Simons is legit

[joeBlazers]

With Curry leaving for sure, he might get into the rotation. But his body still seems not ready from a defensive stand point. Will he be able to match up with bigger stronger guards? like Klay, Doncic, Westbrook, Chris Paul/Harden. If he plays with CJ or Dame, someone will need to pick up the 2-guard.

Was just having this discussion about Simons (not about him being the greatest ever, as that’s a lot to heap on a dude this early). But he could still grow more into his body, given his other measurements. I am shocked by what we saw in the Sacto game, but add 2-4” inches in height, which is not out of the realm of possibility given his age and “late-blooming” status, and the sky would be the limit for this kid (if it wasn’t already).

The things he did the other night.... some of his passes with his long arms.... his shooting ability.... I am left dreaming of what could be with his talent.

 

[BonesJones]

With Curry leaving for sure, he might get into the rotation. But his body still seems not ready from a defensive stand point. Will he be able to match up with bigger stronger guards? like Klay, Doncic, Westbrook, Chris Paul/Harden. If he plays with CJ or Dame, someone will need to pick up the 2-guard.

And someone like Currys is? Anfernee has added a bit of muscle. Theres many skinny 2-guards that come off the bench. Why would he be matched up against those starters?

 

[James lamphear]

And someone like Currys is? Anfernee has added a bit of muscle. Theres many skinny 2-guards that come off the bench. Why would he be matched up against those starters?

There always as chance he might though.

 

[blazerboy30]

Love or hate or wherever in between on Stotts, the bashing has nothing to do with player progression (or at least thats a minimal part of it), its playoff record and adjustments in the playoffs. He, Dame, CJ figure out how to look good in the playoffs there will be fewer bashers.

My response was to a post bashing Stotts for how he handles young players and their development. Thise types of posts occur very often, do don't act like Stotts does get bashed for that as well.

 

[Natebishop3]

My response was to a post bashing Stotts for how he handles young players and their development. Thise types of posts occur very often, do don't act like Stotts does get bashed for that as well.

Honestly, my biggest beef with Stotts on young player development has been with big men.

Meyers.... Collins..... Biggie..... Vonleh......

Which is ironic, because he was brought in specifically for Aldridge. But he has shown to be an exceptional coach for guards.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Honestly, my biggest beef with Stotts on young player development has been with big men.

Meyers.... Collins..... Biggie..... Vonleh......

Which is ironic, because he was brought in specifically for Aldridge. But he has shown to be an exceptional coach for guards.

Is it Stotts though? Or is it other members of his staff? One might argue that it is David Vanterpool who is great with guards, and Jim Moran who is failing at coaching the big men, whereas Kim Hughes actually excelled at it prior to his firing.

 

[Natebishop3]

Is it Stotts though? Or is it other members of his staff? One might argue that it is David Vanterpool who is great with guards, and Jim Moran who is failing at coaching the big men, whereas Kim Hughes actually excelled at it prior to his firing.

Or maybe it's Neil for bringing in shitty bigs?

 

[blue9]

Always said he developed players well...

Does he though? Do you think he has made Dame a better player? Do you think he has made CJ a better player? I don't think Stotts deserves any credit for how good they are - all credit goes to Dame/CJ. They would be as good as they currently are under any coach - and possibly better, depending on the coach. Equally, I don't think Jax had anything to do with how good Jordan/Pippen were, or Pops with how good Robinson/Duncan/Ginobili were. At that level, those players just have "it" no matter who they play for.

I think a coach can have an effect on players who would otherwise be mid-tier players. For example, I think Pops deserves a ton of credit for developing Parker and Mills. Parker under any other coach would probably have been a decent journeyman PG, but Pops turned him into a top-tier PG. And Mills would probably not be in the league, but Pops turned him into a rotation player.

Where Terry should be judged is how our mid-tier players have progressed (or not), and in how raw rookies develop. So the evidence would be in Aminu, Harkless, Moe, Meyers, Crabbe, Plumlee, Vonleh, Turner, Dorrell, etc. The few instances of moderate improvement seem to be balanced out (or possibly outweighed) by the instances of stagnation or regression. And if Terry continues to be our coach (hopefully not), it will be interesting to see how Collins and Simons develop - though Simons appears to have a bit of "it" in him already (Terry certainly isn't teaching him to throw those passes!).

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Does he though? Do you think he has made Dame a better player? Do you think he has made CJ a better player? I don't think Stotts deserves any credit for how good they are - all credit goes to Dame/CJ. They would be as good as they currently are under any coach - and possibly better, depending on the coach. Equally, I don't think Jax had anything to do with how good Jordan/Pippen were, or Pops with how good Robinson/Duncan/Ginobili were. At that level, those players just have "it" no matter who they play for.

