Game 50: Portland vs Phoenix 7:00pm Chargetv and KUNP

[m0ng0]

God I just love it when you guys pick apart these wins, why are you even a fan of this team?

[Pattycakes]

Blazers ballin. Only losers crying tonight

[DusterBuster]

I’m giving up rooting for losses. That ship has sunk, just might as well let the chips fall where they may.

Progress of the young guys is showing, so that’s a positive.

[Shem]

Scoot outperforming ant off the bench again. Man I hope ant is gone!

With the Blazers winning 8 of the last 9, the core of Ayton, Simons and Grant become more valuable to other teams at the deadline. One thing teams value that want to get better is players that know how to win.

[m0ng0]

I’m giving up rooting for losses. That ship has sunk, just might as well let the chips fall where they may.

Progress of the young guys is showing, so that’s a positive.

What a concept aye? Actually rooting for this team

[Pattycakes]

I’m giving up rooting for losses. That ship has sunk, just might as well let the chips fall where they may.

Progress of the young guys is showing, so that’s a positive.

What a concept aye? Actually rooting for this team

It’s a little annoying that people wanted us to lose all year and are now flip flopping since it’s clear that was a dumb plan and this works better

[DusterBuster]

I’m giving up rooting for losses. That ship has sunk, just might as well let the chips fall where they may.

Progress of the young guys is showing, so that’s a positive.

What a concept aye? Actually rooting for this team

It’s a little annoying that people wanted us to lose all year and are now flip flopping since it’s clear that was a dumb plan and this works better

It’s not a dumb plan, they still need a star to build around and the only path for the Blazers to do that is through the draft.

With a generational talent in this draft, they should have tanked, but they clearly aren’t going to do that.

[m0ng0]

What a concept aye? Actually rooting for this team

It’s a little annoying that people wanted us to lose all year and are now flip flopping since it’s clear that was a dumb plan and this works better

It’s not a dumb plan, they still need a star to build around and the only path for the Blazers to do that is through the draft.

With a generational talent in this draft, they should have tanked, but they clearly aren’t going to do that.

Generational talent is the new buzz word, we just beat a team with generational talent in back to back nights, maybe a cohesive team CAN compete?

[Shem]

The last 4 minutes of regulation and OT put up on YouTube by the NBA. For those who missed the game, you can catch the end of it.

Watch on YouTube

[Moonbeam]

Lol, Chauncey just playing the 3 vets heavy (40) minutes tonight, meanwhile, Scoot with 22, Sharpe with 19 & DC with 10

Yeah, he's trying to win. That's what coaches do.

This win sums up POR entire season, a complete waste of time

Well, you're more than welcome to "F" off and find another hobby. Something that actually makes you happy.

Knock it off with this. You and Walton1one can disagree about the direction of the team and strategy, but don’t resort to swearing (or veiled swearing). It might be worth you two putting each other on the ignore list if it will help you each better enjoy your time on the forum.

[PDXKnight]

Scoot outperforming ant off the bench again. Man I hope ant is gone!

With the Blazers winning 8 of the last 9, the core of Ayton, Simons and Grant become more valuable to other teams at the deadline. One thing teams value that want to get better is players that know how to win.

Excellent i hope we cash in

[Norm2953]

Let's just hope there will be demand for Ayton's services for the guy can play if he wants to.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Lol, Chauncey just playing the 3 vets heavy (40) minutes tonight, meanwhile, Scoot with 22, Sharpe with 19 & DC with 10

Yeah, he's trying to win. That's what coaches do.

This win sums up POR entire season, a complete waste of time

Well, you're more than welcome to "F" off and find another hobby. Something that actually makes you happy.

Knock it off with this. You and Walton1one can disagree about the direction of the team and strategy, but don’t resort to swearing (or veiled swearing). It might be worth you two putting each other on the ignore list if it will help you each better enjoy your time on the forum.

Thank you!!!

