Game Thread 2023-24 Game #22 - BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - DECEMBER 11, 2023 - MONDAY - 7:30 PM PST - ROOT

[blazerfan11]

After Sharpe hit the mid-range shot with 3:32 left in the game to make it 121-120 Blazers, this was the Blazer offense:

2:58 Anfernee Simons. Anfernee Simons misses driving floating jump shot
2:30 Anfernee Simons Anfernee Simons misses driving layup
2:00 Anfernee Simons Anfernee Simons makes driving layup
1:15 Anfernee Simons. Anfernee Simons bad pass (Kawhi Leonard steals)
0:21 Anfernee Simons Anfernee Simons out of bounds lost ball turnover

 

[riverman]

Chauncey is now 1-8 vs his mentor Ty Lue

 

[Whyachi]

Zubac got post game victory interview. He said Blazers are a young team, they're trying to prove themselves in the league. Clippers had to lock in and stay focused.

 

[TYDame]

The ball should be with Shaedon and Ant should be running off screens, cmon Chauncey

 

[Tince]

I made the controversial statement last game, and I'll say it again tonight

Sharpe and Ant both played very well!

 

[Chris Craig]

Zubac got post game victory interview. He said Blazers are a young team, they're trying to prove themselves in the league. Clippers had to lock in and stay focused.

Lol

The refs bailed their asses out

 

[MickZagger]

Oh man... there were theories that Sharpe was getting iced out last year, as a rookie. It's been an ongoing thing.

I noticed several times late in the 4th in this game while Simons was dribbling the air out of the ball, Sharpe was on the wing, hands ready, only for Simons to force one, after another

Simons is a good scorer no doubt. My issue with him is it’s obvious he’s only looking to pass as an absolute last resort. Usually passing into a turnover when he actually does pass.

Not really hard to defend a player like that

 

[HailBlazers]

Sucks that several good offensive performances are going to go to waste again, but was impressed with how they stayed in another game short-handed.

Improving our lotto odds is not a waste.

 

[Chris Craig]

I made the controversial statement last game, and I'll say it again tonight

Sharpe and Ant both played very well!

Yes, they do.

We need to get Ayton, Grant, and Malcolm back and stay fucking healthy for once in this franchises fucking history.

 

[Tince]

I noticed several times late in the 4th in this game while Simons was dribbling the air out of the ball, Sharpe was on the wing, hands ready, only for Simons to force one, after another

Simons is a good scorer no doubt. My issue with him is it’s obvious he’s only looking to pass as an absolute last resort. Usually passing into a turnover when he actually does pass.

Not really hard to defend a player like that

Oh, I have no doubt Sharpe would shoot if his defender were to help of and he gets a wide open shot.

And Ant turned down a layup late in order to force a pass to Sharpe; so he certaintly wasn't passing as a last resort that time.

I'll agree he's looking to shoot first. He might be the only healthy guy on the roster willing to do that right now.

 

[wizenheimer]

I agree with those saying too much Simons 1-on-1 in the 4th Q. 2nd time it's happened. He was more successful at it tonight than against the Warriors because he got to the line, but the primary impact is that it completely freezes Sharpe out of the offense, and the Blazers need him to be a threat

that game will help Portland's offensive rating and hurt the defensive rating

Brown had 12 rebounds, which was important, but he has to be a league leader in doofus

Scoot finally played like the player we were hoping he was

 

[blazerkor]

I love that this team just keeps trying. I really like Ant but he has to become a better distributor or he'll have to play with a big distributor like Malcolm. I also thought the first half of this game was the best sustained play we've seen out of Scoot to this point.

 

[Whyachi]

Made the LAC worry down the stretch. Ex. game. Zero regrets.

Clippers were stressed out. LAC up 50 million in team salary and down by 1 point.

 

[MickZagger]

Oh, I have no doubt Sharpe would shoot if his defender were to help of and he gets a wide open shot.

And Ant turned down a layup late in order to force a pass to Sharpe; so he certaintly wasn't passing as a last resort this time.

I'll agree he's looking to shoot first. He might be the only healthy guy on the roster willing to do that right now.

that wasn’t a layup. They clogged the paint cutting off his path to the hoop and he forced a bad pass as a result. After consecutive iso drives by Simon’s

 

[HailBlazers]

Chauncey is now 1-8 vs his mentor Ty Lue

Having rhe Clips on the ropes without three of our best players is a win in my book.

