Dame / CJ Pairing

[Tince]

Many have felt that CJ was great, but the pairing with Dame was redundant which held him back.

What are people expecting CJ will do with the Pels? Better, worse, or the same?

 

[Natebishop3]

Define good?

They had success. They were just never serious contenders and the pairing had a lot of flaws. They were good enough to make some noise in the playoffs but as the #1 and #2 they were not enough to go beyond that.

 

[Hoopguru]

Many have felt that CJ was great, but the pairing with Dame was redundant which held him back.

What are people expecting CJ will do with the Pels? Better, worse, or the same?

Better for sure.

 

[Tince]

Define good?

They had success. They were just never serious contenders and the pairing had a lot of flaws. They were good enough to make some noise in the playoffs but as the #1 and #2 they were not enough to go beyond that.

That's a great question and if I could have made 9 options, would've picked "indifferent" as well. Pick "good" if you think they were a better pairing more than they were a bad pairing I guess.

 

[Tince]

I'm shocked to see a lot of people saying he was a bad pairing with Dame in Portland, but now without Dame will be no better in NOP.

To those people: Why do you think he won't improve now that he's escaped the bad pairing?

 

[Fairly-Hard]

All i know is a bunch felt he was good enough to get all star talent back in trade but not good enough to play for the Blazers with Lillard.
Not sure how anyone thinks he will do anything better in a different jersey?

 

[Tince]

All i know is a bunch felt he was good enough to get all star talent back in trade but not good enough to play for the Blazers with Lillard.
Not sure how anyone thinks he will do anything better in a different jersey?

He is in the prime of his career, so anything short of career best numbers would be a wash at best.

 

[blazerkor]

I mean if you've been watching and I know you have, CJ is better when he gets to instigate the offense and when he feels like the lead guard. He gets into a groove easier and he is a more willing passer. It stands to reason that he'll be a little better in NOLA unless they have Graham bring the ball up and give it to CJ in his iso spot just outside the three point line on the left wing... oh god the flashbacks. CJ will just dribble the ball until the shot clock is almost up and then do one of three things randomly regardless of the situation: 1. He'll jack up a pointlessly hard shot, 2. He'll pass the ball to someone in a horrible position with no time to put up anything with a chance to go in, or 3. He'll make a great move and get any shot he wants, making it most of the time.

Yeah, they need to let CJ run that offense so he feels secure and plays the right way. If they do that they'll get a better CJ on O but his D will always be a liability. I just can't wait to see Dame next season operating without feeling like he has to give CJ his turn every third possession.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm shocked to see a lot of people saying he was a bad pairing with Dame in Portland, but now without Dame will be no better in NOP.

To those people: Why do you think he won't improve now that he's escaped the bad pairing?

more shots and higher usage don't make for a better player? Volume increase but quality remains the same?

 

[Tince]

more shots and higher usage don't make for a better player? Volume increase but quality remains the same?

I think this is a good point.

If CJ has a higher usage, but his shooting percentage and assist/turnover ratio get worse, I would consider it a negative.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think this is a good point.

If CJ has a higher usage, but his shooting percentage and assist/turnover ratio get worse, I would consider it a negative.

I'm hoping CJ goes full blast MeJ because I think that would result in more Pels losses

 

[Tince]

I'm hoping CJ goes full blast MeJ because I think that would result in more Pels losses

That's what we want!

 

[Predator]

I'm shocked to see a lot of people saying he was a bad pairing with Dame in Portland, but now without Dame will be no better in NOP.

To those people: Why do you think he won't improve now that he's escaped the bad pairing?

Because he will probably be the third option in NO.

 

[Tince]

Because he will probably be the third option in NO.

That would certainly fly in the face of the people talking him up as a near all-star, who goes to a lottery team in his prime and is instantly a 3rd option.

 

[Predator]

That would certainly fly in the face of the people talking him up as a near all-star, who goes to a lottery team in his prime and is instantly a 3rd option.

Well, not really, because both Zion and Ingram have been named all stars before.
Zion is apparently the second coming of Jesus and the face of the franchise also.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Well, not really, because both Zion and Ingram have been named all stars before.
Zion is apparently the second coming of Jesus and the face of the franchise also.

But isn’t playing.
Might not ever actually stay healthy for a complete season.

 

[Predator]

Because he will probably be the third option in NO.

But isn’t playing.
Might not ever actually stay healthy for a complete season.

Hence the “probably”.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

Hence the “probably”.

Something tells me CJ will not be a third option there.

 

[Predator]

Something tells me CJ will not be a third option there.

If for some reason Zion asks out, I’m sure the Pelicans will get some really good assets.

I don’t see how CJ wouldn’t be the third option.

 

[STOMP]

Many have felt that CJ was great, but the pairing with Dame was redundant which held him back.

The pairing of CJ and Dame wasn't great largely because they were about the same size and neither could adequately guard wings. So now CJ goes to New Orleans and is paired with... Devonte Graham? Besides not being anything close to the talent that Dame was, he's even smaller which will exacerbate the same defensive issues. I think CJ is a pretty solid NBA player, but to maximize his effectiveness he should be his team's smallest starter and charged with primarily guarding the opponent's smallest guy.

STOMP