Game Thread 2024-25 GAME #48 - BLAZERS VS MAGIC - JAN 30, 2025 - THUR - 7:00 PM - CHARGE - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

I think Rob Will has been a good influence on guys like DA even from the cheap seats when he never played. I also think Portland fans are game changing for young players. They feel that love here.

 

still in shock over those toumani blocks on banchero.

that second one, paolo went so hard at the rim and camara rebuked him.

you could even hear him on the broadcast scream at paolo, "blocked that bullshit again...."

love it

 

Tou can guard at an all defense level everywhere on the court. His paint defense is elite, his perimeter defense could be the best in the game right now, he is on guys full court. Just amazing to be able to watch him defend. Really lucky to have him on our team.

 

Phoenix would be an entirely different team right now.

 

Zero points lol

 

He will get full credit once he puts Jerami Grant on the bench.

He did not make that decision in tonight's game.

Grant started and played 30 minutes shooting 1-5, scoring 2 points in his last fully healthy game.

Shaedon Sharpe played only 19 minutes in that game.

Then Grant still started the next game. It will never end.

We already saw Chauncey Billups send Scoot Henderson back to the bench.

What will happen to the starting spot and minutes for other players when Grant returns?

I think many people want to see a starting lineup of Scoot, Sharpe, Deni, Camara and their choice at center. (I would go with Ayton right now.)

Is Billups ever even going to put out that starting unit all on his own (if everyone is healthy)?

That seems far-fetched.

(If he is being told by Cronin whom to start, then he's off the hook.)

 

Bottom line is Ant and Grant need to get moved. Get whatever we can, 2nd rounders, salary dumps, I don’t care. As long as it frees up minutes and gives some salary flexibility I’m 100 percent for it.

 

Almost perfect. To be perfect it just needs to say something about the "gather"...

 

Let's wait until Jerami Grant is healthy again and see who he gives starting spots and minutes to.

Grant is on contract for 3 more season.

Nobody wants to see Grant and Ant playing more minutes than anyone else and starting every game.

Except Billups.

Billups sent Scoot back to the bench. Billups has Sharpe coming off the bench.

What will happen when Grant is healthy? More likely that Scoot and Sharpe will start, or less likely?

The GM should not have to make trades because the coach has some kind of brain blockage.

 

They aren’t on those channels…or YOU are choosing not to GET those channels?

 

It’s time we call Shaedon, Prince

 

@GoZers how is everybody but YOU watching the games?

 

Curious if Ant and Grant came off the bench would we feel differently about their games. Ones an electric scorer who can score in bunches and the other is veteran who is a 3 and D.

isn’t that exactly the two type of players you want off the bench? Would either like it probably not (Grant may be ok with it) but I love scorers off the bench. That said they are making starter money so need to go. Plus not sure Billups has the nuts to bring them off the bench.

Ayton finally maturing and really seems to love this team? Him and Clingan really compliment each other. My biggest fear with Ayton is he thinks he’s max player

 

I agree with you, although Sharpe, in one. of his better games, played 33 minutes .......off the bench. He came in just after the 8-minute mark.
Ant played only 21 minutes as a starter. So although I have advocated for Simons to come off the bench, I am not sure it makes much of a difference.
But yeah I think they should try it at some point.

Same with Grant after the trade deadline if they are unsuccessful in dumping his salary.

 

Honestly, the market will determine if he's a max player.

 

This a pretty good post-game interview from Scoot

https://www.nba.com/blazers/videos/...-blazers-119-orlando-magic-90-january-30-2025

 

Wonder what lineup based net ratings say but Scoot looks his best when he's on the floor WITHOUT Ant.

With Ant, he seems like he defers and is tentative.

 

Not sure it would tell us much because he is simply playing better now. So anything from earlier in the year I would discount.
Plus there are other factors like Deni who is also effective at running the offense.

However, I would prefer if Scoot and Shae started together with Deni, Camara, and Ayton. I like that Chauncey has tried numerous combinations of lineups, but I think he needs to try that one too.

 

you’d think but we often over pay to keep them