Tisse and Tou said “fuck the tank” with the clutch block and rebound
Piano9717
Here are some of my thoughts on this game: Positives:
* Ayton has been having an absolutely insane stretch lately. I remember saying in the beginning of the season that he’s super effective when he catches the ball in his spots in position to score, and super ineffective offensively when he’s asked to do anything outside that, so if we want to maximize him we have to consistently manufacture high-value touches for him. Well, it looks like he, Chauncey, and the guards (Ant/Scoot/Banton) have finally figured out how to make that happen – Ayton is figuring out where his opportunities will come from in this offense and rolling to those spots, and it’s paying off big time. In the beginning of the season, he wasn’t doing a good job of rolling to open spots on the floor, and as a result the guards could never find him (and but now the chemistry is finally clicking and he’s more efficient as a result). It also probably helps him play harder on both ends of the floor too if he knows he’ll be rewarded.
* It’s definitely up and down from game to game, but I think Ant’s playmaking has gotten better since the beginning of the season. I still don’t think he has great command of the offense at all times like you would like from a starting PG, but his reads out of the PnR have gradually been getting better and he’s been a big part of Ayton’s recent success. And he threw a bunch of really pretty passes in transition today too. Also side note, in 2022 against the Hawks, Ant threw a pass to Norman Powell that was almost exactly the same pass as something he did today to Thybulle – Lamar said he couldn’t remember when the last time he saw Ant throw a pass like that, and I thought it was cool that he did it against the Hawks again. https://streamable.com/c91ug7
* I like the job we did rebounding tonight especially in the third quarter where we eviscerated them. Lamar Hurd also brought up a good change to the zone defense in the second half, to force everything towards the sideline and treat the ball screen coverages like a pseudo-ICE, instead of conceding the middle like a normal zone. Good adjustment by Chauncey (for once lol).
* I feel like a broken record saying this, but Kris Murray is a consistent jump shot away from becoming a pretty good NBA player. He just does so many “little things” well.
* When we made the trade, I didn’t think there was any chance whatsoever that Banton would ever shoot the ball at any useful level. I still want to see it over a longer period of time, but he’s shown a lot more than I expected in that regard. He even hit a three off movement coming off a screen which was pretty shocking to me, lol.
* Thybulle looks like he’s getting his shot back which is good to see. Also that blocked 3 pointer at the end of the game was absolutely fucking ridiculous. WTF???
Negatives:
* This isn’t really about us, but I feel like DeAndre Hunter is bordering bust territory. He’s a big wing who plays solid on-ball defense, but he’s just so incredibly invisible out there. He shoots a nice percentage from three but doesn’t shoot in volume so the spacing benefit isn’t great. He’s long and athletic but doesn’t use his tools to be disruptive on defense, or get to the rim or FT line on offense. Just a really underwhelming player.
* Worst game from Scoot in a while. It’s not really about the missed shots, but the bad fouls, missing rotations on defense, and generally driving into the paint without a plan. I’m not worried at all long-term (shit like this happens to every rookie) and he’s clearly not 100%, but he looked like the Scoot from early in the season today. * Would have been nice to lose this game to improve lotto odds, but it’s nice to see good basketball and a win. I’m never gonna complain about the Blazers winning.
ShaedonSharpe4Life
TOUMANI CAMARA IS A DAWG
BunkHammer
His name is DOMINAYTON
Life-Can3229
DA MASTERCLASS
ewest
I’m sorry, but it cannot be overstated how much more fun this team is to watch when Jerami Grant is not playing.
kalebglover
Ayton with his best game as a blazer so far
Corr521
Sorry to ruin your 40 piece Murray
DankTriangle
Our tank has lost its treads
alandwarinasia_
all my homies love deandre ayton
Bieberkinz
Back to .500 in March, a good battle between Ant and Dejounte, crazy efficient night from DA, key hustle plays from Tisse and Toumani, a good way to open up the sunny weather.
bruggibuster
I know losing is strategically the right thing to do, but winning feels so damn good!
IGotTwoWordsForYa
Despite Kris Murray’s efforts the Blazers still won, he has a future in tanking.
redwheelbarrow_
DOMINAYTON
ninetwentyfour_
Dominating the paint ✅
Protecting the rim at all costs ✅
choonghuh
I hope the rookies learn from this game bc Jesus
redwheelbarrow_
Didn’t notice Ant’s stats. Pretty solid
Important-Counter-66
That Jason quick article is looking mighty phony
Chuckthethug
To think people wanted to trade Simons lol . Like c’mon
Corr521
Dalano Banton over the last 6 games:
17.6p / 5.6r / 4.0a / 43% 3p
Now shooting over 39% from 3 since coming to Portland. Would be awesome if that continues.
