Game Thread Game #47 - BLAZERS VS TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 25, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

[wizenheimer]

Portland didn't win many games when Dame and CJ combined for more shots than points. They'll win even less when Simons and CJ combine for more shots than points, like tonight. Simons needs a refresher on ball security too; in the last 2 games, 12 assists and 12 turnovers

tonight was a trap game. That's often the case in the 1st home game after a long road trip

 

[OneSport3]

This is Ant’s first season playing meaningful minutes! People are expecting him to be an All-Star already? His ceiling is higher than CJ’s. He is more athletic than CJ. He’s shown nothing but progression on both ends of the court.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Portland didn't win many games when Dame and CJ combined for more shots than points. They'll win even less when Simons and CJ combine for more shots than points, like tonight. Simons needs a refresher on ball security too; in the last 2 games, 12 assists and 12 turnovers

tonight was a trap game. That's often the case in the 1st home game after a long road trip

How was it a trap game? Minnesota is a better team with a better roster with a better record and was high after a win over Brooklyn. We're 6 (now) 7 games below .500. Were we really overconfident?? That would be a coaching fail.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

This is Ant’s first season playing meaningful minutes! People are expecting him to be an All-Star already? His ceiling is higher than CJ’s. He is more athletic than CJ. He’s shown nothing but progression on both ends of the court.

This is not entirely true. This is his first time playing starters minutes for a meaningful part of the season but he has been playing meaningful minutes off the bench for some time now.

 

[Tince]

Enjoyable game overall. Wanted that last 3 to fall, but come May, we might be glad we got that loss.

Billups had the team in some nice situations throughout the night.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Good post but Nurkic is 27 and will be 28 by the time next season starts.

My bad. Still very young. Point still stands.

 

[wizenheimer]

How was it a trap game? Minnesota is a better team with a better roster with a better record and was high after a win over Brooklyn. We're 6 (now) 7 games below .500. Were we really overconfident?? That would be a coaching fail.

I explained in my post what I meant by "trap" game.

 

[Scalma]

I think what we’re seeing is the evolution of the offense. It’s becoming clear that the team plays better when everything runs through Nurk. We also get the best out of him. The attention he draws makes the players around him better. Not even CJ demands the level of respect from defenses that he does.

So if Nurk is one of the primary options, you really just need guys that can knock down shots rather than creators. So we should probably be looking for low usage players that defend and can knock down an open shot. Herb Jones is an example but I’m sure there are others, they’re easier to find than pure scorers.

 

[Scalma]

Also no way you can bench Nas, fuck that.

 

[illmatic99]

great attitude

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I explained in my post what I meant by "trap" game.

I think people say that because it's actually the last stop of the trip even though you're at home. But I don't see how that makes it a trap game. I guess I'm saying if you're well coached and you're professional, there's no such thing as a trap game. More of a thing fans talk about.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I think what we’re seeing is the evolution of the offense. It’s becoming clear that the team plays better when everything runs through Nurk. We also get the best out of him. The attention he draws makes the players around him better. Not even CJ demands the level of respect from defenses that he does.

So if Nurk is one of the primary options, you really just need guys that can knock down shots rather than creators. So we should probably be looking for low usage players that defend and can knock down an open shot. Herb Jones is an example but I’m sure there are others, they’re easier to find than pure scorers.

Isn't that what Covington and Nance are? And Nas too.

 

[B-Roy]

I’m just happy Nas isn’t hurt. If he had a significant injury I’d be done for the season.

 

[Chris Craig]

5. Trade Powell before I have an aneurysm

Powell was not happy coming off the bench

 

[BlazerBeav]

Also no way you can bench Nas, fuck that.

The difference defensively with him at the 3 instead of a guard is night and day.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Powell was not happy coming off the bench

Did he mention this or is this conjecture on your end?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

All it took was one bad game from Ant and more than half the board turned on him. Okay.

 

[Chris Craig]

Did he mention this or is this conjecture on your end?

He just didn't look like he enjoyed being out there. He played terribly. Just 8 points.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

He just didn't look like he enjoyed being out there. He played terribly. Just 8 points.

I would argue that's his demeanor. Everyone has bad games. I am less interested in depth as I am consolidating. I would love to use CJ and Powell to net an all-star 4. Billups did the right thing that Stotts wouldn't done.

