Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #27 - BLAZERS VS WIZARDS - DECEMBER 21, 2023 - 7:00 PM PST - ROOT

[blazerfan11]

Three out of those five can’t shoot the three with any consistency. That’s not great. Grant, for all his faults, is a great corner three point shooter.

I'd still give it a try this season to see how they work together. Walker and Camara can both hit 3-pointers, just not consistently, like you said.

however the starting unit now consistently lacks energy and Grant's 3-point shooting isn't making up for it.

 

[B-Roy]

I don’t think we have a single win without Scoot in the lineup. Scoot hasn’t been playing when Simons is ice cold in the first half. We are giving up big leads and then having to dig out of it. Often Scoot is part of the unit that makes a run.

k

 

[blazerfan11]

I don’t think we have a single win without Scoot in the lineup. Scoot hasn’t been playing when Simons is ice cold in the first half. We are giving up big leads and then having to dig out of it. Often Scoot is part of the unit that makes a run.

Scoot being too energetic might actually wake up the starting unit at the beginning of the game. He might come deliver the ball to you personally like he did with Ayton.

Billups said he wanted more energy in the starting unit. So he went with Brogdon of course. Who did nothing to push the starters.

The obvious choices were Scoot or Thybulle.

The season's going down the toilet anyway, so starting Brogdon is just a lose- then usually lose again proposition.

 

[Natebishop3]

k

Stick to bashing on Ayton. It’s your strength.

 

[OneSport3]

 

[Tince]

Kinda sounds that way...

Question - what was the idea on the last play? Was that a look similar to what we saw the other night with Ant coming off, or were you looking for JG for a 4 on 4?

Billups - No, it was the same play we just ran before that when Ant got the dunk coming down hill. Several options on the play and Jerami just caught it and just kinda went 1 on 1 which I've got to live with that. He's one of our best players, he's a great one on one player, but the only thing I will say is I wish he would have went a little sooner, just in case he missed it we would have had a chance at a tip back. It took a little too long to get there."

A few thoughts on this:

1. This is the problem drawing up late game plays that involve multiple options and/or starting the ball away from your #1 option: This opens up the possibility of one of your lesser players or the opposing teams defense to dictate who does or doesn't get the ball.
2. If you are running the same play you just ran and it does involve a pass, you'd have to anticipate being forced to go to another option. In this case, that would mean Ant was unlikely to get the shot since he got it the previous play
3. The play with 12.1 seconds left worked to get Ant an easy dunk because Washington was defending to prevent the 3 and was ok giving up a 2. The play with 5.9 seconds left was going to be defended differently because now Washington couldn't give up any score AND they were likely to be more prepared for the action because they just saw it.

I know some people hate ISO's, but getting the ball to Ant at 35ft, letting him drive, and either get a 1 on 1 or forcing help just makes way more sense to me.

 

[OneSport3]

Dude on the right: Considered a rising star in the league and having a breakout, All-NBA type season.

Dude on the left: There are actual Blazers fans that want to trade him and “can’t stand him”

 

[blazerfan11]

A few thoughts on this:

1. This is the problem drawing up late game plays that involve multiple options and/or starting the ball away from your #1 option: This opens up the possibility of one of your lesser players or the opposing teams defense to dictate who does or doesn't get the ball.
2. If you are running the same play you just ran and it does involve a pass, you'd have to anticipate being forced to go to another option. In this case, that would mean Ant was unlikely to get the shot since he got it the previous play
3. The play with 12.1 seconds left worked to get Ant an easy dunk because Washington was defending to prevent the 3 and was ok giving up a 2. The play with 5.9 seconds left was going to be defended differently because now Washington couldn't give up any score AND they were likely to be more prepared for the action because they just saw it.

I know some people hate ISO's, but getting the ball to Ant at 35ft, letting him drive, and either get a 1 on 1 or forcing help just makes way more sense to me.

Simons's floaters are very good. For the one below, he had the ball from full court all by himself. He dribbled calmly to the left past Ayton picking his man, then dribbled right to this spot where he drained the shot.

This is the shot that I think works best in that situation where you're tied or behind by 1 point, and Simons is the guy to do it.

 

[CJ_is_Gone]

I think he defends really well on the perimeter and is very switchable, he's also a good weak side shot blocker. Jerami does a ton of winning things... he definitely shouldn't be the guy you go to if you want him to get you 8-10 boards every game. Some solid third option scoring and defense... that's what Jerami is good for and hopefully some team wants that bad enough that we get some good value for him.

I cant see how anyone can watch Grant closely and think that he's a good defender... he's mediocre at best.

 

[Tince]

Simons's floaters are very good. For the one below, he had the ball from full court all by himself. He dribbled calmly to the left past Ayton picking his man, then dribbled right to this spot where he drained the shot.

This is the shot that I think works best in that situation where you're tied or behind by 1 point, and Simons is the guy to do it.


View attachment 61050

I agree... all the more reason to just get him the ball right away and let him go to work. Skip all the ball/player movement junk and get the right players on the floor with proper spacing and let your best player attack.

 

[BBert]

For everyone Scoot bashing right now. The dude is obviously incredibly inconsistent right now but we aren't trying to win shit this season so keep getting the young guy reps so if he has it in him, he can develop his game.

I believe Scoot will force Ayton to be a better, more engaged player.

