Could Deni be Portland’s point guard of the future?

[zzaj]

I still think Scoot will round-out to basically Kemba Walker, but without the career peak that Kemba had.

And yeah, offensive systems are entirely different than they were in the 80s-early 00s. At its peak, basically nobody handled the ball except for the PG—everything was C&S or 2 dibble pullups in the midrange. Cuts to the paint were setup so that the PG made the pass out of secondary actions. I remember the novelty when good Centers passing in High-Low and hitting cutters became a thing.

Now every good team basically needs at least 2 players that can self create and make reads out of that creation at a high level.

[Blazers20]

I think what you see with Scoot is what you’re going to get moving forward. His numbers won’t get that much better than they are now. I would be surprised if he can give 20+ ppg and 10+ apg.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think what you see with Scoot is what you’re going to get moving forward. His numbers won’t get that much better than they are now. I would be surprised if he can give 20+ ppg and 10+ apg.

Why? He improved across the board from his rookie to sophmore year per basically every advanced stat.

I am not a huge believer but there are no statistical indications that he isnt improving. He is simply improving from a really **** starting point.

[Walton1one]

I'd like to see him in a true starting role for a season before I make any definitive judgments on what a 21/22 year old PG can\not become.

The fact is he has never been given a chance to run the starting unit, and unless Simons is dealt, likely will not be given that chance next year either, which will mean sporadic minutes coming off the bench again, it is hard to form a definitive opinion on him. Billups will continue to start Simons as long as he he is here, so the only way to force Billups to start scoot is to trade Simons away, and Bert\Joe have been clearly reluctant to do that and likely will be so this year as well given their "playoffs are the expectation" announcements.

Now maybe with new ownership on the horizon that will change, but more likely is in the interim they kick the can down the road (keep expiring contracts, take #11 pick, no extensions)

Scoot BTW averaged fewer minutes (26.7) this year vs LY (28.5), mainly playing with bench rotation players.

In the 10 games Scoot started he averaged: 16.2 - 3.2 - 6.5 (P\R\A)

His averages for the season are 12.7 - 3 - 5.1

[dckingsfan]

I'd like to see him in a true starting role for a season before I make any definitive judgments on what a 21/22 year old PG can\not become.

The fact is he has never been given a chance to run the starting unit, and unless Simons is dealt, likely will not be given that chance next year either, which will mean sporadic minutes coming off the bench again, it is hard to form a definitive opinion on him. Billups will continue to start Simons as long as he he is here, so the only way to force Billups to start scoot is to trade Simons away, and Bert\Joe have been clearly reluctant to do that and likely will be so this year as well given their "playoffs are the expectation" announcements.

Now maybe with new ownership on the horizon that will change, but more likely is in the interim they kick the can down the road (keep expiring contracts, take #11 pick, no extensions)

Scoot BTW averaged fewer minutes (26.7) this year vs LY (28.5), mainly playing with bench rotation players.

In the 10 games Scoot started he averaged: 16.2 - 3.2 - 6.5 (P\R\A)

His averages for the season are 12.7 - 3 - 5.1

This - as old fisher guy pointed out - he is the hardest player to understand (in terms of what he is going to become). He improved materially year over year. I think that Billups was actually good for him. Now we need the FO to be good to him and trade Simons.

His usage went down yet he produced around the same percentage of assists and lowered his TOs. His 3-point percentage increased (although his FT% decreased - yeah, didn't list it here). His defense improved.

Code: Select all

Age   MP     TS%    3P%     DRB%   AST%   STL%   BLK%   Drtg   TOV%   USG%    WS/48   VORP
19   1765   0.489   0.325   9.5    29.9   1.3    0.7     120   19.3   26.5   -0.045   -1.7
20   1759   0.540   0.354   9.2    28.1   1.9    0.7     117   18.6   22.5    0.049   -0.1

Now does all this tell me he is going to become a top 15 PG in the league. No. But it could happen. But it wouldn't just need to be playing time that would have to change.

