Anfernee Simons is unbelievable

[Labinot41]

Dame off the ball is not working. We saw it this year. He needs the ball in his hand. So it's either Dame or Ant

 

[Pinwheel1]

Dame off the ball is not working. We saw it this year. He needs the ball in his hand. So it's either Dame or Ant

So when they play together let Dame run the show. When Ant plays with Hart let Ant run the show. Not seeing the problem.

 

[Idog1976]

So when they play together let Dame run the show. When Ant plays with Hart let Ant run the show. Not seeing the problem.

It's a made-up speculative problem. I definitely want Dame with the ball in his hands and as you said Ant can have it the rest of the game. Also, having Dame off-ball with Ant who is a willing passer is very different than Dame off-ball with other guys. We should see if it works until at least the next trade deadline if not a full season. This pairing has nearly unlimited upside. Again, Ant is starting to defend and Chauncey I believe can get Dame to buy in. Further, with Ant's emergence, I believe that Dame won't feel he has to shoulder as much of a load on offense. Dame can also rest longer with Ant on the floor. Ant is 22 and we can play him 40 mpg if need be while Dame plays like 30ish. With that kind of load reduction, Dame can absolutely put in the energy on the defensive end to be average or better. Dame has been lockdown level good in tiny spurts over the years. I'm convinced it's his Atlas-like carrying of the team on offense all these years under Stott's Iso-ball that has been the issue.

 

[blazerkor]

I just want to point out that over this amazing streak the Blazers have been hiding Ant on the worst perimeter defensive player or in a zone with help. If we have to do that for both Dame and Ant this defense will not work.

 

[Freshtown]

I just want to point out that over this amazing streak the Blazers have been hiding Ant on the worst perimeter defensive player or in a zone with help. If we have to do that for both Dame and Ant this defense will not work.

insert the “hard to swallow pills” meme

 

[Hoopguru]

The next three games after the break will be a challenge. The team has been up to a challenge of late lets, let's see if we have a new found identity.

 

[42N8Bounce]

All of this Simons hype is way over blown. I'd be surprised if this 'hot-streak' lasts more than 7 or 8 more years.

 

[OneSport3]

I just want to point out that over this amazing streak the Blazers have been hiding Ant on the worst perimeter defensive player or in a zone with help. If we have to do that for both Dame and Ant this defense will not work.

He switched onto Ja a couple times last night and was able to keep Ja in front of him. Something that no one else could do. He also stripped Ja on one possession.

 

[blazerkor]

The next three games after the break will be a challenge. The team has been up to a challenge of late lets, let's see if we have a new found identity.

Yeah, actually the next six games are probably games we won't be favored in and then the spread should be pretty close for the following four. After that we should be huge favorites for eleven straight. So if we can pull off a couple of wins in the next six and then split the following four, we should be able to make a serious run at the eighth spot so we can try and win the play-in in just one game. Being at .500 at the end of the season considering where we were at a week ago would be really great.

 

[PCmor7]

I thought Ant defended Ja pretty well last night. He might have been as good on him as anyone.

 

[blazerkor]

He switched onto Ja a couple times last night and was able to keep Ja in front of him. Something that no one else could do. He also stripped Ja on one possession.

He also switched onto Ja a couple of other times throughout the game and got handled easier than any of our other perimeter defenders. If anyone is trying to argue that Ant is a decent to good defender right now, they've got their homer glasses on. I'm not saying that he can't become average but to think that he's going to be good enough that him and Dame aren't a defensive liability is very hopeful.

I don't think we should bank on hopeful thinking. We should get a great look at what these two can do together at the end of this season. Decisions should be made on how we proceed and should be dictated by what we see. Again, let me point out that it took no time for good defenders and team players to mesh to the point that we could win all of the last four.

 

[Idog1976]

I thought Ant defended Ja pretty well last night. He might have been as good on him as anyone.

That's what I noticed too. He also got called for at least one phantom foul on Ja. Of course, Ant couldn't buy a call either. I have faith Ant can learn to defend he has the tools.

 

[Idog1976]

He also switched onto Ja a couple of other times throughout the game and got handled easier than any of our other perimeter defenders. If anyone is trying to argue that Ant is a decent to good defender right now, they've got their homer glasses on. I'm not saying that he can't become average but to think that he's going to be good enough that him and Dame aren't a defensive liability is very hopeful.

I don't think we should bank on hopeful thinking. We should get a great look at what these two can do together at the end of this season. Decisions should be made on how we proceed and should be dictated by what we see. Again, let me point out that it took no time for good defenders and team players to mesh to the point that we could win all of the last four.

