Dame 6'2 / CJ 6'3 Dame 6'2 / Ant 6'3 Dame / CJ - score first guards who can't play much defense. Dame / Ant - score first guards who can't play much defense. I don't think anyone is saying that Simons is EXACTLY like CJ, but the high level comparisons between the two duos are pretty darn similar. Undersized backcourts that aren't very good on defense, and need the ball in their hands to truly be effective.
I don't think they are exactly the same but they are way closer than most of the Simons fans in here want to admit. Unless Ant is going to magically become a great defensive player, than I don't see how Dame/Ant is drastically different from Dame/CJ and we've already spent the better part of a decade seeing how that pairing worked out. Just seems more of the same, putting the majority of our resources into undersized guards that can score but not defend.
that could be but none of us know at this point. All guesswork Simons is not CJ. Dame and CJ NEVER had a guard in the rotation like Hart; and Dame and CJ were never coached by Billups. My suggestion is to let them have at least a full season next year to see if the pairing will fail in the same ways. the previous one did. If it does then the Blazers need to consider that trading Simons might yield better results than trading Dame
Also: remember what the Blazers played like WITH Dame at the beginning of the season? I (and a lot of others) thought that Chauncey was a complete washout as a coach. But as soon as Dame sits (and we trade CJ) suddenly we're playing the way Chauncey wants and all is good (until everyone is sat for tanking purposes). Can Dame even play the Chauncey way? I don't think I've ever seen him whip the ball around or look ahead on a fast break.
I just don't see Portland looking good long-term to Anfernee (who is, let us remember, an RFA) with Dame ensconced at PG. Come off the bench or "be part of a guard rotation" - or go somewhere else and be given a Trae Young-like role. Easy choice.
Yes. But being a better defender than CJ isn't exactly a high bar... And he has Hart as a backcourt mate. And Billups as a coach rather than Stotts. And Cronin as the GM rather than the guy who drafted him... And if he's not a better fit, we can just trade him for somebody who fits better and start Hart at the 2.
True but that R is a very big deal in front of the FA. I just don't see him going anywhere, let he get an offer for 3-4 years, by the time that deal is done you're looking at Dame either at the tail end of his effectiveness or having their roles reversed (if Ant is as good as we hope he is) and maybe the guy gets a max deal here, or maybe he moves on and the franchise is really starting a full rebuild. Or you trade Dame now, start the rebuild right away and give the keys to the young buck and hopes he proves to be 80-90% as good as Dame.
No. Dame, Ant, Hart is our backcourt. Ant splits minutes at the 1 and 2 unless he has trouble guarding the 2. Then you go with Dame and Hart. If you trade Dame you almost guarantee we can't compete for another 4 or 5 years. Unless we get incredibly lucky this draft. And if we do get incredibly lucky in this draft we'd be far better off with Dame that without him.
So: after Anfernee's breakout season you say "sorry son, back to the bench for you!" Better lock him up with a long term contract first!
No, I think you probably bring Hart off the bench. But yeah, we'll have Ant locked up long term this summer.
I think they failed for several reasons. The coach never had a system in place to mask their defensive weaknesses. They never had a decent REAL PF or SF. Their backups weren't anything great. They weren't held accountable for much. But not all 6'3" guards are the same.
Unless there’s another move this summer, I think Hart would start at SF, but move into the guard rotation when Little comes in.
