Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #43 - BLAZERS @ THUNDER - JANUARY 23, 2024 - TUESDAY - 5:00 PM PST - ROOT

Don't we want the L anyway?? Shouldn't we wish all of our losses are by two points for the learning experience? Sure, it looks to be a bad call, but what happened to all the people claiming that it's not about the wins this year?

 

Scoot had some phenomenal finishes last night in traffic. The kid is strong enough to absorb contact and still fiinsih. Not saying he is consistent at this point, but he certainly shows the potential we were hoping for.

 

NBA, shame on you.

 

3 out of 5 and that's better than most of his games lately:



I hadn't really noticed till a couple of posters here started talking about it but Scoot almost never uses his left hand. He needs to spend all summer working on his left-hand dribble and shot because lacking those skills is a real handicap when attacking the paint and rim

I'd wonder is there is any evidence of a player improving his overall shooting by developing better off-hand skills

also, he had 7 assists and only 1 turnover which a major improvement over his season averages. He did throw up a lot of bricks but it was the starting back court having 12 assists vs 11 turnovers that put Portland in the position of being reamed by a bollixed call at the end of the game

 

This protest could be successful.

 

But it wasn’t a bad call. A timeout should’ve happened before any call.

 

That doesn't change the point I was making.

 

I actually don't think this is all Simons' fault. I notice in close games that Brogdon trusts Simons to have the ball and must consider him a clutch scorer. Billups is failing to figure out how to get the maximum benefit out of Simons. Still his bad defense will always make him a net neutral player at best. Although he did play some good defense at times last night. He is better at guarding the guy with the ball; it's just when he is off ball he gets lost.

 

I think Simons is overrated but there's no denying that his clutch time stats have been elite this season:




64% FG's and 72% eFG% is wild. He even gets to the line at a high rate. The one 'negative' stat is that the Blazer's net +/- with him on the floor is 0. 123.8 points on offense; same on defense. Portland's a bad team so maybe a zero net is a positive too

 

He's a ball watcher. Learned from the best (Dame).

 

I think the variety of ways Ant can score is as good as anyone we have ever had. It makes him a natural to take the last shot.

Yes, Dame was the most clutch, but that for the most part was his incredible range. CJ was pretty good at it, as were Porter and Roy.

So yes I think Brogdon sees that Ant is our best at the moment.

 

He looked just as good as the numbers suggest. Even though he's had "bigger games" this was probably the game where he had the most efficient impact on the game. He still fouled too much and missed some layups that he rushed but his passing was on point and he played good defense that was only not great because he still hasn't figured out how physical he can be. Maybe if he starts finishing better at the hoop, he'll just get a reputation for being a physical player in the upcoming years and like a much more gifted PatBev get away with basically not getting called for shit that others get called for. More likely the game still has him too excited and when it gets more normal to him he'll make more of his layups and foul less.

Just another game where he showed improvement in some areas. I think his trajectory is very encouraging.

 

Principles matter though. Can’t show the league Portland just lays down in such a judgmental adversity.

 

But nothing forced him to take a 2nd dribble.

 

Having your face gouged tends to distract thought processes…especially if you think you’ve already called time out.

 

Why didn't Malcolm Brogdon call a timeout?

Did anyone ask that to Billups and/or Brogdon?

When Brogdon knew he was trapped and wasn't getting a foul whistle he should have called timeout immediately.

I don't understand why you'd wait to have your coach do it. What if the coach is on the other end of the court?

 

You think you've called a timeout? Did he?

 

Brogdon said he did. It appeared he did as well.