1 00:00:15,839 --> 00:00:20,839 What is up, fellow thermonuclear a f First, I am Dampa Valley coming 2 00:00:20,879 --> 00:00:26,079 at you with another Hardwood Knocks NBA look ahead not previews, not outlooks, 3 00:00:26,199 --> 00:00:30,399 not outlines. These are bougie or more in depth or something because they're called 4 00:00:30,399 --> 00:00:34,159 look aheads instead of previews. I'm excited not only because we're onto the Portland 5 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,600 Trailblazers, but I get to talk to one of my favorite people in the 6 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,880 world, a friend of the podcast, a very frequent guest of the podcast. 7 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,320 At this point, you might be up to double digit appearances by now, 8 00:00:44,679 --> 00:00:48,280 Tara Bone Biggs. She's the host of that We Have a Take podcast. 9 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,320 I would encourage you to check out that podcast, but first follow Tara 10 00:00:52,359 --> 00:00:59,240 on Twitter immediately at tc b b i ggs and she's called t Mom. 11 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:00,640 That's what she calls her on Twitter. That's just a fantastic name. And 12 00:01:00,679 --> 00:01:04,239 you can follow the We Have a Take podcast at We Have a Take spelled 13 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:08,000 exactly as it sounds. Which also fun about that podcast, among many other 14 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,959 things, is you can call it the what podcast. If someone asks you 15 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,920 what you're listening to, just say what, and it can you could probably 16 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,040 have an awkward conversation like that, Tara, welcome back. Thank you for 17 00:01:19,079 --> 00:01:22,879 coming on. The most important question I will ask, how the heck are 18 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,840 you? Hi? Dan, I'm so happy right now because I'm talking to 19 00:01:26,879 --> 00:01:30,159 you. I'm going to be talking about the Blazers. It's a gorgeous fall 20 00:01:30,239 --> 00:01:34,560 day. Just everything is high right now. Well not everything is high right 21 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:38,200 now. I have to go places after this, but we are feeling good 22 00:01:38,719 --> 00:01:42,560 and I am ready to talk Blazers. And like I said before, it's 23 00:01:42,599 --> 00:01:46,200 always a thrill to talk to you. I love talking to you about the 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,359 Blazers and basketball. So you can ask me to come on as many times 25 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:51,959 and as long as your listeners will tolerate it, I will be there. 26 00:01:52,239 --> 00:01:53,799 They love it and they know too based on some of the questions that I 27 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,319 got for you specifically, they know which is great okay? And isn't this 28 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,879 a great time of year? In the sense that I'm not really a big 29 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,400 fall weather person overall, but the optimism leading into the NBA season, I've 30 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,000 even noticed it with myself this year. I'm going through team wind totals in 31 00:02:07,039 --> 00:02:10,360 every outlook that I've done or look ahead, excuse me, I'm smashing the 32 00:02:10,439 --> 00:02:15,800 over without regard for like how that really can't work out. It's just everyone 33 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:19,319 has gained ten pounds of muscle while losing percentages of body fat. It's a 34 00:02:19,319 --> 00:02:22,800 glorious time of year. It is. It's the best time of year. 35 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:24,280 I love it and I was just thinking about it today and as I was 36 00:02:24,319 --> 00:02:28,039 on my walk and I was enjoying the weather part of it also. But 37 00:02:28,159 --> 00:02:35,120 just just like the vast potential and with the Blazers, I anticipate that things 38 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,120 are going to be very different this year. We had a very curious year 39 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:39,759 last year, which I think we never really got to touch base about. 40 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:46,360 But I am really excited because I think this year the Blazers might look a 41 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,080 little bit different in terms of like how they play. And I'm just really 42 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,680 excited to see how it all plays out. Just like you know, I 43 00:02:52,719 --> 00:02:54,439 wonder how all the trees are gonna look this year. Are there going to 44 00:02:54,479 --> 00:02:58,240 be more reds and blues? It's like, are we actually gonna dunk? 45 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,080 Are they actually going to pass the ball? What's it going to be like? 46 00:03:00,319 --> 00:03:02,719 Are we actually gonna dunk? I think that's a question that you've been 47 00:03:02,759 --> 00:03:08,479 asking since the genesis of this podcast. So and this isn't even an off 48 00:03:08,479 --> 00:03:13,039 season question. I think you can date back to the trade deadline of last 49 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,199 year, but are there any just like lingering thoughts, themes and impressions that 50 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:20,840 are sticking with you as we enter this regular season for the Blazers, definitely. 