Game 10: Portland vs Atlanta 6:00pm SNW

[zzaj]

IMO, people are getting a little ahead of themselves with the 'trade CJ because Simons will be just as good with PT' narrative.

Simons has shown incredible instincts for individual scoring, but still has a ways to go without the ball in his hands in a system. He's pretty ok playing passing lanes and has a high BBIQ for a 19 year old, but he's still getting feasted on by NBA SGs in individual matchups, and he's still too quick to help off his man on the perimeter--which leaves him out of position or opposition wide open. He also has a penchant for turnovers within the offense as well. And that's not mentioning that he's still a little undersized and certainly under weight for that position.

I'd like to see him thrive and get better in more than 10 games before just handing over the SG reins. And I can almost promise you that Olshey isn't going to sell on CJ...

That being said, Simons is one of the main reasons I'm tuning in to games. I know what Lillard is going to do. I know what Whiteside is going to do now. CJ is CJ. The rest of the team will probably make marginal improvements, but I don't expect much more out of them...although I could see Bazemore making some strides if he can curb his defensive intensity a bit and actually stay on the floor.

[monopoman]

IMO, people are getting a little ahead of themselves with the 'trade CJ because Simons will be just as good with PT' narrative.

Simons has shown incredible instincts for individual scoring, but still has a ways to go without the ball in his hands in a system. He's pretty ok playing passing lanes and has a high BBIQ for a 19 year old, but he's still getting feasted on by NBA SGs in individual matchups, and he's still too quick to help off his man on the perimeter--which leaves him out of position or opposition wide open. He also has a penchant for turnovers within the offense as well. And that's not mentioning that he's still a little undersized and certainly under weight for that position.

I'd like to see him thrive and get better in more than 10 games before just handing over the SG reins. And I can almost promise you that Olshey isn't going to sell on CJ...

That being said, Simons is one of the main reasons I'm tuning in to games. I know what Lillard is going to do. I know what Whiteside is going to do now. CJ is CJ. The rest of the team will probably make marginal improvements, but I don't expect much more out of them...although I could see Bazemore making some strides if he can curb his defensive intensity a bit and actually stay on the floor.

I think it's more that we would rather have the younger cheaper player that gives you most of what CJ gives you. CJ is also not a great defender in fact I would say he is at best average. Simons might not be 100% at the level of CJ yet but he gives you most of what CJ gives you and he hasn't even hit his peak yet.

Not to mention that trading CJ would give you more at another position if we pick up Love or Griffin then all of a sudden we have a solid producer at the PF position, and both of those guys can play as C if needed. I also want to point out that both Griffin and Love are very close in age to Lillard meaning they fit his window of peak play mostly.

[d-train]

Simons isn't even our 1st backup guard. We are basically playing a 3-guard lineup with Hood as the 3rd guard starter and Bazemore is the 1st player on the depth chart at each guard position. I would rather see Simons successfully move ahead of Bazemore and Hood before he is considered to replace the 2nd best player on our team. I think this would be a more practical systematic way of handling personnel decisions.

And, if our 3rd string guard is the greatest thing since sliced bread, then lets stop complaining about our lack of depth.

[Blazinaway]

The best deal is to not trade CJ.

"in your opinion", others differ. We are all entitled to voice ours and not have then called "dumb" as you just did in another thread.

Of course it's my opinion. What other opinion do I have?

If you are going to take exception to my use of the word dumb, why don't you do it in the context I used the word. Respond to the message where I used the word.

Lets agree to disagree and respect others views even if we disagree with them. We got a good board here, lets all work to keep it that wat

I'll give your advise its proper consideration before I file it.

you are an arrogant one aren't you, and quite a jerk

[d-train]

The best deal is to not trade CJ.

"in your opinion", others differ. We are all entitled to voice ours and not have then called "dumb" as you just did in another thread.

Of course it's my opinion. What other opinion do I have?

If you are going to take exception to my use of the word dumb, why don't you do it in the context I used the word. Respond to the message where I used the word.

Lets agree to disagree and respect others views even if we disagree with them. We got a good board here, lets all work to keep it that wat

I'll give your advise its proper consideration before I file it.

you are an arrogant one aren't you, and quite a jerk

I've been called worse. Speaking of respect and respectful disagreement, I haven't been called worse today.

[monopoman]

Simons isn't even our 1st backup guard. We are basically playing a 3-guard lineup with Hood as the 3rd guard starter and Bazemore is the 1st player on the depth chart at each guard position. I would rather see Simons successfully move ahead of Bazemore and Hood before he is considered to replace the 2nd best player on our team. I think this would be a more practical systematic way of handling personnel decisions.

And, if our 3rd string guard is the greatest thing since sliced bread, then lets stop complaining about our lack of depth.

Nurkic is the 2nd best player on this team especially with how poorly CJ is playing.

[d-train]

Simons isn't even our 1st backup guard. We are basically playing a 3-guard lineup with Hood as the 3rd guard starter and Bazemore is the 1st player on the depth chart at each guard position. I would rather see Simons successfully move ahead of Bazemore and Hood before he is considered to replace the 2nd best player on our team. I think this would be a more practical systematic way of handling personnel decisions.