Yes, but guys who haven't worked a ton on defense (Ant and Dame) will need time to develop their defensive skills. They both have the ability. It's about effort and learning subtle things. I have faith in them and I certainly think you test that faith for at least half a season and I personally believe with two great talents you give them a full year. Lots of teams take until after mid-season to gel, especially on defense. This is Ant's first season under Chaunce and Dame has missed quite a bit of this season and had lackadaisical defenders around him that weren't exactly inspiring injured dame to give 110% on defense.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I just want to point out that over this amazing streak the Blazers have been hiding Ant on the worst perimeter defensive player or in a zone with help. If we have to do that for both Dame and Ant this defense will not work.

Are they "hiding" him or is Chauncey just smart enough to have his best defenders on the other team's best scorers. That doesn't mean Ant can't play D.

 

[PCmor7]

That's what I noticed too. He also got called for at least one phantom foul on Ja. Of course, Ant couldn't buy a call either. I have faith Ant can learn to defend he has the tools.

He's like a spider. When he gets into a defensive crouch and he's all arms and legs and he moves so well laterally ... he's a candidate to be overpowered by guys like Anthony Edwards, but he's built quite a bit like Ja, just a little smaller. I like his chances defending more finesse-oriented guards. I think the book on his defense hasn't been written yet.

 

[blazerkor]

Are they "hiding" him or is Chauncey just smart enough to have his best defenders on the other team's best scorers. That doesn't mean Ant can't play D.

It just means he's the weakest defender and I think it would be fair to say from what we've seen from Dame in the past that he'll be an even weaker defender than Ant but I don't care about my amateur prognostications, I care about what we see when Dame comes back.

 

[OneSport3]

It just means he's the weakest defender and I think it would be fair to say from what we've seen from Dame in the past that he'll be an even weaker defender than Ant but I don't care about my amateur prognostications, I care about what we see when Dame comes back.

You could say the same about Ja. He wasn’t guarding Ant either. The coaches just want to protect their stars from getting into foul trouble.

 

[PCmor7]

You could say the same about Ja. He wasn’t guarding Ant either. The coaches just want to protect their stars from getting into foul trouble.

Are you sure? I thought Ja guarded Ant quite a bit when the Grizz were trying to fight back in the second half.

 

[PCmor7]

I think someone people miss sometimes, too, is that your best offensive player isn't often asked to cover the best offensive player on the other team because of a) fatigue affecting their offense and b) potential to get into foul problems. It's not always ability as much as practicality and prudence.

 

[OneSport3]

Are you sure? I thought Ja guarded Ant quite a bit when the Grizz were trying to fight back in the second half.

I’m pretty sure Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones were checking Ant most of the game.

 

[PCmor7]

I’m pretty sure Ziaire Williams and Tyus Jones were checking Ant most of the game.

Maybe you're right. I just saw Ja picking him up a lot in the last 16 minutes and the Blazers were setting a screen forcing Jones to try to check him. I don't think Memphis wanted Jones trying to guard Ant. Jones tries, but he's limited, and it shows against elite scorers.

 

[OneSport3]

Maybe you're right. I just saw Ja picking him up a lot in the last 16 minutes and the Blazers were setting a screen forcing Jones to try to check him. I don't think Memphis wanted Jones trying to guard Ant. Jones tries, but he's limited, and it shows against elite scorers.

Just looked at the highlight package, Williams was the primary defender and Ja and Jones split the rest.

 

[blazerkor]

Yes, but guys who haven't worked a ton on defense (Ant and Dame) will need time to develop their defensive skills. They both have the ability. It's about effort and learning subtle things. I have faith in them and I certainly think you test that faith for at least half a season and I personally believe with two great talents you give them a full year. Lots of teams take until after mid-season to gel, especially on defense. This is Ant's first season under Chaunce and Dame has missed quite a bit of this season and had lackadaisical defenders around him that weren't exactly inspiring injured dame to give 110% on defense.

What I know is that they are two smallish, ball dominant guards who have been poor at defense. I know from six years of experience that those attributes are not a combination for high level success. If they show at least hints of their redundancies not being problematic during the time they play together this season, then I won't be on the trade Dame this off season bus. However, if they look like they are less than the some of their parts on offense and a big defensive liability, I will want the team to trade Dame. It's crazy to me that I'm even saying that because Dame is my favorite player to ever play the game but putting him in a better situation for his success and giving us a better chance at a title will make sense to me if these two don't look like a good match. Even if that's just over ten games.

