Game Thread 2022-23 Game #23 BLAZERS @ JAZZ - DECEMBER 3, 2022 - 6:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

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Who's the better Ant?

Simons: 24.8 pts, 4.5 asts, 3.0 rebs, 43.9 % FG, 39.1% 3pt, 89.3% FT, 59% TS in 37.2mpg

Edwards: 23.0 pts, 3.8 asts, 5.6 rebs, 46.2% FG, 34.5% 3pt, 76.1% FT, 56% TS in 36.5 mpg

Ant is averaging Dame-like stats in his absence. This needs more attention.
 
OneSport3 said:
I hate to be crude, but Ant is doing things that only All-Stars in this league are doing yet there are dumbass Blazers fans that continually doubt him and want to sell high on him. Just confounding.



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and it's coming with consistency while facing defenses that are constantly trapping/doubling him.

but ya know we can't get too hyped about a guy deliberately freezing out Shaedon. smh
 
bobf said:
Yeah, but what about Ant’s dramatic drop-off in 3 point shooting this year that you keep talking about every game? Oh, and we won this game.
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Great defense at the end but he sucked in the 4th. Back to back incredibly dumb turnovers, and only 2 pts scored. He’s a nice player but hopefully we don’t hold onto him long like we did Cj..
 
AldoTrapani said:
Great defense at the end but he sucked in the 4th. Back to back incredibly dumb turnovers, and only 2 pts scored. He’s a nice player but hopefully we don’t hold onto him long like we did Cj..
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You’re cherry-picking. Ant was getting more defensive attention after his 1st half barrage and every player has bad stretches.

Ant is fairly comparable to Dame at age 23. Slightly worse overall but is a much better 3 pt shooter and waaaaaay better mid-range shooter than Dame.

Ant’s biggest problem has been his inability to aggressively finish at the rim, thus drawing fouls and drawing in the defense to open up passing opportunities.

The good news is Ant is improving in that area. He’s getting more FGA at the rim and getting fouled more often. If he could finish like Dame he’d be better than Dame at age 23.
 
this was the third time in the last few games that simons drove to the basket with game on the line and got blocked

he should realize that hes a midget (in bball terms) and that doing that in the clutch time is a very stupid idea
 
Idog1976 said:
Was it perhaps when Ant scored 72346 points in 10 minutes on breath taking shooting? Probably.
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a) Probably not, because Ant was doing most of that in the first quarter.
b) You know who was on the court 100% of the time Ant was? Ant! And yet his +/- is lower.
c) I'm not just looking at this game (because, yes of course single-game scores don't reveal much at all of a player's impact on a team) but Walker has CONSISTENTLY had the highest +/- on the team, and we saw that glaringly in SL as well.
 
crandc said:
Yes!
This is a very good day.
My house is cleaned.
Local Nutcracker returned after two years absence due to Covid.
It rained all day. Not only does the state need rain, I planted spring bulbs and winter vegetables Monday and they need rain to grow.
Harvested broccolini and made a great shrimp, broccolini and basil stir fry.
Blazers won.
Lucia is purring.
I ate a piece of chocolate.
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bobf said:
You’re cherry-picking. Ant was getting more defensive attention after his 1st half barrage and every player has bad stretches.

Ant is fairly comparable to Dame at age 23. Slightly worse overall but is a much better 3 pt shooter and waaaaaay better mid-range shooter than Dame.

Ant’s biggest problem has been his inability to aggressively finish at the rim, thus drawing fouls and drawing in the defense to open up passing opportunities.

The good news is Ant is improving in that area. He’s getting more FGA at the rim and getting fouled more often. If he could finish like Dame he’d be better than Dame at age 23.
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I could be wrong but I remember Dame struggling early in his career at finishing in the lane. Ants baby hook and tear drops are amazing kid has great touch. His turnovers drive me crazy but that should improve
 
AngryFan said:
Great win!

If anyone has a petition to ban the troll I’d love to sign. I mostly lurk and they are single handily making the experience terrible.
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It drifts from comical to maddening.
 
