Four Meetings

[PtldPlatypus]

Mostly bad teams? Our last 5 wins were against playoff teams with All NBA players. And they weren’t flukes as we beat Orlando and Phoenix twice, Why aren’t other teams going 9-1? Do they only play OKC, Boston, and Cleveland?

You should read the entire post. I said, "bad teams, or teams on the second half of a road back-to-back". That second descriptor applied to Milwaukee, Phoenix (game 1), and Indiana. I also said, "defense...is the primary culprit".

They're playing well, no doubt, but it would be disingenuous to pretend that the schedule isn't a factor.

 

[KingSpeed]

Can’t believe how many of you have given up. His scoring had gone up each year and he’s set up to make a leap going into his 4th season. These things take time: SGA, Kawhi, Jimmy, PG, Giannis, took about 4 years.

 

[bemac]

You should read the entire post. I said, "bad teams, or teams on the second half of a road back-to-back". That second descriptor applied to Milwaukee, Phoenix (game 1), and Indiana. I also said, "defense...is the primary culprit".

They're playing well, no doubt, but it would be disingenuous to pretend that the schedule isn't a factor.

Seriously, how does this make sense to you. Do you recognize how difficult it is to beat a team with 2 superstars back to back? The first one, sure, but they wanted that second one. The Indiana Pacers were the hottest team in the NBA, and were very aware what they were coming into. The Bucks were highly motivated to beat the Blazers, and were playing good basketball before they played the Blazers. It does appear that Portland did serious harm to both the Suns and the Bucks. That's impressive.

So, no, let's not be throwing around the disingenuous word.

 

[KingSpeed]

You should read the entire post. I said, "bad teams, or teams on the second half of a road back-to-back". That second descriptor applied to Milwaukee, Phoenix (game 1), and Indiana. I also said, "defense...is the primary culprit".

They're playing well, no doubt, but it would be disingenuous to pretend that the schedule isn't a factor.

Every team in the league plays other teams on the 2nd of a back to back and none of them are 9-1. Heck, we had gone to OT the night before the Indiana game and we destroyed them anyway The reason we’re winning has nothing to do with scheduling and everything to do with our improved play.

 

[bemac]

Can’t believe how many of you have given up. His scoring had gone up each year and he’s set up to make a leap going into his 4th season. These things take time: SGA, Kawhi, Jimmy, PG, Giannis, took about 4 years.

There are a lot of people in here trying to save face, and rather than see what is, they are searching for anything to suggest a problem and avoid admitting they were wrong. I get it. As someone who has expressed a belief in the potential of this team, coach and management the entire season, I'd be making excuses as well if we weren't witnessing what we currently are. Now, I'm enjoying.

 

[Mediocre Man]

View attachment 70933

Ant is not Aikman, and the other two are not roster fodder

 

[Pinwheel1]

Because the assumption that Billups didn't sit down with Simons because Simons was on the way out.

But if Simons ISN'T on the way out, there's no excuse to not hold Simons accountable the same way he's holding Scoot and Sharpe accountable.

Or he did talk to him and the conversation was more private. I am sure there are lots of conversations between coaches and players that are not privy to the media or even other players.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Because the assumption that Billups didn't sit down with Simons because Simons was on the way out.

But if Simons ISN'T on the way out, there's no excuse to not hold Simons accountable the same way he's holding Scoot and Sharpe accountable.

So if Simons is supposed to be on his way out - but the GM can't close the deal thats Billups fault?

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I have zero problems with Ayton, Grant, Deni and Camara as the starting core. That group has been off the charts good defensively. I think Scoot should start now that he’s improved both offensively and defensively, but there’s no denying that Ant can get on a tear offensively. Maybe Chauncey likes how teams have to defend him from deep. Scoot and Sharpe are both improving off the bench and the Blazers are winning. As long as that continues, Chauncey is good in my book.

If you had to pick the best 3 defenders to pair with Ant/Ayton its probably the trio of Camara/Deni/Grant.

 

[blazerkor]

There are a lot of people in here trying to save face, and rather than see what is, they are searching for anything to suggest a problem and avoid admitting they were wrong. I get it. As someone who has expressed a belief in the potential of this team, coach and management the entire season, I'd be making excuses as well if we weren't witnessing what we currently are. Now, I'm enjoying.

We're better than almost all of us thought with you probably being one of the only exceptions. That being said we need to get even better. I don't think you would be cool with the idea that Chauncey isn't trying to get better as a coach. I don't think you would be cool with any of our players not trying to get better. So I don't think anyone should be cool with Joe sitting on his laurels just because this team is better than most of us thought... he should be trying desperately to improve the roster. The only real way these wins pay off is if it gets this young team some added experience... in a play in game, two play in games or even the playoffs. Otherwise we should sit the vets (DA, Rob, Ant and Jerami) and let the young guys get reps in losses. I think Deni and Tou have got a lot of reps as well already so maybe they only play against the very best teams in the league.

Nobody in the organization should have any interest in anything other than winning big in the playoffs. It's a long game but every day counts. So Joe better be working to make this roster better in the long run. Unless you think we're contenders right now, as is.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Seriously, how does this make sense to you.

Because I understand that multiple things can contribute simultaneously to an event.

If you want to believe that this iteration of the team has suddenly morphed into a title contender, have at it, but let's not pretend that those of us who cast a more cautious eye don't have valid reasons to do so.

 

[Everything Beagle]

To much hype/marketing of young players coming in young.

Hate the obsession with extreme youth in draft picks. Most players aren't fully baked until 23, and players in off/def leadership positions (PG, C especially) sometimes take another two years on top of that before you can even see their ceilings properly.

 

[Everything Beagle]

It was only a matter of time before he became an adjective.