I think a coach can have an effect on players who would otherwise be mid-tier players. For example, I think Pops deserves a ton of credit for developing Parker and Mills. Parker under any other coach would probably have been a decent journeyman PG, but Pops turned him into a top-tier PG. And Mills would probably not be in the league, but Pops turned him into a rotation player.

Where Terry should be judged is how our mid-tier players have progressed (or not), and in how raw rookies develop. So the evidence would be in Aminu, Harkless, Moe, Meyers, Crabbe, Plumlee, Vonleh, Turner, Dorrell, etc. The few instances of moderate improvement seem to be balanced out (or possibly outweighed) by the instances of stagnation or regression. And if Terry continues to be our coach (hopefully not), it will be interesting to see how Collins and Simons develop - though Simons appears to have a bit of "it" in him already (Terry certainly isn't teaching him to throw those passes!).

Interesting points, but...
I'm pretty sure Lillard, CJ, Robinson, Duncan, and Ginobilli would all disagree with you. Probably Jordan and Pippen as well.

 

[dviss1]

Is Simon taller than Dame or CJ? Is he still expected to grow?

Do you play basketball with the top of your head?

 

[dviss1]

And someone like Currys is? Anfernee has added a bit of muscle. Theres many skinny 2-guards that come off the bench. Why would he be matched up against those starters?

Yes. And Curry is a much better defender than CJ also.

I personally believe we need to find a way to keep ALL of Kanter, Curry, and Hood.

 

[BonesJones]

Yes. And Curry is a much better defender than CJ also.

I personally believe we need to find a way to keep ALL of Kanter, Curry, and Hood.

Practically impossible.

 

[Natebishop3]

Do you play basketball with the top of your head?

I would think wingspan is much more important than height, right?

Dame's wingspan is 6′ 8″

CJ's wingspan is 6′ 6″

Lil' Penny's wingspan is 6’9.25

 

[Natebishop3]

LOL this dude needs to delete this article

https://hoopshabit.com/2018/06/23/portland-trail-blazers-5-reasons-anfernee-simons-was-a-bad-pick/

 

[theprunetang]

I was just watching the Clips/Warriors playoff game, and Simons has a LOT of Lou Williams in him. Similar builds as well. Williams is obviously more polished as a vet, but they have a similar skillset. Simons is more athletic though.

 

[Nurkalicious]

Practically impossible.

As of now, the obvious answer is: don’t re-sign Hood, unless he plays for a lower salary.

 

[Scalma]

I was just watching the Clips/Warriors playoff game, and Simons has a LOT of Lou Williams in him. Similar builds as well. Williams is obviously more polished as a vet, but they have a similar skillset. Simons is more athletic though.

And like four inches taller.

 

[dviss1]

I would think wingspan is much more important than height, right?

Dame's wingspan is 6′ 8″

CJ's wingspan is 6′ 6″

Lil' Penny's wingspan is 6’9.25

Exactly. That and standing reach.

 

[Natebishop3]

Simons could legit run the point. Some of the passes he made against Sac were niiiiice.

 

[BBert]

And someone like Currys is? Anfernee has added a bit of muscle. Theres many skinny 2-guards that come off the bench. Why would he be matched up against those starters?

There's also summer conditioning.

And the ubiquitous "he put on 20 pounds of muscle"

 

[KingSpeed]

Simons could legit run the point. Some of the passes he made against Sac were niiiiice.

I think the only teenagers in NBA history to go for 37/9 are LeBron, KD, and Simons.

 

[BBert]

LOL this dude needs to delete this article

https://hoopshabit.com/2018/06/23/portland-trail-blazers-5-reasons-anfernee-simons-was-a-bad-pick/

Hahahaha

1. "Raw player will take time to develop"

So to the fucking what? The Blazers weren't drafting at 26 to replace Lillard or McCollum. How often does a late first round draft pick NOT take time to develop? We have two star guards ahead of Simons, and then signed Curry. We have time. He has time. You don't pass on a player you believe to have huge upside to pick one who you believe does not, just because you think the other rookie player "might" contribute off the bench sooner. The Blazers drafted Simons precisely to develop him. I'm quite happy the Blazers didn't follow this guy's reasoning.

2. "Too many small guards on the roster"

Anfernee is not a "small guard". He's taller with a longer reach than the three guards who play ahead of him. He's skinny, but he's a teenager, and he'll fill out. If the guy had said: "Too many small guards 'ahead of him' on the roster", he might have had a debatable point. A point however that has nothing to do with whether or not the Blazers should have drafted Anfernee. In short (see what I did there), his argument is not valid.

3. "Didn't play high level competition"

So to the fucking what? Neither did Jerome Kersey, who played for Longwood College, in (don't laugh) "Farmville" Virginia. Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal didn't go to college either. 'Nuff said. A player's actual talent, athleticism and mental makeup is not determined by the players on the other team. Does this even need to be explained?

