OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: OCTOBER 2023

Zach Collins still looks pretty horrible.

 

I didn't watch. What did you see?

 

His scoop shot at 1:25 was pretty cool.

 

Basketball is NO WAY as popular in France as it is in China. I don't think he gets tons of votes from his homeland. They're too busy smoking cigarettes/eating baguettes and watching football.

 

Here's Chet. Both Chet and Wemby have good spin moves.

 

It’s not necessarily anything I saw. He does crazy shit and I think the fans vote for him.

 

I wish we could take a chance on Ben Simmons.

 

I suspect this is exactly what Brooklyn is doing this year. If he fails again, I would not be surprised to see them try to find a trade for him, but if they can't, he comes off the books in 2 seasons anyway.

Anyway, The Blazers already have a so called "reclamation project". Not sure how many you can have on one team at the same time.

 

Chet had a strong game.

 

That Wemby/Chet game set a high bar for Scoot tonight!

 

ESPN's top-100 list, 4 Blazers in the 100-51 range.

#89, Robert Williams III
#85, Anfernee Simons
#78, Scoot Henderson
#58, Jerami Grant

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38549013/nbarank-2023-best-players-2023-24-100-51

I assume Ayton will be in the top-50. I would have thought Brogdan would be 50+, so maybe it's possible he snuck into the top-50?

5-6 players in the top-100, albeit weighted toward the bottom half, with Sharpe being a major wild card this year, bodes well for a rebuilding team. That's more than league average quantity, and supports the notion that we have a well-balanced roster finally.

 

I know young teams are bad.

I know young guards are terrible.

I know we have a young team with young guards playing heavy minutes.

There's zero reason to think this team is markedly better defensively.

But on paper, this team is more balanced than anything we've had in a few years.

 

Who is our project this season?

 

Bro, I know it's just a meaningless preseason game but both of them had a few plays that had me like, "WHOA!"

 

To be honest, YOU could have a triple/double on these players they will play against tonight.

 

"Reclamation project"? It's DA. If it is right or not, that does not matter. He is clearly much less of a project than Ben Simmons, but he certainly has some red flags about him from his previous stop, if they are credible or not, we do not know - but there is certainly a perception that he can be better based on unrealized talent and hope that in a new environment and leave up to his talent / physical gifts which is what Portland hopes for.

 

RW3, Brogdan, and Ayton, plus replacing Dame with Scoot who's been lauded for his defensive activity, is zero indication of markedly improved defense?

 

portland is where talented defensive talent goes to die. i'll believe it when I see it.

 

Yeah I was under the impression that Ayton couldn't handle working for the drill sergeant type coach like Monty, and being bossed around by all star vets. He won't have to worry about EITHER of those things happening here FAMS!

 

I know you're joking, but it's really about respect. The lesson here is that no matter how much $$$ you get paid, it still sucks if you don't get respect. Right or wrong, Ayton felt disrespected in Phoenix. Again, right or wrong, he feels respected here.