Biggest/most important "unknowns" for this upcoming Blazer season

[Hoopguru]

1) What does healthy Dame look like?

- If we have yet to see the best of Dame, the whole season looks different. Do we see better lateral movement defensively? Dame has talked about being more committed defensively the last 2-3 years and maybe finally his body will allow him to show it.

2) Anfernee's fit with Dame

- Ant took a big jump offensively with his first real opportunity to be a full time on ball player, but has struggled to make the same impact as a SG in the past. How well will he be able to balance sharing the floor with Dame with being the lead guy when Dame goes to the bench? CJ had his issues with this while he was here with CJ only lineups routinely struggling. Having better secondary on ball scorers / passers then we've had in previous years in Hart, Grant and Winslow should help, but how much?

3) How will Chauncey use Jerami Grant?

- Good defender, but I think he's best used as weakside low man/roamer, and not a primary defender/throw on anybody type. I do like his fit if we plan on being aggressive with most ball screens again. One of the better rim protecting PF's in the league. To get the most out of him on the ball I'd like to see him paired with either Nas or Justise where we can keep him more in that secondary off ball role and switch across the 3&4. Jerami is good on the ball vs most players, but can't really get through a screen or be a chase guy. His high center of gravity and lack impact strength hurt him in certain matchups as well. Offensively, how much will Chauncey stagger him and Dame to allow him to be that iso/mid post player he was with Detroit? His opportunity with the first unit seems limited and I think he could really thrive in an up tempo small ball bench units with guys like Hart, GP and Winslow.

4)Who earns the 9th and 1oth spots in the rotation?

- Dame, Ant, Grant, Nurk, Hart, Nas, GP2, and Winslow feel like the locked in top 8. That leaves Sharpe, Walker and Watford imo as guys that could earn those spots. Eubanks feels like break glass in case of emergency big only and Chauncey seems committed to playing small off the bench (and I think it's the right decision) Don't see the room for another guard like Keon but he is nice GP2 insurance.

I would go with Sharpe and Walker. Chauncey seems really high on Sharpe and I think the early part of the year is a good time to get him the NBA level reps he needs. With Walker I just think he's an excellent fit in those small ball bench units Chauncey wants to play. He's a much better defender and rebounder than Watford and I like his offense more in a smaller role alongside guys Dame, Ant and Grant. I like Watford, but I have hard time valuing his play in meaningless games and at small ball 5, a position where his weaknesses were hid and allowed his strengths to shine.

Not sure how good this team will ultimately be, but there's a lot be excited about. This group has more athleticism and on-ball/passing talent throughout the rotation than we've seen in a long time. Chauncey year 2 will be telling. GP2 is going to be a fan favorite. Sharpe is in eye popping talent and Jabari Walker was an absolute steal in the 2nd round. Really interested to see how his body transforms in the next 3 years. Leaning out and continuing to get stronger will be big for him. Quick feet. but you can tell his hips need work when see him in change of direction situations. He talked about the hip issue after Summer league so he's aware of it and the NBA has at improving guys' flexibility. Very excited about him

Pumped basketball is back! GO BLAZERRRRRSS!

I think we will see Josh Hart pushing the ball up court with Anf on occasion. Josh will get minutes at the 2 and could be a better defensive pair with Dame.

 

[Strenuus]

Went back through all the posts in this thread--is anybody in here putting any expectations on Sharpe?

Overall they are, in multiple threads.

Hope the kid does well but to expect anything is laughable and there's no argument to that lol.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Great thread topic.
1- Will everyone understand and accept their roles.....Bunch of dawgs who ALL con contribute something.
2- Can Coach "push the right buttons" with what I view as a versatile roster, with no "Keljin Blevins" or "CJ Ellerby's" on this squad.
3- Damian Lillard.....Kinda feels like the NBA forgot about him...The thought of a great player FINALLY being healthy and recharged and rested?...I have learned to Trust In Dame...I sense something special with him this season.....(hope Coach doesn't ride him too hard so he isn't burned by April)

Not predicting title or anything, but I'm not really focused on the actual record this year, (although I think it will be better than most?), just looking for a gradual meshing of a fairly talented group.
For me, the two players I am most interested in what they do are Josh Hart and Trendon Watford..I just feel they are the "scale-tippers", if you will.
Should be a blast to watch, what I think is gonna be known as "Chauncey-ball"!!!!
As Bart Scott would declare: "CANT WAIT"!!!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Winslow will get minutes because:

1. He can defend.
2. He works well with Nurk.
3. The team has enough players that need shots, so having a role player that does other things and does not need them is good.

