Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #80 - BLAZERS @ JAZZ - APR 9, 2025 - WED - 6:00 PM - CHARGE - BLAZERVISION

https://starwarsintrogenerator.com/scroller?u=2c76j7nl

Here's a screenshot of the video in case anyone wonders where the link takes them:

 

Gave it away.

 

Portland was involved, so we’ll probably get a huge fine and lose our pick. Maybe be forced to move Deni to the Lakers for a 2nd round pick

 

So that Sharpe guy....he seems pretty good.

37-7-5-2

Still too many turnovers, but overall, his development has been a plus this year.

 

he seems to have found some inner alpha-dog lately

sorry PW, but is easily could be from stepping out of Ant's shadow

in the last 6 games Simons has missed, Sharpe is averaging 28-7-4; and Avdija averaged 33-12-7 before sitting out the last 2

now, Simons wasn't the only high usage player missing....Ayton and Grant were out too, but it did seem that both Sharpe and Avdija really amped up production in the absence of Simons

the other side of that is Sharpe needed 22 shots a game to average 28. But that's all due to his over-reliance on three's. He was 17-57 on three's in 6 games. That's 9.5 attempts a game and he only hit 30% of them. However, he was 43-76 on two's; that's 57%. Sharpe needs some serious coaching on shot selection and I'm skeptical he'll get it from Chauncey

 

I've said it a lot but Shaedon's personality just won't allow him to step past Ant in the pecking order... I don't think that's a bad sign from Shaedon, I think it's just about respect. So if you're Joe, you know that Ant doesn't fit Chauncey's system and is holding back your most talented player then you get Ant the fuck out of there.

MM intimates that was Joe's plan and the fucking trust manager's brother's cling on vulcan wouldn't let him pull the trigger on that and some other moves that would have allowed us to tank and look to the future. I'm hoping MM is right and that Bert shuts the fuck up this off season so we see an Ant trade, hopefully a Jerami trade as well... hell with his contract expiring maybe we could even off load Ayton but I doubt it.

For me these guys may have some value and get us a return but more so I think it's about addition by subtraction with all three. I'd send a second rounder or two out with Deandre to make that work. The other two guys should get us something back but probably not much besides room for our young foundation.

 

In those 6 games you mentioned, Scoot did not play either. So yeah, his stats are going to be better when multiple players are missing. That is to be expected.
But that does not make the team better, just his stats. Nonetheless, we have seen what he is capable of doing and what he still needs to work on (turnovers)
Bottom line for me is that his future is bright.

Fantasy time..... if we did get lucky like Atlanta did last year, and we landed a Flagg or an Ace, I think our best lineup would be 3 forwards starting with Sharpe, with Deni playing PG. That big lineup would be interesting.

Or if we were not able to move up in the draft and we were unable to dump Grant's contract (which is what will probably happen), I think they should still consider starting Deni, Grant, and Camara together with Sharpe and either Ayton or Clingan. Grant would need to be more of a 3&D player. (third option on offense)

 

Sharpe purposely boinked late free throws. He's part of the email chain.

 

Sharpe, Deni, and Grant can all dribble-drive, but they are also prone to buckets of turnovers when they try to run offense. Not sure a 4 wing lineup would work

 

Grant is not part of the future

 

Also, as you mentioned before, some coaching on how to draw fouls on his two point shots.

 

Yes, that is the downside of it. But I would still try it. Deni does not average any more TOs than Scoot at this point. Hopefully, they all improve in that area.
I would take the trade-off of having a big lineup. In a half-court set, the PG just brings the ball up the court and initiates the offense. Deni does that most of the time anyways. Now, if the other team applies a lot of pressure, then yeah, they would need to substitute with an extra ball handler.

 

A big point guard that is a relentless defender that can hit open 3-pointers.

 

Yes, that is a better ball handler than Deni. Otherwise, you just described Deni.
Some may think that Antony Black fits that description, but I don't think he has elite handles against pressure.

 

just a little 'what would it be' fantasy about the 2023 draft. Imagine Blazers with 4th pick

and a 'Sharpe-Amen-Camara-Avdija-Clingan' starting line-up

would that be top-3 in both defense and transition offense? Trade-off would be bottom-3 in turnovers and half-court offense?