The German elephant in the room.

[three3d]

Franz and Paolo aren’t working at full potential the way the team is currently constructed. I know it’s a very unpopular opinion but this experiment is just off right now without a good combo guard. I am worried about Franz, if some of his shooting issues have truly been just mental it’s about to get a whole lot worse. Franz is no longer playing with house money, no now he has to live up to that max contract.

Anfernee Simons is the type of player we need to play on and off ball between our two forwards. I’m not trying to make this the Anfernee Simons 2.0 thread but he just seems logically perfect for both age wise and talent wise to be the glue we need. The gravity on the court has got to spread out for Franz to do what he’s good at already and take some of that scoring load of Paolo and Franz both.

KCP coming in with the 2nd unit along side Issac and Black makes that 2nd unit perhaps one of the scariest defensive 2nd units in the NBA if not the outright best unit. It’s so tough seeing Franz have to creat his own shot and he’s most comfortable driving to the basket for an easy layup. His footwork is so good he just needs the floor to space out.

[HighPack]

Close this thread.

[three3d]

Close this thread.

Why?

[Magic_Johnny12]

I agree that if it’s a mental thing it will subsequently get worse.

However, I do not agree with yours and the rest of the fanbase obsession with Simons. If you didn’t want to create a Simons 2.0 post then you should have omitted his name as it really serves no purpose to your general premise/point.

Lastly, I’m confident Franz will figure it out. Dude has an incredible work ethic and seems mentally poised.

Us fans have to remain patient. Suggs looked like a bust early on and found rhythm. Wagner’s situation is a little different, but has shown he is capable and like any player needs to remain confident and keep shooting (which he is and is a good sign).

[three3d]

I agree that if it’s a mental thing it will subsequently get worse.

However, I do not agree with yours and the rest of the fanbase obsession with Simons. If you didn’t want to create a Simons 2.0 post then you should have omitted his name as it really serves no purpose to your general premise/point.

Lastly, I’m confident Franz will figure it out. Dude has an incredible work ethic and seems mentally poised.

Us fans have to remain patient. Suggs looked like a bust early on and found rhythm. Wagner’s situation is a little different, but has shown he is capable and like any player needs to remain confident and keep shooting (which he is and is a good sign).

It’s not intended to be Simons 2.0 but realistically he’s probably the easiest most available player to get that fits the role. Of course there are other combo guards but it’s widely know or speculated Simons doesn’t fit Blazers plans going forward.

Let’s leave Simons name out of this though and just focus on his game style, being able to handle the ball, shoot the 3, dish assists, and creat his own shot. That changes the flow of offense and gravity on the court. Think about how easy Franz’s life would be if defense Weren’t just able to pack the paint when he has the ball in his hand.

[three3d]

When you watch a game how many easy buckets do you see Franz getting? It’s not to say he’s not scoring, he is but he’s getting layups he has to work hard to get. Why aren’t Franz and Paolo playing more pick and roll off each other? Is it because they both want to get down hill scoring? Is it because Franz as of right now isn’t a midrange and beyond threat?

[eyriq]

When you watch a game how many easy buckets do you see Franz getting? It’s not to say he’s not scoring, he is but he’s getting layups he has to work hard to get. Why aren’t Franz and Paolo playing more pick and roll off each other? Is it because they both want to get down hill scoring? Is it because Franz as of right now isn’t a midrange and beyond threat?

I don't think you see much pick and roll with them because there's no advantage gained from getting the defense to switch.

[Skybox]

I think I follow your point and I'm a fan of Simons, but I don't think he's the logical solution...Everything our two best players do is pretty miraculous considering how hard they have to work for every basket. Simons would make things easier on offense and, despite the defensive slip, just makes more sense than KCP. KCP is a really good player but he's more of a loss to recent contender DEN than he is any kind of big step for ORL, IMO. The NBA media is (rightly) ragging on DEN for letting him slip away over a few bucks, but what exactly does another 3&D 30 year old do to revolutionize the ORL offense?

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread was...I figured it might lead to a Franz trade idea or at least a trade to support Franz. The title alone made me wonder who "dares" to address the fact that Franz' brother is an overpaid 3rd or 4th Center on an improved, but still weirdly constructed roster.

[JBSouthpaw]

This team is built around 2 way players, Franz's value is greater than just his outside shooting.
Doing anything with Franz would be selling low. Not worried one bit.

Simmons defense is worse than Franz's value on Offense, by a mile.

[SHAQ32]

Thought this was going to be about Mo.

[three3d]

I think I follow your point and I'm a fan of Simons, but I don't think he's the logical solution...Everything our two best players do is pretty miraculous considering how hard they have to work for every basket. Simons would make things easier on offense and, despite the defensive slip, just makes more sense than KCP. KCP is a really good player but he's more of a loss to recent contender DEN than he is any kind of big step for ORL, IMO. The NBA media is (rightly) ragging on DEN for letting him slip away over a few bucks, but what exactly does another 3&D 30 year old do to revolutionize the ORL offense?

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread was...I figured it might lead to a Franz trade idea or at least a trade to support Franz. The title alone made me wonder who "dares" to address the fact that Franz' brother is an overpaid 3rd or 4th Center on an improved, but still weirdly constructed roster.