Verb

 

[bemac]

We're better than almost all of us thought with you probably being one of the only exceptions. That being said we need to get even better. I don't think you would be cool with the idea that Chauncey isn't trying to get better as a coach. I don't think you would be cool with any of our players not trying to get better. So I don't think anyone should be cool with Joe sitting on his laurels just because this team is better than most of us though... he should be trying desperately to improve the roster. The only real way these wins pay off is if it gets this young team some added experience... in a play in game, two play in games or even the playoffs. Otherwise we should sit the vets (DA, Rob, Ant and Jerami) and let the young guys get reps in losses. I think Deni and Tou have got a lot of reps as well already so maybe they only play against the very best teams in the league.

Nobody in the organization should have any interest in anything other than winning big in the playoffs. It's a long game but every day counts. So Joe better be working to make this roster better in the long run. Unless you think we're contenders right now, as is.

Honestly, I believe anything they do is a risk. Draft is a risk. Trades are a risk. Status quo is a risk. This said, and the way the team is playing, I personally believe that playing out the season while gaining a better understanding of what the team needs is worth the risk. For whatever reason, I believe that Joe Cronin, Sergi Oliva, Chauncey and the rest of the basketball operations people have a little something cooking. I may get burned, you never know.

 

[Strenuus]

Verb

Both.

 

[e_blazer]

Because I understand that multiple things can contribute simultaneously to an event.

If you want to believe that this iteration of the team has suddenly morphed into a title contender, have at it, but let's not pretend that those of us who cast a more cautious eye don't have valid reasons to do so.

Next 5 games:

I think we're going to find out pretty quickly if this win streak is more than a scheduling fluke.

 

[crandc]

Shae and Scoot are young players. I can see coaches wanting to give them more guidance than vets. And also Jerami and Ant, they are less likely to change a great deal at this stage of their careers.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Next 5 games:
View attachment 70936
I think we're going to find out pretty quickly if this win streak is more than a scheduling fluke.

I think it's likely that it continues through Thursday, and a win in Minnesota wouldn't surprise me; the Wolves haven't really been great (just lost at home to the Wiz). Those games in Denver will be very telling though. They should be losses, but if they're close losses (or better), this team's legitimacy will be hard to deny.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

If he’s traded in the next 24 hours I’ll issue an apology to the Conductor

I gotta see this. I am going to wish even harder that he gets traded!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Nope

Nope what? Nope, Billups four meetings did not do it? Nope, MM will not apologize? Nope, Shaedon does not smoke dope?

 

[blazerkor]

Nope what? Nope, Billups four meetings did not do it? Nope, MM will not apologize? Nope, Shaedon does not smoke dope?

Careful there most people don't call marijuana dope these days unless it's really good and then they might say it's really dope. When I hear someone say that someone else smokes dope, I think they're saying that the person free bases heroin. Dope over the years has evolved to mean much harder drugs than marijuana.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Careful there most people don't call marijuana dope these days unless it's really good and then they might say it's really dope. When I hear someone say that someone else smokes dope, I think they're saying that the person free bases heroin. Dope over the years has evolved to mean much harder drugs than marijuana.

facts

 

[Phatguysrule]

Careful there most people don't call marijuana dope these days unless it's really good and then they might say it's really dope. When I hear someone say that someone else smokes dope, I think they're saying that the person free bases heroin. Dope over the years has evolved to mean much harder drugs than marijuana.

Anything harder than sugar or caffeine is dope as far as I'm concerned. Lol

 

[Natebishop3]

Or he did talk to him and the conversation was more private. I am sure there are lots of conversations between coaches and players that are not privy to the media or even other players.

Well, Sharpe got moved to the bench and Simons did not. So did he talk to him? Maybe. But Simons still sucks at defense and Simons is still starting

 

[Natebishop3]

So if Simons is supposed to be on his way out - but the GM can't close the deal thats Billups fault?

That means that if the deadline passes, and Simons is still here, he better be getting moved to the bench until his defense improves.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Well, Sharpe got moved to the bench and Simons did not. So did he talk to him? Maybe. But Simons still sucks at defense and Simons is still starting

Yet they have looked better with the current starting lineup. Playing great D with Simons starting.
Do I think he is a great defender? No, but to my eye, he has improved quite a bit in the last year.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yet they have looked better with the current starting lineup. Playing great D with Simons starting.
Do I think he is a great defender? No, but to my eye, he has improved quite a bit in the last year.

Orrrrrrrrrrr he's out there with four really good defenders and we're covering for his warts, but Scoot is a better defender, better shooter right now, and just better overall.

 

[wizenheimer]

Yet they have looked better with the current starting lineup. Playing great D with Simons starting.
Do I think he is a great defender? No, but to my eye, he has improved quite a bit in the last year.

last season he was 3.5 worse than the team in defensive rating; this season he's 4.1 points worse

last season, he had a DBPM 1.9 points worse than the team; this season he's 1.4 points worse than the team

so a mixed bag of simple gauges, but he's still worse than any rotation Blazer. And he's been the worst since he assumed the starting role in the 2021-22 season

 

[andalusian]

That means that if the deadline passes, and Simons is still here, he better be getting moved to the bench until his defense improves.

I think he might be moved to the injury list, DNP: Tanking

 

[Pinwheel1]

Orrrrrrrrrrr he's out there with four really good defenders and we're covering for his warts, but Scoot is a better defender, better shooter right now, and just better overall.

Look I love how Scoot is playing and I hope he does start. But Simons is also playing well. He fits well next to Deni in the backcourt. And Scoot is playing great off the bench. So maybe Chauncey knows more than both of us? But we are getting off-topic. None of us have a clue whether or not Chauncey talked to Simons as well