 

[BBert]

I would’ve gone to Ayton personally. We only need 2 points and he’s the most skilled big man on the floor.

I wanted a drive then lob to Ayton.

 

[BBert]

Sounds like Billups didn't draw it up that way. Grant just decided to go ISO.

He missed his bank shot by a foot and a half. SMH

 

[BBert]

Simons should've made that layup in the first place.

And Ayton missed one and two tips at the rim on the same shot right before that.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree... all the more reason to just get him the ball right away and let him go to work. Skip all the ball/player movement junk and get the right players on the floor with proper spacing and let your best player attack.

To an extent. It's also good to give him lanes to attack by shifting the defense before he gets the ball and not letting the defense set up their help before his drives.

 

[BonesJones]

Sounds like Billups didn't draw it up that way. Grant just decided to go ISO.

2nd time in 3 games a veteran player has done the opposite of what Chauncey wanted them to do in the final seconds.

 

[BonesJones]

Chauncey taking a bunch of the blame on himself. Saying he needs to be better at getting the team prepared.

Would be happy with his self-accountability if he was improving in this regard.

 

[BonesJones]

Maybe they're average separately, but collectively they're way below average.

That group just got punked by a 4-win team in their home stadium.

Yup. Ayton and Grant do not fit together at all. Blazers give up way too much of a physicality edge at those two positions and neither does the dirty work/little things and Ayton doesnt control the defensive glass well enough to cover for Grant.

 

[blazerfan11]

I wanted a drive then lob to Ayton.

That would have been beautiful. I think Brogdon would be the guy to execute that play.
Put him where Grant was when he got the ball, and do the same thing Grant did to make the defense completely ignore what was going on behind them.

 

[PDXFonz]

“We’re number 26!” Doesn’t have the same sound to it as “we’re number 1!”

 

[kjironman1]

Would be happy with his self-accountability if he was improving in this regard.

Improvement comes slow sometimes. Certainly agree with you I would like it to happen faster.
I also liked some of his statements about emotions after the game. Going in the locker room and saying something he can't take back. He mentioned specifically he was not happy at all. He has said many times he doesn't like being a counter punching team. This team needs that "heart and soul" player. Every winning team has that guy. Who's it gonna be for the Blazers?

 

[MickZagger]

One is not like the others though

 

[beast blazer]

The stats make it obvious what the Blazers problem is. Inefficient offense. And Scoot is one of the main players contributing to that. Camara and Scoot in particular, but Sharpe and Brogdon are also culprits.

In fact, the difference between the Blazers offensive and defensive rating (-6.4) can be accounted for entirely by these 4 players.

If you look at total points lost per game because of these 4 not reaching league average in TS%, it comes out to 6.4 exactly . People over analyze a lot and lose sight of the fact that the object of the game is to put the ball through the hoop.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I thought we were supposed to lose games.

 

[stampedehero]

The sad news: Wizards 118-117 Trail Blazers (Dec 21, 2023) Box Score - ESPN

 

[beast blazer]

I thought we were supposed to lose games.

Except this year, we're not trying.

 

[B-Roy]

The stats make it obvious what the Blazers problem is. Inefficient offense. And Scoot is one of the main players contributing to that. Camara and Scoot in particular, but Sharpe and Brogdon are also culprits.

In fact, the difference between the Blazers offensive and defensive rating (-6.4) can be accounted for entirely by these 4 players.

If you look at total points lost per game because of these 4 not reaching league average in TS%, it comes out to 6.4 exactly . People over analyze a lot and lose sight of the fact that the object of the game is to put the ball through the hoop.

View attachment 61052

Uh oh, don’t let folks read this.

Obviously there’s a reason some players are force fed development minutes, but no reason to rush them into roles they aren’t ready for.

 

[wizenheimer]

The stats make it obvious what the Blazers problem is. Inefficient offense. And Scoot is one of the main players contributing to that. Camara and Scoot in particular, but Sharpe and Brogdon are also culprits.

In fact, the difference between the Blazers offensive and defensive rating (-6.4) can be accounted for entirely by these 4 players.

If you look at total points lost per game because of these 4 not reaching league average in TS%, it comes out to 6.4 exactly . People over analyze a lot and lose sight of the fact that the object of the game is to put the ball through the hoop.

View attachment 61052

I'd like to know how that stat calculates "lost points"

 

[TBpup]

Dude on the right: Considered a rising star in the league and having a breakout, All-NBA type season.

Dude on the left: There are actual Blazers fans that want to trade him and “can’t stand him”

I'm not sure who "can't stand him", but in comparing those 2 players, offensively, they are both very good. But one has a brutal drtg of 121 and the other is close to average at 115. That is a massive difference. for 1/2 of the game. For too long, many have been okay with offense only guards and don't worry about the defensive side for that player or the affect it has on the rest of the team. And that is fine if contending isn't an issue.

It takes both sides of the ball....and historically, some size to be able to contend. It doesn't seem too much to prefer (vs can't stand him} that our 'top' player be someone who can do both.

 

[Natebishop3]

Uh oh, don’t let folks read this.

Obviously there’s a reason some players are force fed development minutes, but no reason to rush them into roles they aren’t ready for.

Let’s stop force feeding minutes to Scoot, Camara, and Sharpe based on his stats. Sit ‘em on the bench. Maybe we can make a push for the play in so we can get smashed!