Any season is full of ebbs and flows and historically, the Blazers will go on some kind of hot streak before it is over. The latest 4th quarter collapse was just another difficult example. And sadly, even when that inevitable hot streak comes, that usually does not translate into the Playoffs, but for the sake of this discussion, let's look at this current stretch where things have really started to go south. The Blazers are 3-7 in their last 10 games. They have one of the members of the Blazers Mt Rushmore, an uber-athletic SG, the best PF they have had in almost a decade, a solid center and a hustling freak of a SF. They are currently missing players from the bench, but that bench isn't playing when they get down 9-0 to start a game against Golden State, or get outscored 15-2 to close the game to the equally mediocre Pacers. In the last 10 games: Dame : 76-195 = .389 FG%...31-103 = .30% 3Pt% Ant: 69-166 = .415 FG%...32-94 = .34% 3Pt% Rest of the Team: DAL 30-65 HOU 22-44 OKC 28-55 OKC 29-49 DEN 23-43 CHA 32-53 GSW 22-41 DET 30-52 MIN 20-45 IND 24-50 In those 10 games, the rest of the team is a combined 260-497 = .523 FG%. That is a drastic difference from the combined .401 that Dame/Ant are shooting. Of course, the majority of the defense is designed towards Dame first, and then Ant, but perhaps even more of a reason to give the guys who are shooting a higher percentage on less contested shots.....more shots. There is also a lack of production from the bench, although not a lack of efficiency. But when I went back and looked at much of the tape, most of the times the bench is in, Ant is often doing a disappointing imitation of MeJ and there are few opportunities for the bench for the time they are in there. Then when Dame is in with the bench, Dame is a more willing passer, but you see all the young kids deferring back to Dame far too often even when they have good opportunities. Between the two of those situations, much of the bench doesn't shoot that much even though when they do, they are converting and a very solid rate on many nights. Nurk has been solid and happily more consistent although there are still stretches that make me pull what is left of my hair out. Equally as frustrating is Harts almost abject unwillingness to shoot at times, even when he is wide open. Grant has consistently been the most effective shooter on the team, but often gets quite a bit fewer attempts than the starting guards who in the 10-game stretch are taking a whopping 42% of the shots. 42% of the shots shooting .401 FG% versus the rest of the team shooting 48% of the shots shooting .523%. And on most nights, the players shooting the much higher percentage, are asked to play the majority of the defense. Now Dame and Ant have the ability to get scorching hot, but rarely do they do it on the same night. They are at their best when they have the ball in their hands, even though they are both very good spot up shooters. So it limits their offensive effectiveness, while their defensive effectiveness has never been a strength. Dame and Ant even being 'average' offensively during this time would have changed a 3-7 record into something more likely closer to 7-3 or even 8-2. From a larger team standpoint, the insane amount of TOs will continue to hold this team back. The starters have 22 TOs in the last 2 games. I expect it from the kids....Walker, Sharpe, Johnson, but the veterans are treating the ball like a greased pig. Chauncey has his issues, but these players know how to play and some of the passes they are making you won't see at most college games. They players know what they are supposed to do...they are just not executing. And then there is the defense. They just aren't long enough or disciplined enough to be effective. Dame and Ant start at a deficit on most nights. Hart is solid, but he is out of position. That leaves Grant to cover up more than he is able to, and Nurkic too often gets stuck out too far from the basket and doesn't have the mobility to recover. Given the lack of defense behind him when he gets out that far, it is a failed recipe at best. How to fix it? To start with, Dame and Ant have to start hitting shots like they are being paid to do. That might sound a bit direct, but it is reality. They are taking up a massive amount of the cap, and not producing at an efficient level. Add in the poor defense, and it is definitely a not a great return on the dollar per cap percentage. Secondly, this is a work in progress as Cronin has said. It will be very interesting to see what happens by the trade deadline and then this off-season. They need more length, more defense and more of a veteran or aggressive presence off the bench. Sadly, until then, we are at much the same place as we have been season after season for years. We can cheer for our team, but it can also certainly be frustrating at times. You want to see growth, and regardless of whatever moves have been made, they seem stagnant season over season. Maybe the growth will have to come from Ant, Shaedon, Walker, Keon, etc, and if that is the case, we may be waiting for another couple of years.
Regardless of what you finish up with, the answer to your question is that Dame and Ant are a bad fit together and in Chauncey's system. I think we need Hart starting next to Dame in the back court and a 3 and D SF with size and a backup big.
That's on the person, not the team. I'm happy, because I can be realistic. Did I pick them to be HCA team? Yes. Am I mad not even half way through the season and nothing is set in stone? No. It's really that easy.
I had us 46 and 36 at the 6th seed. I still think with the right moves we will end up there or better.
they're missing shots they usually make. could be fatigue. think their shot selection is fine for the most part. i like the assist % for the team. we're playing the right way.
I really think that they are very very similar to Dame and CJ. Taking turns and if one or both isn't on fire then we are fucked.
Easy recipe to beat the Blazers. Stack the 3 pt line because they’re guard heavy and rely on winning by getting hot from the perimeter.
You are seeing a team that, for pretty good reasons, has held on to it's only superstar for too long. It lacks the resources to make a contending team for the next several years. Accept it, embrace it. Watching the young guys develop is much more fun than expecting miracles. Not to mention, what would Brooke and the network talk about all fucking game if Dame were gone? She still hock his cars if he leaves?
Grant has been amazing this year, much better than Dame. If he was injured as GP2 was this team would have one of the worst records in the league. The Dame Ant duo isn't as good as Dame CJ. Nurk is way overpaid and should only be an MLE type role playing center. This franchises only hope is Sharpe becomes a star.
You hope to see growth of the team and lacking that, at least growth of younger players. The 'team', regardless of who they are, has been pretty stagnant for most of a decade. Dame is to the point where he likely doesn't grow anymore and will start to regress. Ant should grow, but he is best as a lead guard so far, and that is not what his role is so tough to maximize when you're not in a position to maximize. Nurk is what he is. Grant started out like a house of fire, but has slightly cooled off. Hart almost won't shoot. So we are left with the development of the young'ens. Give Dame and Ant's salary, and what Grant is going to want, the fate of the team rests with how much the youngsters develop and what Cronin can swap or bring in. The veteran pieces that are here at at their ceiling for the most part. That is not overly encouraging.
Coach sucks, no bench, Dame is on his famine portion of the season, and Ant just doesn’t really impact the game like we thought he could..
What specifically do you find to be a meltdown or far off base? It's basically, a summation of what is and has been, and wondering what can be done to remedy the situation?
I’m a homer because I didn’t predict a championship or even HCA? Right. By the way. You have not earned the right to call me dude.
