I'm not saying Ant is like CJ, but is he more CJ or Jrue Holiday? Ant is coachable under Billups. He is going up. Dame will have to change his game a bit. And there is another thing. How will Ant play in playoffs under pressure? Imo, it would be not smart not to play Dame this season to find out how they fit. And another thing. This team can go on 5 game losing streak and this forum will meltdown again.
I'd say Ant is more like Lillard than he is CJ. Agreed. Our playoff experience has earned us Jack and Shit. I don't think it'll hurt Ant at all. Magic earned playoff MVP as a rookie. Dame's gonna Dame - he'll decide if he's ready to come back or not. What fanbase in what sport wouldn't melt down at a 5-game losing streak? Hell, if we started the season 20-0, and lost 5 in a row, there would be lots of melting.
'IF'....Joe surrounds them with defensive length that can attack the basket and hit outside shots, perhaps. Dame needs to start pushing the pace or at least running with the pack at age 32. It remains to be seen if that can be done. I think it's possible we get a Grant/Collins to add to the mix. There desperately needs to be a backup center (no matter how hard Watford tries or how high Brown can jump), and Nas needs to develop into a legit SF. LOTS of variables there.
The thing I like about Ants game over CJ’s is his willingness to pass. When CJ was the release valve teams didn’t worry about him breaking down the defense and making players around him better but both Ant and Dame are willing passers who should be able to make the game much easier for their teammates. If Dame is doubled Ant, Winslow, and Hart are all aggressive going to the hoop where in the past we just had guys sitting at 3 pt line watching Dame waiting for pass for 3 pt shot. I like the group now just think we really need another big or two to fill out roster. Power forward and backup center who are tenacious on defense and can switch to smaller players, block shots and create easy scores.
At the end of the game in Milwaukee, Anfernee Simons wasn't making his shots, so he switched to becoming a passer and made some nice assists to Josh Hart and CJ Elleby. Simons and the offense seem to be able to adapt. For me, there are a lot of concerns about Lillard being a part of the offense. Will Lillard and/or Simons take fewer shots on average to increase efficiency and diversity in the offense? Will the team run the court immediately after a rebound (or even a made shot) as often as they are doing now? Will Lillard jack up unnecessarily long 3-point shots without first looking for better options? I don't know what his percentages are from ridiculous long range but it's depressing to watch one of those shots clank off the rim without him looking to shoot right at the three-point line or throw the ball to his teammates first. Will the ball rotate as quickly as it is now? I think the role of Elleby and Winslow in quickly moving the ball has helped increase scoring efficiency. Only one guy can shoot, and I think it may be under-rated how getting a quality look for your shooters is as important as having a lot of shooters on the floor. It's great to see guys passing right back to the shooter for a better shot opportunity (such as McLemore to Winslow back to McLemore for three). Will Billups, Lillard and Simons FINALLY figure out how to get easy baskets when they are double teamed in the playoffs?
discard this season because of the injury in the previous 2 seasons, Dame was essentially 2nd on team to Whiteside, then Kanter, in TS% in those two seasons, the team averaged 1.27 points/shot while Dame averaged 1.46 points/shot assuming he's back to form, Dame taking less shots will reduce team efficiency, not increase it. And I think Dame's history has shown he more than enough a willing passer and initiator to maintain offensive diversity.
I may be wrong but I’ve never considered Dame a volume shooter and his assist are above 8 so I don’t think we have to worry about Dame being a ball stopper. And don’t think Dame isn’t watching the team play and not figuring a way that he can make team better and fit in. His drive isn’t about putting up big numbers it’s about winning
I have zero questions about Dame and Simons helping the team be efficient on offense and making good decisions the vast majority of the time. The two questions I have are. Will the Blazers continue to push the pace with Dame back? Will Simons and Dame become decent to Good defenders?
My question is, if Ant gets a max or near-max deal as many are suggesting, can a team with Dame and Any being paid over half the salary cap be a contender without being a tax team; and if not, is the current ownership group willing to go into the tax to build a contender?
I think they may be willing to be a tax team next season as a test of the Dame/Ant back court. That might change by the deadline I sure am hoping the Blazers don't sign Ant to a max deal. That would be 35M/year however, it's one thing to pay 10M, or less in tax. it's another thing to pay 40M in tax. I think Seattle would set a limit and it may be in that 10M range