Game Thread 2023-24 Game #1 - BLAZERS @ CLIPPERS - OCTOBER 25, 2023 - WEDNESDAY - 7:30 PM PST - ROOT

Clippers have beat Portland in 12 of last 13 matchups. Games against the Clips have been beatdowns since Billups was hired. While I'm glad Blazers are getting good rookies, it stinks pretending the Clippers are a juggernaut franchise.

A nice big fat Blazer win should scratch up the shiny overpolished Clippers narrative.

 

I don't like the RW 2.0 moniker for Scoot. As a nerd, I much prefer RW++. In game 1, he's going against the antiquated RW. Go Scoot!

 

I still find it hilarious that Han Solos sense of style circa 1980 has become trendy for women circa 2023. Han Solo was so far ahead of his time!

 

Damn, but don't we have some bench depth now....

 

He's already been playing the point since last season. I don't see him there permanently, but I like Sharpe as PG a lot better than Mays calling his own number and ignoring Sharpe cutting back door.

 

I agree. I want Shae with the ball in his hands a lot. I want to see if we can make him into a healthy Brandon Roy. That's the goal for that kid.

 

Glad to hear Coach Billups say he expects Robert Williams to be ready to play!

and this is the latest game on the schedule of the NBA's action by an hour so all the neutral NBA junkie fans will probably tune in to watch the 2nd half..

Knowing Westbrook he's gonna probably try to get in Scoota's head a bit.. He used to do that "rock the baby" cradle hand gesture to younger PG's years back dunno if he still does it but Scoota wont back down so it could be a funny matchup..

Can we get Ayton rolling early? The Clippers dont really play Zubac and Plumlee all that many minutes, can we punish their smaller looks?

There's not really a single player on the roster who can generate us handfuls of unexpected wins quite like if Ayton is consistently putting up massive stats(23 and 12.5rebs), which is why his contact is what it is.. So I'm kinda fingers crossed hoping he can hit the ground running in his debut n then ride that momentum into consistency n the blazers playing competitive ball...

Ayton was always "the man" on all of his teams, always, until he got to PHX and the NBA and they had Devin Booker.. So i'm very interested to see what he can do if we sorta hand him the keys.. Cuz Billups n they were talking about letting him shoot 3's which is telling, they want him to put up big stats, try to get him to play a bit like David Robinson.

 

Are you referring to when we had all the injuries and Winslow started at PG? There is no way Sharpe is a capable PG at this time. If they want him to experiment there needs to be multiple ball handlers on the floor with him. Phoenix can get away with it because they have KD on the floor. Who is going to help Sharpe when teams double him in the backcourt? I just don't think he is ready for it.

 

To paraphrase Hulu, "that's a terrible idea ... we'll go with it."

 

why are there 2 Clippers game day threads?
Are we going to see GDT battles every contest?
I don't mind... I have lots of mean things to say about Blazers opponents.

 

Obviously not in a starting position. I'm saying when Scoot isn't on the court, he's probably our best backup ballhandler. Unless you prefer Mays and Ant calling their own number and ignoring wide open players on the wings or cutting.

 

I want the ball in his hands the second most minutes behind Scoot but he doesn't have to play point to do that. He can bring it up a few possessions here and there but id rather see him off the ball with scoot driving and Shae slashing.

He needs more plays developed/run for him.

 

Yup. The Blazers can throw out some ferocious anti-smallball lineups if he develops like that too.. N he's got a really quick first step lets use it! Type of thing that can produce easy buckets in high pressure situations if he gets enough confidence in it..Sharpe has an excellent handle n he's very good at getting low n staying shifty, doesnt waste steps which when your athletic as he is causes issues for the defense real quick..

Some of the things that Houston does for Jalen Green, Portland should do for Sharpe.

plus he can stop on a dime and really elevate on that 3pt shot, any defender on his backfoot is gonna have no chances unless its Wembanyama.. So if Sharpe keeps working at that it could pay big dividends, to get buckets like that in the 4th quarter in close games vs playoff teams are HUGE confidence builders n signs of things to come.. So its actually beneficial to the future Blazers seasons to get him plenty of reps going downhill from well outside the 3pt arc, far as i can see.. Trying to balance out the floor for Simons on the other side..

and you can run Sharpe as the P'n'R operator some - its not like he's gonna stand there n dribble the clock out he'll either pass it drive it or shoot it, so its nice he's got Ayton to set screens who can bury jumpers too, Ayton might even be stepping back to take 3's this season who knows... The help defense has to come and then Sharpe can make the extra pass for a free bucket as well he doesnt really have tunnelvision, sharpe does whatever he does in a hurry, not really a drain the shotclock type of player, unless im mistaken....

Looking thru Sharpes turnovers in gamelogs from last season, looks promising to me.. he seemed to do a pretty good job limitng really sloppy games n keeping an positive ast:to ratio.. not bad for a player who didnt really play in college and is assimilating to the toughest competition, and he's asked to not just run around n be some freak athlete but also handle the ball in halfcourt.

 

there's better players then Badji and Butler on this current roster, and that's all I got to say about that.