51 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,319 I look, last year was kind of a cleanse for me and maybe 52 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:30,199 for other basketball Trailblazer basketball fans as well. The year started off rough and 53 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:34,639 got rougher. Like last year's off season was rough. The handling of the 54 00:03:34,719 --> 00:03:36,800 hiring of the coach. We talked about that a little bit. That was 55 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,240 a little bit rough. And then the season started and the play wasn't great. 56 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,879 Damien didn't look right. Things were just not jelling. Then we found 57 00:03:44,879 --> 00:03:49,400 out that, you know, Damien was shut down. And then the new 58 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:54,360 GM took over, which was like wild because they actually like had this press 59 00:03:54,400 --> 00:04:00,319 conference where instead of like all the reporters coming in there to be all that, 60 00:04:00,199 --> 00:04:04,960 like the GM and the basketball operations guy, they sat there with their 61 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:09,759 shirt sleeves all rolled up on little stools, like not even behind a table, 62 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,719 and they were like, hey, how's it going. It was like, 63 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,319 what's going on? This is a whole different feel. There's no codified 64 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,680 water bottle drinking at all going on. No, they had their water bottles, 65 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,720 but they were just drinking them. It was wild. But this is 66 00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:28,920 all to say that once the expectations for winning and just like knowing what was 67 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,279 going to happen, you know, went away. I had a ball last 68 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,519 last season, and you know, I feel bad for all those guys who 69 00:04:35,519 --> 00:04:38,839 had to get in there and get blown out by thirty points every night. 70 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:44,040 But watching those guys play hard. I love watching young players, you know 71 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,560 this. The things that I love. I love dunks, I love assistant 72 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,600 I love watching young players play. None of those things have been hallmarks of 73 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,399 the Trailblazers for the last ten years. How are you a fan of this 74 00:04:51,439 --> 00:04:55,959 team? Is the real question? Exactly? So we got it's not like 75 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,759 you know, it was like, you know, drastically different, but things 76 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:03,480 looked different, and like, to me, that was the most exciting thing. 77 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,279 We didn't know what to expect. We didn't know what plays we're gonna 78 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:10,160 run. We didn't know who was going to be playing. We didn't know 79 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,920 what guy they were going to call up from the G League to come in 80 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,600 for you know, another ten days. But all in all, as a 81 00:05:15,639 --> 00:05:20,759 fan, being able to sort of let go of those expectations which just hound 82 00:05:20,879 --> 00:05:26,920 us every season and just sit back and watch these guys play really really hard 83 00:05:27,319 --> 00:05:31,120 to like for their careers, and even if they didn't win, you know, 84 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:33,839 it was like who cares it was? I don't know. For me, 85 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,519 Like I said, it was kind of a cleansing situation, and I 86 00:05:36,519 --> 00:05:41,120 feel like I'm ready to look at this season with kind of new eyes. 87 00:05:41,879 --> 00:05:45,000 Hopefully it's going to be a you know, a new kind of basketball. 88 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:47,879 Some of our old favorites are back, but some guys who we just barely 89 00:05:47,879 --> 00:05:51,680 got the tiniest glimpse of We're going to see more of the season and I 90 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,800 personally am very excited about that. Did it make it lack because you can 91 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:58,959 look at like what some of the younger players did, and I think you 92 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,680 can read into that, But the way that last year unfolded make it difficult 93 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:06,160 for you to evaluate Chauncey Billups the coach at all. Oh yeah, I 94 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:12,079 have no idea what kind of coach? We have no idea whatsoever. One 95 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,079 