Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #15 - BLAZERS @ THUNDER - NOVEMBER 20, 2024 - 5:00 PM PST - KATU - CHARGE - BV

[wizenheimer]

watching the game without looking at the box score I would have guessed the Blazers had 30 turnovers....but only 24

finally getting Hartenstein on the floor was huge for OKC.

Portland's starting back court had 10 assists & 10 turnovers while shooting 9-24. That's not going to win on the road too often

 

[THE HCP]

When Clingan’s one inch vertical pop dunk is the dunk of the game, it’s a rough dunking night

Hey! I picked that play bro!!!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Portland's starting back court had 10 assists & 10 turnovers while shooting 9-24. That's not going to win on the road too often

If you asked what stat line an opposing backcourt needed for you to get that win, then 0-10 with 9 fouls might be close.

 

[handiman]

The Blazers played hard, but not smart. Turnovers were ugly. Sharpe with 6 of them.

Sharpe needs to figure out how to tighten up that dribble, otherwise he should only be played off the ball. Defenders are chomping at the bit to strip the ball when he spins into them in space.

 

[Mediocre Man]

DC is a plus six out there tonight and the only Blazer with a positive +/- right now. We need a backup center badly.

He IS our backup center

 

[Mediocre Man]

I was too young to see him play so I didn’t want to say.

Walton was 10 times the defender that Clingan is. That is absolutely not a dig at DC either. Walton was ridiculous

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shaedon is 5/14 with 6 turnovers but no one is really complaining about that.

Yeah, he was pretty butter-fingered tonight.

 

[kjironman1]

How do some of you post so often during the game? I find it difficult to keep up. I either end up missing five minutes of play reading and attempting to join the posting, or i watch the game and cant keep up with the game thread.
You people are amazingly skilled!

Yep. I just gave up the game thread during games.

 

[kjironman1]

Speech to text?

Still have to read what others posted unless you aren't communication with others and just posting what you see.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Still have to read what others posted unless you aren't communication with others and just posting what you see.

IMO, takes way less time to scan others' posts than to generate my own.

 

[kjironman1]

I hope they work on DC being a high post distributor. I believe he is a good enough passer and can you imagine bad matchups against other teams have to deal with with our height.

You can't be a "High Post Distributor" without being able to shoot from there.

 

[beast blazer]

I still take this game as evidence that the Blazers are better without Simons and Ayton. The game was close till the end.

 

[kjironman1]

IMO, takes way less time to scan others' posts than to generate my own.

I find myself paying attention to the thread. I've learned over the years to just wait for breaks and go back but then sometimes that is when I need to get to the kitchen or bathroom.
IDK I think he is right and all of you are just really more talented at this than I am.

 

[kjironman1]

Blazers gotta stop throwing the ball away all willy nilly

Anyone who uses "Willy Nilly" in a sentence gets a "Like"!

 

[wizenheimer]

I don't have the exact numbers from before the first game against Minny, but IIRC, Portland's defensive rating was about 114.8-115.0 and their net rating was around -8.5

I don't really recall what the offensive rating was but I think it was somewhere in the 106-107 range

so I was curious about Portland's numbers in the last 4 games:

Minny #1: def rating 108.0....net rating +14.0 (off rating 122.0)
Minny #2: def rating 98.4....net rating +8.0 (off rating 106.4)
Atlanta: def rating 107.9....net rating +4.0 (off rating 111.9.0)
@ OKC: def rating 112.2....net rating -10.3 (off rating 101.9)

what about the 4 games prior to the B2B Minny games?

Memphis: def rating 121.4....net rating -39.8 (off rating 80.6)
@ Minny #2: def rating 119.9....net rating -23.6 (off rating 96.3)
@ Spurs: def rating 126.1....net rating -13.9 (off rating 112.2)
@ New Orleans: def rating 107.6....net rating +19.3 (off rating 106.4)

obviously, there's a home/road imbalance in the comparison. But the Blazers did catch a huge break and play New Orleans when the Pels were missing 4 starters and their 6th man. The counterweight to that is the Blazers played by far their worst game of the year against Memphis.

and of course, small sample sizes.