4. "Other players available"

LOLOL So much wrong with this. This guy decided the Blazers biggest need was a 3&D wing. And that the Blazers should draft for position over talent. Wrong and wrong. The Blazers biggest need is always the best player they can get. And not just for the short term. The Blazers should have passed on a guy they believed in, and instead should have pick guys who went later, some in the late 30s, because those guys might someday maybe be able to play NBA small forward. Not. Will some players picked later than Anfernee pan out? Probably. Someone always does. So what? Oh and BTW: Trent Jr. fits what this guy described as who the Blazers should have taken instead. So...the Blazers by picking Simons got both. Where's the beef?

5. "Needs to get stronger"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HAHAHAHA! As if Anfernee can't get stronger. WTF? Oh, no: "Simons is going to get pushed around as a rookie." News flash, Simons wasn't even projected to play as a rookie. If he were, The Blazers wouldn't have picked up Curry. Oh, yeah: The Blazers also have Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Does this guy think a late first rounder is going to play ahead of one of those two? Or the veteran backup guard they were ultimately going to sign to fill the position, who ended up being Seth Curry?

Obviously anyone who writes sports articles and puts their opinion out there is likely to get flamed from time to time. But for Pete's sake.

I rate this guy's analysis: Zero basketballs out of 5.

 

[Labinot41]

From RealGM:

I had him as the #1 PG in last year's draft class and on par with the elite PGs taken in 2017. Obviously he is blocked and won't prove me right until he has the opportunity to start though. He can score from all three levels, is a very good passer and a willing defender. Like I said before the draft, had he gone to college he would have dominated and been a top pick and likely first PG off the board. Many terrible front offices will have some explaining to do once he's starting and a top 10 PG in the league.

 

[Scalma]

From RealGM:

I had him as the #1 PG in last year's draft class and on par with the elite PGs taken in 2017. Obviously he is blocked and won't prove me right until he has the opportunity to start though. He can score from all three levels, is a very good passer and a willing defender. Like I said before the draft, had he gone to college he would have dominated and been a top pick and likely first PG off the board. Many terrible front offices will have some explaining to do once he's starting and a top 10 PG in the league.

Hope the Pelicans feel the same way.

 

[Cugel]

He. Has. To. Play.
Until he gets real minutes, what can you say. Not clear to me why Terry never trusted him in real games. I guess he doesn't think he's ready. No other explanation??? He prefers ET more that is for sure.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

He. Has. To. Play.
Until he gets real minutes, what can you say. Not clear to me why Terry never trusted him in real games. I guess he doesn't think he's ready. No other explanation??? He prefers ET more that is for sure.

I think we've kind of seen this treatment from Terry with all our young players the last few years other than Dame, none of them have gotten significant minutes in their first year, some of them even their first two years.

 

[dviss1]

He. Has. To. Play.
Until he gets real minutes, what can you say. Not clear to me why Terry never trusted him in real games. I guess he doesn't think he's ready. No other explanation??? He prefers ET more that is for sure.

You are not making sense at all in this post.

"Never trusted him? Prefers ET? No other explanation?" What are you talking about?

"Never trusted him":

Rookies that are drafted outside of the lottery have to earn trust. Trust is rarely given to a rookie.

"Prefers ET":

He is thin as a rail right now and won't be able to successfully defend until he gets stronger.

"No other explanation".... Here's one:

Seth Curry is better.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I think we've kind of seen this treatment from Terry with all our young players the last few years other than Dame, none of them have gotten significant minutes in their first year, some of them even their first two years.

I don't like this. It means you have to deal with paying them when their rookie contract expires, without really figuring out their Ceiling.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don't like this. It means you have to deal with paying them when their rookie contract expires, without really figuring out their Ceiling.

I kind of understand it though, they've drafted guys that clearly weren't really ready in Zach and Simons the last couple years...

 

[riverman]

People have forgotten how little our bench was used at all under Nate and even previous Blazer eras....Nate ran our starters into the ground and Jermaine O'neal barely played his rookie years here. He ran BRoy into the ground..Stotts plays more young players and end of the bench guys than most coaches...even in the playoffs...I don't get the narrative that Stotts doesn't play rookies....Dame was a starter under Stotts ….Simons did play...even Skal played. We didn't blow out enough teams in wins to let the bench play the end game last season and we didn't get blown out so they could play when the towel was thrown in...games were pretty close. Bench players have to love being on a Stotts team..if they want to win. Sure they could play on shitty teams and get more court time. That's pretty much where we've picked up our vet projects from. Players just play better here than many places they move on to. We're not even talking about high draft picks here...Jake Layman played more than Meyers did last season.