Biggest/most important "unknowns" for this upcoming Blazer season

Can we stay healthy?

defense we only be as good as our defense we need to Be top 15 defensive team ( I think we will)

most excited about seeing the young guys and how much they developed. Really excited about seeing Sharpe play. After watching him in summer league for whooping 2 minutes I get impression he might take time to gain confidence and won’t be super aggressive intially.

 

You cant!

 

Ultimately, I think he'll get most of his minutes at the backup 4, but it's pretty apparent he's going to at least be in the rotation.

Chauncey even said he could possibly start at the 3.

 

Winslow will get minutes because:

1. He can defend.
2. He works well with Nurk.
3. The team has enough players that need shots, so having a role player that does other things and does not need them is good.

 

Of the guys competing for SF/3, who would best D up the likes of Wiggins, Tatum/Brown? Chauncey said it could depend on match ups? and he doesnt have to be the best player that starts.

 

Billups has said, they both look like rooks. In the past he's also said if the player has talent and earns minutes age is a non factor.
It will take him time for Shaed to get used to the pace and once he does then we will see his potential/strengths.

 

1) What does healthy Dame look like?

- If we have yet to see the best of Dame, the whole season looks different. Do we see better lateral movement defensively? Dame has talked about being more committed defensively the last 2-3 years and maybe finally his body will allow him to show it.

2) Anfernee's fit with Dame

- Ant took a big jump offensively with his first real opportunity to be a full time on ball player, but has struggled to make the same impact as a SG in the past. How well will he be able to balance sharing the floor with Dame with being the lead guy when Dame goes to the bench? CJ had his issues with this while he was here with CJ only lineups routinely struggling. Having better secondary on ball scorers / passers then we've had in previous years in Hart, Grant and Winslow should help, but how much?

3) How will Chauncey use Jerami Grant?

- Good defender, but I think he's best used as weakside low man/roamer, and not a primary defender/throw on anybody type. I do like his fit if we plan on being aggressive with most ball screens again. One of the better rim protecting PF's in the league. To get the most out of him on the ball I'd like to see him paired with either Nas or Justise where we can keep him more in that secondary off ball role and switch across the 3&4. Jerami is good on the ball vs most players, but can't really get through a screen or be a chase guy. His high center of gravity and lack impact strength hurt him in certain matchups as well. Offensively, how much will Chauncey stagger him and Dame to allow him to be that iso/mid post player he was with Detroit? His opportunity with the first unit seems limited and I think he could really thrive in up tempo small ball units with guys like Hart, GP and Winslow.

4)Who earns the 9th and 1oth spots in the rotation?

- Dame, Ant, Grant, Nurk, Hart, Nas, GP2, and Winslow feel like the locked in top 8. That leaves Sharpe, Walker and Watford imo as guys that could earn those spots. Eubanks feels like break glass in case of emergency big only and Chauncey seems committed to playing small off the bench (and I think it's the right decision). Don't see the room for another guard like Keon, but he is nice GP2 insurance.

I would go with Sharpe and Walker. Chauncey seems really high on Sharpe and I think the early part of the year is a good time to get him the NBA level reps he needs. With Walker I just think he's an excellent fit in those small ball bench units Chauncey wants to play. He's a much better defender and rebounder than Watford and I like his offense more in a smaller role alongside guys Dame, Ant and Grant. I like Watford, but I have hard time valuing him playing small ball 5 in meaningless games, a position where his weaknesses were hid. His touch and passing on the move stood out. but I don't think you can build good defensive lineups with him at 5 and I don't think his strengths show up as much playing the 4.

Not sure how good this team will ultimately be, but there's a lot be excited about. This group has more athleticism and on-ball/passing talent throughout the rotation than we've seen in a long time. Chauncey year 2 will be telling. GP2 is going to be a fan favorite. Sharpe is in eye popping talent and Jabari Walker was an absolute steal in the 2nd round. Really interested to see how his body transforms in the next 3 years. Leaning out and continuing to get stronger will be big for him. Quick feet, but you can tell his hips need work when you see him in change of direction situations. He talked about the hip issues after Summer league so he's aware of it and the NBA has gotten really good at improving guys' flexibility. Very excited about him.

Pumped basketball is back! GO BLAZERRRRRSS!

 

I think we will see Josh Hart pushing the ball up court with Anf on occasion. Josh will get minutes at the 2 and could be a better defensive pair with Dame.

 

Great thread topic.
1- Will everyone understand and accept their roles.....Bunch of dawgs who ALL con contribute something.
2- Can Coach "push the right buttons" with what I view as a versatile roster, with no "Keljin Blevins" or "CJ Ellerby's" on this squad.
3- Damian Lillard.....Kinda feels like the NBA forgot about him...The thought of a great player FINALLY being healthy and recharged and rested?...I have learned to Trust In Dame...I sense something special with him this season.....(hope Coach doesn't ride him too hard so he isn't burned by April)

Not predicting title or anything, but I'm not really focused on the actual record this year, (although I think it will be better than most?), just looking for a gradual meshing of a fairly talented group.
For me, the two players I am most interested in what they do are Josh Hart and Trendon Watford..I just feel they are the "scale-tippers", if you will.
Should be a blast to watch, what I think is gonna be known as "Chauncey-ball"!!!!
As Bart Scott would declare: "CANT WAIT"!!!

 

Yeah, he also has good handles and can pass so when he attacks the basket good things can happen.

 

He may have the last laugh?
nba.com
Rookie Shaedon Sharpe A Mystery No More


5

 

Hey didn’t know where to put this, but since you brought him up. My daughter’s team played Lake Oswego last night. As I pull in to park who should I see standing on the curb in front of the school with AirPods in waving his hands around being obnoxiously loud…. But our past GM Mr. Olshey. Could NOT believe it. He was always a dick to me, so when we locked eyes, he just kinda gave me a dirty look and turned around. What an ass!

 

Who ARE you? Is this the JinxSpeed guys burner account?

 

Then he shouldn't have entered the draft and should have stayed in college.
Imagine a player so sure of himself he enters the draft without playing college, NOT having some hefty expectations tossed at him.

 

I would never have thought he would have stayed in Oregon?