And, if our 3rd string guard is the greatest thing since sliced bread, then lets stop complaining about our lack of depth.

Nurkic is the 2nd best player on this team especially with how poorly CJ is playing.

I disagree. Nurkic is a great role player. He fits a role on our team very well.

[monopoman]

Simons isn't even our 1st backup guard. We are basically playing a 3-guard lineup with Hood as the 3rd guard starter and Bazemore is the 1st player on the depth chart at each guard position. I would rather see Simons successfully move ahead of Bazemore and Hood before he is considered to replace the 2nd best player on our team. I think this would be a more practical systematic way of handling personnel decisions.

And, if our 3rd string guard is the greatest thing since sliced bread, then lets stop complaining about our lack of depth.

Nurkic is the 2nd best player on this team especially with how poorly CJ is playing.

I disagree. Nurkic is a great role player. He fits a role on our team very well.

Yep because you are the biggest CJ homer on this entire website so I'm not surprised you disagree. CJ is shooting like trash and when CJ can't buy a bucket he doesn't provide much else.

[d-train]

Nurkic is the 2nd best player on this team especially with how poorly CJ is playing.

I disagree. Nurkic is a great role player. He fits a role on our team very well.

Yep because you are the biggest CJ homer on this entire website so I'm not surprised you disagree. CJ is shooting like trash and when CJ can't buy a bucket he doesn't provide much else.

CJ is shooting poorly. He will eventually shoot great. And, if the playoffs started tomorrow, he would be ready and would win us just as many games as Lillard. That might not be any games if the playoffs started tomorrow.

[Norm2953]

It's really early to project Simon's ultimate game for the guy other than the last game in his rookie
season, has only 10 games where he played any real minutes.

It's not a mistake however to question Portland's decision to extend CJ for its easy to see by the
2022-23 season, paying Dame/CJ $80 Million is going to cripple Portland financially unless they
trade one of them.

[d-train]

... by the 2022-23 season, paying Dame/CJ $80 Million is going to cripple Portland financially unless they
trade one of them.

If true, we have plenty of time to decide which player to trade.

The Lillard contract looks worse than the CJ contract. However, I don't care about either contract. It's not my money and the CBA doesn't allow the team to spend the money better, so why not?

[monopoman]

... by the 2022-23 season, paying Dame/CJ $80 Million is going to cripple Portland financially unless they
trade one of them.

If true, we have plenty of time to decide which player to trade.

The Lillard contract looks worse than the CJ contract. However, I don't care about either contract. It's not my money and the CBA doesn't allow the team to spend the money better, so why not?

Lillard is our best player and outside of Curry is the 2nd best PG in the NBA period. I have no problem with that contract.

[d-train]

... by the 2022-23 season, paying Dame/CJ $80 Million is going to cripple Portland financially unless they
trade one of them.

If true, we have plenty of time to decide which player to trade.

The Lillard contract looks worse than the CJ contract. However, I don't care about either contract. It's not my money and the CBA doesn't allow the team to spend the money better, so why not?

Lillard is our best player and outside of Curry is the 2nd best PG in the NBA period. I have no problem with that contract.

Of course, Lillard is our best player.

What position does Harden play? looks like PG to me. What position does LeBron play? Clippers don't call Kawhi a PG, but whoever they call PG better have some great off-ball skills because Kawhi is going to run the offense when it matters. Joker isn't a PG or any kind of guard, but he runs Nuggets offense most of the time. Doncic isn't a top 10 player, but neither is Lillard. So, what position does Doncic play?

[monopoman]

If true, we have plenty of time to decide which player to trade.

The Lillard contract looks worse than the CJ contract. However, I don't care about either contract. It's not my money and the CBA doesn't allow the team to spend the money better, so why not?

Lillard is our best player and outside of Curry is the 2nd best PG in the NBA period. I have no problem with that contract.

Of course, Lillard is our best player.

What position does Harden play? looks like PG to me. What position does LeBron play? Clippers don't call Kawhi a PG, but whoever they call PG better have some great off-ball skills because Kawhi is going to run the offense when it matters. Joker isn't a PG or any kind of guard, but he runs Nuggets offense most of the time. Doncic isn't a top 10 player, but neither is Lillard. So, what position does Doncic play?

Well Lebron is aging rapidly and I only consider PG's those that actually are listed as such. Lebron is always compared to other SF's not other PG's. Otherwise you could claim Lebron when in his prime was the best C, PF, PG, SF, and SG because he could play any position.

I also consider Harden a SG since he rarely ever looks to pass he only has two moves drive the paint looking for fouls and shoot 3 pointers.

[d-train]

Lillard is our best player and outside of Curry is the 2nd best PG in the NBA period. I have no problem with that contract.

Of course, Lillard is our best player.

What position does Harden play? looks like PG to me. What position does LeBron play? Clippers don't call Kawhi a PG, but whoever they call PG better have some great off-ball skills because Kawhi is going to run the offense when it matters. Joker isn't a PG or any kind of guard, but he runs Nuggets offense most of the time. Doncic isn't a top 10 player, but neither is Lillard. So, what position does Doncic play?