Yeah, he also has good handles and can pass so when he attacks the basket good things can happen.

 

[Hoopguru]

Overall they are, in multiple threads.

Hope the kid does well but to expect anything is laughable and there's no argument to that lol.

He may have the last laugh?
nba.com
Rookie Shaedon Sharpe A Mystery No More
https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in...e/slug:RipCityTwo/forum-twitter-feed|twcon^s1

5

 

[PtldPlatypus]

As an aside-- I've heard multiple players mention Keon as the guy who has improved the most and has opened eyes in the early going. I can't see how he gets anything other than garbage-time minutes, but it's interesting to hear his name when I least expect it.

 

[THE HCP]

there are different types of mediocrity, but the Blazers absolutely needed to move on from a decade of Olshey-vision mediocrity

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

 

[THE HCP]

haters just cant accept that nurk all-star level season is pending (this is the first time in his time in rip city that everything seems to be in perfect place)

im not even trolling

Who ARE you? Is this the JinxSpeed guys burner account?

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Imagine putting unreal expectations on a dude who hasn't played a competitive game since high school.

Then he shouldn't have entered the draft and should have stayed in college.
Imagine a player so sure of himself he enters the draft without playing college, NOT having some hefty expectations tossed at him.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

I would never have thought he would have stayed in Oregon?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

He was probably looking for valet service

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

He was probably looking for valet service

He was the valet! Hcp said no thanks. ill park my own shit!

 

[SIeepwalker]

He was the valet! Hcp said no thanks. ill park my own shit!

The valeter becomes the valeted

 

[HailBlazers]

I would never have thought he would have stayed in Oregon?

Must have kids in school. If I saw him I'd say something.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Must have kids in school. If I saw him I'd say something.

Nah. Kids being in school that stuff is sacred. Leave that be.

 

[HailBlazers]

Nah. Kids being in school that stuff is sacred. Leave that be.

Word. If anything I'd ask him in jest about CJ.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

In all seriousness, I would have walked up to him, thrown an arm around his shoulder like you're best friends, and taken a selfie with him.

 

[Hoopguru]

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

Did Grant beat LO?

 

[THE HCP]

I would never have thought he would have stayed in Oregon?

Has a kid going to school at LO I heard. Probably didn't want to uproot.

 

[THE HCP]

He was probably looking for valet service

HAAAA.....wait a sec.

 

[THE HCP]

Did Grant beat LO?

0-0 FAMS! Tough even game. We were missing 4 starters if that means anything. Great road tie though.

 

[THE HCP]

He was just such a jerk for so long. Just don't understand how people that others like that. I've sen guys like Tom Penn/KP/Cho tons of different old guys from our team and they go out of their way to come say what's up to us.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

He was just such a jerk for so long. Just don't understand how people that others like that. I've sen guys like Tom Penn/KP/Cho tons of different old guys from our team and they go out of their way to come say what's up to us.

Ask your wife to tell Olshey to be nice to you the next time she's wife him.

 

[THE HCP]

Bros....I even went around a second time to get a picture....I was fumbling my phone... but the time I got around he had moved. I was pissed!

 

[SIeepwalker]

Bros....I even went around a second time to get a picture....I was fumbling my phone... but the time I got around he had moved. I was pissed!

YOu didn't even get a blurry one ?

 

[illmatic99]

- Is Billups capable of being a winning HC? Feel like this is often overlooked. He had a lot of growing pains early on and winning was not a priority later along in the season.

surprised i'm one of the only people to say this. for all the talk of our new roster, Will Hardy seemed like he handled his fine last game over on the Utah bench.

don't get me wrong-- the roster construction has been questionable, but this notion of "billups' guys" is puzzling to me, especially when the coach has never previously been in this role.

Most successful coaches adapt to the roster instead of the other way around.

 

[blazerkor]

surprised i'm one of the only people to say this. for all the talk of our new roster, Will Hardy seemed like he handled his fine last game over on the Utah bench.

don't get me wrong-- the roster construction has been questionable, but this notion of "billups' guys" is puzzling to me, especially when the coach has never previously been in this role.

Most successful coaches adapt to the roster instead of the other way around.

It's the preseason! No one gives a shit about winning. Billups is evaluating different guys, in different situations, playing in different lineups, against certain personnel. I'm not saying we're going to be world beaters. I'm not even saying Chauncey is going to be a good or great head coach. I'm saying it's the fucking preseason and we should wait and see what rotations look like when the games count.