Game 70: Portland vs Memphis 7:00pm Chargetv and KUNP

[DusterBuster]

The NBA incentive system is seriously flawed if fans are pissed that a player on their team is exceeding expectations.

You're clearly missing my point. I'm in no way pissed at Deni, I'm stoked he's playing as good as he is. I'm saying if the Blazers are going to find a cornerstone franchise player, at this point their only hope is that Deni becomes that and this stretch isn't just a flash.

[zzaj]

The NBA incentive system is seriously flawed if fans are pissed that a player on their team is exceeding expectations.

You're correct about the first thing, at least.

Deni and Camara are bright spots in an otherwise waste of a season for the Blazers. I guess I'd throw Clingan showing that he can guard the rim and rebound, and Scoot making some strides on both sides of the ball in there too...

[zzaj]

If Deni and Camara are going to be long-term starters for the Blazers, that's going to be pretty tough if Scoot and Clingan are also on the court. There's just not enough offense in that 4. Of course if Scoot continues to develop offensively and Sharpe takes a step forward that would surely help.

I guess I didn't realize how rough Clingan was on offense. I only watched a few UCONN games last year, and most of the shots I saw him take were putbacks. The Blazers need to have two trainers (a big and a guard) with him every on-court workout over the summer in order to improve everything about his offense.

That move where he got stripped when he had that little double pump before bringing the ball down on an offensive rebound tonight had me SMH. He's just got almost zero feel around the basket. But, he just turned 21...he's got some time.

Tonight it felt to me like Clingan had the better of the matchup between he and Edey. Edey looked slow of foot and processing on defense and doesn't have the quick hands that Clingan has. I've actually been pleasantly surprised at Clingan's defense when he has had to move out to the perimeter. I thought he would be much worse there.

Lastly, got to give it up to Deni for an amazing game and Duop for coming in and doing what he does. Pretty rare game for a Blazer to have a boxscore like Deni's, and Duop certainly felt like a plus in his minutes.

Bonus thought: I'm actually kind of surprised that Huff doesn't play more. He's got some skill for a Center, on both ends of the ball.

[zzaj]

Ooooof. I just went and looked at the tumbleweeds on the Memphis board.

I'm glad this board isn't that kind of ghost town...

[Shem]

Watch on YouTube

[monopoman]

First Blazers victory against a play-off team since beating Sacramento just before the all-star game.

[Walton1one]

First Blazers victory against a play-off team since beating Sacramento just before the all-star game.

Yeah, that is quite surprising.

Great game by Deni, he was pretty unreal in the 1st half, won't always be shooting 5-8 from 3pt though....

Dominating stat line though, 31-16-8

Simons, 21 points on 24 shots, ridiculous. Compare that to Deni 31 points on 18 shots.

It was a nice win, albeit to a team that was playing without their best player, and MEM had a really poor shooting night, 40.2% FG% & 26.7% from 3pt - For the season they are 48.1% & 36.6% from 3pt for reference

POR shot way above their norm from 3pt as well (thanks to Deni primarily): 39.1% from 3pt, their average for the year is 34.7%

Of course this win (as several others have been) is all smoke & mirrors, POR is not a very good team, as their record clearly indicates and yet b\c of series of injuries & decisions by other teams they may luck themselves into the play in, it will provide nothing in terms of their future (Do you really think Billups is going to prioritze Scoot\Sharpe\Clingan if he makes a play in? No, he will play Simons\Thybulle, and likely Grant\Ayton\Williams).

[zzaj]

First Blazers victory against a play-off team since beating Sacramento just before the all-star game.

Yeah, that is quite surprising.

Great game by Deni, he was pretty unreal in the 1st half, won't always be shooting 5-8 from 3pt though....

Dominating stat line though, 31-16-8

Simons, 21 points on 24 shots, ridiculous. Compare that to Deni 31 points on 18 shots.

It was a nice win, albeit to a team that was playing without their best player, and MEM had a really poor shooting night, 40.2% FG% & 26.7% from 3pt - For the season they are 48.1% & 36.6% from 3pt for reference

POR shot way above their norm from 3pt as well (thanks to Deni primarily): 39.1% from 3pt, their average for the year is 34.7%

Of course this win (as several others have been) is all smoke & mirrors, POR is not a very good team, as their record clearly indicates and yet b\c of series of injuries & decisions by other teams they may luck themselves into the play in, it will provide nothing in terms of their future (Do you really think Billups is going to prioritze Scoot\Sharpe\Clingan if he makes a play in? No, he will play Simons\Thybulle, and likely Grant\Ayton\Williams).

Generally, I agree with you...I think that the team when peaking can hang with most teams, but generally is going to be around a 10th seed.

Since Jan 19th, though the Blazers really have shown some marked improvement across the board. And compared to last year? This team is about 100x more fun to watch. A lot of that is much less of one of Ayton/Grant...

[mighty_duck]

First Blazers victory against a play-off team since beating Sacramento just before the all-star game.

Is Memphis without Ja really a playoff team?

We'll take it though!

[PDXKnight]

First Blazers victory against a play-off team since beating Sacramento just before the all-star game.

Is Memphis without Ja really a playoff team?

We'll take it though!

No id give it back along with 15 wins tbh. Deni toumani and clingan and 3 unprotected firsts might not get us in the top 4 this year. Without jerami and ant perhaps we lose 10 more games. The worst decision is indecision and for that I think Cronin has committed a fireable offense unless these decisions were solely on Jody and kolde then maybe he gets a slight bit if grace

[playoffs]

The NBA incentive system is seriously flawed if fans are pissed that a player on their team is exceeding expectations.

