Hypothetical: Dame to play in the series against SAS (4 Viewers)

[Domihatin]

Tatum came back unexpectedly for the Celtics, Dame performed in the 3-point contest, Dame has been shooting a lot in practice and doing a lot of workouts.....he's a little heavier, but he's no Haliburger (will someone post a Haliburger pic?) and you certainly can't use the letters in Damian to spell: DAMN, he's fat!!

But seriously...even if it is very unlikely...

Imagine if they announce this, what would your feelings be?

I bet Damian has a little bit of itchy feet and hands syndrome, horse chomping at the bit...kinda wishing he could get out there. It must be hard for him to stand by and spectate when he sees this happening. I know he said at the beginning of the season that even if they were the 1 seed, he figured they wouldn't need his help anyway, but this is practically the opposite of that scenario.

Ask yourself this question, how much do our odds go up if Dame plays as a shooter, maybe off the bench in this series?

Anyway, how would you feel?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Tatum came back unexpectedly for the Celtics, Dame performed in the 3-point contest, Dame has been shooting a lot in practice and doing a lot of workouts.....he's a little heavier, but he's no Haliburger (will someone post a Haliburger pic?) and you certainly can't use the letters in Damian to spell: DAMN, he's fat!!

But seriously...even if it is very unlikely...

Imagine if they announce this, what would your feelings be?

I bet Damian has a little bit of itchy feet and hands syndrome, horse chomping at the bit...kinda wishing he could get out there. It must be hard for him to stand by and spectate when he sees this happening. I know he said at the beginning of the season that even if they were the 1 seed, he figured they wouldn't need his help anyway, but this is practically the opposite of that scenario.

Ask yourself this question, how much do our odds go up if Dame plays as a shooter, maybe off the bench in this series?

Anyway, how would you feel?

Who loses their playing time? I guess it would be Scoot or Thybulle. I guess if Dame were able to practice all week and be in good enough game shape that his defense is not any worse than it was, it would be fun to see him out there for 5 minutes per half and then maybe at the end of the game when the team switches out defense for offense.

But in reality, there would be very little chemistry with the other players because he has not played with any of them except Jerami. (and Jrue in the Olympics) I don't think it would end well. However, if, in the unlikely event, they were able to beat SA and he got 6 or 7 games under his belt, it would bode well for the next series.

 

[Domihatin]

Who loses their playing time? I guess it would be Scoot or Thybulle. I guess if Dame were able to practice all week and be in good enough game shape that his defense is not any worse than it was, it would be fun to see him out there for 5 minutes per half and then maybe at the end of the game when the team switches out defense for offense.

But in reality, there would be very little chemistry with the other players because he has not played with any of them except Jerami. (and Jrue in the Olympics) I don't think it would end well. However, if, in the unlikely event, they were able to beat SA and he got 6 or 7 games under his belt, it would bode well for the next series.

I kind of wondered about the idea of having him inserted in 4th quarters as a closer like they did with Banton, where he's got fresh legs and isn't winded like everyone else. It would be interesting.

 

[kjironman1]

Nah. This team got where they are without him on the court. They need him on the sidelines for sure but let these guys get what they got coming.
Next year let Dame win his spot and stay healthy and keep it.
Plugging in Dame right now IMHO would be great to see for fans at first but a challenge the rest of the way.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think he could play but there's no point this year. His role has been a coach and he can help his team even more on that front.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think it would be worth it. He'd mess with the rotation and he'd definitely be rusty. I'd also really like to see what Scoot does. I still think there's a real possibility that Scoot and Shae could be traded this summer for a star and I want to see what we have in this series.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[wizenheimer]

Poll needs a WTF option

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think it would be worth it. He'd mess with the rotation and he'd definitely be rusty. I'd also really like to see what Scoot does. I still think there's a real possibility that Scoot and Shae could be traded this summer for a star and I want to see what we have in this series.

I would like to see them get some experience in this series so they can learn from it. Not sure about trading both guards, though.
I can't imagine who would give us a star guard in return, and that is what we would need most.

If you are thinking Giannis, we could afford to lose a ball handler (Scoot) but not both. Who are some of your potential targets?

 

[Domihatin]

I would like to see them get some experience in this series so they can learn from it. Not sure about trading both guards, though.
I can't imagine who would give us a star guard in return, and that is what we would need most.

If you are thinking Giannis, we could afford to lose a ball handler (Scoot) but not both. Who are some of your potential targets?

I'm not sold on The Greek Freeze or 10-Seconds of Eternity or Giannis Antetokoun-slo or whatever you want to call him. He takes too long to sometimes make his free throws.

 

[Domihatin]

Poll needs a WTF option

I ran out of poll slots. My phone kept trying to autocorrect to pole slots.

Anyway, looks like 'happiness' is winning with 6 votes and 'all of the above' has 4, which includes happiness.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Yeah tough situationally be nice to have available but rotation wise it’d be tough. I think we need Sharpe and Scoot to get as many as minutes as possible and they are likely the two that would lose minutes to Dame. Will be interesting next year almost seems like we have a log jam if all 4 on team next year.

 

[Domihatin]

Yeah tough situationally be nice to have available but rotation wise it’d be tough. I think we need Sharpe and Scoot to get as many as minutes as possible and they are likely the two that would lose minutes to Dame. Will be interesting next year almost seems like we have a log jam if all 4 on team next year.

For sure. I guess it's good to be deep, though. And I'm sure that some kind of trades are going to happen. It's going to be a wild off season. If they were to throw Damian out there in the fourth quarter, it sure would cause a stir, though. Imagine if they weren't required to list him as available before the game and could just suddenly put him in without anyone being prepared for that. But don't they require it to be announced at a certain point before the game?

