Game Thread Game #57 - BLAZERS VS KNICKS - FEBRUARY 12, 2022 - SATURDAY - 2:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

Looking forward to watching the young ones. A part of me will always miss the team we had, but it was beyond time to break it up. We gave it a run, but it clearly was not going to get us a Chip. I am now fully excited to watch the rebuild.

 

It works for me, because I'm on eastern time and have shit to do later on.

 

That would be weird for Josh Hart to be coming off the bench behind Ben McLemore and CJ Elleby. I'd like Hart to take McLemore's spot so our team actually gets bigger and the defense improves. Curious what Billups will do.

 

he already said hart is starting. McLemore to the bench.

I’m also guessing Hughes will get run, at least until Keon is healthy.

 

Nice! Good call by Coach. On paper that should be the best defensive unit the Blazers have put on the court this season. It's a shame we won't have the opportunity to replace Elleby with Nassir Little during this transition phase.

 

I don't know who Hughes is ! Have to watch some videos.

 

it was mentioned by someone else, but I think Billups should seriously consider starting Brown over Elleby. He’s the better prospect and would benefit playing with our best playmakers in the starting unit.

 

WTH. Hughes hit 7 three-pointers and scored 26 points in Toronto in January. Wonder what his defense is like. If it's not good he won't be playing much.

 

yeah he went into protocols right after that game and just never really saw the court after. Wasn’t in rotation to begin with either. Just buried in Utah. We’ll see if he’s good enough to stick or just a body. I liked him in college but that’s college.

 

He'll play, at least for now. He went to Syracuse, where they play exclusively 2-3 zone. He has more experience playing the Blazers' current defense than anyone on the roster.

Now, when things get back to normal and we go back to playing man-to-man, we'll see.

 

Yep Hughes' defense will be the ultimate factor in years to come because he definitely has a sweet stroke from deep.

Here is a pre-draft scouting report from the Mavs:

NBA Comparison: Floor: Terrence Ross; ceiling: current Gordon Hayward/Tobias Harris

Projected draft range: 18-35

Fit with Mavs/best fits:
Dallas is likely Hughes’ best fit, given the similar play to what the Mavs got out of Tim Hardaway Jr for much of this last season. Hughes has better shot selection, although not a strength of his, and can be a better playmaker than Hardaway was this last season, combined with equal or better defensive upside.

Hughes is an easy fit for any team, due to a combined versatility of both size and skill-set. He can be a playmaker, a slasher, or run off-ball any given play, with an equal level of danger. On top of that, he can also play a positive level of defense, which makes him easy to plug into any lineup.

 

No poll for this one?

 

I would bet money on Blevins playing over Hughes today, just as a gift for his game vs the lakers. Hope it’s only a one time thing though, Hughes needs to play, at least while Keon is out. He’s more intriguing to me than even Elleby. Taller, longer, outweighs him by 30 pounds, and has a better looking shot. We’ll see about the defense but I don’t think he’s a liability or anything.

 

you never know with the knicks, they beat gsw on the road, but theres a good chance they lose to this blazers team

we have 15th ranked defense in the last 15 games

 

His banter is worth a contract alone.