What should be done with Anfernee?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Rastapopoulos, Jan 19, 2021.

  1. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I know already what most of you are going to say, but it's pretty clear that he has genuine talent, what's not clear is if he'll ever marshal it to be useful in the NBA.

    The few times he's looked genuinely promising for us have been when he's been let off the leash and basically played the whole game. It seems to take him time to get in a groove. We also need to stop pretending that he's a PG. Granted, he's a fuck-ton closer to a PG than Gary Trent, who is basically a short stretch 4, with the dribbling skills to match, but that doesn't mean he should be tasked with running a team, because that's clearly not in his wheelhouse. He should be allowed to create for himself and occasionally dish to someone on the perimeter when the defense collapses. He's a poor-man's Allen Iverson, and the Sixers only started to use him right when they got Eric Snow and slid Iverson over to the 2.

    But right now, even with CJ out, we have Hood and Trent slotted in at the 2, and because Simons can dribble better than either of them, he has backup PG duties, which is like using a sports car to tow a caravan. It's bad for all concerned. And he just seems to be regressing and losing any confidence he ever had.

    EITHER: start him at the 2 and play him a bunch of minutes
    OR: cut bait and see if there's some other GM who sees something in him like Isiah Thomas saw in Jermaine O'Neal. At this point I'd be happy to package him for George Hill. But I have this sneaking suspicion that if he ever finds the right environment and organization, they could develop him into at least a Lou Williams type.
     
  2. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Fuck it, I say start him.

    Hood isn't the future of this team. Either start Trent or Simons. preferably I'd like to start Trent because I want to know if he's starter material.
     
  3. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    The trouble with option 1, starting him at the 2, is that you really need to pair him with a REALLY good defender, and Dame sure ain't that. Somewhere down the line a Halliburton-Simons backcourt might be interesting.
     
  4. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    sorry for the edits but I'm not sure what you mean by "genuine talent"...? Seems to me that genuine talent in a guard would prove itself before the 3rd season

    and I have too say, setting his floor as Lou Williams seems extremely optimistic
     
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  5. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Usually, yes. And why "guard"? Is that just so I don't bring up Jermaine O'Neal?

    Notice I said "could". But Lou Will took a long time, and bounced around A LOT before he became Mr. 6th Man.
     
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  6. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I said guard, because the only couple of instances of players completely upgrading their play in their 3rd and 4th season I can think of are big men
     
  7. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Right now I'd probably go

    Dame
    Trent
    Hood
    Roco
    Kanter

    With Simons/DJJ/Melo/Giles off the bench. We really need a backup point guard right now. Simons aint it.
     
  8. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    upload_2021-1-19_14-51-19.png
     
  9. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    Talking of Lou Williams, here are his stats:
    upload_2021-1-19_14-52-58.png
     
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  10. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    CJ saw a good bump, and not just in the "counting stats" because of playing time.
    Steve Nash made huge strides after a few seasons in the league.
    Chauncey Billups made a huge leap after being in the league for a little while.

    Those are 3 off the top of my head, if I wanted to dive in and look for more examples, I am sure there are plenty of guys finally figuring it out after a few seasons, coinciding with increased time. There's also a ton that fizzle out and never amount to anything. I'm certain Simons isn't turning into Nash or Billups, but that doesn't mean he's destined for China either.
     
  11. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I get what you guys are saying and I'm not disputing that it has happened. I'm guessing Simons will get a major chance to prove himself over the next 2 months...Olshey has made sure of that

    just a 'yeah, but' comparison of some of the players you mentioned, 1st--->2nd--->3rd year progressions:

    Brandon Ingram:

    upload_2021-1-19_13-0-38.png

    Pascal Siakam:

    upload_2021-1-19_13-1-42.png

    Oladipo:


    upload_2021-1-19_13-3-22.png


    Jimmy Butler:

    upload_2021-1-19_13-5-6.png


    Steve Nash (missed most of his 3rd season from injury):

    upload_2021-1-19_13-8-50.png

    and then, Simons:

    upload_2021-1-19_13-10-26.png

    what Simons has done, so far, over his first 3 seasons sure looks different than those other guys. Many of whom, by the way, can/did play great defense and weren't undersized SG's, At comparable stages, Simons was younger than any except for Ingram though.
     
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  12. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

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    IMO, he has an extremely flawed shot. He gathers the ball in front and shows, then pushes some rather than using his arm and wrist. He's had the ball stolen several times from showing the ball out front.
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2021
  13. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    It looks kind of similar if you read it backwards
     
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  14. stampedehero

    stampedehero Make Your Day, a Doobies Day Staff Member Moderator

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    Totally agree!!
     
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  15. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Assign him to the Beijing Sharks.
     
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  16. Labinot41

    Labinot41 Well-Known Member

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    Send his ass back to school
     
  17. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    Play him a lot and see if his performance improves?

    Crazy, I know, but it you all are planning on "blowing it up" anyway, seems like this fits the plan.
     
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  18. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    Sign a backup PG, and make him the backup backup SG.
     
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  19. Cugel

    Cugel The epitome of mediocrity

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    Start him, trial by fire. This season is fucked might as well play him , Nas and Giles a lot. Playing Trent goes without saying
     
  20. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    Play him. If he plays terrible, send him to Siberia at the end of the season.
     

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