of the things that I noticed last year's media day, the buzzword of the 96 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,480 day was accountability, and everybody was going to be held accountable and they were 97 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:24,120 all gonna be accountable to each other blah blah bla blah blah, and right 98 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:30,480 out the gate that looked like everybody was just cranky. And this season the 99 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:34,759 buzzword is connectivity or something like that. That sounds like something that would be 100 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:42,079 at like a corporate luncheon, synergistic connectivity or some shit. Totally, but 101 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:46,959 feels more. It feels more at home to me than accountability did. And 102 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,759 it feels kind of like the coach took stock of like what he learned from 103 00:06:50,879 --> 00:06:56,839 last year, and then accountability did like immediately going in and holding everybody accountable 104 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:01,519 maybe wasn't the best way to to buy in. And so this year they're 105 00:07:01,519 --> 00:07:06,040 trying really hard to connect with each other. And I know it's just like 106 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:12,519 you said, corporate buzzword, but it makes me feel like the coach kind 107 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,759 of evaluated sort of the way that he came out initially and saw that it 108 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,199 didn't really work. And I have to give him a lot of credit for 109 00:07:19,399 --> 00:07:23,720 these guys who showed up and like I said, we're getting blown out by 110 00:07:23,759 --> 00:07:28,759 twenty thirty points, they still played hard, and I think the coach helped 111 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:30,040 with that, and I think he also had like a you know, a 112 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:34,360 pretty very involved group of assistant coaches, and I think they were all like, 113 00:07:34,439 --> 00:07:36,000 you know what, you guys, we need to come in. We 114 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:40,439 still need to play all these games, play your hardest, and if you 115 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:44,560 do well, then you're going to be able to like have a career that 116 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,319 you know, maybe people didn't know you had in you. Like, watching 117 00:07:46,319 --> 00:07:51,480 Trendon Watford earn a contract was so cool. I'm officially We'll get in a 118 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,199 later, but I'm officially a fan of Trendon Watford and that never then, 119 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,199 never would have happened. Drew Eubanks. I don't know if you know, 120 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,800 but Drew Eubanks is actually from the Portland area. Yeah, just from a 121 00:08:03,879 --> 00:08:07,800 town outside of Portland called Troutdale. So we call him the Shack of Troutdale. 122 00:08:07,959 --> 00:08:13,879 That was started by Mike Richmond from Lockdown Blazers. So the Shack of 123 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:16,600 Troutdale got to come back. He played on maybe four or five ten day 124 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:22,199 contracts, but then in the off season he got officially picked up and again 125 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:28,199 just another like feel good story that never would have happened likely, you know, 126 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,759 had that you know last year not gone gone the way it went and 127 00:08:31,759 --> 00:08:35,320 also just as a fan, it's just nice to just it was just nice 128 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:41,320 to just let go not care, especially because it's different when there's no weight 129 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,840 or validity to the idea of they have to break it up or this could 130 00:08:43,879 --> 00:08:48,440 happen. But with the Blazers it had been in the ether maybe too early, 131 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:50,440 but there was a legitimacy behind the logic at least, and that has 132 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,919 to get exhausting. You and I talked about on the podcast year after year 133 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:58,600 or podcast or podcast of is this are they gonna they need to break up 134 00:08:58,639 --> 00:09:01,720 Damon CJ? And what does that look like? And there was also I 135 00:09:01,759 --> 00:09:03,440 don't want to call them a series of half measures, but like they kept 136 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:07,039 hitting, going after these like doubles and singles on the trade market, Robert 137 00:09:07,039 --> 00:09:11,240 Covington, Norman Powell, And it was never something that to find a direction 138 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,840 or got like that. It was that all in type of trade And I 139 00:09:13,879 --> 00:09:18,480 liked all those moves independently. Let maybe be clear, but it was just 140 00:09:18,519 --> 00:09:22,519 refreshing to be like, Okay, they're back there. They're tanking at this 141 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,519 point, and they're evaluating youth and like you said, being able to purge 142 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:31,080 those expectations and then also just ripping off the band aid of Okay, CJ's 143 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:35,039 gone, Norm Powell's gone as well. That's clarifying in and of itself. 