Blazers

[Phalanx]

Blazers definitely aren't tanking right now. They're just finally playing more playoff-caliber teams that are starting to battle for seeding. This squad definitely has some spunk, but they're still no match for Western Conference playoff teams in games that really matter.

We'll know they're tanking when Ant, Grant, Deni and Sharpe go down with back spasms. Maybe even Clingan, too, he's too good on defense. Time to give the Scoot/Banton duo some serious run!

And then, yeah, we're going to need a ton of luck because we likely won't move up (down) too many spots.

I know there is a word for when it's nearing the end of the season and suddenly your two highest paid veterans are out for extended periods and you start losing games with higher frequency. I just can't think of that word right now, but it will come to me.

If Ayton was out there, these games would look different.

[pezsez1]

Ayton has a calf strain, and that's not the kind of injury you mess around with, especially for a guy of his build.

If this group were tanking you wouldn't have Ant, Grant or Deni in the lineup getting as many minutes as they do. This team is still trying to make the play-in, which is bananas but entirely on brand.

[pezsez1]

Was at yesterday's win vs Toronto. Fun game to be at! But that game should also put to rest any notion of whether the Blazers are tanking.

Toronto pulled its starters up 6 with 6 mins remaining after controlling most of the game. The Blazers kept their starters in the game and clawed their way back to a down-to-the-wire win.

If the Blazers were tanking, they would have easily lost this game. The starters had already lost it, just put in the deeper bench players and let them ride it out. But they clearly went for and got the win.

I still don't understand what this Blazers team is actually trying to accomplish. It just seems like professional sports malpractice to make your most likely end-of-season outcome a mid draft pick with no postseason. It's like the worst of both worlds. Still threading that needle.

[Phalanx]

You are right that it is only a 'notion' that the Blazers are tanking. They have lost 6 out of the last 8. I have no idea if Ayton, Grant, and RWIII - three out of the top five highest-paid players on the team are actually injured or if the team is sitting them for tanking purposes. But let's be clear, one win against a team with a worse record is not ironclad evidence that they are not tanking. The right way to tank with an emerging young team after three years of tanking is not to tell them to take a dive and get them used to being big fat losers. The right way is to pull veterans and let the kids have the minutes. Let them learn to play together since they may be doing so for years to come. Mix in some victory in the midst of losses. This is exactly what they are doing, whether intentionally or not. They are still beating inferior teams, but losing to everyone else. Some are close losses, but still losses, so everyone wins. In the end, the pick has a good chance of being top 10, so hopefully still high enough to get someone good.

[pezsez1]

I was very disappointed that the Blazers didn’t move Simons.

There was a time we could have traded him for Aaron Gordon. Imagine that WCF team with Aaron Gordon and a healthy Nurk.

Instead, he's still here, literally fueling us to either a first-round playoff exit (again) or a mid FRP. Yay. #ThreadTheNeedle

The right way to tank with an emerging young team after three years of tanking is not to tell them to take a dive and get them used to being big fat losers. The right way is to pull veterans and let the kids have the minutes.

I totally agree. Maybe Grant and Ayton have been low-key shut down, maybe not. RWIII is always hurt though so he can't be part of this convo. I'd argue though that the team has been better when Grant isn't on the floor, making Ayton the only real question mark that might actually be affecting wins/losses.

Meanwhile, the Blazers' starters (including Simons) are still sucking up the majority of minutes, even against teams that clearly give more minutes to the bench. They just brought Thybulle back from injury, which they wouldn't do if they were tanking. Simons was out for a game and then right back in, also not a sign of tanking.

Hopefully, with that loss to the Cavs & Dallas/Phoenix both winning, the Blazers give significantly more minutes to 2nd-string players down the stretch. Improving its draft odds over the last nine or 10 games is the most important thing the franchise can accomplish. Then we'll just need a ton of luck given how little odds we'll have of landing a Top 5 pick.

[Phalanx]

Yeah, it was weird to see the wins against Memphis and Denver, but both teams were missing their stars. Only 9 games left at this point against some pretty middle-of-the-road teams. I think Grant and Ayton could probably come back, but the Blazers are shelving them. Simons clearly doesn't matter; he was terrible last night. I'll tell you what, if they beat Chicago next Friday, then we'll know they weren't tanking. Unlike most of these match-ups, that one actually makes a big difference in the standings.

Blazers are in 10th position right now, but there is still room to go either up or down a few spots before the season ends. Meanwhile, they've been playing some of these top teams pretty darn well. I look forward to next year.

P.S. I hope Lillard heals up, and I'm thankful Cronin traded him when he did.

[Phalanx]

Blazers sit Ayton, Grant, Simons, Scoot, and RWIII. It doesn't matter; they still beat a playoff-bound Atlanta team at their place. I'm still trying to figure out why the Bullets gave up Avdija on that contract. I guess they really liked that guard from Pitt. Anyway, that was a really good trade by Cronin, despite all the draft picks it cost. Hopefully one of these years, the Blazers can actually try to make the playoffs so that those picks weren't wasted.

In other years, Simons sitting looked like a big loss to the team. All of a sudden, it almost seems like the team gets better without him in the lineup.

[Boom]

Blazers sit Ayton, Grant, Simons, Scoot, and RWIII. It doesn't matter; they still beat a playoff-bound Atlanta team at their place. I'm still trying to figure out why the Bullets gave up Avdija on that contract. I guess they really liked that guard from Pitt. Anyway, that was a really good trade by Cronin, despite all the draft picks it cost. Hopefully one of these years, the Blazers can actually try to make the playoffs so that those picks weren't wasted.

In other years, Simons sitting looked like a big loss to the team. All of a sudden, it almost seems like the team gets better without him in the lineup.

