On the Simmons/Russillo pod this morning

I'd agree with that if we hadn't heard things from the older players and Blazer management ... and now even national media ... indicating that he's a lot closer to being ready and a lot better than we thought when we picked him. And he showed enough in limited time on the court to support what we've been hearing and reading.

I don't think he's going to dominate next year. But I think he can be a solid replacement to Curry at least in terms of production.

 

Russillo does talk up Neil quite a bit. But that would be really blatant, no?

 

but that's all the same thing. Like I said, the OP of the post was some "national media" and I think their source is Olshey..."blazer management". It's an echo

as for older players extolling the virtues of a rookie....count me as a little skeptical. I've heard the same refrain about Martell Webster and Sergio Rodriguez and Elliot Williams and Jerryd Bayless and Meyers Leonard and Allen Crabbe and Luis Montero. Veterans often praise their young teammates, but what I've seen is that the result is more often a foul ball or a single in the 6th or 7th inning rather than a home run in the 1st or 2nd inning

like I said, I have hopes for Simons but I'm tempering my expectations

 

Both Green and VanVleet have significantly better defensive ratings and defensive win shares than either of our guards. Not perfect metrics, but . . .

 

Again, I see the point, but I think you're looking at things through the wrong lenses. In a vacuum, I your concerns are all valid, we don't live in a vacuum, I think you're worrying about a lot of things that you've built up in your head too much. OKC is not Portland; Dame is not Westbrook; their culture is not our culture. We're also not talking about installing PG as the new pillar of the team like he was in OKC, this hypothetical would be adding him to our core of established leaders in Dame, CJ and Nurk for our young pieces (so you also wouldn't have to worry about them learning bad habits from him...)

If PG absorbed Westbrook's immaturity, why couldn't he absorb Dame's stoic, lead by example approach just as easily?

He also wouldn't have be the only one to will our team to victory, as you say. A core of PG, Dame, CJ and Nurk wouldn't all of a sudden just need to rely on one guy.

So yes, even if he brought a bit of a beta mentality, that's a swing for the fences move and his talent is WAY greater than Beal or Booker (Towns is another story).

Of course, this is all moot because PG ain't gonna be available...

 

Soon that will be considered one of his least productive games!

 

Already is to his true fans

 

The offseason is the time for HOPE, and unbridled enthusiasm.

He will be a STAR!!!

 

Out of that list I liked Sergio the most.

Simon's will be better than all of them.

Granted I may be setting myself up for heartbreak.



Edit: Crap it didn't quote the post haha

 

Here's a video of Simons, at 0:57 we see him making a nice behind-the-back pass to Nassir Little.

 

Simons missed a lot of layups when there was contact, as he gets bigger I think it’ll help him finish around the rim.

 

The guy in the blue shorts was causing him some trouble. Agreed...that will come as he gains strength.

 

Was this 1 year or 2 years ago?

 

I expect 30/5/5 every game after the Sacto performance.

 

recently is Little was there

 

Maybe, but he also played with Little when he was still in high school. So that does not mean much. I do not recognize the floor but I am guessing it is in Orlando.

 

Thanks for taking the time to do this, much appreciated.

 

This is clearly a smokescreen.

We always hear players, management, media talk up players like this.

It’s funny because a majority of the time they talk them up by saying “he is working hard, trying to find his role, fit in, gym rat”

The things we have heard about Anfernee are clearly different than the things we heard about Sergio, Crabbe, Meyers, Martell, etc.

In fact, most of the time, Stotts and Olshey put a damper on expectations, from what I recall.

Doesn’t mean he is a star.

Doesn’t mean he will be great.

But clearly everyone who has actually seen him play, competed with him, and watch his daily routine has said he is “ready now”.

Considering he is going up against Dame and CJ, I would be surprised if that translated into “bust.”

He must be cooking someone in practice and looking good while doing so.

And once again, find me quotes that are in the same ballpark as the things people have said about Simons.

It’s not like Neil goes, “yeah that’s the most gifted player I’ve ever drafted” all the time. Usually Neil is the one to go “Up to Stotts to figure out the rotation, he’s a young guy, he will need to work his way in.”

He has said absolutely none of that.

May not be a star, but as I argued with many people, he certainly has trade value and I’m not keen on another Jermaine O Neal situation.

Also, it’s nice to know that people around the league apparently value Simons more than some of our own fans who claimed he had “minimal” trade value, ignoring the circumstances around him being drafted and his “redshirt” year essentially.

 

This was a couple weeks ago.

That's NBA veteran Courtney Lee who is regarded as a very good defender.