144 00:09:35,919 --> 00:09:39,279 They chose a direction. They they just finally chose a direction, and it 145 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:43,519 was just like okay, finally, like we know what we're going for here, 146 00:09:43,759 --> 00:09:46,240 we know what you're aiming for. And so it was just nice that 147 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,440 they finally chose a direction and we could like understand it. And you know, 148 00:09:52,159 --> 00:09:56,600 don't get me wrong, this was not intended in the fans perspective. 149 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,840 This is not meant to be a multiple year tank. This was meant to 150 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:03,720 be a temporary situation, and you know, it was just perfect that what 151 00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:11,360 happened was the Blazers had a chance to have two different draft picks, and 152 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:13,000 it was just perfect that they only got one and that they lost it to 153 00:10:13,039 --> 00:10:16,559 the Pelicans, and like that was just all so perfect, Like all the 154 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:22,559 storylines played out exactly the way you would expect for the Trailblazers. But they 155 00:10:22,639 --> 00:10:26,200 did get a draft pick, which we haven't really had a high one for 156 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,960 a while. I'm gonna tell you at some point, you know, this 157 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,879 poor kid, but all his hopes and dreams, like all my hopes and 158 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:37,039 dreams for the next decade are wrapped up in his success. No pressure or 159 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,639 anything, but this is all to say it was just exciting that they chose 160 00:10:41,639 --> 00:10:46,159 a direction and we all got to like ride along with it, and that 161 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,679 better be the end of that direction, right and to that point, and 162 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:52,159 we'll get into some of the like this ties into the roster moves and the 163 00:10:52,159 --> 00:10:54,559 players want to ask you about I'm not sure if people were surprised, but 164 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,320 they were kind of critical of the Dame extension and looking at it as, 165 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,080 oh, this isn't like an actual rebuild. They're just trying to do this 166 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,600 one year thing. And whether you think that's the move or not, they 167 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:09,159 were pretty clear that that Cronan said it like maybe we don't take executives at 168 00:11:09,159 --> 00:11:13,320 face value, which is fine. I don't know how I feel about this 169 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:16,480 team looking ahead two, three, four years, but they decided they were 170 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:18,480 still going to be on Dame's timeline, but it was time for a reboot 171 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:22,639 of sorts and they did that. And so like, you can't criticize the 172 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:28,360 execution yet until we see what they've been because so far they've done what they 173 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,200 set out to do, which was we need to give the Dame era, 174 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,279 you know, a shot of adrenaline, a different look, and they've done 175 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,080 that. We don't know how again, we don't know how it's going to 176 00:11:37,159 --> 00:11:39,200 work out. But like you said, it was never meant to be a 177 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:41,399 multiple year tank. And just because some people think that they should have traded 178 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:46,000 Dame and moved on, that's not what their vision was. And so the 179 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,399 Dame extension in essence to me, aligns with that vision. And I'll also 180 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,720 be a big believer. And this isn't to actually get into the trade market 181 00:11:52,759 --> 00:11:54,159 of it, but if you ever, if Dame ever wants out, or 182 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,039 they ever want to move Dame, the contract is going to be movable. 