Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #80 - BLAZERS @ JAZZ - APR 9, 2025 - WED - 6:00 PM - CHARGE - BLAZERVISION

[Pinwheel1]

he seems to have found some inner alpha-dog lately

sorry PW, but is easily could be from stepping out of Ant's shadow

in the last 6 games Simons has missed, Sharpe is averaging 28-7-4; and Avdija averaged 33-12-7 before sitting out the last 2

now, Simons wasn't the only high usage player missing....Ayton and Grant were out too, but it did seem that both Sharpe and Avdija really amped up production in the absence of Simons

the other side of that is Sharpe needed 22 shots a game to average 28. But that's all due to his over-reliance on three's. He was 17-57 on three's in 6 games. That's 9.5 attempts a game and he only hit 30% of them. However, he was 43-76 on two's; that's 57%. Sharpe needs some serious coaching on shot selection and I'm skeptical he'll get it from Chauncey

In those 6 games you mentioned, Scoot did not play either. So yeah, his stats are going to be better when multiple players are missing. That is to be expected.
But that does not make the team better, just his stats. Nonetheless, we have seen what he is capable of doing and what he still needs to work on (turnovers)
Bottom line for me is that his future is bright.

Fantasy time..... if we did get lucky like Atlanta did last year, and we landed a Flagg or an Ace, I think our best lineup would be 3 forwards starting with Sharpe, with Deni playing PG. That big lineup would be interesting.

Or if we were not able to move up in the draft and we were unable to dump Grant's contract (which is what will probably happen), I think they should still consider starting Deni, Grant, and Camara together with Sharpe and either Ayton or Clingan. Grant would need to be more of a 3&D player. (third option on offense)

 

[inconceivable]

Sharpe purposely boinked late free throws. He's part of the email chain.

 

[wizenheimer]

In those 6 games you mentioned, Scoot did not play either. So yeah, his stats are going to be better when multiple players are missing. That is to be expected.
But that does not make the team better, just his stats. Nonetheless, we have seen what he is capable of doing and what he still needs to work on (turnovers)
Bottom line for me is that his future is bright.

Fantasy time..... if we did get lucky like Atlanta did last year, and we landed a Flagg or an Ace, I think our best lineup would be 3 forwards starting with Sharpe, with Deni playing PG. That big lineup would be interesting.

Or if we were not able to move up in the draft and we were unable to dump Grant's contract (which is what will probably happen), I think they should still consider starting Deni, Grant, and Camara together with Sharpe and either Ayton or Clingan. Grant would need to be more of a 3&D player. (third option on offense)

Sharpe, Deni, and Grant can all dribble-drive, but they are also prone to buckets of turnovers when they try to run offense. Not sure a 4 wing lineup would work

 

[inconceivable]

Sharpe, Deni, and Grant can all dribble-drive, but they are also prone to buckets of turnovers when they try to run offense. Not sure a 4 wing lineup would work

Grant is not part of the future

 

[blazerfan11]

he seems to have found some inner alpha-dog lately

sorry PW, but is easily could be from stepping out of Ant's shadow

in the last 6 games Simons has missed, Sharpe is averaging 28-7-4; and Avdija averaged 33-12-7 before sitting out the last 2

now, Simons wasn't the only high usage player missing....Ayton and Grant were out too, but it did seem that both Sharpe and Avdija really amped up production in the absence of Simons

the other side of that is Sharpe needed 22 shots a game to average 28. But that's all due to his over-reliance on three's. He was 17-57 on three's in 6 games. That's 9.5 attempts a game and he only hit 30% of them. However, he was 43-76 on two's; that's 57%. Sharpe needs some serious coaching on shot selection and I'm skeptical he'll get it from Chauncey

Also, as you mentioned before, some coaching on how to draw fouls on his two point shots.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Sharpe, Deni, and Grant can all dribble-drive, but they are also prone to buckets of turnovers when they try to run offense. Not sure a 4 wing lineup would work

Yes, that is the downside of it. But I would still try it. Deni does not average any more TOs than Scoot at this point. Hopefully, they all improve in that area.
I would take the trade-off of having a big lineup. In a half-court set, the PG just brings the ball up the court and initiates the offense. Deni does that most of the time anyways. Now, if the other team applies a lot of pressure, then yeah, they would need to substitute with an extra ball handler.