He has to get better on the defensive end of the court - and that is going to be really hard. He needs to be able to knock down 3s at a much higher rate. He needs to find a mid-range shot that really works for him and stick to that. He really should take a higher percentage of shots at the rim.

My 1/2 cent.

[dunlop212]

Watch on YouTube

Makes a very compelling argument that Deni has elite skills, and that low usage is the only thing that keeps him from being a star. Laughably he concludes that the Blazer coaching staff will watch film and see the numbers this off season and bump Deni's minutes accordingly next year. Good luck with that; more likely Deni goes back to the bench so that Simons can start.

[DusterBuster]

Watch on YouTube

Makes a very compelling argument that Deni has elite skills, and that low usage is the only thing that keeps him from being a star. Laughably he concludes that the Blazer coaching staff will watch film and see the numbers this off season and bump Deni's minutes accordingly next year. Good luck with that; more likely Deni goes back to the bench so that Simons can start.

It's easy to slam the Blazers coaching staff with that take (and I get it, no shade with that), but I do believe that if they don't make any major moves this summer (likely), that they will move to make Deni more of the star player of the roster to start next season. No other player, even Simons, has the complete skillset of Deni.

[dckingsfan]

Watch on YouTube

Makes a very compelling argument that Deni has elite skills, and that low usage is the only thing that keeps him from being a star. Laughably he concludes that the Blazer coaching staff will watch film and see the numbers this off season and bump Deni's minutes accordingly next year. Good luck with that; more likely Deni goes back to the bench so that Simons can start.

It's easy to slam the Blazers coaching staff with that take (and I get it, no shade with that), but I do believe that if they don't make any major moves this summer (likely), that they will move to make Deni more of the star player of the roster to start next season. No other player, even Simons, has the complete skillset of Deni.

wow... a great breakdown.

[Wizenheimer]

Watch on YouTube

Makes a very compelling argument that Deni has elite skills, and that low usage is the only thing that keeps him from being a star. Laughably he concludes that the Blazer coaching staff will watch film and see the numbers this off season and bump Deni's minutes accordingly next year. Good luck with that; more likely Deni goes back to the bench so that Simons can start.

It's easy to slam the Blazers coaching staff with that take (and I get it, no shade with that), but I do believe that if they don't make any major moves this summer (likely), that they will move to make Deni more of the star player of the roster to start next season. No other player, even Simons, has the complete skillset of Deni.

one of his biggest strengths, his turbo mode, is also a substantial part of his biggest flaw, turnovers. He just needs to learn when it's better to let of the gas, a little

by the way, if the Blazers are unlikely to make big moves, and I'd agree they won't, it's going to be a problem. So far, Chauncey has shown he will start Simons-Grant-Ayton, no matter what. And clearly, Camara will start. Meaning, it's probable that all three of Scoot-Sharpe-Clingan will be backups....unless Avdija is 6th man. Scoot and Clingan for sure to the bench (and that totally sucks since both should start), leaving a decision between Sharpe and Avdija

[Tim Lehrbach]

Watch on YouTube

Makes a very compelling argument that Deni has elite skills, and that low usage is the only thing that keeps him from being a star. Laughably he concludes that the Blazer coaching staff will watch film and see the numbers this off season and bump Deni's minutes accordingly next year. Good luck with that; more likely Deni goes back to the bench so that Simons can start.

It's easy to slam the Blazers coaching staff with that take (and I get it, no shade with that), but I do believe that if they don't make any major moves this summer (likely), that they will move to make Deni more of the star player of the roster to start next season. No other player, even Simons, has the complete skillset of Deni.

one of his biggest strengths, his turbo mode, is also a substantial part of his biggest flaw, turnovers. He just needs to learn when it's better to let of the gas, a little

by the way, if the Blazers are unlikely to make big moves, and I'd agree they won't, it's going to be a problem. So far, Chauncey has shown he will start Simons-Grant-Ayton, no matter what. And clearly, Camara will start. Meaning, it's probable that all three of Scoot-Sharpe-Clingan will be backups....unless Avdija is 6th man. Scoot and Clingan for sure to the bench (and that totally sucks since both should start), leaving a decision between Sharpe and Avdija

