Not sure you know what a strawman is. Of course I'm already aware the web is full of impatient bed wetters wanting to be the first to get off hot takes. What I don't understand is why you're suggesting I spend any of my time researching and exposing myself to more of that stuff? Does the existence of more of those types outside this forum add some legitimacy to that nonsense for you? Sure you are. You're pretending you know exactly why Shaedon's production is so erratic and claiming it's because he's being mismanaged/not getting enough minutes. In reality you, I & everyone else here know very little about whats going on with the big picture of individual players and the myriad of things that could be affecting their performance... family stuff, a big know it all ego, what their work habits are, whether they're focused or not, underlying health issues, diet, what makes them tick. Maybe Shaedon is addicted to video games and it messes with his sleep? You are pointing a finger at the coaches saying they're to blame for his up and down performances presumably because him not leading the team in MPG is something you can observe. But the stats stand in your way here as he is 4th on the team in minutes played this season trailing only Ant, Toumani & Deni and has started in over 60% of the games he's played in. Averaging over 30 MPG is more then enough PT to develop a 21 year old which makes your complaints read like you're just complaining to complain and just generally upset. Given that they were never going to compete for a championship this year, I've viewed this season as one that should be focused on developing the youngins... which is what they're doing. I expected this season to be pretty bad & honestly they've been further along then I guessed. Deni has been an incredible addition giving them an aggressive creator to play off of on offense and a versatile defender. What I know about Shaedon's erratic performances is that they're ongoing and that the coaches are giving him plenty of opportunity to get past it. His handle has been and continues to be glaringly weak and seems to limit his aggressiveness especially after a turnover or two & has him settling for contested long jumpers which aren't his forte. His defensive effort definitely leaves something to be desired. I'm sure that he and the staff are aware of both of these issues, so here's hoping he's applying himself behind the scenes to improve. I'm doing just fine dude, are you? STOMP
I don’t see how anyone could hate on Deni. He’s such a competitor and leader. Any team would gladly have him on their team.
Lol Yeah, I've already addressed all of this. It's not worth going over again. Sharpe is having the exact problems I thought he'd have if handled the way he's been handled (as I've said in this forum). I'm already vindicated. Same with Scoot. Luckily we've destroyed any chance of getting great lotto odds by mismanaging both Scoot and Sharpe. So at least you can hang your hat on that! Yeah, I'm fine. Looking forward to another decade and a half of mediocrity.
I just want to make a few points on this never ending debate: 1. Scoot and Shaedon are doing just fine. They’re up and down a bit, but trending towards being very good players. I don’t buy that the minor difference in MPG is holding them back at all. I would say that regularly playing competitive games against good teams more than offsets the value of being a starter on an awful team. The great players hone their games in the offseason through hard work. I expect Scoot and Sharpe will do the same. 2. There’s no such thing as great lotto odds. The best chance a bottom feeder team gets at nabbing Flagg is 14%. Yeah, there are other good prospects after Flagg, but no certain superstars. 3. I think that what Cronin has done through trades is undervalued by some here. Toumani and Deni were both acquired through trades, not the draft. Both are showing All-Star potential, or at least All NBA Defensive Team in Camara’s case. These guys fit the timeline and they both are able to contribute now rather than in 3-4 years like most draft picks. I trust the Blazers management to use their assets wisely to add more guys like that.
I've said nothing about minutes per game. I'm not critical of either Scoot or Sharpe. They are doing well, IMO. I've gone there on the math too many times already. If people don't have it by now, it's because they don't want to. If Avdija turns into a superstar then that trade was good. Otherwise it helped doom us to mediocrity (unless lightning strikes and we acquire a superstar elsewhere). Either way, it was not a good risk to take at the time. But I don't get hung up on it because I love Deni. I love both of these players. I especially love the Nurk for DA/Camara trade. I'm not being overly critical of Cronin because I think his hands are tied (to a degree).
One of the most annoying comments on almost all message boards is that one of the players they watch every game/minute of .......is "inconsistent". News flash, almost every player on every team is inconsistent night in and night out. We don't notice it because we don't watch every game of every team. Sharpe had another great game last night. (I will take 20-11-5 any time) Yes, he is going to be inconsistent this year and next year, and the year after that...no matter who is coaching him. As will any of our players who shoot more than a few times a game.
Cameras often show Blazers fans at road games. Something I have not seen before, fans wearing Blazers gear and yarmulkes. Call it Deni effect.
By playing them behind players who are as bad or worse than them at the things the coaches are claiming they need to improve on. It's not the minutes per game. It's the position on the team and the responsibilities when on the floor that are being mismanaged. I hope it all works out. I have a ton of faith in both Sharpe and Scoot. But I am not at all surprised when they have confidence issues (when they "appear to show no effort"). Or when their play is inconsistent.
this is a fair critique. sometimes (not all the time) young player 'laziness' is actually a manifestation of a player not having a clear coaching articulation of where they should be or what they should be doing.
The Deni trade — excellent. The Camara part of the Nurk trade — excellent. Two-way, starting forwards. Toumani 24 (25 in May) Deni 24 Sharpe 21 (22 in May) Scoot 21 Clingan 21 Get a quality pick this year — lottery Trade the usual suspect veterans for trade capital and youth that fits
Dude thinks he is so much smarter than anyone, runs in circles when you dispute him and make solid points, and just has his head so far up his ass he can’t see anything else but shit. Another person that dude just rubs the wrong way, not sure why people even engage with him anymore on here
It's funny how people get pissed when they are proven wrong... This has gone exactly how I've said it would and that just drives you insane. Hey, maybe Ant will be an All Star next year. Don't lose hope!
