Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #21 - BLAZERS VS MAVERICKS - DECEMBER 1, 2024 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM - CHARGE, BLAZERVISION

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SharpesTriumph said:
The Blazers offense has looked MUCH better with Ant and Ayton back. They have been hitting shots and it's opened up spacing for the whole team. They aren't going to continue to hit this many as last night but they also had a lot of misses at the start of the year they normally make so they will probably perform somewhere in the middle going forward. But when the Blazers previously had the 30th offense that should be a large step up. Also Avidija, Camara, Banton, and others are better figuring out how to best contribute. Also probably helps a lot that Scoot hasn't played the last few games - his lack of spacing hurts every Blazers offensive player on the court.

But now the defense has gone from above average to one of the bottom units in the league. People rip on Ant but I'd argue Aytons defense is actually worse at the moment and just being in the center position its more harmful to the defense of the team.

Really hope we get a trade soon but worry we won't see it until February at the earliest or possibly not until the offseason. The Ayton, Ant, Grant "big3" makes zero sense for this franchise. It makes the Blazers hard to watch and root for even if they are competitive or win some games.
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Simons has only missed 3 games and Portland's 'average' offensive rating in those games was 106.7 when their season average is 107.3. Considering that Ayton also missed those 3 games I don't think Simons has had any significant positive impact on the team's offensive performance; at least not for the full season to this point. Playing 18 or 21 games is a decent sample size and Simons is 2nd on the team in average FGA, 1st in total FGA, and 2nd in usage rate with Sharpe. Blazers rank 27th in FG%; 24th in 3ptFG%; 28th in 2ptFG%; 29th in average assists; and 29th in average turnovers. Simons has been a big part of all of that

on the other hand, the average defensive rating of the Blazers in those 3 missed games for Simons was 106.2; their season average 114.7. No surprise but the gap is huge. In the 6 games since Simons has returned, their average d rating is 118.0

I agree with you that Ayton's defense is bad to mediocre. It always has been. He's not rim protector and he's mediocre as a paint defender. There also sure seems to be missing effort. IIRC, the high water mark for Portland's defensive rating was when they ranked 13th a two or three weeks ago. They rank 18th now.

in 2022-23 with Nurkic, Portland ranked 7th in the NBA in opponent FG% at the rim (0-3'); and 15th in opponent FG% in the 3-10'zone. The following season, with Ayton replacing Nurkic, Portland ranked 28th in opponent FG% at the rim; and 28th in opponent FG% in the 3-10'zone. Those are pretty extreme differentials. The Blazers rank 15th in opp FG% at the rim this season, and actually 1st in opponent FG% in the 3-10' zone. But anybody watching would likely conclude that's due to Clingan, Timelord, Camara, Avdija, and even Grant, rather than Ayton
 
wizenheimer said:
Simons has only missed 3 games and Portland's 'average' offensive rating in those games was 106.7 when their season average is 107.3. Considering that Ayton also missed those 3 games I don't think Simons has had any significant positive impact on the team's offensive performance; at least not for the full season to this point. Playing 18 or 21 games is a decent sample size and Simons is 2nd on the team in average FGA, 1st in total FGA, and 2nd in usage rate with Sharpe. Blazers rank 27th in FG%; 24th in 3ptFG%; 28th in 2ptFG%; 29th in average assists; and 29th in average turnovers. Simons has been a big part of all of that

on the other hand, the average defensive rating of the Blazers in those 3 missed games for Simons was 106.2; their season average 114.7. No surprise but the gap is huge. In the 6 games since Simons has returned, their average d rating is 118.0

I agree with you that Ayton's defense is bad to mediocre. It always has been. He's not rim protector and he's mediocre as a paint defender. There also sure seems to be missing effort. IIRC, the high water mark for Portland's defensive rating was when they ranked 13th a two or three weeks ago. They rank 18th now.

in 2022-23 with Nurkic, Portland ranked 7th in the NBA in opponent FG% at the rim (0-3'); and 15th in opponent FG% in the 3-10'zone. The following season, with Ayton replacing Nurkic, Portland ranked 28th in opponent FG% at the rim; and 28th in opponent FG% in the 3-10'zone. Those are pretty extreme differentials. The Blazers rank 15th in opp FG% at the rim this season, and actually 1st in opponent FG% in the 3-10' zone. But anybody watching would likely conclude that's due to Clingan, Timelord, Camara, Avdija, and even Grant, rather than Ayton
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I was referring to Ant and Ayton offense the last 3 games they've both been back together - the team has scored 114, 115, 137. Look at Ant 3rd quarter last night and that other game 4th quarter, he just has an elite all star level offensive talent when its clicking. Yeah their season averages on offense and the whole Blazers teams are crap. If you look at the season performance Ant hardly has an impact because he had many games he was dreadful. Those dreadful stretches are uncommon for him historically though.

Maybe you can make a defense work with one of either Ant OR Ayton.... but combing both of them is beyond stupid.

I'd think Ant is more likely to be traded as he might have value - I just don't see any team out there that makes sense to acquire Ayton max contract. Crazy to think that getting the nearly irrelevant overpaid Nurk back in his place would be a BIG upgrade.
 
SharpesTriumph said:
I was referring to Ant and Ayton offense the last 3 games they've both been back together - the team has scored 114, 115, 137. Look at Ant 3rd quarter last night and that other game 4th quarter, he just has an elite all star level offensive talent when its clicking. Yeah their season averages on offense and the whole Blazers teams are crap. If you look at the season performance Ant hardly has an impact because he had many games he was dreadful. Those dreadful stretches are uncommon for him historically though.

Maybe you can make a defense work with one of either Ant OR Ayton.... but combing both of them is beyond stupid.

I'd think Ant is more likely to be traded as he might have value - I just don't see any team out there that makes sense to acquire Ayton max contract. Crazy to think that getting the nearly irrelevant overpaid Nurk back in his place would be a BIG upgrade.
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ok...see where you were going

sure, if you go by the last 3 games the Blazers have the best offensive rating in the league by +1.2 points. Of course, they'd also have the worst defensive rating in the league by -4.4 points

the Blazers are the NBA's version of bop-a-mole. Want better offense? expect worse defense. Want more transition? expect more turnovers
 
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