Game Thread GAME# 52: SPURS @ BLAZERS - FEBRUARY 6, 2020 - THURSDAY, 7:00 PM, NBCSNW

[Tince]

Actually, it seems like Portland does an poor job taking undervalued guys and making them useful compared to the average NBA team.

Here's a list of 28 good role players (or better) that came into the league in the last 5 years as an undrafted free agent or that their team originally got with:
- The 41st pick or lower
- As a minimum level free agent with no market
- As a trade throw-in

Joe Ingles, Royce O'Neale, Nikola Jokic, Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Dillon Brooks, Thomas Bryant, Maxi Kleber, Daniel Thies, Montrezl Harrell, Bryn Forbes, Fred Vanvleet, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr, Monte Morris, Khris Middleton, Moritz Wagner, Terrence Davis, Spencer Dinwiddie, Alex Caruso, De'Anthony Melton, Dorian Finney-Smith, Ben McLemore, Nemanja Bjelica, Eric Paschall, Bruce Brown, Christian Wood, Danuel House, etc. Probably missing some.

Interesting way of looking at it.

Based off your number, 28 players (with a wide range of skill levels) over 5 years means you'd expect a team to have a productive undrafted free agent in any given year, 18% of the time. Melo certainly had no market and signed for the minimum and he's being very productive this year. A guy like Harkless who was given up for a top 55 protected pick started and was better than most on that list above. Was Nurk a throw in with the Plumlee trade?

I think you're right, we haven't had a GM identify an undrafted talent that could change the franchise.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

So far I've only checked 3 message boards after our games and they were all similar complaints; so I hate to say it, but you probably shouldn't be surprised. 3 out of 3 is a small sample size, but I wouldn't be surprised if the majority of fans complain about effort, the star players, and the coaching after losses.

My brother is from Minnesota; I can guarantee you they complain about players coaches and GM, a lot.

 

[maxiep]

Patty became a flopper. Sheesh, falling on every shot

That's coaching. He's a Spur through and through.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Depends what you consider trashing. Simons has been pretty bad most of the season. In my opinion he's not ready to play on a good team, certainly not at point guard. I don't think I'm trashing him by saying that. He could get better next year or starting next week through the end of the season and my opinion would change accordingly.

The irritation comes when fans write off a player so quickly. It is like they have no concept of the one and done NBA. Most of these young players are just not ready to contribute in their first year or two. So fans need to plan for it and accept it. How many times do we hear that a certain young player will never make it in the NBA or he is Europe bound? The answer is, pretty much every fucking year. It gets really old.

As you say there is nothing wrong with saying Simons (or Trent, or Jake, or Connaughton or even Patty Mills) is not ready, or that he sucking right now. The issue is you would think that fans would be smart enough to understand that just because someone shoots a lot in a summer league game, or in the G league, or at the end of a blow out game.....doesn't mean they would play the same way with the starters. And it doesn't mean they won't get better if they have the right work ethic.

 

[CupWizier]

That's coaching. He's a Spur through and through.

as well as Derrick White. That guy flopped anytime someone got close to him. They had 28 free throws to our 12. Ridiculous.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Some nice photos of tonight's game from the Blazers site -

I like how Anf is holding Collins back so he doesn't go all the way out onto the court. On the Dame/DeRozan photo I think DeRozan is saying "Look how much taller I am than CJ, I would make a great backcourt mate for you. Maybe you could motivate me to play defense, somehow Pops has failed."

 

[maxiep]

I know the guy is huge and ripped, but I look at him and still think, "Man, that kid's a wussy stringbean compared to his dad."

 

[maxiep]

We have now beaten Indiana, Lakers, Rockets, Jazz, and Spurs since Ariza joined our team. This was supposed to be the most brutal part of our schedule.

Ariza has been everything we thought Bazemore was supposed to be for us.

 

[maxiep]

19 points 6 assists 1 turnover and a +12

Exactly. CJ is the new lightning rod.

As for how the game was substituted by Stotts, regardless of the talent level, the Spurs are the best-coached team in the NBA. Pops just takes things away from you and forces countermoves. He knows our rotation and how Stotts likes to play our guys. CJ played just fine, Stotts modified his rotation and Trent stepped up. Three good things.

