Game Thread 2022-23 Game #8 BLAZERS @ SUNS - NOVEMBER 4, 2022 - FRIDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

The keyword here is "Clippers."
The team whose four victories are against the Lakers, kings, and twice against the Rockets.
Paul George played in three of their four losses.

 

The key words are "Bench Depth" Keep up.

 

What’s wrong with Ant? Suns are a trash team but we need a scorer. I guess Keon will take charge. Josh needs to step up into a top scorer role. Luckily, the Suns aren’t any good so these SHOULD be two easy wins.

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers

Left foot inflammation, he's day to day with no definitive announcement whether or not he'll play tomorrow. Nurk should have a career night. I expect a bounce back game from Shae so he could have a big night as well. If Ant doesn't play, I don't see us beating the Suns but if he does I would say that we should be favored by just a little.

 

Sweeping the Suns on the road is good practice for the playoffs.

 

We do that, we're for real.

We go 1-1 with the best team in the west (suns) we're solid.

Without Dame/Ant, I don't know we'll win 1.

 

Maybe this will be what forces Sharpe to be aggressive and have a break through game.

 

Kobe's season high during his rookie campaign was 24 and TMac's was 22. I've already stated that I think Shaedon's experience having gone to Kentucky, practiced with one of the most talented college teams in the nation and being coached by one of the best college coaches ever puts him in a different level of experience than actual high school to NBA rookies. That being said, I'd love to see a huge breakout performance by him at some point this season and even against the Suns in this game but I'll be happy if he just keeps giving great effort on defense, has games like some of the good ones he's already had and keeps making progress. I'll measure his progress by what Chauncey says it is, not box scores or any of our eye tests because rookie progress is often a little more nuanced than most of us are ready to evaluate.

Edit: On a side note look at LeBron's game log from his first season out of high school. This dude is an other worldly monster, was then and is now.

https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/1966/type/nba/year/2004

Dude had a 41 point game and twelve other games in which he scored 30 or more. 20.9 points, 5.9 assists, 5.5 boards, 1.6 steals and .7 blocks per game in his straight out of high school rookie season. Bonkers!!!

 

No interest in keeping up with the Clippers or their "Bench Depth" until they can "keep up" themselves.

 

Per this article, your starting line ups are all jacked up.

 

Phoenix a 10.5 pt favorite? DamnA

 

Simons out? What’s going on with him?

 

Bruh..

 

What we really need is Jerami Grant to take over a game and be that guy.

Grants had games in his career where he’s basically unstoppable, but hasn’t had one like that yet here.

Hopefully he makes the most out of increased opportunity tonight. We’ll need a lot from him to get a W tonight.

 

I don't really want to see him try. I don't think he is that type of a player because of his mediocre handles. He is more of a catch-and-shoot guy IMO. But if we are asking him to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, that will not work for a full game. In spurts yes, but not the whole game.

 

We should just play our Summer League Team and rest everyone for 2 games against the Suns. Bring them all back for the Miami game

 

It's probably better to be blown out short-handed against the suns then blown out with a healthy team. I am trying to be positive. Most likely this will be over in the first 10 minutes then Billups can just focus on player development.