This may give Chauncey too much benefit of the doubt, but I am not as certain that the treacherous trio are locks to start next year. Yes, precedent. Yes, contracts. But also there will come a time, someday, in their NBA careers when they are ousted as starters. I am notoriously pessimistic on Scoot and Shaedon, so I do not expect Billups to be overwhelmed by their cases to start over Simons, but Grant and Ayton, I could see coming off the bench. Camara, Deni, and Clingan were just plain better last year. It wouldn't require much justification to start them.

[Wizenheimer]

This may give Chauncey too much benefit of the doubt, but I am not as certain that the treacherous trio are locks to start next year. Yes, precedent. Yes, contracts. But also there will come a time, someday, in their NBA careers when they are ousted as starters. I am notoriously pessimistic on Scoot and Shaedon, so I do not expect Billups to be overwhelmed by their cases to start over Simons, but Grant and Ayton, I could see coming off the bench. Camara, Deni, and Clingan were just plain better last year. It wouldn't require much justification to start them.

I didn't mean to imply that it was certain. Just that in the last 2 seasons, Simons-Ayton-Grant have combined for 312 games, and....312 starts

what's different is Chauncey has a new contract and the Blazers are for sale. Maybe that will compel him to make changes to his 'set-in-stone' pattern. He certainly would have justification for starting Avdija over Grant

I'm not a pessimistic about Sharpe and Scoot as you are. That doesn't mean I see future all-stars; what it means Is I need to see them as starters without the distraction of Simons. Aldridge was never going to be all he could be with Zach standing in his way. Somehow, Simons is managing to stand in the way of both Scoot and Sharpe. I know this: Sharpe was a completely different player last season when he wasn't on the floor with Simons. I want to see a lot more of that and I want to see a Scoot/Sharpe back court for a full season

by the way, Portland was 8-4 last season without Simons. It's monumentally irritatingwe went thru 7 seasons with Blazer management grossly overrating the talent and impact of CJ. Looks like we'll enter the 4th season with Blazer management grossly overrating Simons. Curses!

[oldfishermen]

Billups has spent way too much time in the puppy stage of his coaching career.

He has been way too comfortable nursing off of the 3 veteran teats, and what they care to feed him.

It is time for Billups to open his puppy eyes, and see where the future of this roster really is.

[Dame Lizard]

This may give Chauncey too much benefit of the doubt, but I am not as certain that the treacherous trio are locks to start next year. Yes, precedent. Yes, contracts. But also there will come a time, someday, in their NBA careers when they are ousted as starters. I am notoriously pessimistic on Scoot and Shaedon, so I do not expect Billups to be overwhelmed by their cases to start over Simons, but Grant and Ayton, I could see coming off the bench. Camara, Deni, and Clingan were just plain better last year. It wouldn't require much justification to start them.

I didn't mean to imply that it was certain. Just that in the last 2 seasons, Simons-Ayton-Grant have combined for 312 games, and....312 starts

what's different is Chauncey has a new contract and the Blazers are for sale. Maybe that will compel him to make changes to his 'set-in-stone' pattern. He certainly would have justification for starting Avdija over Grant

I'm not a pessimistic about Sharpe and Scoot as you are. That doesn't mean I see future all-stars; what it means Is I need to see them as starters without the distraction of Simons. Aldridge was never going to be all he could be with Zach standing in his way. Somehow, Simons is managing to stand in the way of both Scoot and Sharpe. I know this: Sharpe was a completely different player last season when he wasn't on the floor with Simons. I want to see a lot more of that and I want to see a Scoot/Sharpe back court for a full season

by the way, Portland was 8-4 last season without Simons. It's monumentally irritatingwe went thru 7 seasons with Blazer management grossly overrating the talent and impact of CJ. Looks like we'll enter the 4th season with Blazer management grossly overrating Simons. Curses!

Agree.