.

I'm not confident in saying he'll be Brandon Jennings anymore than I'm confident saying he'l be an all-star.

 

[illmatic99]

that help by Hart really created this defensive possession, but winslow was impressive

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Google Brandon Jennings and his first NBA game.....then look at how the scouts decided to actually scout him. Teams will figure this kid out quick. Thats my prediction. The other teams don't even have a report on him yet. The law of averages always catch up son.

Jennings averaged 16ppg and 7apg in his rookie year. I guess the scouts didn’t figure him out. If Sharpe did that, it’d be amazing.

For some reason, you hate Sharpe which means you really don’t know the game of basketball. Sharpe is clearly the most talented player on the team. It’s obvious to people who know the game. He’s going to help us win games and that’s what truly matters. Esp on the defensive end which scouts can’t do anything about. Simply put, Sharpe is our best SG since Drexler.