So like.... are we too good to tank now?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Natebishop3, Jan 30, 2025.

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  1. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    The Blazers will? I am not so sure. The Blazers are 3-1 without Ant. The Blazers record without Grant is worse than with him, but I think his recent play is actually not as beneficial for the Blazers - the Deni / Camara forward rotation plays better than Grant does in recent games.

    If the Blazers trade Ant they do, in theory, lose shooting and offense in some games (not all of them, I suspect Sharpe's offensive prowess will be highlighted when he has to shoulder the burden more) - but they will very likely be better on defense (and I am not a trade Ant at any cost guy, I do like him, I am just not sure the Blazers are noticeably worse without him).

    Grant, if they manage to trade him - is replaceable at this point given the grown of Camara and how good Deni has proven to be when given the green light to handle the ball more. I am not sure the Blazers lose more without the vets going forward...
     
    andalusian, Jan 31, 2025
    #61
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  2. e_blazer

    e_blazer Rip City Fan

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    They aren’t free agents until 2026 so why is that an immediate concern?
     
    e_blazer, Jan 31, 2025
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  3. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    upload_2025-1-31_15-22-48.png
     
    Rastapopoulos, Jan 31, 2025
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  4. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    This team has some potentially great Robins but no Batman.

    Past history for this shows Batman's only come here via the draft.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Jan 31, 2025
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  5. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    This is a trendy, but difficult to justify assertion.
     
    Wizard Mentor, Jan 31, 2025
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  6. Chris Craig

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

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    Losing Ant will hurt this team offensively probably enough to lose a bunch of games. That and the tank command will come down from the top.
     
    Chris Craig, Jan 31, 2025
    #66
  7. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    Ant's winshare so far, this season, is 2.0 - and we are over 1/2 a season done. A bunch of games is likely less than 2. If losing Ant means Sharpe is more assertive on offense - I suspect the Blazers win maybe 1 extra game with Ant compared to without. In other words, I am not sure Ant is a real difference maker for the Blazers lottery odds going forward this year. The main reason to trade him is to open play time and more importantly role for the youngin', but if the tank command comes from the FO - it can come with or without Ant on the roster.
     
    andalusian, Jan 31, 2025
    #67
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  8. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Walton, Drexler, Dame, Roy... Have we ever had another "championship" caliber Batman?

    Sheed? But he wasn't ever good enough without Sabas (or Billups and Big Ben in Detroit)... And even Sheed would probably tell you he was no Batman.
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 31, 2025
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  9. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Yes

    Of course, the price needs to be right.

    But both are talented. I want Scoot to continue to improve and start, and I want Ant to provide scoring off the bench.
    Ayton is a good compliment to either Clingan or Williams.
     
    Pinwheel1, Jan 31, 2025
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  10. AldoTrapani

    AldoTrapani Well-Known Member

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    Lmao
     
    AldoTrapani, Jan 31, 2025
    #70
  11. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    Dame was not a two-way player. I would not put him in the same category as Walton and Drexler.
     
    blazerfan11, Jan 31, 2025
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  12. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I'll give you that. Point probably still stands, though...
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 31, 2025
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  13. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Batmans are hard to come by. First you have to find a psycho to kill his parents, and then they need to be billionaires. Not easy.
     
    Natebishop3, Jan 31, 2025
    #73
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  14. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    The ordering is what I find questionable.

    If you don't win, they MIGHT call you a superstar. If you win, they WILL call you a superstar. That's my experience.
     
    Wizard Mentor, Jan 31, 2025
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  15. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    Anybody else that should be on that list here in Portland? Even without considering wins?
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 31, 2025
    #75
  16. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Yep and two of those 4 only lasted a few years because of injuries (Walton and Roy)
    One was the 14th pick. (Drexler)
    So that leaves Dame which a good portion of this forum thought was more of a Robin.
     
    Pinwheel1, Jan 31, 2025
    #76
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  17. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    The next seven games should give a better idea on who we really are: two against the Suns, two against the nuggets, one each against pacers, Kings and T-wolves.
     
    UKRAINEFAN, Jan 31, 2025
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  18. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    That's why I think it's so critical for us to do everything possible to have high draft picks. Portland just hasn't had high draft picks enough to get enough shots at top level talent.

    If we're not tanking for them I hope there is a plan in place to trade for them.
     
    Phatguysrule, Jan 31, 2025
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  19. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Tell them to give me a reason. Been no reason to go for 3 years.

    Thousands of things better to spend my money on.
     
    Strenuus, Jan 31, 2025
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  20. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    But we have had high draft picks and they still were not Batman except Walton.

    Walton, Roy, LMA, Wicks, Bowie, Mychal Thompson, Oden, LaRue Martin

    Maybe this is why I am so jaded about relying on it.
     
    Pinwheel1, Jan 31, 2025
    #80
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