 

[blazerfan11]

Yes, that is the downside of it. But I would still try it. Deni does not average any more TOs than Scoot at this point. Hopefully, they all improve in that area.
I would take the trade-off of having a big lineup. In a half-court set, the PG just brings the ball up the court and initiates the offense. Deni does that most of the time anyways. Now, if the other team applies a lot of pressure, then yeah, they would need to substitute with an extra ball handler.

A big point guard that is a relentless defender that can hit open 3-pointers.

 

[Pinwheel1]

A big point guard that is a relentless defender that can hit open 3-pointers.

Yes, that is a better ball handler than Deni. Otherwise, you just described Deni.
Some may think that Antony Black fits that description, but I don't think he has elite handles against pressure.

 

[wizenheimer]

Yes, that is a better ball handler than Deni. Otherwise, you just described Deni.
Some may think that Antony Black fits that description, but I don't think he has elite handles against pressure.

just a little 'what would it be' fantasy about the 2023 draft. Imagine Blazers with 4th pick

and a 'Sharpe-Amen-Camara-Avdija-Clingan' starting line-up

would that be top-3 in both defense and transition offense? Trade-off would be bottom-3 in turnovers and half-court offense?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yes, that is a better ball handler than Deni. Otherwise, you just described Deni.
Some may think that Antony Black fits that description, but I don't think he has elite handles against pressure.

Coby White, maybe? Supposedly Chicago had him on the block at the trade deadline.

 

[Pinwheel1]

just a little 'what would it be' fantasy about the 2023 draft. Imagine Blazers with 4th pick

and a 'Sharpe-Amen-Camara-Avdija-Clingan' starting line-up

would that be top-3 in both defense and transition offense? Trade-off would be bottom-3 in turnovers and half-court offense?

I think with a point forward such as Deni, we really need 3pt shooters at both guard positions. Otherwise, we might as well keep Thybulle.
He is not as good as Amen, but he has certainly improved his offensive game in this short season.

On that note, does anyone still think Thybulle won't opt out this summer? I think he has shown enough to get a 4 year 50 million contract offer from someone.

 

[wizenheimer]

On that note, does anyone still think Thybulle won't opt out this summer? I think he has shown enough to get a 4 year 50 million contract offer from someone.

I've always considered it a possibility, but not a likely one. Maybe a little more likely with how he has performed. At the same time, he has missed 67 games this season and that has to make any prospective new teams nervous

 

[KingSpeed]

The other tie breakers don't take effect because the Lakers will win their division, and be the only division winner among the tied teams (if there are tied teams with the Lakers).

"In the event that more than two teams are tied, the tiebreakers are, in order: division winner....."

So, once the Lakers get to 50 wins they get the #3 seed.


View attachment 73406

Got it. Thanks.

 

[KingSpeed]

In those 6 games you mentioned, Scoot did not play either. So yeah, his stats are going to be better when multiple players are missing. That is to be expected.
But that does not make the team better, just his stats. Nonetheless, we have seen what he is capable of doing and what he still needs to work on (turnovers)
Bottom line for me is that his future is bright.

Fantasy time..... if we did get lucky like Atlanta did last year, and we landed a Flagg or an Ace, I think our best lineup would be 3 forwards starting with Sharpe, with Deni playing PG. That big lineup would be interesting.

Or if we were not able to move up in the draft and we were unable to dump Grant's contract (which is what will probably happen), I think they should still consider starting Deni, Grant, and Camara together with Sharpe and either Ayton or Clingan. Grant would need to be more of a 3&D player. (third option on offense)

Scoot needs to start at PG.