Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #55 - BLAZERS @ NUGGETS - 2/12/25 - WED - 6:00 PM - CHARGE - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

Chauncey doesn't want Shaedon to be the type that scores 22 and gives up 25.

But he's fine with Ant scoring 26 and giving up 55.

 

And who do you think was scoring for the team?

 

Walker was the key to our “comeback.” Would’ve been nice if he played more.

 

Good news- Spurs and Suns lost. Warriors are losing. Those are the three teams we need to pass.

 

I’ll take it. With some match ups DC is pretty impressive.

POR bench totally blew away Denver’s. 3 pts for the bugs bench . Ouch

 

Good news. Brooklyn won, maybe we can pass them in the tankathon.

 

Donovan had a great game for his first time starting. They definitely put up a better fight in a shorthanded situation. Need the break.

 

It's almost like somebody's done something to negatively impact his confidence...

 

Why is it good news the Spurs lost? We're tied for wins.

 

Cause he wants the purgatory, I mean play in, rather than a chance at a real cornerstone

 

The teams we need to pass are Chicago, Brooklyn or even Toronto. Not the one you listed.

 

and Philly.

 

All things considered, the Nuggets are something like 21-5 in their last 26 games. Portland hung on and didn't quit. I think that makes this loss more bearable - aside from improved draft standing.

Additionally, Clingan showed his potential if given minutes. His other 30mpg game was against Gobert and that was a 17/14/8 game or similar. Just a matter of conditioning and understanding the NBA more.

Finally, Sharpe responded well in the second half. This isn't the first game he has shown natural playmaking ability. He showcased as such, earlier in the season. Of which, you have to question why he isn't making more plays? It seems teammates aren't able to convert or expect it from him. I think the team needs to rehearse with him being a playmaker during practice, in case they need a secondary or tertiary playmaker to jumpstart the team.

They're starting to put pressure on Deni now and they're going to put pressure on Scoot/Simons. That means Sharpe running the offense a bit can bolster the team. It also means that if they're going to pressure him, he can pass to teammates.

 

I'm just not sure if fans can accurately gauge a player's level of conditioning unless he's like Sean Kemp or Ray Felton...or on a heart monitor.

I mean, half of the time Jokic appears about ready to collapse and still plays at a MVP level. I've watched Embiid quite a bit and about 50% the time the furthest he runs on a transition from defense to offense is from the opponent paint to around his team's 3 point line. I think that's usually true for those truly big guys who range from 270 pounds or more. Even though there wasn't a 3 point line back then, Guys like Artis Gilmore and Bob Lanier dogged it on transition all the time

At times Clingan does not appear to be in optimal 25-30 minute/game shape, but the best way to get in 25-30 minute shape is to, you know, consistently play 25-30 minutes. Clingan hasn't come anywhere close to that all season. He's played 25 minute or more 4 times and 20 minutes or more 11 times. But he's played less than 20 minutes 30 times, and less than 15 minutes 20 times

I'm not sure how much actual practice time a team can squeeze in during the season, especially over the last third of the season. I doubt it's much at all above walk-thru's. So, running Sharpe as a secondary facilitator might require a training camp; and maybe a different coach

Devin Booker has averaged 5 assists for his career; and he's averaged 6.5 or more 4 different seasons. his rate dipped a little when Chris Paul was the starting PG but that's understandable. But Booker was probably the most ball-dominant player in the rotation and has a career usage rate over 30%; Sharpe is at 21.7% career; 24.5% this season.

I do agree Sharpe appears to have enough court vision and good enough handles to be a secondary facilitator. But that will be slow to develop as a backup SG and while playing with other high usage ball-dominant players like Simons, Grant, & Banton. And I think Avdija will be assuming that role as he seems more likely to start under Billups