NBArank 2022: Ranking the best players for 2022-23

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    No. 14: Damian Lillard
    Portland Trail Blazers | PG

    2021 NBArank: No. 8

    Why he could exceed his ranking in 2022-23: Lillard was six spots higher a year ago before being limited to 29 underwhelming games by a core muscle injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery. Lillard's numbers dropped across the board in 2021-22, most notably his 32% accuracy from 3-point range after hitting better than 39% the previous two seasons. Lillard had been playing through pain for years until the injury worsened after the Tokyo Olympics. But he should be healthy now.

    One huge question for 2022-23: How will Anfernee Simons fit with Lillard? During his absence, Lillard saw a changing of the guard next to him. Portland traded longtime backcourt mate CJ McCollum and re-signed Simons to a four-year, $100 million deal that confirms him as McCollum's replacement. Lillard and Simons played together just 377 minutes last season, per NBA Advanced Stats, and Simons was more deferential in those pairings. The Blazers need Simons to be the scoring and playmaking complement to Lillard that McCollum long was.

    -- Pelton
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022
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  2. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    No. 91: Anfernee Simons
    Portland Trail Blazers | SG

    2021 NBArank: NR

    Why he could exceed his ranking in 2022-23: Simons finally got a chance to show what he can do last season, averaging a career-high 17.3 points as Damian Lillard missed 53 games and CJ McCollum and Norm Powell were traded away. Simons took off in January, averaging 23.1 points and 6.7 assists per game.

    -- Ohm Youngmisuk
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022
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  3. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    No. 88: Jusuf Nurkic

    Portland Trail Blazers | C

    2021 NBArank: 74

    One huge question for 2022-23: Can Nurkic stay healthy? He was shut down with a foot injury after 56 games last season, although the Blazers were more interested in the lottery than wins. Still, Nurkic has not played in more than 70 games since 2018-19, and Portland will need him to battle the bigs in the West such as Nikola Jokic and the tandem of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert.

    -- Youngmisuk
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022
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  4. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    No. 64: Jerami Grant
    Portland Trail Blazers | SF

    2021 NBArank: 53

    New face in a new place: While he might not get the 17.3 shots per game he averaged in 2020-21 with Detroit, Grant's skill set makes him a valuable contributor for a playoff contender and someone who should have no problem fitting in alongside Lillard. He can hit open shots and gives Portland a long defender and experience in the frontcourt.

    -- Youngmisuk
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022
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  5. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    SlyPokerDog, Sep 21, 2022
    #5
  6. Shaboid

    Shaboid Well-Known Member

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    CJ at 45. Interesting.
     
    Shaboid, Sep 21, 2022
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  7. SIeepwalker

    SIeepwalker The lone sane poster

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    The real joke isn't that they put Lillard at 14, it's that they put Towns at 13
     
    SIeepwalker, Sep 22, 2022
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  8. SIeepwalker

    SIeepwalker The lone sane poster

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    I like Blazers Uprise's list better.
     
    SIeepwalker, Sep 22, 2022
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  9. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    seems about right. I don't see anybody ranked above him that you can flat say is worse than CJ. On the other hand, I see a few guys ranked below CJ that are just as good, if not better, considering there are 2 ends of the court

    this season will be a good test of CJ. If Zion, Brandon Ingram, and Valunciunas are all healthy but CJ is leading the team in FGA, he's failing in his role
     
    wizenheimer, Sep 22, 2022
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  10. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    That could be one hell of a team if Zion can stay healthy.
     
    Chris Craig, Sep 22, 2022
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  11. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    You not a fan of Towns. I consider him one of the best players in the game right now. He's a beast.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  12. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    What is Blazer uprise?
     
    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  13. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Unless that coach is running the offense through him.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  14. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  15. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    There have actually been people on here that think that our Blazers have a better team than the Pels.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  16. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Zion is a HUGE part of that and I think many are questioning if he can stay healthy. Much like others here who question if Little, Winslow, and Nurk can stay healthy.
     
    Pinwheel1, Sep 22, 2022
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  17. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    what does that mean? I can't tell

    Teams run the offense thru Chris Paul, but he never leads the team in FGA. Portland runs the offense thru Dame and he leads them in FGA, but he's a hell of a lot more efficient than CJ
     
    wizenheimer, Sep 22, 2022
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  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    If their coach wants him to be option #1.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 22, 2022
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  19. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

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    He’s not better than Dame. And he’s won like 3 playoff games in his whole career. Dame’s won 4 series, 2 of them with a buzzer beating series winning three point shot. Dame’s top 76 all time. KAT isn’t.
     
    KSF-ERIC, Sep 22, 2022
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  20. KSF-ERIC

    KSF-ERIC Well-Known Member

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    I only see 1 All Star and a bunch of people with a lot to prove.
     
    KSF-ERIC, Sep 22, 2022
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