Still, it's hard to ignore Portland's improvement when Simons and Ayton didn't play. That's especially true on defense. In the 4 games Simons/Ayton played the quick and dirty def. rating average was 118.8; in the 4 games they didn't it was 106.6 (season mark is 113.5). Now, I doubt even Simons and Ayton fans would say they wouldn't expect Portland's defense to get better without those two guys. But the other side of those expectations would probably be that Portlands's offense would get worse. But it didn't. Portland's season mark in off. rating is 106.4. The Q(uick)&D(irty) average in those 4 games without the pair was 110.6. And, while the season net rating is -7.1, in those 4 games without it was +3.9

of course, I'm obviously biased. I've been pretty open about my disdain for Simons and Ayton as players. I believe they are both empty calorie players carting high usage who tend to subtract more than they add. So this all dovetails neatly into my bias. And as I said, the sample sizes are way small and there's a reverse home/road imbalance. But those number sure do fit into what we've watched

 

[Mediocre Man]

Anyone who uses "Willy Nilly" in a sentence gets a "Like"!

This is how the world be

 

[Everything Beagle]

He IS our backup center

Oh come on now, Ayton is a center like LaMarcus Aldridge was a center.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Oh come on now, Ayton is a center like LaMarcus Aldridge was a center.

I’m gonna have to disagree with you on that one

 

[Everything Beagle]

I’m gonna have to disagree with you on that one

Totally fair. What I saw of Ayton doesn't make me excited by the probability that he's walking back through that door. I hope this conversation is moot, since he's on the trading block. Clingan is starting quality already, unless last night was by far the best game of his career. IMO we could do a lot worse than start him and look for a backup.

 

[illmatic99]

Deni needs the ball in his hands more. Grant needs to go.

 

[kjironman1]

Deni needs the ball in his hands more. Grant needs to go.

Not sure I agree with this any longer. Grant is looking like he fits better and he is the veteran presence the team needs.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Not sure I agree with this any longer. Grant is looking like he fits better and he is the veteran presence the team needs.

They need to figure out if they want him for the 3 years after this season then. If not then why keep him?

 

[julius]

Not sure I agree with this any longer. Grant is looking like he fits better and he is the veteran presence the team needs.

Grant is good as a role player 3rd best player/option, who can occasionally be relied on to score in bunches.

Not sure about Deni's role yet.

 

[kjironman1]

They need to figure out if they want him for the 3 years after this season then. If not then why keep him?

Grant is good as a role player 3rd best player/option, who can occasionally be relied on to score in bunches.

Not sure about Deni's role yet.

Kind of where I'm at right now. The contract is fine. in a couple years it will be even better. He does exactly what he is supposed to do and he is a veteran presence. He doesn't bring drama and is a decent all around guy. He was the one last night to take the shot on Caruso when that needed to happen. He seems fine with the rebuild because he knows he is getting paid. He guards 1-4 and he does it well. Long good defender that can get his own shot.

Grant might be exactly what this team needs right now.

 

[beast blazer]

I don't have the exact numbers from before the first game against Minny, but IIRC, Portland's defensive rating was about 114.8-115.0 and their net rating was around -8.5

I don't really recall what the offensive rating was but I think it was somewhere in the 106-107 range

so I was curious about Portland's numbers in the last 4 games:

Minny #1: def rating 108.0....net rating +14.0 (off rating 122.0)
Minny #2: def rating 98.4....net rating +8.0 (off rating 106.4)
Atlanta: def rating 107.9....net rating +4.0 (off rating 111.9.0)
@ OKC: def rating 112.2....net rating -10.3 (off rating 101.9)

what about the 4 games prior to the B2B Minny games?

Memphis: def rating 121.4....net rating -39.8 (off rating 80.6)
@ Minny #2: def rating 119.9....net rating -23.6 (off rating 96.3)
@ Spurs: def rating 126.1....net rating -13.9 (off rating 112.2)
@ New Orleans: def rating 107.6....net rating +19.3 (off rating 106.4)

obviously, there's a home/road imbalance in the comparison. But the Blazers did catch a huge break and play New Orleans when the Pels were missing 4 starters and their 6th man. The counterweight to that is the Blazers played by far their worst game of the year against Memphis.

and of course, small sample sizes.

Still, it's hard to ignore Portland's improvement when Simons and Ayton didn't play. That's especially true on defense. In the 4 games Simons/Ayton played the quick and dirty def. rating average was 118.8; in the 4 games they didn't it was 106.6 (season mark is 113.5). Now, I doubt even Simons and Ayton fans would say they wouldn't expect Portland's defense to get better without those two guys. But the other side of those expectations would probably be that Portlands's offense would get worse. But it didn't. Portland's season mark in off. rating is 106.4. The Q(uick)&D(irty) average in those 4 games without the pair was 110.6. And, while the season net rating is -7.1, in those 4 games without it was +3.9

of course, I'm obviously biased. I've been pretty open about my disdain for Simons and Ayton as players. I believe they are both empty calorie players carting high usage who tend to subtract more than they add. So this all dovetails neatly into my bias. And as I said, the sample sizes are way small and there's a reverse home/road imbalance. But those number sure do fit into what we've watched

I think the Blazers will be a top 5 defense within the next few years, but their offense will be mediocre at best.