21 Comments
Tisse and Tou said “fuck the tank” with the clutch block and rebound
Here are some of my thoughts on this game:
Positives:
* Ayton has been having an absolutely insane stretch lately. I remember saying in the beginning of the season that he’s super effective when he catches the ball in his spots in position to score, and super ineffective offensively when he’s asked to do anything outside that, so if we want to maximize him we have to consistently manufacture high-value touches for him. Well, it looks like he, Chauncey, and the guards (Ant/Scoot/Banton) have finally figured out how to make that happen – Ayton is figuring out where his opportunities will come from in this offense and rolling to those spots, and it’s paying off big time. In the beginning of the season, he wasn’t doing a good job of rolling to open spots on the floor, and as a result the guards could never find him (and but now the chemistry is finally clicking and he’s more efficient as a result). It also probably helps him play harder on both ends of the floor too if he knows he’ll be rewarded.
* It’s definitely up and down from game to game, but I think Ant’s playmaking has gotten better since the beginning of the season. I still don’t think he has great command of the offense at all times like you would like from a starting PG, but his reads out of the PnR have gradually been getting better and he’s been a big part of Ayton’s recent success. And he threw a bunch of really pretty passes in transition today too. Also side note, in 2022 against the Hawks, Ant threw a pass to Norman Powell that was almost exactly the same pass as something he did today to Thybulle – Lamar said he couldn’t remember when the last time he saw Ant throw a pass like that, and I thought it was cool that he did it against the Hawks again. https://streamable.com/c91ug7
* I like the job we did rebounding tonight especially in the third quarter where we eviscerated them. Lamar Hurd also brought up a good change to the zone defense in the second half, to force everything towards the sideline and treat the ball screen coverages like a pseudo-ICE, instead of conceding the middle like a normal zone. Good adjustment by Chauncey (for once lol).
* I feel like a broken record saying this, but Kris Murray is a consistent jump shot away from becoming a pretty good NBA player. He just does so many “little things” well.
* When we made the trade, I didn’t think there was any chance whatsoever that Banton would ever shoot the ball at any useful level. I still want to see it over a longer period of time, but he’s shown a lot more than I expected in that regard. He even hit a three off movement coming off a screen which was pretty shocking to me, lol.
* Thybulle looks like he’s getting his shot back which is good to see. Also that blocked 3 pointer at the end of the game was absolutely fucking ridiculous. WTF???
Negatives:
* This isn’t really about us, but I feel like DeAndre Hunter is bordering bust territory. He’s a big wing who plays solid on-ball defense, but he’s just so incredibly invisible out there. He shoots a nice percentage from three but doesn’t shoot in volume so the spacing benefit isn’t great. He’s long and athletic but doesn’t use his tools to be disruptive on defense, or get to the rim or FT line on offense. Just a really underwhelming player.
* Worst game from Scoot in a while. It’s not really about the missed shots, but the bad fouls, missing rotations on defense, and generally driving into the paint without a plan. I’m not worried at all long-term (shit like this happens to every rookie) and he’s clearly not 100%, but he looked like the Scoot from early in the season today.
* Would have been nice to lose this game to improve lotto odds, but it’s nice to see good basketball and a win. I’m never gonna complain about the Blazers winning.
TOUMANI CAMARA IS A DAWG
His name is DOMINAYTON
DA MASTERCLASS
I’m sorry, but it cannot be overstated how much more fun this team is to watch when Jerami Grant is not playing.
Ayton with his best game as a blazer so far
Sorry to ruin your 40 piece Murray
Our tank has lost its treads
all my homies love deandre ayton
Back to .500 in March, a good battle between Ant and Dejounte, crazy efficient night from DA, key hustle plays from Tisse and Toumani, a good way to open up the sunny weather.
I know losing is strategically the right thing to do, but winning feels so damn good!
Despite Kris Murray’s efforts the Blazers still won, he has a future in tanking.
DOMINAYTON
Dominating the paint ✅
Protecting the rim at all costs ✅
I hope the rookies learn from this game bc Jesus
Didn’t notice Ant’s stats. Pretty solid
That Jason quick article is looking mighty phony
To think people wanted to trade Simons lol . Like c’mon
Dalano Banton over the last 6 games:
17.6p / 5.6r / 4.0a / 43% 3p
Now shooting over 39% from 3 since coming to Portland. Would be awesome if that continues.
Deandre Ayton, you are my next jersey purchase.