mook
The 2018-19 season was the best I've seen
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Just re-watched Simons' final game of the season on League Pass. Lots of fun. A few things that stood out to me this time that I forgot:
I saw Dame play live in his first summer league in Vegas, and he was pretty scrawny too though. But look at the length of those arms, and that height. If Simons goes through the transformation Lillard did, he's going to be a beast.
Thinking about it more, I suspect Portland will go back to running CJ at backup PG and run Simons at backup SG. He's the same height as CJ, but has a 3in longer wingspan (6'9 vs 6'6). He's got the same wingspan as Klay Thompson at the draft. Given Simons was barely 19 when drafted, it's possible he could've grown a little since then.
Stotts tends to put young players in roles where they can quickly see some success. He's been careful with keeping Collins from having to face too many bruising 5's, for example. He gave youngsters like Connaughton and Crabbe roles only after a year or two of seasoning, and never made them do more than catch and shoot and dunk lobs.
I think giving Simons backup PG duties right out of the gate might be more than Stotts wants to put on his shoulders. It's more likely when he comes in he'll be given the order to look for his own shot while spacing the floor for Dame or CJ in a backup role. Prove he can play the Crabbe/Connaughton role, and let him grow from there organically.
- Stotts had Leonard bring the ball up several times because Yogi Ferrel was bothering him in the back court. Simons had at least two turnovers later in the game that just kind of bounced to the right guy. Don't get me wrong--Simons looked great. But is he ready to bring the ball up the court against Chris Paul? I left the game with more doubts than I had at the start of the game.
- Simons' shooting form is kind of weird. The shots go in, and the release is quick as hell, but it has this kind of sped-up Shawn Marion-looking thing about it. Lower release and kind of a push. *shrug* He took at least one three from Dame range, so you know he's practicing it.
- Man he's skinny. There was a shot with him standing next to Dame and it was jaw-dropping how much more jacked Dame was. Just look at this:
I saw Dame play live in his first summer league in Vegas, and he was pretty scrawny too though. But look at the length of those arms, and that height. If Simons goes through the transformation Lillard did, he's going to be a beast.
Thinking about it more, I suspect Portland will go back to running CJ at backup PG and run Simons at backup SG. He's the same height as CJ, but has a 3in longer wingspan (6'9 vs 6'6). He's got the same wingspan as Klay Thompson at the draft. Given Simons was barely 19 when drafted, it's possible he could've grown a little since then.
Stotts tends to put young players in roles where they can quickly see some success. He's been careful with keeping Collins from having to face too many bruising 5's, for example. He gave youngsters like Connaughton and Crabbe roles only after a year or two of seasoning, and never made them do more than catch and shoot and dunk lobs.
I think giving Simons backup PG duties right out of the gate might be more than Stotts wants to put on his shoulders. It's more likely when he comes in he'll be given the order to look for his own shot while spacing the floor for Dame or CJ in a backup role. Prove he can play the Crabbe/Connaughton role, and let him grow from there organically.
