Game Thread 2023-24 GAME #27 - BLAZERS VS WIZARDS - DECEMBER 21, 2023 - 7:00 PM PST - ROOT

I'd still give it a try this season to see how they work together. Walker and Camara can both hit 3-pointers, just not consistently, like you said.

however the starting unit now consistently lacks energy and Grant's 3-point shooting isn't making up for it.

 

k

 

Scoot being too energetic might actually wake up the starting unit at the beginning of the game. He might come deliver the ball to you personally like he did with Ayton.

Billups said he wanted more energy in the starting unit. So he went with Brogdon of course. Who did nothing to push the starters.

The obvious choices were Scoot or Thybulle.

The season's going down the toilet anyway, so starting Brogdon is just a lose- then usually lose again proposition.

 

Stick to bashing on Ayton. It’s your strength.

 

A few thoughts on this:

1. This is the problem drawing up late game plays that involve multiple options and/or starting the ball away from your #1 option: This opens up the possibility of one of your lesser players or the opposing teams defense to dictate who does or doesn't get the ball.
2. If you are running the same play you just ran and it does involve a pass, you'd have to anticipate being forced to go to another option. In this case, that would mean Ant was unlikely to get the shot since he got it the previous play
3. The play with 12.1 seconds left worked to get Ant an easy dunk because Washington was defending to prevent the 3 and was ok giving up a 2. The play with 5.9 seconds left was going to be defended differently because now Washington couldn't give up any score AND they were likely to be more prepared for the action because they just saw it.

I know some people hate ISO's, but getting the ball to Ant at 35ft, letting him drive, and either get a 1 on 1 or forcing help just makes way more sense to me.

 

Dude on the right: Considered a rising star in the league and having a breakout, All-NBA type season.

Dude on the left: There are actual Blazers fans that want to trade him and “can’t stand him”

 

Simons's floaters are very good. For the one below, he had the ball from full court all by himself. He dribbled calmly to the left past Ayton picking his man, then dribbled right to this spot where he drained the shot.

This is the shot that I think works best in that situation where you're tied or behind by 1 point, and Simons is the guy to do it.

 

I cant see how anyone can watch Grant closely and think that he's a good defender... he's mediocre at best.

 

I agree... all the more reason to just get him the ball right away and let him go to work. Skip all the ball/player movement junk and get the right players on the floor with proper spacing and let your best player attack.

 

I believe Scoot will force Ayton to be a better, more engaged player.

 

I wanted a drive then lob to Ayton.

 

He missed his bank shot by a foot and a half. SMH

 

And Ayton missed one and two tips at the rim on the same shot right before that.

 

To an extent. It's also good to give him lanes to attack by shifting the defense before he gets the ball and not letting the defense set up their help before his drives.

 

2nd time in 3 games a veteran player has done the opposite of what Chauncey wanted them to do in the final seconds.

 

Would be happy with his self-accountability if he was improving in this regard.

 

Yup. Ayton and Grant do not fit together at all. Blazers give up way too much of a physicality edge at those two positions and neither does the dirty work/little things and Ayton doesnt control the defensive glass well enough to cover for Grant.

 

That would have been beautiful. I think Brogdon would be the guy to execute that play.
Put him where Grant was when he got the ball, and do the same thing Grant did to make the defense completely ignore what was going on behind them.

 

“We’re number 26!” Doesn’t have the same sound to it as “we’re number 1!”