Game 46: Portland vs Dallas 7:30pm TNT

[BlazersBroncos]

We should pick up Ariza's 2nd year option even if he sucks, which he doesn't. That contract will be about the only trade ballast we have. We need bodies assuming that management chases Melo with the MLE.

Even with his age, he is the prototype for what we want at SF (Albeit he would have better vision ideally in a Stotts offense). Its telling that his first game as a Blazer was better than Kent's best game over a much larger sample size.

I have fingers crossed that we find a way to capitalize on Whiteside's contract. Even if it means we trot out rec league caliber bigs for a while until Nurkic and Skal are back. We need to use that asset. Its about all we have to work with in the foreseeable future. I would even think about Hassan for Randle and Elfrid. Roll the dice that Julius could adapt to a 6th man role as the main backup PF and C.

[Epicurus]

Dallas had 6 more true shot attempts (fga+.44*fta). Both teams had abnormally high true shot make percentages--64%. Both shot well beyond their respective shot quality (55% for Mavs, 53% for Blazers). Back to more true shot attempts which were mostly related to the turnover differential. Irony, 11% turnover rate is not that bad.Yet it is compared to the Mavs' 7% rate.

[Wizenheimer]

the biggest problem Simons has is living up to the ridiculous hype Olshey pumped out about him last summer. It wasn't just over the top, it was over the moon and circling the sun

sure, Simons will get better, but it's probably wise to slow the roll on expectations. His summer hype had him in the HOF queue. This year's reality raises questions if he'll even make it to starting-level production and efficiency. Trent is only 5 months older and has played half the NBA minutes Simons has, but is a much more developed player right now. I don't think you can peg all of that on the 1 season Trent spent in college, two years ago. Martell Webster came to the NBA directly out of high school, and was better in his 1st season than Simons is in his 2nd season.

there can be reasonable hope for a project-big man (as long as the projected ceiling is realistic; see: Meyers Leonard). They take longer to develop and very often need physical maturation to hold position in the paint. The foundation for project-guards is quickness and athleticism, and they have that at 20. Simons does too, but his skill-set is very limited at this point. For me the most encouraging part of Simons game is his conversion rate in the paint. He's already better than Dame & CJ at the rim and in the 3-10' zone. That takes body control and recognition. He can build on that
*************************************************

Ariza looked good last night, and was welcome relief from the erratic-frantic play of Bazemore. Playing under control is a good thing. But he's not going to shoot 67% on three's & 64% on FG's all the time. Nik Stauskas had just as good a 1st game as Ariza did, and we know what that meant. Still Ariza will fit much better than Bazemore, and because of his contract, he gives the Blazers options after the season ends. That's needed because it's doubtful Hood will return as the player he was, whenever he does return

by the way: some people have repeatedly talked about how CJ plays when Dame is out, citing his stats as proof he's better running his own team. Well, coming into this season, IIRC, Dame had averaged about 33 & 9 when CJ was out. This season, in the 5 games CJ was out, Dame has averaged 42 & 9 while shooting 50% on FG's and 48% on three's...Free Dame!!

[Roy The Natural]

the biggest problem Simons has is living up to the ridiculous hype Olshey pumped out about him last summer. It wasn't just over the top, it was over the moon and circling the sun

sure, Simons will get better, but it's probably wise to slow the roll on expectations. His summer hype had him in the HOF queue. This year's reality raises questions if he'll even make it to starting-level production and efficiency. Trent is only 5 months older and has played half the NBA minutes Simons has, but is a much more developed player right now. I don't think you can peg all of that on the 1 season Trent spent in college, two years ago. Martell Webster came to the NBA directly out of high school, and was better in his 1st season than Simons is in his 2nd season.

there can be reasonable hope for a project-big man (as long as the projected ceiling is realistic; see: Meyers Leonard). They take longer to develop and very often need physical maturation to hold position in the paint. The foundation for project-guards is quickness and athleticism, and they have that at 20. Simons does too, but his skill-set is very limited at this point. For me the most encouraging part of Simons game is his conversion rate in the paint. He's already better than Dame & CJ at the rim and in the 3-10' zone. That takes body control and recognition. He can build on that
*************************************************

Ariza looked good last night, and was welcome relief from the erratic-frantic play of Bazemore. Playing under control is a good thing. But he's not going to shoot 67% on three's & 64% on FG's all the time. Nik Stauskas had just as good a 1st game as Ariza did, and we know what that meant. Still Ariza will fit much better than Bazemore, and because of his contract, he gives the Blazers options after the season ends. That's needed because it's doubtful Hood will return as the player he was, whenever he does return

by the way: some people have repeatedly talked about how CJ plays when Dame is out, citing his stats as proof he's better running his own team. Well, coming into this season, IIRC, Dame had averaged about 33 & 9 when CJ was out. This season, in the 5 games CJ was out, Dame has averaged 42 & 9 while shooting 50% on FG's and 48% on three's...Free Dame!!

I think it's worth noting that one if Simons biggest issues is that he needs to get stronger and his body hasn't matured. Right now he has real trouble staying on course when defender ride him, and it effect him quite a bit.

He also needs to bring out the arc in his shot, and learn to attack going left. Many if his problems are normal for a kid his age though. His body is the big one that makes him a bit different than normal though.

[Sinobas]

Simons has to increase his offensive efficiency, because he doesn't bring much else to the table.

[monopoman]

We should pick up Ariza's 2nd year option even if he sucks, which he doesn't. That contract will be about the only trade ballast we have. We need bodies assuming that management chases Melo with the MLE.

Even with his age, he is the prototype for what we want at SF (Albeit he would have better vision ideally in a Stotts offense). Its telling that his first game as a Blazer was better than Kent's best game over a much larger sample size.

I have fingers crossed that we find a way to capitalize on Whiteside's contract. Even if it means we trot out rec league caliber bigs for a while until Nurkic and Skal are back. We need to use that asset. Its about all we have to work with in the foreseeable future. I would even think about Hassan for Randle and Elfrid. Roll the dice that Julius could adapt to a 6th man role as the main backup PF and C.

If we miss the playoffs we will have a fairly nice 1st round pick this year. Now obviously to make salaries match for a more established player we need someone that makes big money but just saying we have other assets.

[zzaj]

IMO, if everything goes incredibly right for him Simons tops out at about Jordan Clarkson's level of play. If he really breaks through, perhaps Zach Lavine, who is underrated.

I think a big issue is that he's been scouted. Teams know to sag off of him, just enough to take away his drive. Simons, has a tremendously fast and compact release, but shoots fairly flat and gets very little lift on his shot. Also, with how much ISO play ends up happening in the Stotts offense, when he makes his move defenders know the shot is going to go up.
All that makes it pretty easy for NBA level defenders to contain what he wants to do.

It doesn't help that the Blazers are a halfcourt team. I feel like things would open up for him a little bit if he could get downhill more often.

Defensively he's inexperienced and weak, but outside of gambling too much and missing rotations way too often, he shows fairly high defensive IQ for somebody his age.