You're clearly missing my point. I'm in no way pissed at Deni, I'm stoked he's playing as good as he is. I'm saying if the Blazers are going to find a cornerstone franchise player, at this point their only hope is that Deni becomes that and this stretch isn't just a flash.

To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that you are pissed AT Deni, just that you are pissed at the fact that POR is winning due to Deni playing better than was anticipated.

[JasonStern]

Offer Reath a 3 year veteran's minimum contract now. Not that the guy that is ever going to win you anything, but just such a great hustle guy to have on a 15 team roster.

Memphis has their excuses for dropping this game, but as I've repeatedly said - I'm fine winning games so long as you're getting meaningful minutes from Deni/Sharpe/Camara/Scoot/Clingan and they are taking advantage of the playing time.

Deni leading the team in assists, with Sharpe and Scoot tying for 2nd, and Simons a distant 3rd says a lot about our offense.

[DusterBuster]

The NBA incentive system is seriously flawed if fans are pissed that a player on their team is exceeding expectations.

You're clearly missing my point. I'm in no way pissed at Deni, I'm stoked he's playing as good as he is. I'm saying if the Blazers are going to find a cornerstone franchise player, at this point their only hope is that Deni becomes that and this stretch isn't just a flash.

To be clear, I wasn't suggesting that you are pissed AT Deni, just that you are pissed at the fact that POR is winning due to Deni playing better than was anticipated.

I wasn't that either. I was simply stating fact. At this point the Blazers have no path to a superstar/all star player. Fans aren't willing to make a big trade to get that player (guessing Cronin isn't either), FA's never come to Portland, and the team is too good to be in a position to draft that player that would be a near sure fire star (as much as you can get that via the draft I mean).

So literally, the Blazers only pathway for a star player is that one of the guys currently on the roster develops into that, and Deni is probably the most talented guy who has that opportunity.

[m0ng0]

Who cares if he is ever an all star dude is balling

Fans who want their team to be a winning franchise… that’s who cares.

I’m agreeing, he’s balling, do it all year and be an All Star cause that’s quickly becoming the only way the Blazers can get an All Star. At this point Deni is the Blazers best hope for that tier of player.

I need more explaination on this as your implying i don't want the team to win? I'm one of the few people here who WANT this team to win now.

Are you also floating the idea if Deni is an All Star that other All Stars will want to come play with Deni...in Portland?

Honestly I would prefer he stays our little secret. Having that title is neat, but really who cares?

[Walton1one]

Offer Reath a 3 year veteran's minimum contract now. Not that the guy that is ever going to win you anything, but just such a great hustle guy to have on a 15 team roster.

Memphis has their excuses for dropping this game, but as I've repeatedly said - I'm fine winning games so long as you're getting meaningful minutes from Deni/Sharpe/Camara/Scoot/Clingan and they are taking advantage of the playing time.

Deni leading the team in assists, with Sharpe and Scoot tying for 2nd, and Simons a distant 3rd says a lot about our offense.

Who are you letting go from the roster? They have to let at least one guy go to fit their 1st round pick, unless they idiotically end up giving it to CHI.

Reath is a 4th string center and a pretty meh one at that, why not give that spot to a younger\developmental player, rather than a 29yr old end of bench player?

Walker is an RFA, I guess they could let him go? he will be 23

They have a club option on Rupert that they could decline, he will be 21

Banton is a UFA, he will be 26, it is known that I could care less if he is retained.

Actually? I could care less if any of those 4 are retained, maybe keep Rupert, as he was always a long term play and he is only 21 still, but the other 3? Why? MEM grabbed guys like Huff and Pippen Jr and they have shown more than any of POR end of bench players ever have.

[BlazersBroncos]

I would for sure let Walker go. I like the hustle but he is a tweener playing 15 years too late. Banton is walking IMO.

Rayan needs to get some run but we are trying to win games so we can get the worst lotto pick possible. I dont see how you keep him for a 3rd year as your getting zero look at him - he has played well outside the 3PT shot in the G-League in limited games (9 games / 20ppg / 6rpg / 4apg / 1spg / 0.7bpg but in a whopping 35mpg w/ bad 3PT (26%) and only 2.4 FTA per). I really dont know what lane to pick on Rupert.

[Shem]

Watch on YouTube

[DusterBuster]

I would for sure let Walker go. I like the hustle but he is a tweener playing 15 years too late. Banton is walking IMO.

Rayan needs to get some run but we are trying to win games so we can get the worst lotto pick possible. I dont see how you keep him for a 3rd year as your getting zero look at him - he has played well outside the 3PT shot in the G-League in limited games (9 games / 20ppg / 6rpg / 4apg / 1spg / 0.7bpg but in a whopping 35mpg w/ bad 3PT (26%) and only 2.4 FTA per). I really dont know what lane to pick on Rupert.

I can take or leave any of the 8-15 on this roster.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I can take or leave any of the 8-15 on this roster.

Are there 7 keepers on the roster?

Scoot, Sharpe, Camara, Avdija, Clingan

Who else

[DusterBuster]

I can take or leave any of the 8-15 on this roster.

Are there 7 keepers on the roster?

Scoot, Sharpe, Camara, Avdija, Clingan

Who else

That’s fair, I was just kinda throwing a number out there, but to be specific, it’s probably just those 5.