If Anfernee Simons plays better than Damian Lillard, then what?

He sucks. He got scouted pretty damn fast. I don’t even remember the last game he played even decently. That’s what happens when you anoint somebody a star like this organization did before he even did anything

 

Too easy.

 

Give him some time. Typically guys need a year or two of a consistent role.

 

You do understand I was being completely sarcastic, and mocking those that sang his praises after 1 game....right?



Er I mean you're not a true fam if you don't already think he's better than Jordan after that 1 game

 

He did get scouted fast. I don't remember exactly which game it was, but the color annalist (for another team - as I typically watch their feed) was saying that for Simons, you have to sit on his right hand & force him left. He's reluctant to shoot off the dribble going left.

 

I know several of my posts were responding to you directly last night but @AldoTrapani's post is exactly the point I was trying to make.

The organization never "annointed him a star" or said he would be good this season but that's the narrative some people are going with.

 

He's still super young. Not worried at all.

 

I use to

 

I still think he'll be a star. I don't think I said he would be this season, but it's possible I did. He's doing fine though.

 

that's not exactly setting a low bar, and he said "it's all coming together", not "it will come together in stages over the next two years". And I'd bet that most of the many articles written that were hyping Simons were based on 'background' chatter from Olshey

now, it may be that Olshey is right and Simons will put the puzzle together and maximize the potential he has flashed every once in a while. He's young and developing. But the expectations were way over the top and I've never figured out why the Blazers, Olshey especially, loaded all those expectations onto Simons. It didn't make sense then and makes even less sense now.

everybody knew he was going to get scouted; and that he'd have to adjust to being game-planned. Dame had to do it...has to do it still. Same with CJ. Simons is facing that now. I also think Simons has an added disadvantage: teams come into Blazer games with a game-plan designed to stop Dame. They are ready to aggressively jump screens and picks on the perimeter. And to a lesser degree, they account for CJ's perimeter game too. This leaves Simons a lot less daylight when he comes into games since his game is quite similar to Dame and CJ

I'm kind of getting a Martell Webster flashback with Simons. Webster got a ton of hype before his rookie season...the front office had to justify spending a 3rd pick on him. And Webster certainly flashed some potential as a rookie. And his shooting stroke was one of the prettiest in the league. The style of his shot kind of masked a lack of substance too his game. Now, Webster wasn't one-dimensional like Crabbe because Webster could play some fairly decent defense. Simons isn't one-dimensional either because he's a good ball-handler who can drive as well as hit spot up shots

Webster plateaued pretty early and that could happen to Simons. Personally, I think Simons will end up better than Webster, but it's not certain he will and is going to take time

 

Ant is reminding me of Jake Layman.....played his first NBA qtr and got 17pts in it....then scouting reports came. Ant is making a lot of mistakes recently and sure he's young, but so are some of the bench players on other teams I've never even heard of.....he's not consistent enough to be a go to 6 man over the recent stretch of games. That could change but as of now, he's giving us a ton of empty possessions. If Raymond Felton shot 3s from the corner with a foot out of bounds, he'd get trashed around here. Ant has to play better than that...he's a project player that's young....I remember when Batum was out injured and Allan Crabbe was playing well in his place......Batum said Crabbe reminded him of BRoy…...that sure fell flat. We need bench scoring....against the Clippers we had 17 bench pts....Ant went o for 8 when they got their separation. His shoulders have been slumped and he looks like he's not having fun on the court. Rookie wall has hit him....hopefully practice and vet leadership will help him break the slump

 

20 year old kid taking his lumps as he learns on the job. Give him another year and I think you will be glad of patients

 

I agree....but we can't afford to give up 8 possessions with the ball in his hands for many more games if we want to make the playoffs...I think we need a vet 6 man who can pass the ball and hold a lead off the bench. It's not looking like Ant is ready to shoulder that and he is young....our best players however are not young....wasting their prime by losing games is about more than just a sophmore's practice and development. Sign Iguodala and let Ant learn from him.

 

That wasn’t even a month ago.

 

We might win the championship this year. We can't have young players hitting walls later in the year.

Rando would help the 2nd unit and he probably will be available at trade deadline.

 

Man he's 20 years old. Chill. Thats total normal to have some struggles as he's have. Relax he will be fine.

 

I'm waiting for Rondo for like 5 years now. I too like to see some link for "available on the trade deadline".

 

He doesn't suck, just like McCollum doesn't suck when some were making comments like this after the first few games. Simons is young and is still learning and what we have seen so far he has a ways to go and expectations from some need to be tempered.. It wasn't until the playoffs in McCollums second year that he showed what he was capable of and he had 4 years of college. I appreciate you taking your crow for dogging on McCollum so early in the season, but why do you want to put yourself in the same situation with Simons?

 

Simons is a great, great shooter. Because of his thin body, he must learn the PG position. Give him time. Remember when you learned to drive?
I have always remembered the segment from 2:45 to 3:00.



Many things to think about simultaneously. Legalize LSD!