Game Thread 2023-24 - GAME #41 - BLAZERS VS PACERS - JANUARY 19, 2024 - 7:00 PM PST - ROOT

Not gonna lie. Its pretty nice to beat a team that just acquired Siakiam.

 

Exactly.
There were a few of us campaigning that Grant be the SF before the season started. That concept was met with a lot of skepticism.
The last 2 games shows that Grant thrives in that role

 

If been calling for them to play Jerami at SF for a long time. I would be interested to see more of that experiment before he's traded, just to prove me right.

 

Kings better keep playing well or it's Atlanta trading Luka for Trae all over again. Mind you, a lot of teams fucked up over Haliburton, perhaps none more than the Pistons (you can't really blame the Warriors for not drafting a PG with their top 2 pick). Kinda awkward that Toppin is now also on the Pacers.

 

Just remind yourself: this year's draft SUCKS.
Also: Miami picked Jaquez at #18.

 

I think it's worse. You don't know exactly what you're getting in the draft.

Sacramento knew Haliburton was a 40% 3-point shooter with a better than 3 assists / 1 turnover ratio.

At the time of the trade:
"Haliburton is young, an outstanding shooter, a willing passer and playmaker, and he can be the focal point of what comes next for the Pacers. Haliburton is currently the only NBA player 21 or younger to shoot at least 40% from three on at least 4.5 attempts a game, and he’s 11th in assists."

By the way, Sacramento themselves passed on drafting Luka Doncic.

So this is a franchise that in 2018 (in effect) traded Luka Doncic for Marvin Bagley III , then in 2022 traded Haliburton for Sabonis.

 

the problem with that is Portland waived Watford on June 30, several months before fall camp. That doesn't mean that Portland didn't already have a solid evaluation of Walker's trajectory at the time and chose Walker over Watford, figuring there was room for only one project PF. That's a more encouraging scenario than the one that says the Vulcans chose Walker because he was half a million dollars cheaper

personally, I liked Watford because of his passing (which was underrated) and his perimeter shooting. And I'd say that having two forwards like Watford and Walker would have been a lot better situation than having 4 C's like Ayton, Brown, Reath, and Badji

 

An effective lineup at the end of the 1st quarter, that I doubt we will see again without multiple injuries to our guards.
Scoot, Murray, Camara, Walker, and Reath. That unit played some aggressive D. Of course once other teams scout that unit they would counter with more pressure, but last night it worked.

 

I'm really feeling like there is something special having both Walker and Grant on the floor. Those two are a better duo than Aminu and Harkless.

 

Jabari is ranked #19 in the league in defensive rebounding %, and #3 among forwards. Ayton is #9, so those two should keep us a good rebounding team.

 

It was a first in NBA history

 

Walker brought it. Game ball. Intense but in control and fought hard. Made his FTs

 

There was at least one nice pass from Grant to Ayton (lob) and one nice pass from Ayton to Walker (Walker was just to the right of the hoop in the dunkers spot). That's one way to break down the defense and get easy front-court points.

 

Bigger seems to be working better. You let Walker do a bunch of the dirty work and hopefully he starts to improve his shot from 3. Let Grant play the 3 like so many of us have asked for. Bring on Ant/Scoot with Sharpe at the 2 and this team could grow into something special.