Well Lebron is aging rapidly and I only consider PG's those that actually are listed as such. Lebron is always compared to other SF's not other PG's. Otherwise you could claim Lebron when in his prime was the best C, PF, PG, SF, and SG because he could play any position.

I am looking at top 10 players that play PG and I don't see Lillard on the list because he isn't a top 10 player. LeBron, Kawhi, Harden, and Joker are top 10 players that run the offense for their respective team. I call a player that runs his teams offense a PG.

[d-train]

And, Curry, I forgot him.

[monopoman]

And, Curry, I forgot him.

I listed that Curry was better thus why i gave him 2nd.

[d-train]

Of course, Lillard is our best player.

What position does Harden play? looks like PG to me. What position does LeBron play? Clippers don't call Kawhi a PG, but whoever they call PG better have some great off-ball skills because Kawhi is going to run the offense when it matters. Joker isn't a PG or any kind of guard, but he runs Nuggets offense most of the time. Doncic isn't a top 10 player, but neither is Lillard. So, what position does Doncic play?

Well Lebron is aging rapidly and I only consider PG's those that actually are listed as such. Lebron is always compared to other SF's not other PG's. Otherwise you could claim Lebron when in his prime was the best C, PF, PG, SF, and SG because he could play any position.

I am looking at top 10 players that play PG and I don't see Lillard on the list because he isn't a top 10 player. LeBron, Kawhi, Harden, and Joker are top 10 players that run the offense for their respective team. I call a player that runs his teams offense a PG.

I said this poorly. I meant to say top 10 players - the players on this list that play PG.

[Dame Lizard]

IMO, people are getting a little ahead of themselves with the 'trade CJ because Simons will be just as good with PT' narrative.

Simons has shown incredible instincts for individual scoring, but still has a ways to go without the ball in his hands in a system. He's pretty ok playing passing lanes and has a high BBIQ for a 19 year old, but he's still getting feasted on by NBA SGs in individual matchups, and he's still too quick to help off his man on the perimeter--which leaves him out of position or opposition wide open. He also has a penchant for turnovers within the offense as well. And that's not mentioning that he's still a little undersized and certainly under weight for that position.

I'd like to see him thrive and get better in more than 10 games before just handing over the SG reins. And I can almost promise you that Olshey isn't going to sell on CJ...

That being said, Simons is one of the main reasons I'm tuning in to games. I know what Lillard is going to do. I know what Whiteside is going to do now. CJ is CJ. The rest of the team will probably make marginal improvements, but I don't expect much more out of them...although I could see Bazemore making some strides if he can curb his defensive intensity a bit and actually stay on the floor.

I agree zzaj.

Simons has been phenomenal to watch, however I would prefer him at this stage to keep working on his craft as a 25mpg bench player. I absolutely ultimately want to trade CJ and promote Simons as a starter when the time is right, however Simons has further work to prove.

I'm pretty 'over' CJ as our starting SG irrespective of Simons' progression to be honest (having more FG attempts then points gets tired quite quickly!!!), so I wouldn't complain if CJ were traded for the right piece ASAP, however purely in terms of Simons progression, I see value in easing Ant in.

[monopoman]

IMO, people are getting a little ahead of themselves with the 'trade CJ because Simons will be just as good with PT' narrative.

Simons has shown incredible instincts for individual scoring, but still has a ways to go without the ball in his hands in a system. He's pretty ok playing passing lanes and has a high BBIQ for a 19 year old, but he's still getting feasted on by NBA SGs in individual matchups, and he's still too quick to help off his man on the perimeter--which leaves him out of position or opposition wide open. He also has a penchant for turnovers within the offense as well. And that's not mentioning that he's still a little undersized and certainly under weight for that position.

I'd like to see him thrive and get better in more than 10 games before just handing over the SG reins. And I can almost promise you that Olshey isn't going to sell on CJ...

That being said, Simons is one of the main reasons I'm tuning in to games. I know what Lillard is going to do. I know what Whiteside is going to do now. CJ is CJ. The rest of the team will probably make marginal improvements, but I don't expect much more out of them...although I could see Bazemore making some strides if he can curb his defensive intensity a bit and actually stay on the floor.

I agree zzaj.

Simons has been phenomenal to watch, however I would prefer him at this stage to keep working on his craft as a 25mpg bench player. I absolutely ultimately want to trade CJ and promote Simons as a starter when the time is right, however Simons has further work to prove.

I'm pretty 'over' CJ as our starting SG irrespective of Simons' progression to be honest (having more FG attempts then points gets tired quite quickly!!!), so I wouldn't complain if CJ were traded for the right piece ASAP, however purely in terms of Simons progression, I see value in easing Ant in.

This team won't trade CJ just to trade him, I mean Olshey has yet to trade a key piece just to get him off the team. **** CJ was struggling a bit last year and Olshey didn't just dump him for nothing. The point more is trading CJ to get better elsewhere, not trading CJ just to see him on another team.