183 00:11:58,279 --> 00:12:01,720 We've just we've seen it too many times before. For Russell Westbrook got moved 184 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,200 like eighty times and what was considered the worst deal in the league. So 185 00:12:03,759 --> 00:12:07,799 I didn't understand the I don't want to say it was widespread criticism. But 186 00:12:07,919 --> 00:12:11,840 just like like quasi shock of oh, they really gave him that extension, 187 00:12:11,919 --> 00:12:15,320 Like, yes, of course they decided that they were going to retool around 188 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,600 him, That's why they gave him the extension. Yeah, I don't and 189 00:12:18,639 --> 00:12:24,799 I don't know how much people around the you know, the national scene, 190 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:31,320 like, are ever really truly gonna understand what Damien means to the community, 191 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:37,799 And that's fine. We just want everybody to stop asking about it, you 192 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,360 know, like this summer, you know, last last summer was kind of 193 00:12:41,399 --> 00:12:45,120 like the peak of everybody asking him about whether or not he was gonna go 194 00:12:45,159 --> 00:12:48,159 out, and we saw how that all went this summer at or this year 195 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:54,360 at media Day, sure it was almost all local guys. Not one of 196 00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:58,879 them said, so are you going to stay in Portland? Like not one 197 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:01,799 person asked that question and not trade eligible. Probably maybe that's why they you 198 00:13:01,799 --> 00:13:05,720 can't really push that narrative when he's not even trade eligible. No, everybody's 199 00:13:05,759 --> 00:13:09,639 sick of talking about it. Everybody's sick of talking about Damien. Lollard has 200 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,919 like every Damian Lord has said it so many times that like we all understand 201 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,120 that things can happen and things can change in a moment, but we also 202 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:20,879 know that every time Damien says it, he means it. And where we 203 00:13:20,919 --> 00:13:24,120 are now is that he is going to stay. And the way I look 204 00:13:24,159 --> 00:13:31,840 at it is we could like they could have signed they signed Damian Lillard to 205 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:37,000 this extension and someday they could trade Damian Lillard, but trade to me, 206 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:43,960 trading away Damian Lillard doesn't like increase their chances of winning a championship in the 207 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:46,279 next you know, like you might as well hold on to Damian Lillard. 208 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:50,960 Like you could have Damian Lillard and not have a championship, or you could 209 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,360 not have Damian Lillard and not have a championship. And I would rather have 210 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:58,559 Damian Lillard even if we can't get a championship out of it. I would 211 00:13:58,639 --> 00:14:01,840 understand the blastpheymore if they did nothing over the off season two, it's like 212 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:03,600 we're just going to run it back with Dame and all these like young kids 213 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,720 and like, no, that's not what they did. And I guess to 214 00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:11,679 skip ahead to actually Damian load himself here. Is there any concern about one, 215 00:14:11,759 --> 00:14:16,759 what he looked like before going under abdominal surgery and that now him coming 216 00:14:16,799 --> 00:14:20,399 back or is this just a situation of this dude played at least basically twenty 217 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:24,720 four hundred minutes in every other season of his career, but the last one 218 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,720 this might be like good for him, like he was forced to take a 219 00:14:28,799 --> 00:14:31,399 rest for a half season. Yeah, there's no concern from this fan. 220 00:14:31,679 --> 00:14:35,840 I mean, I think like I'm so glad that he has had a chance 221 00:14:35,879 --> 00:14:39,799 to rest, He's had a chance to rest his mind, and just like 222 00:14:39,919 --> 00:14:43,120 all of the weight that has been on his back in terms of just carrying 223 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:46,080 the franchise, for him to get away, for him to take time off 224 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,519 physically, mentally, emotionally, you know. I to me, it seems 225 00:14:50,519 --> 00:14:54,639 like a great thing. It's possible that with the new coach and the new 226 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,879 GM and you know, new decision makers in the front office, maybe they'll 227 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,000 be able to convince Damien to take a little bit of time off here or 228 00:15:03,039 --> 00:15:07,080 there. I also know that they're like big fans of the abdominal surgery because 229 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:13,159 in addition to Dame getting the abdominal surgery, Nazi or Little and Gary Payton 230 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,039 also have it. So apparently they're getting a deal or something. Everybody's getting 231 00:15:16,039 --> 00:15:22,519 a surgery now. But are they like ab implants? Like his day's been 232 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,039 like shirtless a lot more often, has been shirtless a lot more often as 233 00:15:26,639 --> 00:15:31,320 I no, but it just it fits like everything I've heard about Damien Lord 234 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:35,960 that like he put it off for so long. Finally I think it was 235 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:41,639 was it holiday? You know, convinced him that he should go get it, 236 00:15:41,919 --> 00:15:43,159 and then Dame got it, and then suddenly he came back and he's 237 00:15:43,159 --> 00:15:48,120 like, everybody needs to get the surgery right. Everybody who's having these issues. 