Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #43 - BLAZERS @ HEAT - JAN 21, 2025 - TUE - 4:30 PM - CHARGE - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

With Deni, Camara and Ayton, I feel there is plenty of rim protection. Ayton's scoring is needed, and Scoot will keep him happy.

 

Maybe we’ll be Houston from last year. Go on big win streak, miss playoffs but carry momentum into next year. Who had them in the 2 seed this year? Green is still developing and it’s his 4th year. I think Shaedon has that kind of potential or more.

 

Huh? We tanked three years in a row and hit in all 3 drafts.

 

A passive, inconsistent SG who has no killer instinct, a slow developing worse than advertised PG and a slow footed plodding big who keeps getting hurt with no inside game is hitting on all 3 drafts?

 

this was another game that the Blazers don't win without Ant-Ayton-Grant. They took 55% of Portland's shots and scored 55% of Portland's points. By my count that's now 6-7 wins that fall into that dumb win category

but this win bothered me the least out of all of them. The first reason, when you're trying to be a playoff team and you're facing a lottery team, at your place, and you fall behind by 24 points in the 3rd Q, you deserve to lose. Another reason was the video of Pat Riley there watching the game...eat it Pat. And the Miami fans can eat it too

another reason is I've pretty much given up on the Blazers doing the smart thing this season, or at least what I think is the smart thing. They deliberately tanked into what was one of the worst drafts in the last 20 years, and it looks like they are going to muddle around and crap on their lottery odds in one of the best drafts in the last 20 years.
WTF-outcomes-r-us
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Miami is kind of locked into a little different purgatory than Portland

they have a relatively young group of 4 players in Jaquez, Jovic, Ware, and Larson. They have a version of Simons in Herro. They have an nba-middle-aged C in Adebayo; Porland has Ayton. They have a limited 30 year old wing like Grant in Robinson. And they have an aging all-star level player who wants out, like Dame did. Unlike Portland, they have a strange collection of older players you see on a lot of wanna-be playoff teams.

but, looking at their encumbered 1st round picks for the next 3 years, they are really in a bind right now. Couldn't happen to a more deserving GM and fanbase

 

will be interesting to see what happens when Camara gets well; might be the next game. Who will go to the bench....Scoot or Avdija?

 

No reason if need we couldn't trade up in the draft. We have the assets.

 

Too much from the vets. I get you can’t ask guys to miss shots on purpose or to throw a game. So rely on Delano, Rupert, Murray, Scoot etc

Just not wise from a tanking perspective. Joe better watch his ass or he WILL be in purgatory fighting for a playin spot with the same roster until the contracts run out.

I just don’t think it’s smart to be in win now mode with the vets. Do Chauncy and Joe realize what is at stake if they fail this draft? I can see from Billups he wants to win at no cost to save his rep. But it’s overall bad bad bad for the team’s future. They simply have to give themselves the very best odds for a tip top pick. As of now they ain’t doing a very good job of it. Shut down the fucking vets.

 

I think we're all hoping for the sell offs but like everything else we'll have to wait and see and I have no confidence in this GM to make practical moves or to generate good trades but still hoping for the best... best trades and best lotto position.

What will probably happen is that we'll make a trade or even two that aren't what any of us are truly hoping for (not bad just moves around the edges that don't rid us of the guys we want gone) and then we'll end up sitting Deandre, Ant and the worst 30 year old Jerami Grant who unlike Ant and Deandre loses value going into next season just due to his age.

 

100% agree King. I think we are following their path. One to two years behind is all.
Stay the course Joe!

 

How did Anfernee Simons miss Shaedon Sharpe in this fast break?

Simons got the ball in the paint on the other end of the court and dribbled furiously downcourt.

Isn't the point of a fast break to get an advantage like Sharpe had? What's the point of dribbling so fast then looking at the ground when you get to the 3-point line?

I think both Avdija and Sharpe were kind of disgusted. Both of them put their hands up in the air after Simons missed the opportunity.

Simons ended up dribbling down the baseline and stepping out of bounds and nobody else touched the ball on this possession.

 

Hopefully he’s gone in the next 2 weeks.