In 22 minutes a game he's averaging 9 points and 1 assist while shooting 41.4% on FG's, 47.2% on two's, and 33.3% on three's his ranks on Portland (among rotation players): FG% - 8th 2ptFG% - 8th 3ptFG% - 10th eFG% - 9th Off rating - 8th Def ratiing - 12th PER - 7th TS% - 10th FT rate - 10th (learning from CJ apparently) assist rate - 5th turnover rate - 3rd winshares/48 - 10th off box plus/minus - 7th def box plus/minus - 13th box plus/minus - 13th value over replacement - 14th here's the part where everybody says he's young and inexperienced. It's true for sure, but at the same time...hmmm. after all of the massive off-season hype is Simons where you thought he'd be at this point? Are you disappointed a little in his production and efficiency? Before everybody says they expected this, I'll mention I remember some threads from a few months ago like "If Simons is Better than Lillard" & "Simons is Legit". I remember all the homer buzz based on game 82 last season, and I remember Olshey saying Simons was the most talented player he has drafted, and I remember all the chatter about Portland having a secret weapon I've certainly seen flashes from Simons. But I also remember seeing flashes from Martell Webster and a lot of people projecting stardom for him. I sure hope Simons ends up better than Webster
I haven't looked up the numbers but what did CJ look like in his 2nd year? Our rookies, except Dame, usually pop in year 3.
He’s made a lot of iso plays that look great but he hasn’t been able to finish them consistently. I think with time and real game experience, those will start going in more frequently and he’ll raise his efficiency.
A bit underwhelming right now, but some obvious upside and potential. Sometimes he busts out a play that make you go WOW ! I can only hope that he breaks out big time. Watching him, along with Trent and Nas (FUCKING PLAY HIM STOTTS YOU DONKEY) play is my personal biggest draw to Blazers games during this shit season
He's in his rookie year. Looking at stats for him and claiming anything is idiotic. Look at how he plays and what can or can't do instead.
He's gone after next year anyway from the way it looks to me. He isn't worth paying to keep and he won't want to stay on a team and be a backup.
Did I miss someones post, or are you talking about Simons? His contract is for another 2 years with the second being a team option at 4 million. Unless he's traded, he's not leaving the team after next season, especially considering the costs of backups now-a-days. He is completely worth paying to keep.
I think that there’s a better chance CJ is traded and Ant becomes Dame’s running mate in 2 years than the other way around.
After next year they still have a team option for the 21-22 season. If they didn't want to give him a contract, he'd traded because there are teams out there who would gladly take him off their hands.
I always feel bad when someone gets over-hyped or over-paid by other people then gets criticised for not meeting the expectations. I feel like Ant is performing at or above expectations of a 20 year old who was picked 24th. I let Olshey get me excited for Ant this off-season, shame on me!
He's not doing as well as I expected, but he has some qualities that I think means he will get better. He has that verve and confidence that allows him to attack. He has really amazing hops. He went right above Adabayo on one shot. He has that shot that is something like a hook shot; I think it only works because he is so high. And I think he works hard on D and is getting incrementally better.
The problem I see with Simons, actually it’s not really a problem, but the thing I see is that he’ll never be starting in Portland unless Olshey trades McCollum, and we all know deep down that ain’t happening. So his ceiling in Portland is limited. On the flip side he is one of the few legit assets we’ve got to help land something we actually have a bigger need for. Personally I would trade CJ, but if Olshey is married to him, then you may as well use Simons to land a proper wing or power forward.
You guys act like Anfernee is in his mid 20's and so is CJ. He's 8 years younger than CJ is *currently*. And CJ didn't make a name for himself in this league until his 3rd year in the league, which came after 4 COMPLETE years in college. CJ was 25 years when he broke through. It's not like this is a case of two guys drafted a year or two apart.
Dude we have his rights for the next 6-7 years lol Regardless he’s not that good he can leave if he wants
He needs to find the balance. He looks awesome on 1 or 2 plays a game then struggles. He doesn’t have much support from his fellow rotational players however and is least of our problems.
Simons is an overconfident guard who shoots swish3s too often and too early in the shot clock. He needs to learn to pass, to learn to assist, to learn more accurate passes, and to play defense. He is responsible for high % scoring by the opposition on many plays in many games.