I dont really see it, he is a bad defender (statistically he’s like at. -1.1DPBM) which is a bit better than CJ, but offensively he’s pretty similar. TS% is almost identical, PER almost identical, Beal averaged almost one more assist more but also turned the ball over.
I really wish there was more to read and discuss on this board! “Blazer wines of choice,” I mean is this even a basketball thing? Lighten up CardiB, I mean NateB
They don’t have chemistry together! Sorry to say but they never have. I truly like both Dame and CJ...but they simply do not compliment one another on offense nor on defense. They each play better when the other is on the bench. All I’m suggesting is Beal / Dame could potentially be leaps and bounds better “together” -
It’s not enough of an upgrade to be worth making a move. If we could add Beal to this core and convert him into a small forward, it might be worth it though. Scoring would be incredible with Lillard, McCollum and Beal on the floor.
Love CJ! But Dame / CJ is not a match made in basketball heaven. Both CJ and Dame are best when creating their own shot; they do not play off of one another. There is no “chemistry” between the two. Chemistry exists between Dame and Nurk and even between Nurk and CJ to a lesser extent. This in part is due to our pick & roll offense and lack of motion away from the ball. For Dame & CJ to find chemistry between them, they’d have to study film of the Warriors. Curry moves (relentlessly) without the ball around multiple back screens and is rewarded for his efforts by getting the ball. Our offense (design) is so repetitive and so dependent on one play (High pick & roll) that chemistry between Dame & CJ will never be found. Beal is a knock down shooter and doesn’t need to start with the ball in his hands to be effective. Both CJ and Dame require the ball to be most effective. If Steve Kerr were the new Blazer coach I think he’d create an offense that might better exploit CJ’s talents while on the court with Dame!
I believe many here underrate CJ's ability to create his own shot. And underrate the value that brings to the team to win more games.
You do realize that the majority of the minutes they both play are together and both have put up some excellent individual numbers as well as helping the team get to the WCF and the 3rd seed in the extremely tough west 2 years in a row. There is nothing to indicate that a Beal/ Lillard backcourt would be leaps and bounds better and in reality, best case scenario probably about the same.
Your entire argument is somewhat flawed because... A) Beal has been MUCH better without John Wall... B) If Beal can’t play successfully alongside John Wall, who is a much superior PASSER than Damian Lillard, why would he be able to play successfully alongside Damian? C) What I underlined would be the same for Dame/Beal given what I wrote above. Beal is a better player with the ball in his hands — and if he can’t mesh with Wall who is a willing passer — not sure why he’d mesh with Damian, who is a) more likely to take bad shots and b) not exactly a willing passer like Wall is.
What does that have to do with titling the thread so it doesn't read like CJ has actually be traded for Beal?
Exactly. How many times have we asked for the Blazers to get more players who can create their own shot? The answer is a lot!. Now all of sudden fans seem to think that good ones are easy to come by. He is arguably the best one on the Blazer team at doing it. Dame has unlimited range and can attack the basket better, but CJ's change of speed/stop on a dime pull up mid range jumper is pretty damn good too. They actually compliment each other quite well.
Beal is not an upgrade. He has really only gotten recognition because he's in the East. If he had been in the West he wouldn't have a single All-Star appearance. He has a 28% USG rating last season. That's basically Dame level. CJ only had a 25% USG and put up very similar numbers.
cj had a magical game 7 against denver. no way would I trade for Beal after that. he made tough shot after thought shot when it was all in the line. has Beal done that? I know Beal is great but cj has proven himself in the clutch situations. dont forget about his defense on the inbounds play in the marathon game against denver. it sent it into ot. if cj played in the east more.than a few pundits say he would be an all star. I think he can be an all star in the west.