On the Simmons/Russillo pod this morning

CJ aint never gonna change. He is who he is and Stotts refuses to reign him in. When it's working, it works well, but when it isn't working he costs us games. I don't see that changing in any scenario.

 

Who says no?

 

All three teams?

 

I would hope, us!

 

I guess you can argue that Toronto started Green but we all know that VanFleet and Lowry were the main back court stars in that series. Both a hell of lot shorter than CJ and Dame. (green played 18 minutes in the final game)

Regardless of who starts though, all you have to do is have a 3rd guard on the team who is a great defender that rotates in.

 

Really need to curb the Simons hype before he even gets some meaningful minutes. Just setting ourselves up to be dissapointed.

Part of it is that Simons's role on this team is going to be capped so long as Dame is here. I'd be happy if he turned into a Reggie Jackson/Dennis Schroeder type, but without the attitude problems. Would be a good trade piece.

 

Yea, im just not as high on CJ i guess, and i never have been. And i really dont think we can afford him with Dame on his supermax next go around

 

I think CJ is one of those guys whose value increases in the playoffs because the way the game is called doesn't really affect his style of play. He never shoots free throws anyways, he just makes tough shots. A lot of guys become less efficient in the post season because what works in the regular season doesn't work in the post season. CJ gives you the option to get a pretty good shot on every possession regardless of what else is going on.

 

No. I want a guy who doesn't sacrifice his character to fit in with an immature player.

Deferring to Westbrook as it being "Westbrook's team" is one thing. Taking on Westbrook's juvenile personality is another. That's a sign of a Type B, and stars and people who are Type B's either shrink from challenges or become problem children. No thanks. I'll pass.

 

I don't think we can discard CJ for Simons, yet.

I don't think we should, anyway. Dame, CJ, and Simons is going to be a fantastic backcourt.

 

Because Lillard and CJ are pretty damn good themselves.

 

Can’t wait to see Simons on the court next year. If that 37-point, 9-assist game against Sacramento wasn’t a fluke, we’re in for a treat.

 

I understand the point, but this feels reactive and extremely subjective. Do you have specific references or additional input beyond your own two eyes to cite on that? I don't think there was any question that Indianapolis was his team, and he certainly looked every bit the alpha in that context. Yes, he devolved a bit in OKC, but that feels natural, given the attitude and leadership within that organization. Again OKC was never going to be his team, so he found a fit into that culture fairly seamlessly. While to your eyes, he certainly could have tried to push back on the immaturity or tried a power grab -- and perhaps that's what a true alpha would have done -- the fact that he didn't strikes me more as a team player and good culture guy than a passive wimpy "type B" as you say.

Similarly here, he wouldn't come in and be the team leader, so I'd gladly take a guy with his talent who's comfortable coming in and finding his role.

Lastly, as I mentioned earlier, we're shopping in a very barren store here. Sure, in a vacuum you can find guys you'd prefer better. But if we're looking at talent vs. team need vs. teams with potential to flounder, there aren't many better fits than PG, in my mind...

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure no one actually thought Simons was better than Dame or CJ, LOL. And I don't think he would have produced more in his rookie season than Seth. I was especially pleased with some of Seth's often overlooked defense.

 

I hope it's true, but reading that I'm pretty convinced that the "source" is Olshey himself

 

I was thinking back to his time with the Pacers, and I think he was the alpha there because there really wasn't anyone else. He was by far their best player. But I never feared him as this guy who could will his team to win in big situations. And, sure enough, he still isn't that, even with better players around him now.

Here's another thing to consider. He's the best player on the Thunder. And this wasn't his first year there. LeBron deferred to D-Wade his first year in Miami, but he became THE guy starting his second year. Paul George not only continued to to defer to Westbrook, he took on some of the worst aspects of Westbrook's personality. "No comment" to the most basic of questions when he had no skin in the game at these postgame interviews? Come on, that's childish. You really want that on your team? You really think that makes you better? You really want your younger players to be learning from a THAT? I don't, but maybe that's because I've played and coached and been around teams and seen just how much it undermines your program.

It ultimately comes down to what you are giving up to bring him in. But I have questions about his personality and how it fits here. I'd prefer other players. Booker, Beal, Towns, any of them to me are better fits than PG, although PG is the better pure talent.

 

I will say I think the Simons hype is getting out of control

now before the Simons fan club slams me for that....allow me to explain: if Simons gets a greatly expanded role next season, even if his eventual ceiling is high, I expect him to struggle quite a bit at times. I expect plenty of inconsistency. In some ways, it will be his rookie season. And when he looks bad, the critics will come out of the woodwork and slam him and then there will be world war four around blazertown

I'd even expect some of the Layman effect: that being that he could have a stretch of wow-look-at-him-we-got-a-great-one games. His fans will go batshit and talk about all-star games. Then, he'll get scouted and opponents will take away what he's doing best and limit his open looks and driving lanes. And he won't look anywhere close to an all-star anymore

I'm not nearly as high on Simons as some here. I do expect he'll likely be a fairly consistent rotation player soon. But soon for a 19-20 year old is 1-2 years from now, not next November

 

If Collins and Simons are thought to be future stars, we need them to realize that potential here in Portland if we are to take it to the next level.

 

https://247sports.com/Season/2018-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool

Pretty cool we have #3 and #8 from this list

 

I am very high on Simons, but I agree with your post. Especially your last statement.