I'm really hoping they trade Simons and Grant this summer.

[Phalanx]

I think Cronin tried to trade both at the deadline and had no takers. I wonder if Grant's contract is even tradeable.

[squintsdd]

Blazers sit Ayton, Grant, Simons, Scoot, and RWIII. It doesn't matter; they still beat a playoff-bound Atlanta team at their place. I'm still trying to figure out why the Bullets gave up Avdija on that contract. I guess they really liked that guard from Pitt. Anyway, that was a really good trade by Cronin, despite all the draft picks it cost. Hopefully one of these years, the Blazers can actually try to make the playoffs so that those picks weren't wasted.

In other years, Simons sitting looked like a big loss to the team. All of a sudden, it almost seems like the team gets better without him in the lineup.

Simons is about as inconsistent as they come on the offensive end. On the defensive end, let's not discuss the fact that he can't even guard a chair. Getting him off the roster would be addition by subtraction

[pezsez1]

I would excitedly keep Simons if he could be happy as our Sixth Man. He's exactly the kind of player you'd want coming off the bench. He's instant offense and can play either guard position, just not at an elite level. I just don't think he'd settle for a demotion here, and it would probably be best for everyone to trade him. (Which honestly should have happened years ago.)

Also, WHY are the starters still getting so many minutes? I've dogpiled on Cronin for the organization's lack of planning/commitment, but now I'm wondering exactly who over there is calling the shots. Is it Bert Kolde? Is Billups dictating things while coaching for his job? Or has everyone just kind of checked out? Or maybe it's a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario? I understood the argument of letting the guys play and getting quality minutes so dudes could develop and grow -- and we've seen real benefits of that tactic (assuming it was ever a conscious "tactic" and not simply "what just kinda ended up happening") -- but wtf is going on now? There's literally zero positive upside to riding the starters to wins at this point. Jabari Walker & co. should be getting like 30 mins/night. Getting the best possible draft position is all that should matter over this final stretch of games.

I wish Jody would sell the damn team already.

[squintsdd]

I would excitedly keep Simons if he could be happy as our Sixth Man. He's exactly the kind of player you'd want coming off the bench. He's instant offense and can play either guard position, just not at an elite level. I just don't think he'd settle for a demotion here, and it would probably be best for everyone to trade him. (Which honestly should have happened years ago.)

Also, WHY are the starters still getting so many minutes? I've dogpiled on Cronin for the organization's lack of planning/commitment, but now I'm wondering exactly who over there is calling the shots. Is it Bert Kolde? Is Billups dictating things while coaching for his job? Or has everyone just kind of checked out? Or maybe it's a "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario? I understood the argument of letting the guys play and getting quality minutes so dudes could develop and grow -- and we've seen real benefits of that tactic (assuming it was ever a conscious "tactic" and not simply "what just kinda ended up happening") -- but wtf is going on now? There's literally zero positive upside to riding the starters to wins at this point. Jabari Walker & co. should be getting like 30 mins/night. Getting the best possible draft position is all that should matter over this final stretch of games.

I wish Jody would sell the damn team already.

Only 2 starters played. Grant, out. Ayton, out. Simons, out

Simons would be garbage off the bench. He's only instant offense if he's on a hot streak; otherwise, he'll just shoot you out of a game while giving up 15 points in 10 minutes

[Phalanx]

What starters are getting minutes? Ayton, Grant, and Simons all sat last night. Nobody over age 24 started. To me, the Blazers are doing exactly what I want. Now that we know they won't make the playoffs, just play the young core and let them get the experience with each other that all up-and-coming teams have before they start making playoff runs. Avdija is having his coming out party before our eyes and he will be a leader going into next year thanks to these games. Playing Jabari Walker more makes zero sense. He isn't under contract past this year. If they don't want to re-sign him, you are taking practice time away from next year's players. If they do want to re-sign him, helping him increase his stats and showcasing him to other teams just raises the contract price like they did with Simons a few years ago.

The Blazers are not going to drop below the Spurs in the standings. They lost Wemby, and most of their remaining games are against playoff teams. If Portland passes Phoenix or Chicago, then you can complain. Otherwise, the ninth spot is pretty good for this team - there is no way they are the 9th-worst team in the league. When they sit five of their seven highest-paid players and still win, that tells you something about how good they are getting. The Blazers are going to level up next year for the first time in years, so sit back and enjoy it.

[pezsez1]

Ayton, Grant, and Simons all sat last night.

None of those guys are going to be starters going forward, and if they are it's simply because they haven't been traded yet. What we see now is our starting core (pending the draft, of course) and it's already a pretty decent group. They already know how to play & how to win, and we know who they are. I love Deni and his ascension. Great story, and Deni will need to continue that growth unless we get extremely lucky with the ping-pong balls, otherwise we'll be blowing it all up again in five years from now.

So why give so many minutes to a starting core that has nothing to prove? They're not going to become better teammates or players over the final seven meaningless games of the year. The only way the Blazers can improve as an organization between now and the end of the season is to lose games and maximize draft odds.

Congrats to the Blazers for not tanking. As a prize, here are poor draft odds and no postseason, just as many predicted. If not for the strong play of Deni this would be regarded as a disaster of a season for a team that's not finished rebuilding.

The Blazers could win or lose all their games from here on out and it wouldn't matter -- except for that each win makes it less likely to get the kind of player we need to be serious contenders going forward.

[Boom]

I think Cronin tried to trade both at the deadline and had no takers. I wonder if Grant's contract is even tradeable.

I find that hard to believe. I think it's more likely that he's over valuing them and trying to maximize their trade value. He just needs to cut bait and pick a direction.