Game Thread 2022-23 Game #23 BLAZERS @ JAZZ - DECEMBER 3, 2022 - 6:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

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That is a tough one. He is an excellent FT shooter so attacking the basket with the game on the line is not all that stupid. Watching the replay Grant gave him a high screen to get past Clarkson, he then beat Vanderbilt who had come over to help, but Lauri came in and timed the block perfectly. I am not so sure that settling for a jump shot at that point would have been any "smarter". I think it was just really good D.

 

Its great any time the Blazers win in SLC!
It's one of the toughest places to win for any team.

 

He also had his game winner on Bridges earlier this year on a drive and hook. I like him going to the basket on those situations. Just needs to get some respect from refs

 

I think that in most cases the hook and/or floater might be the better option as they are tougher to block, but last night it was kind of a bang-bang play and Lauri just made the better play. Thankfully Lauri also fucked up a few moments later when he threw the ball away.

 

illimatic may think I'm one of those Simons-haters because of a comment in the Brooklyn game thread....

but I've been a pretty strong advocate for giving the Dame/Ant combo at least a year to see if it works. I understand there are some valid concerns that Dame/Ant will just be a reboot of the failed Dame/CJ pairing. But I've been saying that Ant is not the same player as CJ. Yeah, sometimes Ant goes a little too much MeJ in his dribble motions, but it's not that often. Ant just seems to make quicker decisions to attack or pass using much less shot clock than CJ typically did

and, as mentioned, Simons seems to be making a concerted effort lately to attack the paint and do so without shying away from contact. Mid-November his FT rate was around .170. It's now .206. If he can continue to elevate that mark, he'll be more effective than CJ ever was. In other words there are enough differences between Ant and CJ that the worries about a Dame/CJ reboot should be mitigated; at least for now

 

I also think Ant tries more on defense

 

i very much prefer simons taking a jump shot or if we want our player to drive to the basket for a dunk/layup and/or drawing a foul, give the ball to grant, not dame or simons

 

Haven't you been criticizing Ant all yr since he signed his contract? It's hardly just the Brooklyn game.

Bottom line we have a 23yr old efficient 25 ppg scorer who is our 2nd or 3rd option. And his contract is a steal for his production.

 

he definitely needs to improve on that end.

trying more is a start but he's still targeted so frequently that it might be a serious liability in games that matter. the clippers were relentless last week in putting him in actions.

that, and his playmaking. but the improvements are probably enough for me to put him on our untouchable list (unless top players are available).

 

Not only is Lucia familiar with my salty language she can utter loud feline profanity herself.

 

So you're opposed to the suggestion from a while back in here that we move him and nurk for Conley and olynyk so we could have a solid backup PG?!?!
Still can't believe that was suggested and slightly supported by a few others.

 

Do you think Ant will make the All-Star team this year? Or do you think the coaches who vote for the reserves are doubting him too?

 

criticizing the contract is not criticizing Ant; that was criticizing Cronin, and it was a pretty mild criticism. I just didn't believe that the market for Ant last summer was as high as 25M/year

and, as I said, I've been a pretty outspoken advocate of giving the Dame/Ant combo time. Do you think I'd be doing that if I was trashing Ant as a player?

sure seems like you have a real broad definition for 'Ant-haters'

 

Grant is a good option for sure, but that scenario is hardly foolproof. How many times can you do it before teams prepare for it? Grant would simply get doubled and the ball would get knocked away on his drive.
You need multiple options and players who can score in a variety of ways.

 

i understand and i dont doubt dames & ants ability to draw a foul on a drive, its just that grant has better chance of getting and 1 through layup or dunk, simply due to his size

 

Airballs are actually a good thing if your team has a Nurk waiting under the hoop.

 

booker, ja morant, shai, steph, fox, bane

these are backcourt players that will get in before ant for sure, maybe edwards too, cant really see ant making an all-star team yet

 

Not according to this place. We used to have a center that lead the entire league in Rebounds AND Blocks and according to them that wasn’t good.

 

winning solves all those problems everytime

 

Wasn't Simons a restricted free agent?
What's the max he could have been offered by another team ?