The problem with familiarity is that you start seeing all the things players CAN'T do, rather than the amazing things they can do. I remember living in Chicago in the 90s. People were chill with Jordan, but Pip got ROASTED on a daily basis. At that point in time, he was a top-five player in the league. His crime: He wasn't MJ.

I love CJ and am happy he's a Blazer.

 

[BBert]

Wow Trent playing over CJ down the stretch

Mario -12 in 13 minutes....

Stotts went with the hot hand.

Now I've seen everything!

J/K Had to throw that in there.

 

[maxiep]

It hits me every time we play the Spurs, but I wonder if LaMarshmallow looks back--seeing how our biggest hole is at the 4 and what we would look like with him--and says, "Man, did I ever f*** up."?

I hope so. That idiot could have been among the greatest Blazers ever, with a stone cold lock of #12 hanging in the rafters. Now, he's just putting up pedestrian stats in a small market on a "used-to-be-great" team. Spurs fans will look back and think of LaMarshmallow the way we think of Kiki Vandeweghe, a good, but not great player that put up meaningless stats on forgettable teams.

Well done, LaMarsha. Well done.

 

[BBert]

as well as Derrick White. That guy flopped anytime someone got close to him. They had 28 free throws to our 12. Ridiculous.

There was a play where the guy threw both his legs out on a jump shot trying to create contact, but didn't. Maybe that was him, haha.

 

[CupWizier]

There was a play where the guy threw both his legs out on a jump shot trying to create contact, but didn't. Maybe that was him, haha.

Yep, that was him and he even fell down to try and draw attention. The guy should have been t'd up for flopping

 

[maxiep]

As an aside, I love how Dame puts up 26 and 10, and we're posting about how he's "come back to earth" or "cooled off". Man, what a run we're seeing. Perhaps only equalled by Walton in 77-78 before his injury.

 

[illmatic99]

It hits me every time we play the Spurs, but I wonder if LaMarshmallow looks back--seeing how our biggest hole is at the 4 and what we would look like with him--and says, "Man, did I ever f*** up."?

I hope so. That idiot could have been among the greatest Blazers ever, with a stone cold lock of #12 hanging in the rafters. Now, he's just putting up pedestrian stats in a small market on a "used-to-be-great" team. Spurs fans will look back and think of LaMarshmallow the way we think of Kiki Vandeweghe, a good, but not great player that put up meaningless stats on forgettable teams.

Well done, LaMarsha. Well done.

Kawhi becoming a prima donna screwed up a lot of things for them, and his prospects there.

 

[kjironman1]

My brother is from Minnesota; I can guarantee you they complain about players coaches and GM, a lot.

Ha Ha Ha I'll bet.
I always wonder what the heck happened to the T-Wolves?
This is almost on a yearly basis.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'll admit that until about 2 months ago I questioned if Trent was going to be a decent enough NBA player to have any staying power. He was terrible last season and he had a really high usage rate. It looked like there wasn't a shot he wasn't willing to take meaning his bad efficiency made him worse than a scrub. Antoine Walker approves

but this season he's showed vastly improved shot selection and recognition of the offensive flow. His usage is way down and his efficiency is way up. And he's showing some promise at the defensive end of the floor although it's not nearly as good as some are claiming.

it's just a bit scary that he has only one season before his RFA summer. Portland may have to consider matching a sizable offer if Trent keeps up this kind of progression. You can bet that the Spurs have noticed him. I'm not sure what it will mean that Trent will have an extension a year before Simons does

 

[stampedehero]

Dame couldn't sustain 50 ppg forever. Good to see he can be mortal and Blazers still win.

A mellow feeling in Blazer world (today)

 

[B-Roy]

I was never worried about Trent, although I am surprised he is developing so soon, but I guess he was forced into this position.

Portland has such a good track record developing guys that play his role. Barton (although he broke out elsewhere), Connaughton, Crabbe, Layman. I’m sure they’ll grab another guy in one of the next few drafts that fit the same mold.

 

[B-Roy]

Hey pop, put your money where your mouth is and pick Dame for the Olympic team.