Game 26: Portland vs Dallas 4:30pm SNW/ESPN

[PDXKnight]

Nice win against a Dallas team motivated to turn it around. Playing a team with their backs against the wall/ needing to make a move in the standings can be harder than playing the number 1 seed sometimes and no doubt Dallas was motivated

[Moonbeam]

There's no way the Blazers should be winning right now with this team on paper but that they are is a testament to Dame's leadership and the fit of Jones and Covington to the squad.

Indeed! Each win is a pleasant surprise. This team may be up-and-down, but there's a pluckiness to them that I like.

[PDXKnight]

There's no way the Blazers should be winning right now with this team on paper but that they are is a testament to Dame's leadership and the fit of Jones and Covington to the squad.

Indeed! Each win is a pleasant surprise. This team may be up-and-down, but there's a pluckiness to them that I like.

Also Maybe a testament to the misfit of The dame-cj back court once again?

[d-train]

Doncic had a monster game, but it wasn't enough to pull Mavs across the finish

[BlazersBroncos]

I am very encouraged by how well this team has fared since the losses of CJ and Nurkic. Dallas is better than their record, Luka can win any game by himself usually and they are hungry as hell to turn it around. And we hung on and won without 2 of our 3 best guys.

Simons shooting has been tremendous lately. Certainly isnt the CJ clone we hoped for but he is showing an NBA skill that will keep him in the league. GTJ has shown this season a level of tenacity and motor that separates him from alot of other 3pt specialist. And he is knocking down his mid ranger after pump faking a 3. He is certainly showing well for the fans who anointed him the next Wes Matthews, albeit their skillsets are not as similar as some say.

Good win, pleased with this team the past few games.

[BlazersBroncos]

Also Maybe a testament to the misfit of The dame-cj back court once again?

The issue here is that there isnt a trade around the league that sees CJ leave and Portland get better. We dont want depth or picks, we would want a guy just as good or better, at a position of need. Assuming Mids and Butler are not available, then your looking at Aaron Gordon / Tobias Harris level guys. I dont think that makes the team better.

If there was a SF available of similar or better talent that fit better with a Dame / GTJ backcourt long term, you think about it. But that just isnt the case.

[d-train]

Guard is a position of need until CJ is back. It's an easy choice how to use GTJ between a downgrade at guard or an upgrade at the backup wing. I choose upgrade our backup wing.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Victory GLB pic

Spoiler:

[PDXKnight]

Also Maybe a testament to the misfit of The dame-cj back court once again?

The issue here is that there isnt a trade around the league that sees CJ leave and Portland get better. We dont want depth or picks, we would want a guy just as good or better, at a position of need. Assuming Mids and Butler are not available, then your looking at Aaron Gordon / Tobias Harris level guys. I dont think that makes the team better.

If there was a SF available of similar or better talent that fit better with a Dame / GTJ backcourt long term, you think about it. But that just isnt the case.

I’m not in disagreement here. Sure wish there was a good trade out there though. Cj doesn’t have a bad contract anymore by today’s standards so I think teams would have interest but like you said it’s about getting the right return

[d-train]

Lol, CJ's extension was an obvious bargain from day 1. Some tried to make it seem like it wasn't by making loaded fake comparisons. CJ's extension doesn't even kickin' until next year. CJ could easily get a max contract next summer, but he accepted much less. Of course, injury could always change everything, but as of now, fans should be happy with what we get from CJ.

[GEE]

I AM! The guard trio we have with Dame/CJ/GTJ should put fear into other teams around the NBA. Is CJ a good enough of a bargain contract now, that we can now move him to 6th man like we really need him to do for the sake of the team's success. Like with Melo, doesn't really matter who starts, does it? Just win!

We are better if GTJ starts, I think. Plus CJ/GTJ/Hood/Melo/Kanter off the bench is F'n scary. I'd also rather swap Hood for Jones Jr. in those two lineups for better balance offensively and defensively, but that's minor.

[DaVoiceMaster]

If the team continues to perform, I would be curious to see what CJ and Nurk can do with the second unit of Simon, Melo, and Hood.

Lillard/Simon
Trent Jr/McCollum/Elleby
Jones Jr/Hood/Little
Covington/Anthony/Collins
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

Makes me wonder what Hood/Collins could bring in return. Two expiring contracts totalling roughly $16M could return a $20M player. Geez, might this be the one time I actually consider Harrison Barnes?

[DaVoiceMaster]

If the team continues to perform, I would be curious to see what CJ and Nurk can do with the second unit of Simon, Melo, and Hood.

Lillard/Simon
Trent Jr/McCollum/Elleby
Jones Jr/Hood/Little
Covington/Anthony/Collins
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

Makes me wonder what Hood/Collins could bring in return. Two expiring contracts totalling roughly $16M could return a $20M player. Geez, might this be the one time I actually consider Harrison Barnes?

Mmm, probably not.

[Village Idiot]

If the team continues to perform, I would be curious to see what CJ and Nurk can do with the second unit of Simon, Melo, and Hood.

Lillard/Simon
Trent Jr/McCollum/Elleby
Jones Jr/Hood/Little
Covington/Anthony/Collins
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

Makes me wonder what Hood/Collins could bring in return. Two expiring contracts totalling roughly $16M could return a $20M player. Geez, might this be the one time I actually consider Harrison Barnes?

I would support this. I've long advocated bringing McCollum off the bench as a Ginobili type 6th man to ensure we always have fresh Lillard or McCollum on the court at all times. I've also warmed to the idea of keeping Kanter as the starter.

The one move I'd make is to trade Hood, Collins and Simons to Orlando for Aaron Gordon. Then I'd move Jones to the bench and Covington to SF. Gordon gives the starting unit a secondary ball-handler and distributor from a position where it is much easier to leverage. I'd use the vacant roster spot on Shabazz Napier with whom we're already familiar so it should be easy to plug him in as 3rd PG. That would give us a really solid 9 man rotation (in bold)

Lillard/McCollum/Napier
Trent Jr./McCollum/Elleby
Covington/Jones/Little
Gordon/Anthony/Covington
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

[DaVoiceMaster]

If the team continues to perform, I would be curious to see what CJ and Nurk can do with the second unit of Simon, Melo, and Hood.

Lillard/Simon
Trent Jr/McCollum/Elleby
Jones Jr/Hood/Little
Covington/Anthony/Collins
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

Makes me wonder what Hood/Collins could bring in return. Two expiring contracts totalling roughly $16M could return a $20M player. Geez, might this be the one time I actually consider Harrison Barnes?

I would support this. I've long advocated bringing McCollum off the bench as a Ginobili type 6th man to ensure we always have fresh Lillard or McCollum on the court at all times. I've also warmed to the idea of keeping Kanter as the starter.

The one move I'd make is to trade Hood, Collins and Simons to Orlando for Aaron Gordon. Then I'd move Jones to the bench and Covington to SF. Gordon gives the starting unit a secondary ball-handler and distributor from a position where it is much easier to leverage. I'd use the vacant roster spot on Shabazz Napier with whom we're already familiar so it should be easy to plug him in as 3rd PG. That would give us a really solid 9 man rotation (in bold)

Lillard/McCollum/Napier
Trent Jr./McCollum/Elleby
Covington/Jones/Little
Gordon/Anthony/Covington
Kanter/Nurkic/Giles III

When is the deadline cuz Hood can't be traded before the 6th.

[d-train]

When is the deadline cuz Hood can't be traded before the 6th.

I believe March 25.

[BlazersBroncos]

There isnt a chance in hell this org takes starting spots from guys who are out due to injury. We dont operate that way at all.