Game Thread Game #40 - BLAZERS VS KINGS - JANUARY 9, 2022 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[Hoopguru]

I'm thinking the only way we move CJ is to include Naz and Nurk or Nance. We may have to end up taking back a bad contract as well.

 

[TBpup]

I said a week or so ago I wanted to see consistency from ANT and he is answering the call! Last 4 games very impressive, if he can keep averaging 17-22 PPG with 6-7 assists that would be awesome. Happy for him and team as his emergence if continued (feeling much better about that) gives us more options

It's very encouraging. Just still don't see how he works with Dame. That is something Cronin will have to figure out. Dame needs a much better defender next to him who can play off the ball but also help create offense. Ant is showing he can do some of that, but so far, it seems like he would be something similar to CJ without all of the dribbling. Is that enough?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Ant has been quite good (offensively) as the PG. Wonder how he would be as a SG next to Dame. It's a bit of a mute point him being this good as a PG as long as Dame is here.

Another undersized, poor defender. Would rather include him in a trade for a good two way player. But is Simmons really a two way player? And Siakam is now way out of reach; really doubt that Toronto would trade him for Lillard.

 

[wizenheimer]

it was a useless win. More entertaining than a lot of the games this year, but still.....

of course, it was no fault of Portland. They played a team as uncommitted to defense as themselves and one that spent the evening lobbing brick after brick

 

[Scalma]

Look at the reaction of the Kings coaches. He was killing them. That’s respect.

 

[AldoTrapani]

So what we doing with Ant guys? The GT route?

 

[illmatic99]

Look at the reaction of the Kings coaches. He was killing them. That’s respect.

that looks like baby dame out there with all those P&R reads.

here's a fun per 36 comp:

Simons this year: 19.5 pts, 4 asts, 4 rebs, 58% TS, 15 PER
Dame rookie year: 17.8 pts, 6 asts, 3 rebs, 55% TS, 16 PER

(both essentially the same age).

Dame was terrific his rookie year, but made steady progress every season until year 7, which is unfathomable for a 4 yr college player. This is obviously going to be tough for anyone, much less Ant, to replicate.

 

[Scalma]

that looks like baby dame out there with all those P&R reads.

here's a fun per 36 comp:

Simons this year: 19.5 pts, 4 asts, 4 rebs, 58% TS, 15 PER
Dame rookie year: 17.8 pts, 6 asts, 3 rebs, 55% TS, 16 PER

(both essentially the same age).

Dame was terrific his rookie year, but made steady progress every season until year 7, which is unfathomable for a 4 yr college player. This is obviously going to be tough for anyone, much less Ant, to replicate.

yeah it’s why we can’t trade him unless we’re getting a star in return (no not Ben) He’s Dame insurance.

 

[Strenuus]

Trade Ant.

Keep Nas.

No other answer is right.

 

[blazerkor]

Trade Ant.

Keep Nas.

No other answer is right.

Nas fits with Dame and Ant just doesn't. Dame needs a guy that can hit open threes and play great defense next to him in the back court. Nas could actually play SG, he's quick and fast enough to play that position, he can hit open threes and he's got the potential to be a lockdown defender. Trade CJ, trade Norm, trade RoCo and Nurk.

Dame and Chauncey have to have the right players for them to succeed.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Nobody is going to give you an equivalent young for Simons. Teams trying to acquire him would want to give up their win now guys.

We aren't winning now. Damian is down. We need to stay young and trading Simons would contradict that. Keep him and pay him. Keep Little too.

Damian and Ant can figure it out next season and if they can't, it may very well accelerate trading Dame.

CJ, Nurk, Powell, Roco, Nance. There's got to be some combination that can get Ben Simmons. Trade for the highest ceiling.

 

[blazerkor]

Nobody is going to give you an equivalent young for Simons. Teams trying to acquire him would want to give up their win now guys.

We aren't winning now. Damian is down. We need to stay young and trading Simons would contradict that. Keep him and pay him. Keep Little too.

Damian and Ant can figure it out next season and if they can't, it may very well accelerate trading Dame.

CJ, Nurk, Powell, Roco, Nance. There's got to be some combination that can get Ben Simmons. Trade for the highest ceiling.

I think Ant and Dame figuring out how to work together is as likely as Dame and CJ figuring it out over all these years. They are both small guards that do best with the ball in their hands and don't play defense well at all.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think Ant and Dame figuring out how to work together is as likely as Dame and CJ figuring it out over all these years. They are both small guards that do best with the ball in their hands and don't play defense well at all.

it just goes on an on...the olshey infection runs deep

great...he drafted a good player in the later stages of the draft. But it was another no-defense 6'3 guard. Portland has 6 of those on the "best roster" that olshey put together.

say the Blazers trade CJ for some front court help. Then, say that Simons get a contract similar to Powell. That would leave a 6'3 and under back court rotation of three guards who play bad defense and dominate the ball and FGA's. And those 3 guards would be paid 90M/year which will be 70-75% of the salary cap, and over 60% of the total cap thru the tax threshold. Portland has been there, done that, and it doesn't fucking work. Simply straddling the same fence they have been straddling for 7 years

I am probably over-simplifying things but it seems Portland has only two options; just 2 doors to walk thru: one with Dame, and one without Dame. The only logical one with Dame is that at least two of CJ-Powell-Simons are traded. And for damn sure avoid a reboot of the Dame/CJ experiment by just going to a Dame/Simons experiment. Portland goes for one honest effort to build a contender around Dame. Powell would be the minimal back court partner for Dame, but I'd hope the Blazers would land somebody better. Set Wesley Matthews as the baseline and frankly, Powell's weak defense tends to eliminate him from that comp

behind the other door is a total detonation of the roster. Blow it sky high and trade everybody over 24 for draft picks, young players, and expiring contracts. Get bad ASAP and add some high lottery picks to the collection of future picks and pray like crazy they can draft a player, preferably 2, with as much upside as Dame had

I don't think I've been as pessimistic about Portland's chances since the Walton team fell apart. I have no confidence in Cronin, Jody Allen, or the Vulcans. I'm expecting the Blazers to make only a minor move or two before the trade deadline, then make the play-in, lose their draft pick, then get curb-stomped in the first round. Then more dithering and fence-straddling in the summer. I hope I'm wrong and Cronin surprises me