Game Thread 2023-24 PRESEASON - BLAZERS VS SUNS - OCTOBER 12, 2023 - THURSDAY - 7:00 PM PST - NBATV, ROOT +

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Chris Craig, Oct 9, 2023.

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  1. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    He was certainly the bright spot tonight, except for his 6 turnovers, and I know he will get better at that.
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Oct 13, 2023
    #421
  2. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    I'm worried that we would have to attach a draft pick to get rid of him.
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Oct 13, 2023
    #422
  3. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    Ayton needs to make those short mid range shots he was missing last night. That is really his strength.
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Oct 13, 2023
    #423
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  4. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    After giving it a nights sleep, I think even if things were running at their peak last night, the Suns would've won. They're *significantly* better than the Blazers, and have almost zero rookies or 2nd year players getting minutes.

    The Blazers played like a team that is young, massively inexperienced, had played 1 game and maybe 1 week of practice together, and not like a team full of Keljin Blevins at every position.

    I think the first 41 games are going to be rough, and the last 41 are going to be not as rough. Still bad record, but at least it won't look as sloppy and in progress like it did last night.
     
    julius, Oct 13, 2023
    #424
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  5. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    Agree. This team is really missing a beast. Out-rebounded by 9 last night.
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Oct 13, 2023
    #425
  6. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    Then he better shove back!
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Oct 13, 2023
    #426
  7. beast blazer

    beast blazer Well-Known Member

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    I have to say, I am not digging DeAndre Ayton so far. He seems softer than LaMarsha his last few years here. He shows no energy or ganas. It's like he's going through the motions....

    You'd think he'd have at least gotten up to face his former team, and go against the guy they traded him for.
     
    beast blazer, Oct 13, 2023
    #427
  8. julius

    julius I wonder if there's beer on the sun Staff Member Global Moderator

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    He definitely looked soft out there. Problem is, he (and Jerami) are paid like they're the #1 on the team, but they're probably more like #3 and #5.
     
    julius, Oct 13, 2023
    #428
  9. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    1. It's preseason.
    2. He just went from playing with a championship-contending team that has multiple future hall-of-famers to the NBA's version of the Muppet Babies.
    3. It's preseason.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Oct 13, 2023
    #429
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  10. beast blazer

    beast blazer Well-Known Member

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    Those are lame excuses. He had the rep for being soft on his former team too, even in the playoffs. I don't care if it's pre-season, he should be able to get up to play his former team.
     
    beast blazer, Oct 13, 2023
    #430
  11. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    Do you say it's "Preseason" at a poker tournament?
    How did that work out for you?
     
    kjironman1, Oct 13, 2023
    #431
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  12. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    that is likely going to be a recurring theme if the starting 'wings' are Ant/Thybulle/Grant. Those 3 combined for 2 rebounds in 58 minutes last night

    if you go by their career rebounding rates, you can expect those 3 to grab about 17-18% of available rebounds when they are on the floor together. That would mean the PG and C would have to get 32% of rebounds just for Portland to break even on the glass. Ayton's career mark is 19%. Williams is at 18%. Scoot may be a better rebounder than Dame (6.4% career; 7.6% last season) but that still leaves Portland at a significant disadvantage on the boards.

    And everything indicates that Chauncey is going to give the Ant-Grant duo 34-35 minutes/game each. Out of 190 qualified (by games & minutes) players last season, Ant was 189th in rebound rate and Grant was 127th and it looks like he was the poorest rebounding PF. Grant was at 7.2%; Dame was at 7.6%; Thybulle 6.8%

    this is the issue with this team, and has been for a few seasons now: not only are they undersized at SG/SF/PF, that lack of size creates a rotation that plays small; small & weak on the glass, and small & clueless on defense. Brogdon will help, a little, but it remains to be seen how much he'll play and how long he'll be a Blazer. Last season, Portland was 24th in the NBA in offensive rebounding and 25th in defensive rebounding. And that was with Hart rebounding like an actual PF with a 14.1% rebound rate. Blazers have nobody like him this year.
     
    wizenheimer, Oct 13, 2023
    #432
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  13. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Hopefully, Ant and Grant will get lots of high-efficiency looks over the first couple months of the season, and then can be dealt--either separately or in tandem--once Grant's trade-eligible in December.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Oct 13, 2023
    #433
  14. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    So you obviously haven’t watched Ayton over his career.
     
    THE HCP, Oct 13, 2023
    #434
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  15. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Hold on…..so you HAVE seen him play, yet you’re STILL surprised and disappointed?
     
    THE HCP, Oct 13, 2023
    #435
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  16. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    This account is a great follow.

     
    illmatic99, Oct 13, 2023
    #436
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  17. Everything Beagle

    Everything Beagle Local Trans Icon

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    I got lit up when I said his ceiling was LaMarcus (18/8, not a banger, hot and cold effort level)... people just have unrealistic expectations like helicopter soccer parents with all of our players. We hve to be one of the most annoying fanbases in the league.
     
    Everything Beagle, Oct 13, 2023
    #437
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  18. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    We are still well below Heat fans, Warriors fans, Laker fans, and Rocket fans.
     
    Natebishop3, Oct 13, 2023
    #438
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  19. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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    Ayton has never averaged less than 10 rpg in his career. I don't see how he gets down to 8 this yr with Jerami Grant next to him
     
    illmatic99, Oct 13, 2023
    #439
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  20. Everything Beagle

    Everything Beagle Local Trans Icon

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    Get ready!
     
    Everything Beagle, Oct 13, 2023
    #440
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