are you talking about my per36 box for Klay and Trent? Was that the trigger? if it is you should know that Klay averaged 24.4 minutes and Trent is averaging 23.4 minutes, so per36 just normalizes apples to apples in that case
Gary Trent is averaging 17.6 minutes per game this season. His recent stretch has been amazing. But you are comparing him to a perennial DPOY candidate and the second best shooter of all time who will be a surefire HOF. I can make Ant's stats look like Kobe's rookie year too. Doesn't mean anything.
I think the most apt comp for Trent is Allen Crabbe the season before he got paid. The defense is what has me more excited about Trent though. He's got that dog in him that Wessy did.
lol...I had the wrong Gary Trent on the page when I said he averaged 23 minutes. Still 17.6 minutes and 24 minutes aren't far enough apart to invalidate per36. I guess I could have used per 100/possessions, but apparently that isn't your complaint I compared 2nd year Trent to 1st year Klay. That was before Klay was an all-star, or even a steady starter. The reason I used Klay was because Trent and Klay have offensive styles much more similar than Trent and CJ. If you think I was suggesting Trent's trajectory will match Klay's, that's you reading between lines that weren't there. but more than that, are you saying that comparisons between current young players and older players when they were young shouldn't be done if the older player has hit all-star level? That wouldn't make sense to me
That's what inspires hope for Trent. He's reproducing Curry's production while being 7 yrs younger. Also, we were thinking Simons was the Curry replacement, but it seems like Gary has assumed that role.
Crabbe was/is strictly a catch and shoot guy. Trent has more to his game even though he’s filling that role at the moment.
Simons sucks imo. I hope he learns something from Gary Trent in the meantime let him watch and realize how this dude took his role
It's a great story, but why is anyone surprised by Trent progressing faster than Simons? Trent is the son of an NBA player who stayed in the league for nine years, not based on otherworldly ability, but his work ethic. We all know his dad, and he was a blue-collar player. You don't think he instilled that work ethic in his son? Also, he may have only played for Duke for a year, but imagine how much Coach K was able to teach him. Also, he had exposure to the best competition college basketball has to offer. Simons is a freakish talent. However, this is a kid who we yanked from HS (albeit from his PG year at IMG). At this level, everyone is talented. It's the work you put in. It's learning how to prepare. Trent has put in the work. I imagine he's been putting in that work since he could dribble a basketball. Simons has to learn to put in the work. I have every confidence he will. You can see just how talented he is. I think both have bright futures, if not with the Blazers, then in the NBA.
When Trent shoots, I know his shot will fall! .....when CJ shoots, I hope. if the Blazers are going to win, the starting lineup (through the rest of this season AND playoffs) should be: Dame / Trent / Ariza / Mello / Whiteside second team of Ant / CJ / Little / Collins / Nurk Biggie, the new kid from Sac & Mario as needed
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I love what we have gotten from Trent. His potential is high because his work ethic is excellent. But let's not forget how important "creating your own shot" is. Besides Melo, who maybe has one more year in him at the most, only Dame and CJ can do that. The goal is the playoffs when creating your own shot becomes even more important because defenses tighten up. I think Trent will be a solid 3 and D player. I think Simons has the potential to be one of those rare "create your own shot" type players that we have begged for in the past. You need 2-3 of them on the team.
How important is it? Seems to me that's a matter for some debate. Personally, I'd much rather pair Dane with a Klay-Thomson-type than a Lou-Williams-type.
If you have two others on the floor that can create their own shot then yeah a Klay Thompson type is fine. Maybe Melo is that 2nd guy, maybe not. But regardless Melo won't be around long. But if you just have Dame who can do it, and Dame gets trapped (usually in the playoffs) then having 2 others who can create their own shot is essential IMO.