 

[blazerfan11]

Wow. Watford and DSJ were the only Blazers who shot at least 50%.

You forgot Nassir Little. 7-11, 4-6 on three-pointers.

 

[stampedehero]

Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers - Box Score - January 25, 2022 - ESPN

 

[TBpup]

Powell was not happy coming off the bench

I'm guessing he was less happy with only 6 shots while Ant/CJ continued to fire blanks. There was some definite body language that indicated he was pretty irritated.

 

[Strenuus]

Sell high.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

All it took was one bad game from Ant and more than half the board turned on him. Okay.

Wait til he goes through another shooting slump. 4-5 games and it'll be a blood bath.

 

[TBpup]

Wait til he goes through another shooting slump. 4-5 games and it'll be a blood bath.

He's going to have ups and downs. What I'd like to see improve over the rest of the season is:

• A tighter handle. He is a little loose at times and as teams blitz him, that becomes more and more of a problem.
• Getting to the FT line. He's too much like CJ in that he avoids contact. It will help him on nights when his shot isn't falling.
• Improve defensively. The T-Wolves guards (and pretty much anyone one else he is matched up with) torch him. He is getting a little better, but the bar was very low.
• Finish at the rim. He operates almost exclusively in the 10'-25' range. With all his hops, he needs to attack the basket better.

Some of those should come with experience and strength. The FT/attack the basket issue might be a bit of just who he is. In Dame's rookie season he was at 3.6 FTAs per 36.. By his 2nd season, that was over 5. Ant's career average is just over 2 and he is in his 4th season. CJ is a career 2.6/36 minutes. That is too similar for my liking.

 

[blazerfan11]

Powell was not happy coming off the bench

But everyone else was.

 

[TBpup]

But everyone else was.

One might suggest Norm has 89,000,000 more reasons to take issue than most of the Blazer bench. Especially watching the clank fest when he is one of the Blazers most efficient shooters. That is one thing Dame/CJ/Ant don't do very well. Get the ball the the player who is making the most shots on a consistent basis. Or even more so, when a player is hot, continue feeding them.

Rather, Dame sometimes, CJ often, and Ant not as much, if they haven't taken a shot in a few trips down the flow, they will just jack one up regardless of how hot a teammate is. It has been frustrating for years.

 

[wizenheimer]

All it took was one bad game from Ant and more than half the board turned on him. Okay.

people say I'm anti-Ant(i). All I said about him after this game was ball security. 12 turnovers in last 2 games. Opposing teams have had time now to build some extensive scouting reports on him and they are not going to let him move to his favorite driving lanes and shooting zones without some resistance. He'll need to start adjusting to defenses defending his strengths and exploiting his weaknesses. Dame has had to adjust for a decade; CJ for 7 years. That's what happens to featured players and Simons is featured now.

 

[Fairly-Hard]

people say I'm anti-Ant(i). All I said about him after this game was ball security. 12 turnovers in last 2 games. Opposing teams have had time now to build some extensive scouting reports on him and they are not going to let him move to his favorite driving lanes and shooting zones without some resistance. He'll need to start adjusting to defenses defending his strengths and exploiting his weaknesses. Dame has had to adjust for a decade; CJ for 7 years. That's what happens to featured players and Simons is featured now.

You aren't wrong. Ant has been scouted and it's showing. Next move is his. Also notice teams are starting to cover him when he comes across mid court just like Dame.
They are not letting him even think about driving right. They are making him cross over left. He is losing the handle and also is having a hard time passing out of the drive.
You are spot on on this. He needs to take the next step and improve. Might be this summer before we see much but my guess is we will see it if he is still here.

 

[illmatic99]

Gotta toughen up

“I went up for the rebound, my arm was extended and Kat, he just tried to rip the ball down and my arm was caught up in there,” said Little. “I just got it strained a little bit and it was hurting a lot initially, but after I kind of moved my arm around I realized I was all right and that I was being a little bit of a drama queen.”

The team medical staff evidently didn’t agree with Little’s “drama queen” assessment, as the decision was made to hold him out of Wednesday’s game. His status going forward is still to be determined.

https://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/portland-down-two-more-starters-again-versus-dallas