This isn’t a popular opinion, but I think Franz is the biggest trade piece we have that doesn’t fit. The Franz situation becomes the elephant in the room because there are problems people don’t seem to want to honestly discuss or call out. Not everyone feels the same way I get it, but he’s on a big contract and he has some big flaws.

If FO isn’t going to get a true point guard or combo guard to run this it’s not going to work. The argument of how many more games we’ve won in the year prior also doesn’t carry much weigh IMO because we could/should be a lot better.

[SHAQ32]

I think I follow your point and I'm a fan of Simons, but I don't think he's the logical solution...Everything our two best players do is pretty miraculous considering how hard they have to work for every basket. Simons would make things easier on offense and, despite the defensive slip, just makes more sense than KCP. KCP is a really good player but he's more of a loss to recent contender DEN than he is any kind of big step for ORL, IMO. The NBA media is (rightly) ragging on DEN for letting him slip away over a few bucks, but what exactly does another 3&D 30 year old do to revolutionize the ORL offense?

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread was...I figured it might lead to a Franz trade idea or at least a trade to support Franz. The title alone made me wonder who "dares" to address the fact that Franz' brother is an overpaid 3rd or 4th Center on an improved, but still weirdly constructed roster.

This isn’t a popular opinion, but I think Franz is the biggest trade piece we have that doesn’t fit. The Franz situation becomes the elephant in the room because there are problems people don’t seem to want to honestly discuss or call out. Not everyone feels the same way I get it, but he’s on a big contract and he has some big flaws.

If FO isn’t going to get a true point guard or combo guard to run this it’s not going to work. The argument of how many more games we’ve won in the year prior also doesn’t carry much weigh IMO because we could/should be a lot better.

Curious to hear your take on his flaws, as I agree with the sentiment.

[zaymon]

If we want more easy buckets for Franz we need a playmaking guard not a scoring guard. Someone like Garland, Young or even cheaper version like Nembhard.
Franz and Paolo doesnt work well in pick and roll becouse you can switch them without problem.
I dont say Simons wont work at all, becouse we saw how much better we are when Cole is on, but Simons is even worse on defense. His salary is also a problem.

[three3d]

I think I follow your point and I'm a fan of Simons, but I don't think he's the logical solution...Everything our two best players do is pretty miraculous considering how hard they have to work for every basket. Simons would make things easier on offense and, despite the defensive slip, just makes more sense than KCP. KCP is a really good player but he's more of a loss to recent contender DEN than he is any kind of big step for ORL, IMO. The NBA media is (rightly) ragging on DEN for letting him slip away over a few bucks, but what exactly does another 3&D 30 year old do to revolutionize the ORL offense?

I'm not sure what the direction of this thread was...I figured it might lead to a Franz trade idea or at least a trade to support Franz. The title alone made me wonder who "dares" to address the fact that Franz' brother is an overpaid 3rd or 4th Center on an improved, but still weirdly constructed roster.

This isn’t a popular opinion, but I think Franz is the biggest trade piece we have that doesn’t fit. The Franz situation becomes the elephant in the room because there are problems people don’t seem to want to honestly discuss or call out. Not everyone feels the same way I get it, but he’s on a big contract and he has some big flaws.

If FO isn’t going to get a true point guard or combo guard to run this it’s not going to work. The argument of how many more games we’ve won in the year prior also doesn’t carry much weigh IMO because we could/should be a lot better.

Curious to hear your take on his flaws, as I agree with the sentiment.

I’ll break scoring down in three different levels, 3 pointers (level 3) mid range (level 2) and layups (level 1) right now Franz is an ELITE level 1 scorer. But outside level 1 you don’t have to worry about hm. I’m not even suggesting Franz needs to be a 40% 3 point shooter BUT he has got to become an efficient two level scorer. It’s hard to criticize him because he’s so freaking good at what he does but if I’m a defense I’m playing Franz straight up to make him shoot. Even at that he’s still good at getting to level 1. If Franz puts level 2 scoring in his game he’s EASILY a 20+ ppg scorer.

I don’t know if Franz can fix this himself or if it’s a product of how this team is built. I also need to see some more “Alpha” in him he’s probably the 2nd most important person on this team. I need to hear him be more vocal about what he needs, he’s gotten contract that says he’s a team leader now be one. Thinking about games last year and when I seen Franz get stupid easy buckets they seemed to come of passes from Mo. Naturally they should have that chemistry and connection, that needs to come with the starting unit also.

One more thing about Franz needing to become an “Alpha” during the Olympics Schroeder was running the German team like it was his and throwing up stupid shots. I think we all would agree Franz was Germanys best player that should have been his team not Schroder’s.

[RichCollab]

Franz seems to be in his head right now and maybe he is never a good shooter. I still believe in him as a player and I do think he will figure it out.

[J-Mezzy]

I hope he can regain confidence in his long range shot. As good of a slasher as he is, he will find life difficult if teams are sagging off him.

Never seen a player drop significantly the way he did

[GelbeWand09]

Even without a 3point shot, 3 Anfernee Simons wouldn't have the positive impact Franz has. Simons is a much much much worse player.

[Ducklett]

I love simons and wish we had him at cole's salary in cole's role, but that is the kind of player he is on a winning roster. Dude makes Harden look like Dwight on defense.

[eyriq]

We should put the "we need a playmaker" narrative on ice. AB is stepping up.

[fendilim]

Simons isn’t gonna happen. We’re gonna pay Suggs 30m, and Kcp didnt sign here to come off the bench.