Game Thread Tuesday, July 9th, 3 PM PDT: Blazers vs. Jazz on ESPN2

[Binx]

Somebody already talking about Simons the future all-star. I remember several Blazer fans, when Bayless was going crazy in SL about 10 years ago, just about guaranteeing that Bayless was the PGOTF and a future all-star. Their fantasy-momentum couldn't be stopped till the reality of an actual regular season or two passed by

Except Bayless never got 37 points and 9 assists in a regular season game like Simons did.

 

[Drttimmy]

This. I see why he fell out of the top 10.

I guess it's just three games, but his fall shouldn't have been surprising based on what he's showing. We were warned about the raw shooting and sub-optimal BBIQ upfront. What's disappointing me is he doesn't run on a high motor. Raw freaky athletes can still do good things by letting their freaky athleticism go wild, and he isn't doing that. We need to notice him crashing every board, streaking hard on the wings on fast breaks, and affecting shots with weak side help. That's supposed to be the trade off while he's learning to shoot and efficiently operate in an NBA offense. Which makes me wonder if he really is a freaky athlete, and if he's not, then why did we pick him?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Except Bayless never got 37 points and 9 assists in a regular season game like Simons did.

It's like no one else saw the future HOFer out there. That 1 fucking game sealed it

 

[Drttimmy]

I don't know? Simons can shoot but he can't run an offense. He is too small to be a SG and doesn't seem to be able to control the ball well enough to bee a PG.
Maybe he can continue to progress? But my thinking is he will top out as a rotational guy that can't really run an offense and will end up down the road.
Yep he scored against a Summer League team and he had a good game last year against essentially another bunch of bench players. But i just cannot see him translating into the player the Blazers need right now. Blazers need a PG to back up Dame.

I agree, we should bring in a veteran PG, and asking Simons to run the offense isn't maybe the best usage of him at the moment. But I'm having a hard time suppressing my excitement over Simons. I'm not excited about his stat line, but I am excited by his quick, easy stroke and soft touch. His shot making doesn't get rattled in traffic or with a hand in his face. He shows the ability to create space for his shot and the mechanics are consistent. He can score in the NBA and he can score in a multitude of ways. They just need to tandem him with a ball handler and he can mimic a lot of what CJ and Dame do, but for the 2nd unit. He's easily the best story for the Blazers in Summer League, and probably the only one.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It's like no one else saw the future HOFer out there. That 1 fucking game sealed it

I'm really enjoying this from you this offseason.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Best part of the game was hearing the Jazz general manager, Dennis Lindsey, call Joe Ingles one of the five or six best SF's in the league.

Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Lebron James, Devin Booker, Luka Doncic, Khris Middleton, Tobias Harris, Danilo Gallinari, Kuzma, off the top of my head. Joe Ingles had a worse PER than Jake Layman.

I don't think PER means as much as Win Share (or RPM):

 

[BonesJones]

I don't know? Simons can shoot but he can't run an offense. He is too small to be a SG and doesn't seem to be able to control the ball well enough to bee a PG.
Maybe he can continue to progress? But my thinking is he will top out as a rotational guy that can't really run an offense and will end up down the road.
Yep he scored against a Summer League team and he had a good game last year against essentially another bunch of bench players. But i just cannot see him translating into the player the Blazers need right now. Blazers need a PG to back up Dame.

KJ, it's barely a month past his 20th birthday, and he should be coming out of college right now. Hes trying to get used to a position hes never played. To think that he wont progress from where he is now to the point where he can ruin a team is silly a bit pessimistic to me. When Dame was the same age, he had a mediocre 1.5:1.0 AST:TOV ratio while playing low-major D1 basketball.

The only think holding Anfernee back from "running the offense" is his ball handling. He moves well with the ball, has the athleticism and size to handle the position easily, plays with a good pace, makes the right decisions on what to try and do with the ball, takes good shots, etc. The execution is lackluster at times due to his ball handling. Other than that, I don't think amything else shows that he cant run an offense right now, let alone down the road.