The reason why I would be what others might see as hasty is because having watched both of them a lot they don't look like a good match. Ant and CJ aren't the same player but almost seven years ago when Olshey came out and said that Dame and CJ were going to be our starting back court going forward I was really disheartened. I just couldn't see how their games would be complementary. I just look at Dame's game and Ant's and I don't see a good match... I don't see why anyone would. When we have a guy in Hart that is obviously a great match with Ant and we have a guy in Dame that has huge trade value around the league, I don't understand why we would drag the situation out. Give it a chance for sure but taking a bunch of time trying to make it into something it shows itself not to be wouldn't be the wisest decision in my opinion.

 

[blazerkor]

Just looked at the highlight package, Williams was the primary defender and Ja and Jones split the rest.

Yeah, I don't need to look at the highlight package, I watched the whole game and Ja was taking Ant a lot. Ant was only taking Ja when he was switched onto him. I was thinking about it the whole game. I was impressed that Ja was taking on our biggest offensive threat because most teams don't do that.

 

[blazerkor]

You could say the same about Ja. He wasn’t guarding Ant either. The coaches just want to protect their stars from getting into foul trouble.

First of all there's no argument to be had that Ja has been a better defender during his career than Dame and Ant have been. Secondly and way more importantly Ja is surrounded by defensive stalwarts and we're talking about putting Dame and Ant together.

These conversations make me feel like I'm on crazy pills because I've been having them for six fucking years. Dame needs at least a Hart level defender next to him in the back court in order for that defensive back court to make sense... that's not Ant. I don't really care about what level of defender Ant needs because Dame isn't it. Like I said, these are just me projecting what I see, we haven't seen it yet but if it plays out the way I think it will this season, there is no reason to lose games while Dame's trade value diminishes trying to change it.

 

[OneSport3]

Yeah, I don't need to look at the highlight package, I watched the whole game and Ja was taking Ant a lot. Ant was only taking Ja when he was switched onto him. I was thinking about it the whole game. I was impressed that Ja was taking on our biggest offensive threat because most teams don't do that.

Sure, I watched the whole game too. Ziaire Williams was the primary defender on Ant.

 

[blazerkor]

Sure, I watched the whole game too. Ziaire Williams was the primary defender on Ant.

Right but Ja took Ant straight up on a number of plays and Ant only had Ja when the switch dictated it, if I'm remembering correcting but again it doesn't matter. If you're arguing that Ant has shown himself to be as good of a defender as Ja at this point I feel like you're wrong. However not even that matters because even if Ant is a Ja level defender Dame needs a much much better defender than that next to him. He needs guys like Ja has or a guy like we have in Hart in order for him not to be an unacceptable defensive liability. I don't think Ant is that by any means.

If he is then I'll be overjoyed to have them both here together. Like I've said, I'm in wait and see mode but I'm not going to be in wait and see mode after this season (assuming Dame doesn't have any setbacks). I'll have seen at least a glimpse of what these two can do together and will either be ready to see more or want to get the most we can for Dame.

 

[BBert]

the way he moves, how he's reading defenses, the decision making, the shot repertoire, the poise.... it's Dame redux.

goddamn we got two of em!

And we should keep both of them. So CJ didn't work with Dame. So what. CJ is not Simons. And Simons is not CJ.

 

[Eli Vance]

Dame for Julius Randle.

 

[wizenheimer]

First of all there's no argument to be had that Ja has been a better defender during his career than Dame and Ant have been. Secondly and way more importantly Ja is surrounded by defensive stalwarts and we're talking about putting Dame and Ant together.

These conversations make me feel like I'm on crazy pills because I've been having them for six fucking years. Dame needs at least a Hart level defender next to him in the back court in order for that defensive back court to make sense... that's not Ant. I don't really care about what level of defender Ant needs because Dame isn't it. Like I said, these are just me projecting what I see, we haven't seen it yet but if it plays out the way I think it will this season, there is no reason to lose games while Dame's trade value diminishes trying to change it.

I know you're fully invested in this narrative about how Dame and Ant can't work...because defense

can you explain to me how it was that Portland ranked 8th in the NBA in defense in 2017-18...WHEN...the starting back court was Dame & CJ combining for 73 minutes a game? If Dame/CJ = Dame/Ant = shit defense...how did Dame/CJ lead the Blazers to the 8th best defense in the league? And that's with the Stotts defense. Is Billups a better defensive coach than Stotts?

I get that you're skeptical, that's fine. But you really seem insistent that it can't work and that's simply not a known