On the Simmons/Russillo pod this morning

[illmatic99]

One thing I am glad about having both Dame and CJ around for Ant's development. Both are good at working on their handles. CJs drills are insane. I think Ant has always copied CJs game a bit, just with more athleticism. If Ant can get close to CJ handles then he will be unstoppable.

Man CJ is an absolutely ELITE midrange shooter and shot creator. We literally JUST saw his value in the playoffs. He makes some dumbass decisions sometimes, but he is an unbelievable resource to deflect defensive attention away from Dame. Throw some respect at my man's name

 

[glazeduck]

I would imagine the thought is to see what happens in the first half of the season. I don't see AD going anywhere as he probably wants to live in LA. I could see PG getting tired of that situation if Westbrick struggles out of the gate. He's the only All-NBA player (all 3 teams) that I could see being unhappy enough to demand a trade, that would also be of a high enough level that Blazers would go all in.

PG was the one who first came to my mind as well. KAT, Devin Booker (maybe), and Beal (kinda meh on him) were the others that might fit...

 

[PCmor7]

One thing I am glad about having both Dame and CJ around for Ant's development. Both are good at working on their handles. CJs drills are insane. I think Ant has always copied CJs game a bit, just with more athleticism. If Ant can get close to CJ handles then he will be unstoppable.

I work with a lot of young players. I always show them CJ's handle and midrange game. He's a great example of how someone who might not be the biggest or most athletic player can become an elite shot creator just by working hard and being extremely tight in their footwork and dribbling skills. He creates good shots for himself in close quarters better than anyone in the NBA right now.

Ant couldn't have had better role models.

 

[PCmor7]

PG was the one who first came to my mind as well. KAT, Devin Booker (maybe), and Beal (kinda meh on him) were the others that might fit...

I'm not big on Paul George. The way he just sunk into being Westbrook's No. 2 ... I don't see that as the personality that fits in our culture. Booker or Beal would be terrific Blazers, IMO. Booker never's had the chance to play with talent around him, and he's such an explosive scorer. Beal is just so good and so enjoyable to watch when he's on ... such a beautiful shot. And he already knows how to co-exist with a superstar point guard.

 

[Reep]

Man CJ is an absolutely ELITE midrange shooter and shot creator. We literally JUST saw his value in the playoffs. He makes some dumbass decisions sometimes, but he is an unbelievable resource to deflect defensive attention away from Dame. Throw some respect at my man's name

I have absolutely no critique of CJ's game on the offensive side of the ball--except that maybe he could take a cue from Dame to see if he can find others when his shot isn't falling.

My only real critique of CJ is on the defensive end and primarily because he is next to Dame. There are still major questions about the pair of them defending teams that have a tall SG who can shoot. And I will still hold out that NO NBA TEAM has ever won a title with two starting guards who are not tall, where at least one isn't a plus defender. Maybe Portland will be the first, but the only teams I find with a short backcourt have at least one of them being a plus defender. Dame has improved in this area, but neither are plus defenders. I'm not sure Ant can be one either though. I hope he can, but haven't seen it yet.

 

[Reep]

PG was the one who first came to my mind as well. KAT, Devin Booker (maybe), and Beal (kinda meh on him) were the others that might fit...

Agreed. Don't see Phoenix letting Booker go, and he may be a worse defender than CJ. I'm also meh on Beal.

 

[Pinwheel1]

It was infuriating watching CJ shoot us into and then out of games in the playoffs. He’s like roulette and you’re watching the little white ball bouncing between “win” and “lose.”

So as we have been saying for years...surround both he and Dame with another scorer and you don't have to rely on either to shoot you in or out of games.
The more options the better. CJ had one of the best playoff runs by a Blazer...... ever. This while averaging 40 minutes a game just a few weeks after spraining his knee. I don't think that gets mentioned enough.

 

[glazeduck]

I'm not big on Paul George. The way he just sunk into being Westbrook's No. 2 ... I don't see that as the personality that fits in our culture. Booker or Beal would be terrific Blazers, IMO. Booker never's had the chance to play with talent around him, and he's such an explosive scorer. Beal is just so good and so enjoyable to watch when he's on ... such a beautiful shot. And he already knows how to co-exist with a superstar point guard.

