All these metrics about Grant tell me one thing: for whatever reason, he had a bad season last year. It means very little about how he will fit in this next year. Some of his teammates are gone, and others will have improved. We just don't know how his role will be yet, but it appears obvious that when Scoot and Deni are on the floor, his role should be more of a receiver than a QB. He needs to accept that. That does not mean he won't have opportunities to create his shot; it just means he will have fewer opportunities. As it should be, because he will be more effective at it if they don't know it is coming. On paper, he should be a good fit because he offers the team something it desperately needs: more outside shooting. He shot 40% the previous two years from 3, and he is still in his prime, so there is no reason he can't get back to those numbers. (although 36.5 last year was not bad) But yeah, his 2-point percentage dropped way off. That is a bit concerning, but if I had to guess, I would blame it on him not being comfortable with his role. He needs to buy in, and that is where our two vets can help.
Not like we have a choice at this point. Nobody wants him for his pricetag and lack of effort on the court. It will be in his best interest to start playing better this season if not next season to build his value up. Teams may not even want him trade deadline of the 2026/27 season with that player option, if he doesn't step it up. He could just remain lackadaisical and ride out his contract and player option. But, teams will be weary of him if that's the case. I expect he will have a good season coming up, probably his best in Portland. He will be starting whether we like it or not.
I always want to see maximum effort regardless of the record, but I can "kind of " understand it with the mixed signals of the last two years. The players' mindset is to always win, but I can understand if they lose maximum motivation when both the team and the fans want them to finish in the lottery. That has to take a toll on a vet. I will give him a pass for last year. Now I know a few of you will say, "See that's why they should have traded all the vets, so they weren't put in that situation". And I get the argument, but the other side of that debate is valid as well. They are in a better position to compete sooner with a few vets. Most fans who buy tickets are tired of the tank.
Shooting at or near 40% from 3 IS great. At times he even shoots close to 50% for stretches. Do you even watch the game? Or listen to the numbers?
Yeah you probably should be after this take. But you can come back at any time. We forgive around here.
I'm absolutely not saying you are wrong. Dame seems to make teams better, certainly while on the court and I don't see him just sitting on the bench milking this season. However, At what point does this team shut it down again and start tanking? They simply don't have the talent to compete at a high level. They are looking at another 30-35 win season.
Sorry, no offense but are you kidding? You can't be that blind. They ADDED Jrue, Yang....got rid of Ayton and Simons.....they started playing really well in the 2nd half of the season. Yet you think they are going to do the same or WORSE?????? Ahahaahahahaahahahaahahahaahahahahahahhahhhhahhahahhaahaahaahahaahaahaabahahabahabahbahabahahahahahahahahahaaha I hate these cynical, mindless takes that people have like this.....get out of here with that naysaying, parade-raining, baseless and brain-dead crap! Go root for the Warriors or something. Why are you even a Blazers "fan"?
I mean really now. Just the western conference. Who on this list will the Blazers be better than? Thunder Rockets Twolves Warriors Nuggets Grizzlies Mavericks Spurs That is 8 teams Probably Lakers also. Yeah get outta here with that naysaying parade raining baseless brain dead crap.
Obviously I think it's very unlikely that we're better than any of those 9 teams including the Lakers but the Grizz have been incredibly inconsistent season to season so we could end up with a better record than them. The Mavs are depending a lot on AD, Klay and eventually Kyrie all of whom have problems staying healthy and really aren't elite anymore so we could end up with a better record than them as well. This might just be the season that the Warriors age out, so they are another team we could conceivably end up with a better record than too. Not likely that we end up with a better record than any of the teams listed but possible given what we know about the flaws to some of their rosters even though those rosters are more likely to be better than ours when healthy.
They do not have a star right now. Give me a top 8 team in the west without a single All Star. They need a star on Dames level when he was in his prime and we don’t currently have that.
And every one of those teams has one or more stars. Thunder - SGA and JW Rockets - Durant and Sengun Twolves - Edwards and Gobert Warriors - Steph and Butler Nuggets - Jokic Grizzlies - Morant and JJJ Mavericks - Kyrie, AD, and Flagg Spurs - Wemby and Fox We have none of that.
That is a well thought out post and I totally agree. Now let the homer in me speak for a minute. I sure do hope this is the season Sharpe and Scoot take off. I sure do hope Deni is really the glue guy that helps put it all together and Camara is a DPOY candidate. If all that happens they might just make some noise because they did add Jrue and Dame will be an assistant coach this year. Would love to have all that just fit together so nice. Also I sure do hope Young Hansom kid is really a steal and Clingan gets his shot falling. So many things can go right. Still think it's probably a 40 win season at best.
