Game Thread 2022-23 Game #72 - BLAZERS @ JAZZ - MARCH 22, 2023 - WEDNESDAY - 6:00 PM (PDT) ROOT

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Chris Craig, Mar 20, 2023.

  1. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Come now. This is Sharpe's development year. He wasn't remotely ready earlier in the season. I think they are bringing him along just fine.
     
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  2. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Again... if you are comfortable drawing a conclusion or in your case, confirming an assumption you made, based off one game, in March, against a botton half NBA team, when there is no pressure to win, that is 100% ok. I'm not comfortable with that. People were ready to make him a starter after a preseason game, so we all arrive to conclusions in different ways.

    We agree that Sharpe has a lot of talent. I'd argue half the roster has a lot of talent (Ant included), but success in the NBA is about a lot more than raw talent.

    You bringing up the Dame/Ant pairing is interesting because we're not far removed from people wanting CJ gone, to make room for Ant, because they were confident his shooting and athletism would be a better pairing next to Dame.

    Having said all that, I hope Sharpe turns into an All-NBA/star player, and I hope he does it in a Blazer uniform. I'm not saying that outcome is impossible (though unlikely). Last nights game was fun to watch. His dunks are amazing. His form looks great. Pre-shot footwork, ehh, but that can improve. I enjoyed the performance.
     
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  3. CJ_is_Gone

    CJ_is_Gone Well-Known Member

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    Maybe some were wanting to move CJ to open time for Ant.... but there was a significant segment that did not to see Ant become CJ-2.0
    Most of us were willing to give the Dame/Ant pairing a try -> but it beyond obvious now that its a sub-optimal pairing.
     
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  4. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Haha
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2023
  5. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Players play to win. In this game some were also playing for a roster spot. Like Knox for example.
     
  6. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    That's a beautiful shot
     
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  7. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    TMI
     
  8. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    The Meadowlark Lemon dribble was fun :)
     
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  9. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    He'd better, or risk winning another one.
     
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  10. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I wanted CJ gone for years, but Ant didn't factor into the equation at all

    mainly, I knew that Portland needed to fire Olshey so they could move on from CJ. I think it was Olshey's idiot overrating of CJ that was the biggest blockade to Portland making smart moves, and the biggest reason why Olshey pissed away so much of Dame's prime
     
  11. twobullz

    twobullz Well-Known Member

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    So is Watford. The young guys like to get out and run.
     
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  12. Tince

    Tince Well-Known Member

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    Very possible. It's also very possible, if Ant were to be moved to open the starting job for Sharpe, some will conclude the Dame/Sharpe paring is sub-optimal. Most pairings next to Dame will be sub-optimal, strictly by definition.

    I'm not the #1 Ant guy by any means, but I do not believe his fit next to Dame is anywhere near the top issues holding the franchise back.
     
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  13. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    And they cover a lot of ground in a hurry. More than Ant, or Keon with his short little legs.
     
  14. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    Dame / Sharpe is the future. The future is NOW, and till Dame retires. That probably makes some mad. Oh well. In no way do i return to a Dame / Ant backcourt. Makes zero sense. If Ant stays, it should be as a hot shooting 6th man.
     
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  15. AmirIcon

    AmirIcon Well-Known Member

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    Trade Simons, Nurk and picks for the best player you can get, IE Siakam, OG, etc. Keep Sharpe unless you're getting Giannis back.
     
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  16. andalusian

    andalusian Season - Restarted

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    Same here. I actually like Ant quite a lot. The real issue with him is that this his first big contract year and he seems to be in the "prove I am worth it" mode, so he only defers to Dame. I am hoping he does a better job of playing team-ball with everyone else and does a better job of knowing when to involve his team-mates and when to take over by himself going forward. Frankly, that's his #1 issue this year, imho.
     
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  17. tykendo

    tykendo Don't Tread On PDX

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    Not saying i don't like Ant. Just don't like him next to Dame as a starter. Ant could be a 6th man of the year. A guy shouldn't be a starter based on salary alone. Norm Powell has been fantastic as a 6th man. He has a similar salary to Ant. I think Ant would be able to do what he does best as a 6th man. Provide instant firepower. Dame / Sharpe is optimal as a starting backcourt for this team going forward.
     
  18. Samuel

    Samuel James “Hollywood” Robinson

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    I feel like he starts his offensive move and it's blinders thereafter, regardless of open teammates, for the most part (This was a thing with CJ too.)

    The thing about Roy that was so great is that he always a passing threat even after he'd started his move, which is so dangerous if you're the defending team. You can't sag off your guy.
     
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  19. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    It was a must win game with playoff implications.
     
  20. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

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    given you would trade nurk, i cannot but question your bball knowledge
     

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