[DaVoiceMaster]

I still root for the Blazers to lose before and after the game, but I'm rooting for them during the game. Now, if they were still losing, I'd be rooting for a loss during the game, but they are on a little run. There's still a lot of games left so let's see if they can keep this up or if they go back to losing again.

The Suns are the ones who need to blow it up. Durant and Beal never won anything. Sure, Durant has rings, but that's only because he went to a team that was already championship caliber. Booker has done more than either Durant or Beal, but even that is nothing to brag about.

[Moonbeam]

The big picture stuff makes this streak a little confusing, so I understand the consternation.

This team is filled with likable players, some of whom have been put in positions to incur the ire of fans eager for a change (speaking mostly of Simons, Ayton, and Grant here). But I find them to be likable players all the same.

While I tend to agree that the current roster is not set to contend for anything meaningful as currently constructed, it's hard not to feel happy that the team is seeing extended success at the moment. These players work hard throughout the year, and on a human level, it's nice to see that effort pay off with this recent streak of success.

At the same time, I agree that Portland needs All-Star caliber players to be able to legitimately compete, and I don't see any on the roster at the moment. Maybe some of the current guys can become All-Stars, but it's quite plausible that none of them ever do. Given Portland is not a renowned FA destination, it makes sense to wish for Portland to put themselves into a position to land star-level players through the draft or trades.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the trade deadline pans out.

[JRoy]

This has been a great run.

Some folks will look at as a team maturing and hope for a better year next year.

I will look at this run as getting the 11th pick instead of the 6th pick in a solid draft when my teams best player is not even all star level.

[Shem]

Let's just hope there will be demand for Ayton's services for the guy can play if he wants to.

He's the least likely one to be moved based on his contract. However, he has upped his value over the last few weeks. I think at this point Simons is the most likely one to be moved since he has the cheaper contract between himself, Ayton and Grant.

[Runner300]

The coach does a great job stabilizing the team defense, and balancing the offense.
On the other hand, last 10 minutes of the game were far from perfect.
The key inbound plays were poorly planned and executed, and easily intercepted by the Suns.
And what's the deal with not fouling early when you're up 3 points? Is it his a general NBA thing?

[DusterBuster]

The big picture stuff makes this streak a little confusing, so I understand the consternation.

This team is filled with likable players, some of whom have been put in positions to incur the ire of fans eager for a change (speaking mostly of Simons, Ayton, and Grant here). But I find them to be likable players all the same.

While I tend to agree that the current roster is not set to contend for anything meaningful as currently constructed, it's hard not to feel happy that the team is seeing extended success at the moment. These players work hard throughout the year, and on a human level, it's nice to see that effort pay off with this recent streak of success.

At the same time, I agree that Portland needs All-Star caliber players to be able to legitimately compete, and I don't see any on the roster at the moment. Maybe some of the current guys can become All-Stars, but it's quite plausible that none of them ever do. Given Portland is not a renowned FA destination, it makes sense to wish for Portland to put themselves into a position to land star-level players through the draft or trades.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the trade deadline pans out.

This is basically where I’ve landed too at this point with everything too.

As far as the deadline and wanting change, the only player I’ve really been eager to see moved is Simons. I never got the feeling the team is eager to move off Ayton as some fans. Ayton can be frustrating but there’s never been any talk he’s been a problem in the locker room. Grant is a sunk cost at this point as well, his play and contract have made him probably unmovable at this point.

Simons just does need to go tho, Scoot is clearly ready to start and it’s been long enough of him being a bench player.

And Billups is still a maddening coach, I still view him as Doc Rivers-lite. But the one thing I’ve always maintained that he has as a positive (maybe only positive) as a coach is that he’s seemingly never lost the lockerroom.

[BlazersBroncos]

I want a shot at the big fish in this draft but if Scoot is playing this well and we are getting 20 from Toumari and Deni its hard to hate the W.

I still want to cash out Simons, Grant and Ayton but this type of run helps that goal, not hurts.

Scoot has to be handed the keys sooner than later.

For JAN + FEB he is at like 60% TS with a respectable 114 DRTg.