It's interesting to see some people in the Kings game thread blaming Dame for the loss. Whatever truth there is in that, he played 40 mins after Chauncey said that he would try to lower his minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs. What if Billups takes a page out of Pop's book and starts resting Dame in some games (like in back-to-backs)? I kind of thought Dame would start this season slow anyway given (a) it was a shorter off-season than usual, (b) he played in the Olympics and (c) he's had that long-running abdominal problem. Anyway, I actually think it could help the team. We're better defensively without him and I think everyone but CJ defers too much to him when he plays in ways that stop the team developing offensively.
I'd be on board with starting Nas, and either going with an 8-man rotation, or using (a hopefully healthy) Snell as the backup 2/3.
billups admitted that wasn't by design and he wants to stay away from playing him too much. he even admitted that he is kicking himself over not playing Simons more than 18 minutes. it's refreshing to hear a coach own up to his mistakes, granted he's prolly afforded the leeway considering he just got hired.
Right now I'd go with Nance at power forward. To me, he's very much a starter-caliber player. In the future, if Simons proves to have expanded his game from just a three-point shooter to a more versatile offensive threat, he might be my answer.
agree. Except i think last night Simons showed serious improvement in the expansion of his offensive game.
That's what I was referring to. One game doesn't mean anything, but if he proves that that's real improvement, I could see him being a viable starter in place of Lillard.
Chauncy totally blew it with the rotations but lets see if he learns from it. Obviously you want Dame out there but there is little doubt that second unit had the energy and CJ was who should have been taking the lead when he is playing that well. I also agree with him that Simons should have got more minutes but i would also add Nance and Little to that mix. He'll get it. I have faith in him. He wants to win as much as anyone. He will do what it takes to win eventually.
He’s going to have to be supernova Dame again just to stay in games. He’ll will this team into the playoffs ….maybe. Neil riding Dame’s coattails yet again.
I was thinking Dame had too much rest.....in the preseason. He came in flat and played lackadaisical in the first half....as they all did except the bench. But during the regular season, if he needed rest, I would start Ant with CJ, but after that, I am not sure. I would lean towards bringing NP off the bench, just not sure who I would start at SF. Depends on who they are playing.
I don't see that at all? Yesterday a couple made shots at the end they win that game with Dame playing pretty bad.
they were at home, against the Kings, and now it's down to "if Portland would have done xxxx they could have won". Kings fans could say "if we hadn't dribbled the ball off of a runaway shoe, or missed 5 shots in the paint in the last 4 minutes, or handled our last inbounds better, Portland wouldn't have had a chance to win" Blazers lost 10 games last season that were within 5 points. If they would have done the right things in those games they would have had the best record in the NBA. Of course, the Blazers won 15 games that were within 5 points so if their opponents had done the right things Portland would have been in the lottery close games seem to be about a 50-50 proposition. Portland was better than that last season because Dame was so clutch. Portland was worse than that last night because Dame wasn't clutch. 50-50
Under Stotts the offense was basically around Dame & a splash of CJ. Both guards dominated the possessions with much iso. Billups is changing things up and that Im sure is throwing Dames game off a bit, but he will adjust. He's going to get fewer shots per game as compared to previous years. Even though both CJ & Dame had 24 fga's each last night.
Does anyone here doubt Dames persistence and work ethic? His drive to be the best? he will work day and night until he has it all dialed in. Beleive in Dame. Trust the system
Fact remains the game was close and Dame was 0-9 from three. Sorry all your woulda shoulda coulda simply doesn't apply here. At least the way i see it. Carry on.