Interesting perspective on PG -- I woul think of that as a positive. This team is Dame's, without question. A guy coming in and trying to change that would be detrimental to the overall culture. I saw PG's insertion into OKC as being the consummate professional and team player. Isn't that exactly what we'd want???

 

[glazeduck]

Agreed. Don't see Phoenix letting Booker go, and he may be a worse defender than CJ. I'm also meh on Beal.

Yeah I'm 'meh' on both, but there's not exactly a ton of great players on terrible teams, so this entire "what if" is playing with a short deck to begin with...

 

[illmatic99]

Interesting perspective on PG -- I woul think of that as a positive. This team is Dame's, without question. A guy coming in and trying to change that would be detrimental to the overall culture. I saw PG's insertion into OKC as being the consummate professional and team player. Isn't that exactly what we'd want???

he also seems to take on the personality of a leader. Typical follower. But perfect next to Dame.

 

[Natebishop3]

So as we have been saying for years...surround both he and Dame with another scorer and you don't have to rely on either to shoot you in or out of games.
The more options the better. CJ had one of the best playoff runs by a Blazer...... ever. This while averaging 40 minutes a game just a few weeks after spraining his knee. I don't think that gets mentioned enough.

CJ aint never gonna change. He is who he is and Stotts refuses to reign him in. When it's working, it works well, but when it isn't working he costs us games. I don't see that changing in any scenario.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Who says no?

 

[illmatic99]

Who says no?

View attachment 26710

All three teams?

 

[glazeduck]

Who says no?

View attachment 26710

I would hope, us!

 

[Pinwheel1]

I have absolutely no critique of CJ's game on the offensive side of the ball--except that maybe he could take a cue from Dame to see if he can find others when his shot isn't falling.

My only real critique of CJ is on the defensive end and primarily because he is next to Dame. There are still major questions about the pair of them defending teams that have a tall SG who can shoot. And I will still hold out that NO NBA TEAM has ever won a title with two starting guards who are not tall, where at least one isn't a plus defender. Maybe Portland will be the first, but the only teams I find with a short backcourt have at least one of them being a plus defender. Dame has improved in this area, but neither are plus defenders. I'm not sure Ant can be one either though. I hope he can, but haven't seen it yet.

I guess you can argue that Toronto started Green but we all know that VanFleet and Lowry were the main back court stars in that series. Both a hell of lot shorter than CJ and Dame. (green played 18 minutes in the final game)

Regardless of who starts though, all you have to do is have a 3rd guard on the team who is a great defender that rotates in.

 

[B-Roy]

Really need to curb the Simons hype before he even gets some meaningful minutes. Just setting ourselves up to be dissapointed.

Part of it is that Simons's role on this team is going to be capped so long as Dame is here. I'd be happy if he turned into a Reggie Jackson/Dennis Schroeder type, but without the attitude problems. Would be a good trade piece.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Yea, im just not as high on CJ i guess, and i never have been. And i really dont think we can afford him with Dame on his supermax next go around

 

[B-Roy]

Man CJ is an absolutely ELITE midrange shooter and shot creator. We literally JUST saw his value in the playoffs. He makes some dumbass decisions sometimes, but he is an unbelievable resource to deflect defensive attention away from Dame. Throw some respect at my man's name

I think CJ is one of those guys whose value increases in the playoffs because the way the game is called doesn't really affect his style of play. He never shoots free throws anyways, he just makes tough shots. A lot of guys become less efficient in the post season because what works in the regular season doesn't work in the post season. CJ gives you the option to get a pretty good shot on every possession regardless of what else is going on.

 

[PCmor7]

Interesting perspective on PG -- I woul think of that as a positive. This team is Dame's, without question. A guy coming in and trying to change that would be detrimental to the overall culture. I saw PG's insertion into OKC as being the consummate professional and team player. Isn't that exactly what we'd want???

No. I want a guy who doesn't sacrifice his character to fit in with an immature player.

