Game Thread 2023-24 Game #39 - BLAZERS VS SUNS - JANUARY 14, 2024 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM PST - ROOT

Simons played today. Don’t think he’s getting moved. Even closer to the deadline, I don’t think it’s really even a remote possibility.

You’d think that if we were planning to trade him, we’d continue to play him in his terrible games to pump his stats, not sit him out at under 30 mins.

 

As soon as we free up playing time and touches for Scoot, Shaedon, Toumani, Kris, Jabari, Rayan and a couple of other prospects we get in trades we will be way more fun to watch than what we've been so far this season. We might not win any games but we'll make runs and have spectacular plays and see progress.

 

We are 4-16 when Simons plays and 6-13 when he doesn’t.

 

I know Simons played today. I watched the game.

 

Gotta compartmentalize everything big homie.

Zack had a problem with this too, and Dr Brennan had to reel him back in lol.

 

I’m saying if he was a threat to leave soon, you’d think he’d be out today like Thybulle, Grant, or Brogdon lol.

 

3-15 with; 7-14 without

 

the trade deadline is 4 weeks from now....why are people assuming players are being held out for trades already? Would really be strange to be happening this early

 

You seriously believe that is due to Simons?

 

Reath played 40 minutes. No big man breaks for Duop.

 

Well we've had a really terrible run and a lot of times GMs want to shake things up when they see things going down the wrong path. My other reason is that maybe Joe had a deal in place for Jerami as soon as Jerami was tradeable (which he just now is). Joe does seem to have a track record of getting his ducks in a row. Also a trade was made just yesterday involving two tanking teams. As long as the value is solid I think it would be smart to set the roster that we're trying to develop sooner than later and maybe Joe feels similarly.

 

Ant returned to the lineup just about the same time Ayton and Sharpe started having injuries. Grant had to sit a week with concussion problems. Simons was given the keys to the walking wounded, and Cronin's all rookie depth chart.

 

Why do we always play so much better when we're trotting out these no names? The same thing happened when talked the last two years.

 

So you are going to defend the 20 missed shots. I’m so ready for this

 

he took mostly good shots; shots he HAD to take because there was no one else who could get better attempts. he missed them -- i even made a post remarking how he needs to focus on improving his finishing at the rim as his #1 priority for offseason work.

not sure what defense you are looking for.

i wasn't really criticizing you for only looking at the box like others have. most people can only handle so many 30pt+ losses in a row before giving up.

 

You must be new to team sports. You are actually asking WHY dudes who probably shouldn't even be on an NBA roster in the first place, are playing their ball off when they FINALLY get a chance to get on the court? Dudes literally living check to check FINALLY getting a shot that most don't?

 

I will. Our future possible star playing with most of the teams "best" players out? Shit he coulda shot 40 times last night MM and I'd have been happy. Nobody else on that court last night I would have rather been shooting. That is, unless you were trying to win that game or you expected them to. Young dudes gotta get those reps in.

 

George Mikan missed 35 shots in a game where he only scored 32.

Jerry West missed 32 shots in a game where he only scored 37.

Wilt missed 29 twice where he only scored 34 and 35.

 

Michael Jordan had a post game quote once where he said as long as you score more points than shots attempted it was a good night. Always believed in that.

 

Why does 20 missed shots need to be defended? The player in question scored 33 points on 31 shot attempts. That's not horrendous.

Scoot needs to work on his 2-point efficiency in real games and in practice.

He's a rookie.

Missed shots are part of the process of getting his 2-point game where we want it.

I think improving Scoot's 2-point shooting is probably the most important goal on offense for the Team that could be achieved this season.