As far as a backup PG, there arent better options put their. While Simons might not be good at the prototypical PG things, he eclipes any othernoptuon regardless due to his shooting and scoring ability (so letting him learn on the spot isnt going to cost the team anything). CJ eclipsea any other backup too, so consider one of them the backup PG.

He's also not too small size wise. He may be too weak strength wise, but that's fixable.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'm really enjoying this from you this offseason.

Either I can't tell you're being an ass, or you can't tell I'm being an ass?

 

[blazerfan11]

KJ, it's barely a month past his 20th birthday, and he should be coming out of college right now. Hes trying to get used to a position hes never played. To think that he wont progress from where he is now to the point where he can ruin a team is silly a bit pessimistic to me. When Dame was the same age, he had a mediocre 1.5:1.0 AST:TOV ratio while playing low-major D1 basketball.

The only think holding Anfernee back from "running the offense" is his ball handling. He moves well with the ball, has the athleticism and size to handle the position easily, plays with a good pace, makes the right decisions on what to try and do with the ball, takes good shots, etc. The execution is lackluster at times due to his ball handling. Other than that, I don't think amything else shows that he cant run an offense right now, let alone down the road.

As far as a backup PG, there arent better options put their. While Simons might not be good at the prototypical PG things, he eclipes any othernoptuon regardless due to his shooting and scoring ability (so letting him learn on the spot isnt going to cost the team anything). CJ eclipsea any other backup too, so consider one of them the backup PG.

He's also not too small size wise. He may be too weak strength wise, but that's fixable.

The role of a “point guard” has changed a lot with increased 3-point shooting efficiency.
If a point guard like Stephen Curry who can nail open 3-point shots is not defended, you want him to let it fly, not set up the offense for a lower-efficiency shot. Being able to hit threes is just as important now as getting assists. Damian Lillard isn’t Rod Strickland, but Rod Strickland isn’t Lillard either.

 

[SIeepwalker]

The only think holding Anfernee back from "running the offense" is his ball handling. He moves well with the ball, has the athleticism and size to handle the position easily, plays with a good pace, makes the right decisions on what to try and do with the ball, takes good shots, etc. The execution is lackluster at times due to his ball handling. Other than that, I don't think amything else shows that he cant run an offense right now, let alone down the road.

He should train with my ex. One of the best ball handler I've ever met.

 

[tlongII]

Either I can't tell you're being an ass, or you can't tell I'm being an ass?

Or he likes ass.

 

[e_blazer]

Either I can't tell you're being an ass, or you can't tell I'm being an ass?

Maybe he’s decided to take the high road and assume that you actually meant what you posted. You may have to resort to green font.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Anfernee had such a 'silent killer' demeanor on the court.

It's Kawhi-like.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Either I can't tell you're being an ass, or you can't tell I'm being an ass?

Or I legitimately appreciate the manner in which you're being an ass.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Or I legitimately appreciate the manner in which you're being an ass.

That makes the most sense

 

[illmatic99]

Man, the Simons hype is coming from everywhere. On the Jackie McMullan podcast with the Czar of Summer League, Warren LeGarie this morning, he too raved about how good Simons has looked. (He does rep both Neil and Terry, fwiw). He was asked about the one guy he's seen who has stood out most, and without hesitation he brought up Ant.

Jackie mistakenly thought he didn't play last year because he was injured but regardless-- the noise is coming from everywhere.

 

[noknobs]

I don't think PER means as much as Win Share (or RPM):
View attachment 26943

Any stat that puts Ingles over Kwahi Leonard isn't very meaningful to me.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Any stat that puts Ingles over Kwahi Leonard isn't very meaningful to me.

Racist Pig!!!!

 

[mook]

Man, the Simons hype is coming from everywhere. On the Jackie McMullan podcast with the Czar of Summer League, Warren LeGarie this morning, he too raved about how good Simons has looked. (He does rep both Neil and Terry, fwiw). He was asked about the one guy he's seen who has stood out most, and without hesitation he brought up Ant.

Jackie mistakenly thought he didn't play last year because he was injured but regardless-- the noise is coming from everywhere.