Deferring to Westbrook as it being "Westbrook's team" is one thing. Taking on Westbrook's juvenile personality is another. That's a sign of a Type B, and stars and people who are Type B's either shrink from challenges or become problem children. No thanks. I'll pass.

 

[BBert]

Defensive attention notwithstanding, CJ has been a better playoff performer than Dame in the aggregate.

How quickly we forget.

Edit: checked the stats, ooff never mind. CJ is close, but not better. Still not sure we can discard CJ for Simons.

I don't think we can discard CJ for Simons, yet.

I don't think we should, anyway. Dame, CJ, and Simons is going to be a fantastic backcourt.

 

[Binx]

This is the same thing I was thinking: "Simons still has to get out there and play but if he was that insanely good, then wouldn't Portland have found some minutes for him?"

Because Lillard and CJ are pretty damn good themselves.

 

[Binx]

Can’t wait to see Simons on the court next year. If that 37-point, 9-assist game against Sacramento wasn’t a fluke, we’re in for a treat.

 

[glazeduck]

No. I want a guy who doesn't sacrifice his character to fit in with an immature player.

Deferring to Westbrook as it being "Westbrook's team" is one thing. Taking on Westbrook's juvenile personality is another. That's a sign of a Type B, and stars and people who are Type B's either shrink from challenges or become problem children. No thanks. I'll pass.

I understand the point, but this feels reactive and extremely subjective. Do you have specific references or additional input beyond your own two eyes to cite on that? I don't think there was any question that Indianapolis was his team, and he certainly looked every bit the alpha in that context. Yes, he devolved a bit in OKC, but that feels natural, given the attitude and leadership within that organization. Again OKC was never going to be his team, so he found a fit into that culture fairly seamlessly. While to your eyes, he certainly could have tried to push back on the immaturity or tried a power grab -- and perhaps that's what a true alpha would have done -- the fact that he didn't strikes me more as a team player and good culture guy than a passive wimpy "type B" as you say.

Similarly here, he wouldn't come in and be the team leader, so I'd gladly take a guy with his talent who's comfortable coming in and finding his role.

Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, we're shopping in a very barren store here. Sure, in a vacuum you can find guys you'd prefer better. But if we're looking at talent vs. team need vs. teams with potential to flounder, there aren't many better fits than PG, in my mind...

 

[BBert]

Because Lillard and CJ are pretty damn good themselves.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure no one actually thought Simons was better than Dame or CJ, LOL. And I don't think he would have produced more in his rookie season than Seth. I was especially pleased with some of Seth's often overlooked defense.

 

[wizenheimer]

https://www.theringer.com/the-bill-...gency-preview-extravaganza-with-ryen-russillo

Around the 86 minute mark. Tried to quote, but verbatim...

Discussion on how Portland and Denver could end up having the #1 record in the west next year.

Ryen: "The reports I'm getting back on Anfernee Simons are through the roof. It's not just talent, but if he puts it together, he's gonna be a monster. That sounds really aggressive but I wouldn't share it unless the guy that told me that has been right almost all the time on players."

Bill: "I've heard similar buzz with them just being really really delighted with how it turned out."

Bill: "They have Simons, they have Collins who I like. They have Nassir Little who people feel like they stole, and they have expiring contracts in Leonard/Harkless/Bazemore. Basically they have the pieces to put together a trade for any player they want over the next 6 months. It can be something like expirings and Little for Love, or even something ambitious for a top 25 player by throwing in all their pieces. I do think Portland is going to do something big."