 

[Everything Beagle]

Kind of where I'm at right now. The contract is fine. in a couple years it will be even better. He does exactly what he is supposed to do and he is a veteran presence. He doesn't bring drama and is a decent all around guy. He was the one last night to take the shot on Caruso when that needed to happen. He seems fine with the rebuild because he knows he is getting paid. He guards 1-4 and he does it well. Long good defender that can get his own shot.

Grant might be exactly what this team needs right now.

I see him as a Kiki Vandeweghe type who is older, valuable in the right trade for the right piece, but should probably stay until the kids are on more solid footing. He will not be on this team when it's making pushes into the WCF, but his contribution will be valuable until then.

 

[Foxx]

Jerami just needs to buy in, which I suppose he’s kind of doing. It’s sad we had to wait this long for him to actually try and be a team player, but I’ll take it for now.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Jerami just needs to buy in, which I suppose he’s kind of doing. It’s sad we had to wait this long for him to actually try and be a team player, but I’ll take it for now.

You blame him for not buying in the last two years when the goal was to lose? I don't blame any vet for that.

 

[kjironman1]

Jerami just needs to buy in, which I suppose he’s kind of doing. It’s sad we had to wait this long for him to actually try and be a team player, but I’ll take it for now.

How do you know he didn’t or has not already?
Where are you getting your information from?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I don't have the exact numbers from before the first game against Minny, but IIRC, Portland's defensive rating was about 114.8-115.0 and their net rating was around -8.5

I don't really recall what the offensive rating was but I think it was somewhere in the 106-107 range

so I was curious about Portland's numbers in the last 4 games:

Minny #1: def rating 108.0....net rating +14.0 (off rating 122.0)
Minny #2: def rating 98.4....net rating +8.0 (off rating 106.4)
Atlanta: def rating 107.9....net rating +4.0 (off rating 111.9.0)
@ OKC: def rating 112.2....net rating -10.3 (off rating 101.9)

what about the 4 games prior to the B2B Minny games?

Memphis: def rating 121.4....net rating -39.8 (off rating 80.6)
@ Minny #2: def rating 119.9....net rating -23.6 (off rating 96.3)
@ Spurs: def rating 126.1....net rating -13.9 (off rating 112.2)
@ New Orleans: def rating 107.6....net rating +19.3 (off rating 106.4)

obviously, there's a home/road imbalance in the comparison. But the Blazers did catch a huge break and play New Orleans when the Pels were missing 4 starters and their 6th man. The counterweight to that is the Blazers played by far their worst game of the year against Memphis.

and of course, small sample sizes.

Still, it's hard to ignore Portland's improvement when Simons and Ayton didn't play. That's especially true on defense. In the 4 games Simons/Ayton played the quick and dirty def. rating average was 118.8; in the 4 games they didn't it was 106.6 (season mark is 113.5). Now, I doubt even Simons and Ayton fans would say they wouldn't expect Portland's defense to get better without those two guys. But the other side of those expectations would probably be that Portlands's offense would get worse. But it didn't. Portland's season mark in off. rating is 106.4. The Q(uick)&D(irty) average in those 4 games without the pair was 110.6. And, while the season net rating is -7.1, in those 4 games without it was +3.9

of course, I'm obviously biased. I've been pretty open about my disdain for Simons and Ayton as players. I believe they are both empty calorie players carting high usage who tend to subtract more than they add. So this all dovetails neatly into my bias. And as I said, the sample sizes are way small and there's a reverse home/road imbalance. But those number sure do fit into what we've watched

The offense was so bad with Ayton/Simons that it couldn't get much worse. We're the worst offensive in the NBA by multiple metrics with and without them.

Ayton just isn't a valuable starter.

Simons though was way worse offensively this season than other years. He either has off court stuff bothering him, coaches putting him in bad spots, or just a small sample size funk.

I'd think there is a way to get him back being much more productive on offense. Obviously as you say he'll always have defensive deficiencies.

But what is the point of having Ant pulling this offense up a point or two? He'll be on an expiring contract next summer. We have no need for an extra couple wins from him. If we were a playin team maybe it would be different. He takes the ball out of Scoot/Banton/Sharpe hands. It will be difficult for Chauncey to manage all those minutes and egos. Just better to have Ant go elsewhere and the Blazers focus on younger players/picks.