Game Thread Game #47 - BLAZERS VS TIMBERWOLVES - JANUARY 25, 2022 - TUESDAY - 7:00 PM (PDT) ROOT SPORTS

I think people say that because it's actually the last stop of the trip even though you're at home. But I don't see how that makes it a trap game. I guess I'm saying if you're well coached and you're professional, there's no such thing as a trap game. More of a thing fans talk about.

 

Isn't that what Covington and Nance are? And Nas too.

 

I’m just happy Nas isn’t hurt. If he had a significant injury I’d be done for the season.

 

The difference defensively with him at the 3 instead of a guard is night and day.

 

Did he mention this or is this conjecture on your end?

 

All it took was one bad game from Ant and more than half the board turned on him. Okay.

 

I would argue that's his demeanor. Everyone has bad games. I am less interested in depth as I am consolidating. I would love to use CJ and Powell to net an all-star 4. Billups did the right thing that Stotts wouldn't done.

 

You forgot Nassir Little. 7-11, 4-6 on three-pointers.

 

I'm guessing he was less happy with only 6 shots while Ant/CJ continued to fire blanks. There was some definite body language that indicated he was pretty irritated.

 

Wait til he goes through another shooting slump. 4-5 games and it'll be a blood bath.

 

He's going to have ups and downs. What I'd like to see improve over the rest of the season is:

• A tighter handle. He is a little loose at times and as teams blitz him, that becomes more and more of a problem.
• Getting to the FT line. He's too much like CJ in that he avoids contact. It will help him on nights when his shot isn't falling.
• Improve defensively. The T-Wolves guards (and pretty much anyone one else he is matched up with) torch him. He is getting a little better, but the bar was very low.
• Finish at the rim. He operates almost exclusively in the 10'-25' range. With all his hops, he needs to attack the basket better.

Some of those should come with experience and strength. The FT/attack the basket issue might be a bit of just who he is. In Dame's rookie season he was at 3.6 FTAs per 36.. By his 2nd season, that was over 5. Ant's career average is just over 2 and he is in his 4th season. CJ is a career 2.6/36 minutes. That is too similar for my liking.

 

But everyone else was.

 

One might suggest Norm has 89,000,000 more reasons to take issue than most of the Blazer bench. Especially watching the clank fest when he is one of the Blazers most efficient shooters. That is one thing Dame/CJ/Ant don't do very well. Get the ball the the player who is making the most shots on a consistent basis. Or even more so, when a player is hot, continue feeding them.

Rather, Dame sometimes, CJ often, and Ant not as much, if they haven't taken a shot in a few trips down the flow, they will just jack one up regardless of how hot a teammate is. It has been frustrating for years.

 

people say I'm anti-Ant(i). All I said about him after this game was ball security. 12 turnovers in last 2 games. Opposing teams have had time now to build some extensive scouting reports on him and they are not going to let him move to his favorite driving lanes and shooting zones without some resistance. He'll need to start adjusting to defenses defending his strengths and exploiting his weaknesses. Dame has had to adjust for a decade; CJ for 7 years. That's what happens to featured players and Simons is featured now.

 

You aren't wrong. Ant has been scouted and it's showing. Next move is his. Also notice teams are starting to cover him when he comes across mid court just like Dame.
They are not letting him even think about driving right. They are making him cross over left. He is losing the handle and also is having a hard time passing out of the drive.
You are spot on on this. He needs to take the next step and improve. Might be this summer before we see much but my guess is we will see it if he is still here.

 

“I went up for the rebound, my arm was extended and Kat, he just tried to rip the ball down and my arm was caught up in there,” said Little. “I just got it strained a little bit and it was hurting a lot initially, but after I kind of moved my arm around I realized I was all right and that I was being a little bit of a drama queen.”

The team medical staff evidently didn’t agree with Little’s “drama queen” assessment, as the decision was made to hold him out of Wednesday’s game. His status going forward is still to be determined.

https://www.nba.com/blazers/forwardcenter/portland-down-two-more-starters-again-versus-dallas