 

[Idog1976]

Yeah tough situationally be nice to have available but rotation wise it’d be tough. I think we need Sharpe and Scoot to get as many as minutes as possible and they are likely the two that would lose minutes to Dame. Will be interesting next year almost seems like we have a log jam if all 4 on team next year.

Surely we trade Jrue and hopefully Jerami this summer. I think the days of Dame holding the team hostage with demands for friends and family are over.

 

[Natebishop3]

I would like to see them get some experience in this series so they can learn from it. Not sure about trading both guards, though.
I can't imagine who would give us a star guard in return, and that is what we would need most.

If you are thinking Giannis, we could afford to lose a ball handler (Scoot) but not both. Who are some of your potential targets?

Man I just don't know about Giannis..... I think Deni and Giannis are similar in a lot of ways. Obviously Giannis is better but he's also a lot older and a lot more injury prone. But their style of play is very similar. I don't know if they would fit very well together. Giannis thrived when they put shooters around him like Middleton and Jrue and Lopez, etc.

But I think this team COULD be poised to make a run if they added another star. I just don't think Scoot has that ceiling anymore. I'm not seeing it. Sharpe maybe.... but god the guy can't stay healthy.

Which stars could be available?
Banchero?
Booker?
Bam?
Anthony Davis?
Zion
Ja Morant
Kawhi
Markkanen

Who would fit? I'm sure there's probably some others. I still think Booker is interesting. They have been playing him at point guard. Put him back at shooting guard with Dame and Deni.

 

[BBert]

Of course it would be an epic reaction if Dame played. I'd have him come out of the tunnel to check in for maximum surprise and effect.

But has he even scrimmaged with the team? It seems like that would be big news. And NBA game conditioning is no joke.

I say no.

 

[BBert]

As for Giannis, I say no. Old. Injured a lot. One year on contract. Expensive in terms of both players and money (isn't he set to make $60 mil?) With our youth and future picks I'd rather approximate the Presti model and play the long game. We're building something good. Let's not tear it down trading our youth and future for what I see as a low probability of reaching the promised land.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Man I just don't know about Giannis..... I think Deni and Giannis are similar in a lot of ways. Obviously Giannis is better but he's also a lot older and a lot more injury prone. But their style of play is very similar. I don't know if they would fit very well together. Giannis thrived when they put shooters around him like Middleton and Jrue and Lopez, etc.

But I think this team COULD be poised to make a run if they added another star. I just don't think Scoot has that ceiling anymore. I'm not seeing it. Sharpe maybe.... but god the guy can't stay healthy.

Which stars could be available?
Banchero?
Booker?
Bam?
Anthony Davis?
Zion
Ja Morant
Kawhi
Markkanen

Who would fit? I'm sure there's probably some others. I still think Booker is interesting. They have been playing him at point guard. Put him back at shooting guard with Dame and Deni.

I like Booker, and after looking at his contract extension, I would think Phoenix would jump on the chance to be rid of it. Holy shit, 57, 61, 69, and 75 million. That is too much.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like Booker, and after looking at his contract extension, I would think Phoenix would jump on the chance to be rid of it. Holy shit, 57, 61, 69, and 75 million. That is too much.

Yeah he's just really not THAT good. He's a really good player but he's being paid like a top 5 player.

 

[RR7]

Yeah he's just really not THAT good. He's a really good player but he's being paid like a top 5 player.

I've never been a huge fan of his, but I think more just because I've always felt he got overrated. Not only paid, but I feel like often gets talked about as a top top tier guy, and to me, he's a slightly elevated Zach Lavine with better PR.

 

[blazerkor]

It's a moot point but it would worry me a bit if Dame and everyone around him that said he wouldn't play until the beginning of next season just did an about face. I think it's more unlikely that we see Dame play in this series than us winning the series.

 

[PDXFonz]

Of course it would be an epic reaction if Dame played. I'd have him come out of the tunnel to check in for maximum surprise and effect.

But has he even scrimmaged with the team? It seems like that would be big news. And NBA game conditioning is no joke.

I say no.

Article I read the other day said he hasn’t even done full court or 5-on-5 contact.

So this is all a moot point, because Dame won’t be playing in this series, or likely in the postseason at all. Unless MAYBE he starts ramping up his activities if we were to make it to the WCF or NBA Finals.

 

[BBert]

Yep. Playing Dame without proper preparation would be begging for the Blazers injury curse. Not gonna happen.

Unless he can ramp it up in time for the finals

 

[Domihatin]

I like Booker, and after looking at his contract extension, I would think Phoenix would jump on the chance to be rid of it. Holy shit, 57, 61, 69, and 75 million. That is too much.

Personally and professionally, I can't stand Booker and we already have plenty of guards with better attitudes and sportsmanship.

 

[Natebishop3]

What's the position that we would most likely want to target for a star? Power forward or Shooting guard?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What's the position that we would most likely want to target for a star? Power forward or Shooting guard?

PF

 

[THE HCP]

Personally and professionally, I can't stand Booker and we already have plenty of guards with better attitudes and sportsmanship.

You’ve met Devin Booker?

 

[KingSpeed]

1) Dame already said if the team made the playoffs without him, they should play without him this year

2) Tatum didn’t come back unexpectedly. He talked about it all year.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I voted "Happiness" because it was the closest option to "Hardon."

 

[HansenYang]

I've never been a huge fan of his, but I think more just because I've always felt he got overrated. Not only paid, but I feel like often gets talked about as a top top tier guy, and to me, he's a slightly elevated Zach Lavine with better PR.

Book is generally over-rated, but comparing him to Lavine is going too far the other way.

Booker is the SG version of LMA. Very good player, But the talent of what he 'could be' exceeds what he actually is.

Has a few moments of dominance, but most of the time he's far less impactful than he should be