Game Thread GAME# 45: WARRIORS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 20, 2020 - MONDAY, 7:00 PM, TNT

Fair warning: I am in a sour mood, so if you want rainbows and unicorns, this isn't the place to look!

1) If the Blazers are trying to win, their 41% record stinks. If they are tanking, their 41% stinks. This is the very definition of a team that can't get anything right. Last year's feel good season may as well have happened when Dr Jack was coaching.

2) In the last game, Trent, Simons, and Little were all given the chance to step up. Only Trent did so. I'm sure people will lecture me on how that means nothing. Bull-Dada! This is one of the things that separates someone like Dame or Roy from someone like Batum or Rudy. If Simons and Little keep coming up small under pressure, it will soon be time for next-man-up. The Blazers need a healthy dose of Darwinism - and have needed it for some time.

 

It is?

 

They're 19 and 20....

 

Curious to the voters that graded the trade d+ or lower as to your explanation why?

 

Trent is also 20 and was drafted later than either Simons or Little. Skal is 23 and was drafted earlier and he has already established himself as no more than a deep bench guy. This isn't an issue that can be defined by age or draft position - it's personality (for lack of a better word).

Then again, it may be something as simple as the fact that only 1 of these 4 kids grew up with an ex-NBA player who drilled it into him that no matter how much talent you have, you can't take success for granted!

Edit: my bad, Trent just turned 21 didn't he?

 

Simple - this was a deal made for non-basketball reasons. I understand the financial motive - but as a fan, why should I care? The only reason I went with a "D" rather than an "F" is the remote chance Ariza still has enough in the tank to be an up-grade on Baze.

 

I choose to remember 2015-16 when GSW only had 9 losses and one of them was a blowout by the Blazers.

 

Tremt was the most NBA ready of the 3.

 

Simons is only 11 months younger than Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, and 10 months younger than Kevin Heuter & PJ Washington, and is older than Jaren Jackson and Tyler Herro. Yes, he was drafted later in the order, but plenty of guys around his age are performing better

 

He should play too. If they don’t think he’s a better option at the five than Hezonja etc, then idk why they even gave him a contract.

Btw here are his numbers in the g league

19mpg
14.8 ppg
7.6 rpg (4.1 offensive)
1.3 bpg
65% FG
28.7 PER

He’s been super productive but he’s also so much taller than everyone else. He’s taller than most dudes in the nba too, but his lack of play strength is gonna be a bigger issue imo. He should be good for 15 minutes tomorrow night.

 

True.

OTOH, Simons claimed it was better for his development to avoid playing in college. Would you agree that was a mistake?

Confession: originally, I didn't want to draft Simons. I considered his desire to avoid the work and competition of college ball to be a bad sign. After the Blazers ignored my sage advice (tongue firmly in cheek) and drafted him anyway, I tried really hard to be upbeat about the kid. Honestly, I wanted him to succeed for the sake of the team. Now, my mental pendulum is swinging back the other way. I am once again wondering if he is just another "tools goof" who will never harness his talent.

 

And? Hes a project. Those guys were more NBA ready. Just because some guys his age are playing well doesnt mean we should have unrealistic opinions of our 19 and 20 year old projects.

How good was Dame when he was 20? Hm?

 

He's fine... he would be a rookie right now. If he made more shots and played in a better structured offense that ran more, he'd look awesome.

 

but you're using his age as a rebuttal to those wondering about his actual talent.

now, you're moving the goal posts by saying it's his age AND he's also a project. Age isn't holding back those other guys like it's apparently holding back Simons...it's his level of development you're saying. But why is his development lagging?

better than Simons

look, I'm not down on Simons. He shows enough to suggest he'll develop into a decent player, at the minimum. The hype Olshey was pumping out all summer was ridiculous though.

 

Neil overhypes every move he makes and then gets mad at the fans for being upset when they don’t pan out.

 

Non basketball related deal? Well, I would say that Ariza is likely an upgrade over what Bazemore was providing and he gives us more versatile defense with being able to guard 3 or 4 positions with his size and could be security if Hood isn't ready to play by the start of next season. He's on the tail end of his career, but he's a very smart player with high basketball iq and doesn't rely on huge athleticism so he should be fine for another year after this if we choose to keep him. Gabriel is also a reasonable prospect that might turn into a serviceable player. Also, the financial savings might also open the door to do other deals that ordinarily may not be done due to higher tax implications. I guess I would hate to have you as a teacher grading me.

Curious, what grade would you give the Kings?

 

But he the only didn't play college ball so going to college playing at least one year at major college seems makes a difference.

 

We need to wait until the deadline is over before we get to excited about this trade. To me I thought it be something small but with different players. Maybe Whiteside is worry about his situation when seen Bazemore got traded. Maybe that he didn't play up to par because he also got expiring contract. I predicting that Whiteside will still be here after trading deadline due that Nurk won't be back after the all star game. I am not saying there won't be one but it won't be Whiteside.

 

Interesting question.

I don't really follow what is going on in Sac-Town, but there was a comment (CBS Sports on-line?) that the Kings were phasing Ariza out due to age. If that is correct, it was mostly about finances for them - but they DID get 2 picks out of the deal without giving up anything they wanted. Unlike some posters here, I am of the opinion that even 2nd round picks have some modicum of value. All of which is a long-winded way of saying I'll give them a "C-". (in the literal sense of "low end of average.")

Fans who believe Ariza still has something left and that future draft picks have minimal value will find these grades backwards.

Just as an aside, the financial aspects of the deal are rather a toss-up. Blazers swapped some immediate financial relief for greater relief down the road. Win-win I guess.