Thanks for posting that. I listened to it and he was pretty hyped about Ant.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Any stat that puts Ingles over Kwahi Leonard isn't very meaningful to me.

That's probably because WinShares increases with games played? All right - go by RPM:

Pretty good company.
I like Ingles because he is a lot more effective than you think he has any right to be.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Simons is for sure a gifted scorer and shooter. But he's not all that much else at the moment. The only way he gets meaningful minutes at the backup PG in the regular season is if Olshey literally forces Stott's hand by not signing ANY OTHER GUARD.

Trent is a one-dimensional gunner. The Rockets could probably use him!

 

[tlongII]

I don’t think there’s any question that Ant will be the first guard off the bench. He can handle it.

 

[hoopsjock]

That's probably because WinShares increases with games played? All right - go by RPM:
View attachment 26945
Pretty good company.
I like Ingles because he is a lot more effective than you think he has any right to be.

Use Win Shares/48 minutes. It's way more accurate than Win Shares.

 

[illmatic99]

That's probably because WinShares increases with games played? All right - go by RPM:
View attachment 26945
Pretty good company.
I like Ingles because he is a lot more effective than you think he has any right to be.

about gallinari there...

 

[kjironman1]

I agree, we should bring in a veteran PG, and asking Simons to run the offense isn't maybe the best usage of him at the moment. But I'm having a hard time suppressing my excitement over Simons. I'm not excited about his stat line, but I am excited by his quick, easy stroke and soft touch. His shot making doesn't get rattled in traffic or with a hand in his face. He shows the ability to create space for his shot and the mechanics are consistent. He can score in the NBA and he can score in a multitude of ways. They just need to tandem him with a ball handler and he can mimic a lot of what CJ and Dame do, but for the 2nd unit. He's easily the best story for the Blazers in Summer League, and probably the only one.

I hope he is very good. So good we never want to lose him.

 

[James lamphear]

I hope Simons live up hype you guys giving him due to I really hate to see this kid get trash if he doesn't.

 

[James lamphear]

Simons is for sure a gifted scorer and shooter. But he's not all that much else at the moment. The only way he gets meaningful minutes at the backup PG in the regular season is if Olshey literally forces Stott's hand by not signing ANY OTHER GUARD.

Trent is a one-dimensional gunner. The Rockets could probably use him!

How Trent one dimensional when he rebounding dish out assist and playing pretty good defensive.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I hope Simons live up hype you guys giving him due to I really hate to see this kid get trash if he doesn't.

Dude has EASILY surpassed his hype

 

[kjironman1]

KJ, it's barely a month past his 20th birthday, and he should be coming out of college right now. Hes trying to get used to a position hes never played. To think that he wont progress from where he is now to the point where he can ruin a team is silly a bit pessimistic to me. When Dame was the same age, he had a mediocre 1.5:1.0 AST:TOV ratio while playing low-major D1 basketball.

The only think holding Anfernee back from "running the offense" is his ball handling. He moves well with the ball, has the athleticism and size to handle the position easily, plays with a good pace, makes the right decisions on what to try and do with the ball, takes good shots, etc. The execution is lackluster at times due to his ball handling. Other than that, I don't think amything else shows that he cant run an offense right now, let alone down the road.

As far as a backup PG, there arent better options put their. While Simons might not be good at the prototypical PG things, he eclipes any othernoptuon regardless due to his shooting and scoring ability (so letting him learn on the spot isnt going to cost the team anything). CJ eclipsea any other backup too, so consider one of them the backup PG.

He's also not too small size wise. He may be too weak strength wise, but that's fixable.

So from this I take it you agree to a point?
Personally I would like to see him mature a bit more and I would like the Blazers to look into a better option that can contribute right now.
I just think this is the time to make a move if there is one that becomes available.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I hope Simons live up hype you guys giving him due to I really hate to see this kid get trash if he doesn't.

Depends on what you believe the hype to be.

If you think he's going to be one of the next great PGs in the league, you will be disappointed.

He's MERELY going to be one of the next great SGs in the league.