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Mr. Robot said:
this was the third time in the last few games that simons drove to the basket with game on the line and got blocked

he should realize that hes a midget (in bball terms) and that doing that in the clutch time is a very stupid idea
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That is a tough one. He is an excellent FT shooter so attacking the basket with the game on the line is not all that stupid. Watching the replay Grant gave him a high screen to get past Clarkson, he then beat Vanderbilt who had come over to help, but Lauri came in and timed the block perfectly. I am not so sure that settling for a jump shot at that point would have been any "smarter". I think it was just really good D.
 
Pinwheel1 said:
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That is a tough one. He is an excellent FT shooter so attacking the basket with the game on the line is not all that stupid. Watching the replay Grant gave him a high screen to get past Clarkson, he then beat Vanderbilt who had come over to help, but Lauri came in and timed the block perfectly. I am not so sure that settling for a jump shot at that point would have been any "smarter". I think it was just really good D.
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He also had his game winner on Bridges earlier this year on a drive and hook. I like him going to the basket on those situations. Just needs to get some respect from refs
 
illmatic99 said:
He also had his game winner on Bridges earlier this year on a drive and hook. I like him going to the basket on those situations. Just needs to get some respect from refs
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I think that in most cases the hook and/or floater might be the better option as they are tougher to block, but last night it was kind of a bang-bang play and Lauri just made the better play. Thankfully Lauri also fucked up a few moments later when he threw the ball away.
 
illimatic may think I'm one of those Simons-haters because of a comment in the Brooklyn game thread....

but I've been a pretty strong advocate for giving the Dame/Ant combo at least a year to see if it works. I understand there are some valid concerns that Dame/Ant will just be a reboot of the failed Dame/CJ pairing. But I've been saying that Ant is not the same player as CJ. Yeah, sometimes Ant goes a little too much MeJ in his dribble motions, but it's not that often. Ant just seems to make quicker decisions to attack or pass using much less shot clock than CJ typically did

and, as mentioned, Simons seems to be making a concerted effort lately to attack the paint and do so without shying away from contact. Mid-November his FT rate was around .170. It's now .206. If he can continue to elevate that mark, he'll be more effective than CJ ever was. In other words there are enough differences between Ant and CJ that the worries about a Dame/CJ reboot should be mitigated; at least for now
 
wizenheimer said:
illimatic may think I'm one of those Simons-haters because of a comment in the Brooklyn game thread....

but I've been a pretty strong advocate for giving the Dame/Ant combo at least a year to see if it works. I understand there are some valid concerns that Dame/Ant will just be a reboot of the failed Dame/CJ pairing. But I've been saying that Ant is not the same player as CJ. Yeah, sometimes Ant goes a little too much MeJ in his dribble motions, but it's not that often. Ant just seems to make quicker decisions to attack or pass using much less shot clock than CJ typically did

and, as mentioned, Simons seems to be making a concerted effort lately to attack the paint and do so without shying away from contact. Mid-November his FT rate was around .170. It's now .206. If he can continue to elevate that mark, he'll be more effective than CJ ever was. In other words there are enough differences between Ant and CJ that the worries about a Dame/CJ reboot should be mitigated; at least for now
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I also think Ant tries more on defense
 
Pinwheel1 said:
.That is a tough one. He is an excellent FT shooter so attacking the basket with the game on the line is not all that stupid. Watching the replay Grant gave him a high screen to get past Clarkson, he then beat Vanderbilt who had come over to help, but Lauri came in and timed the block perfectly. I am not so sure that settling for a jump shot at that point would have been any "smarter". I think it was just really good D.
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i very much prefer simons taking a jump shot or if we want our player to drive to the basket for a dunk/layup and/or drawing a foul, give the ball to grant, not dame or simons
 
wizenheimer said:
illimatic may think I'm one of those Simons-haters because of a comment in the Brooklyn game thread....
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Haven't you been criticizing Ant all yr since he signed his contract? It's hardly just the Brooklyn game.

Bottom line we have a 23yr old efficient 25 ppg scorer who is our 2nd or 3rd option. And his contract is a steal for his production.
 
SIeepwalker said:
I also think Ant tries more on defense
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he definitely needs to improve on that end.

trying more is a start but he's still targeted so frequently that it might be a serious liability in games that matter. the clippers were relentless last week in putting him in actions.

that, and his playmaking. but the improvements are probably enough for me to put him on our untouchable list (unless top players are available).
 
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