Ryen: " I don't know what it is. The guy who told me this about Simons is the same one who was talking about CJ before he blew up. Simons still has to get out there and play but if he was that insanely good, then wouldn't Portland have found some minutes for him? Zach, I really like, he's gotta fight a little bit more. But there's always that next pissed off star in the next 6 months who will become available, and maybe they have enough pieces to load up on it. It's much better than everyone trying to break up their backcourt"

Bill: "What if they put together a three headed triumvirate and land Beal? But I keep coming back to Love. 4 months from now, you could have someone out there. Maybe PG is tired of OKC or Davis hates it in LA. "

I hope it's true, but reading that I'm pretty convinced that the "source" is Olshey himself

 

[PCmor7]

I understand the point, but this feels reactive and extremely subjective. Do you have specific references or additional input beyond your own two eyes to cite on that? I don't think there was any question that Indianapolis was his team, and he certainly looked every bit the alpha in that context. Yes, he devolved a bit in OKC, but that feels natural, given the attitude and leadership within that organization. Again OKC was never going to be his team, so he found a fit into that culture fairly seamlessly. While to your eyes, he certainly could have tried to push back on the immaturity or tried a power grab -- and perhaps that's what a true alpha would have done -- the fact that he didn't strikes me more as a team player and good culture guy than a passive wimpy "type B" as you say.

Similarly here, he wouldn't come in and be the team leader, so I'd gladly take a guy with his talent who's comfortable coming in and finding his role.

Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, we're shopping in a very barren store here. Sure, in a vacuum you can find guys you'd prefer better. But if we're looking at talent vs. team need vs. teams with potential to flounder, there aren't many better fits than PG, in my mind...

I was thinking back to his time with the Pacers, and I think he was the alpha there because there really wasn't anyone else. He was by far their best player. But I never feared him as this guy who could will his team to win in big situations. And, sure enough, he still isn't that, even with better players around him now.

Here's another thing to consider. He's the best player on the Thunder. And this wasn't his first year there. LeBron deferred to D-Wade his first year in Miami, but he became THE guy starting his second year. Paul George not only continued to to defer to Westbrook, he took on some of the worst aspects of Westbrook's personality. "No comment" to the most basic of questions when he had no skin in the game at these postgame interviews? Come on, that's childish. You really want that on your team? You really think that makes you better? You really want your younger players to be learning from a THAT? I don't, but maybe that's because I've played and coached and been around teams and seen just how much it undermines your program.

It ultimately comes down to what you are giving up to bring him in. But I have questions about his personality and how it fits here. I'd prefer other players. Booker, Beal, Towns, any of them to me are better fits than PG, although PG is the better pure talent.

 

[wizenheimer]

I will say I think the Simons hype is getting out of control

now before the Simons fan club slams me for that....allow me to explain: if Simons gets a greatly expanded role next season, even if his eventual ceiling is high, I expect him to struggle quite a bit at times. I expect plenty of inconsistency. In some ways, it will be his rookie season. And when he looks bad, the critics will come out of the woodwork and slam him and then there will be world war four around blazertown

I'd even expect some of the Layman effect: that being that he could have a stretch of wow-look-at-him-we-got-a-great-one games. His fans will go batshit and talk about all-star games. Then, he'll get scouted and opponents will take away what he's doing best and limit his open looks and driving lanes. And he won't look anywhere close to an all-star anymore

I'm not nearly as high on Simons as some here. I do expect he'll likely be a fairly consistent rotation player soon. But soon for a 19-20 year old is 1-2 years from now, not next November

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

If Collins and Simons are thought to be future stars, we need them to realize that potential here in Portland if we are to take it to the next level.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

Pretty cool we have #3 and #8 from this list

 

[Pinwheel1]

I will say I think the Simons hype is getting out of control

now before the Simons fan club slams me for that....allow me to explain: if Simons gets a greatly expanded role next season, even if his eventual ceiling is high, I expect him to struggle quite a bit at times. I expect plenty of inconsistency. In some ways, it will be his rookie season. And when he looks bad, the critics will come out of the woodwork and slam him and then there will be world war four around blazertown

I'd even expect some of the Layman effect: that being that he could have a stretch of wow-look-at-him-we-got-a-great-one games. His fans will go batshit and talk about all-star games. Then, he'll get scouted and opponents will take away what he's doing best and limit his open looks and driving lanes. And he won't look anywhere close to an all-star anymore

I'm not nearly as high on Simons as some here. I do expect he'll likely be a fairly consistent rotation player soon. But soon for a 19-20 year old is 1-2 years from now, not next November

I am very high on Simons, but I agree with your post. Especially your last statement.