Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #65 - BLAZERS VS HAWKS - MARCH 13, 2024 - WEDNESDAY - 7:00 PM PST - ROOT

dream on...sure seems Chauncey has a green light to try and win as many games as he can. This season seems to be all about any sugar rush they can find. Blazer Broadcasting has been pushing Ant as the main story all season and lately, Ayton has joined Ant as the easy reach for talking points

I think Cronin is proud of the roster he has built. I think that's the main reason why there were no moves (besides Banton) at the trade deadline. And I won't be surprised at all if he makes no trades this summer. He may already be at the run-it-back-next-season phase. There's really no other logical reason for Portland not going full tank mode when they not only had a chance for 4th seed in the lottery, but maybe even 3rd

 

Ayton played great tonight. Ant had a slow start but finished really strongly (I hope that helps his trade value). It's now time to turn the team over to Scoot, sink or swim.

 

The schedule is tough. We have 17 games remaining. We might win 2 of those.

 

Blazers shot 23 free throws in 2nd half. Better attacking basketball instead of spray & pray

 

Quinn Snyder wearing a Mission Impossible stealth suit makes sense. Atlanta might sneak down for the draft.

 

I’m piss when we win. We better lose the next 17 games or else Chauncey will get fired.

 

It's too early to pull the plug with the starters. Blazers are on severe tank watch after last season's droop for Scoot. I'd say 8-10 games left is when Simons and Ayton get yanked for Hagans and Rupert

 

Wtf is this franchise doing??

 

Blazers travel to Charlotte in 3 weeks. That's a winnable matchup. It's all playoff teams until then. Big test for the new and improved .500 this month Trailblazers.
(no wins in February was just a warmup for Portland's newly found identity)

 

it's been a rough season. So many losses it's OK to win a few. Ayton was all smiles in the locker room. The big guy is on fire

 

IDK you guys?
This is the second win in three games that could have really helped the draft position.
The only thing I can come up with is maybe Joe has said try to win some of the home games to keep the ticket holders happy?

 

Maybe Joe ain’t sold on the draft prospects?

 

Come on Blazers. We can play worse than this!

 

The 1st quarter was bad, and Scoot was a disaster, but beyond that, was a fun game to be at last night. Ayton was looking really good up close, and there was one inbounds play late where they got an easy layup because Matisse and Ant didn't communicate on a switch and he was yelling loud at them to communicate, which I like to see. I think Brogdon said something off of the FT lineup to "calm him" a little, but like seeing that fire and desire to lead a little.

 

Why would he be, you seen the players available?

 

I could understand people getting upset about wins IF there were actually players that could help us in this draft…… please look again. If Scoot/Shae haven’t helped us become a better squad, why on earth would you expect this years players in the draft help?

 

There are two that would help this team. Problem is they will go 1st and 2nd.

 

There are players in every draft that are difference makers. We supposedly have one of the best scouts/draft gurus in the game. Cody Williams has looked like a more offensively gifted version of his brother and just as good on defense even if his numbers on D aren't as good, he is playing in a better conference. This guy is fourth on my draft board overall and would be third on my board for our team because the number two guy Topic is a point guard and I don't think the difference in talent between him, Risacher (an extremely long and athletic 3 and D SF) and Williams is big enough that I would take him over those two. I think both small guards out of Kentucky will have solid careers as starters in the league. I'm sure there are guys after that, that I'm missing who will also be high impact starters in this league.

The fact is this isn't a draft as devoid of clear cut blue chippers as lets say 2013 was but it also doesn't have the high end prospects that last year or the year before had in the top 3... and I think that's what you or I guess you've said more so the people you've spoken with are seeing because I think you've said that you haven't even looked into these prospects and are just taking the word of others that this draft is so weak.

It's like a hangover from two drafts where you had guys like Wemby, Chet, Paolo, Jabari Smith, Brandon Miller and Scoot. Those guys were all projected to be better than anyone in this draft but I don't think you've watched Alex Sarr, Risacher or Topic play because all four are really impressive players who are playing in top tier foreign leagues, whose games look like they'll be extremely effective at the NBA level and none of those three are even 19 yet.

 

I think Topic (who isn't a great fit for our needs) might go before Risacher and maybe even Sarr. I also think Cody Williams would help this team instantly.