 

[Tince]

that wasn’t a layup. They clogged the paint cutting off his path to the hoop and he forced a bad pass as a result. After consecutive iso drives by Simon’s

Ant could've easily got off that floater/layup he's made many times before. Hurd said the same thing during the broadcast if you go back and listen.

1.65pts/attempt for Ant while getting the Clippers best defender. Elite stuff.

 

[Whyachi]

Moses Brown had 12 rebounds off the bench. That's windex level glass cleaning

 

[illmatic99]

footwork on this is unreal



he also just glides

 

[noknobs]

Improving our lotto odds is not a waste.

I'm talking about the offense, you're talking about the defense.

 

[Tince]

Chauncey is now 1-8 vs his mentor Ty Lue

And Lue had the better team all 9 times.

Billups +1 on Coach Effect metric!

 

[Chris Craig]

Having rhe Clips on the ropes without three of our best players is a win in my book.

Yes, again they should be embarrassed. We have those three players and this is likely a win.

 

[BankTeller]

I love that this team just keeps trying. I really like Ant but he has to become a better distributor or he'll have to play with a big distributor like Malcolm. I also thought the first half of this game was the best sustained play we've seen out of Scoot to this point.

Part of it is the players around home. In the Mavs game, there was more than a couple possessions where Ant passed to Walker out of a double team and Walker had no idea what to do with it. Some of it also came down to guys not hitting their shots. He had two passes to Reath where he didn’t convert. Had he made both baskets, Ant would have 6 assists, around the apg mark that I expect from him till the end of the season.

 

[blazerkor]

Part of it is the players around home. In the Mavs game, there was more than a couple possessions where Ant passed to Walker out of a double team and Walker had no idea what to do with it. Some of it also came down to guys not hitting their shots. He had two passes to Reath where he didn’t convert. Had he made both baskets, Ant would have 6 assists, around the apg mark that I expect from him till the end of the season.

Yeah the Clippers obviously knew that our only two guys who could score were Ant and Shae so they ball denied Shae and forced Ant to go one on two or three. I guess that was a bit of an unfair critique of Ant. I just think Shae is already the better scorer and he does more quality passing than Ant does.

 

[Tince]

Glad to see Dickau employed by the Blazers after everything that happened.

 

[wizenheimer]

Yes, again they should be embarrassed. We have those three players and this is likely a win.

maybe, but I've watched enough NBA to know that's often not the case. Having other players changes the nature of the game. Maybe Grant & Brogdon would have combined for 2-15 on three's while committing 8 turnovers; maybe Ayton would have been in foul trouble or been a non-factor as he has in several games

 

[Natebishop3]

We are sorely lacking Ayton's rebounding.

 

[Natebishop3]

footwork on this is unreal



he also just glides

He got away with the Harden travel

 

[BankTeller]

I guess that was a bit of an unfair critique of Ant. I just think Shae is already the better scorer and he does more quality passing than Ant does.

I’ll give that to you, that Shae looks like a better quality passer than Ant, I’m not blind to what I see. But I also don’t see that as a critique of Ant though, that’s really a testament to Shae’s development as a player. Who thought Shae was going to be able to do all this?

Part of it is going to be on Shae to make it be known he wants the ball in the clutch. Dame had to actually ask for the ball in timeouts before he was given any opportunities to win the game.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Ant can be great, but he needs to learn how to play team ball and bring the best out of his teammates. Sharpe is absolutely that guy and this was Scoot's best game. This three-headed monster can be great if Ant learns how to share the ball more.

 

[Idog1976]

I’ll give that to you, that Shae looks like a better quality passer than Ant, I’m not blind to what I see. But I also don’t see that as a critique of Ant though, that’s really a testament to Shae’s development as a player. Who thought Shae was going to be able to do all this?

Part of it is going to be on Shae to make it be known he wants the ball in the clutch. Dame had to actually ask for the ball in timeouts before he was given any opportunities to win the game.

I knew Sharpe was gonna be a Superstar since we drafted him. I could just see it way back then due to highlight reels. He had it all, skills, body control, quickness and insane athleticism. All he lacked was a handle which he is now developing and he's improving at everything. He's going to be a Superstar, not an All-Star a top 10 guy in the league and he has the tools to be MVP level talent. I'm not saying he will reach that and look at the league right now it's unreal stacked and talented. That said, I think Sharpe has no ceiling. Legit unlimited potential.