238 00:15:48,159 --> 00:15:52,159 Don't put it off any longer. Yeah, and look, I point 239 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:56,919 too as well. He was dealing with the injury, which is could account 240 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:58,879 for why he was playing the way he was. And also before he went 241 00:16:00,039 --> 00:16:03,240 and out, they still had a top twelve offense and they were awful afterwards 242 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:07,039 on purpose. They still have top twelve offense, and that team was like, 243 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:08,080 I don't want to say it was a dumpster fire beforehand, but like 244 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:12,039 that season, everything from Dame to everyone else was everyone was banged up and 245 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:17,039 felt like was not going really according to plan. And he still, to 246 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,559 me, gives you that offensive baseline, like forget about the ceiling, because 247 00:16:22,279 --> 00:16:23,559 I don't know if they have an offensive ceiling if you have Dame in surround 248 00:16:23,559 --> 00:16:27,200 them with the right talent. But having Damian Lillard is akin to you're going 249 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,000 to be fine on offense. It's still just how I look at it. 250 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,200 And if you get a better version of the Damian Lillard we saw last year, 251 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:37,360 which you're why Why wouldn't you guess that we would? That would be 252 00:16:37,399 --> 00:16:41,679 like a huge Like I understand players get older, but like you don't just 253 00:16:41,759 --> 00:16:45,960 fall off a cliff unless it was so I am optimistic that Dame will still 254 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,759 be in that. I don't know where i'd have him, but that top 255 00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:52,759 ten to fifteen player conversation, and by extension, that just means that Blazers 256 00:16:52,759 --> 00:16:55,440 are going to be okay on offense. And that's just like that's my read 257 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,960 on the situation. Yeah, I like I said, this fan not worth 258 00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:06,400 and I think most fans are not worried. And I think that the way 259 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:10,119 it was so clear that he was laboring and then he'd like get a court 260 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:11,799 of his own shot and be like yeay, Dame's back and then it would 261 00:17:11,839 --> 00:17:17,039 wear off and he you know, it was just that and he would probably 262 00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:19,279 be horrified to think that we could even tell that he was laboring. But 263 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:23,480 he just couldn't get that elevation and so like his shots were short, and 264 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,480 we're like, what's going on, Like we know that he can hit these 265 00:17:26,559 --> 00:17:30,079 like tremendously long shots, but they were just like falling short and that just 266 00:17:30,559 --> 00:17:34,359 it just didn't look right. And I just have all kinds of confidence that 267 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,680 he's going to get back and it's just gonna be, you know, like 268 00:17:37,759 --> 00:17:42,359 riding a bike right. In other news, This podcast officially sponsored by Pacific 269 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:48,279 Northwest Abdominal Surgeries LLC. So, the biggest new addition to the roster Jeremy 270 00:17:48,279 --> 00:17:51,400 Grant. Well, I guess Shade Sharp could be, but Jeremy Grant, 271 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:53,839 they're big offseason acquisition. How do you feel about I don't even have to 272 00:17:53,839 --> 00:17:56,240 ask you how he felt about the trade, because they got him for way 273 00:17:56,319 --> 00:18:00,039 less than I think anyone just assumed Jeremy was gonna be for. But how 274 00:18:00,039 --> 00:18:03,240 do you feel about his fit on this roster and what he brings in terms 275 00:18:03,279 --> 00:18:07,640 of his impact? I am really excited to see what he does. A 276 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:14,079 he is gonna like up the fashion game by like ten times because he just 277 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:18,279 is like such an amazing fashionable dresser. So but in addition to that, 278 00:18:18,319 --> 00:18:18,839 I mean, because you know, you look good, you feel good, 279 00:18:18,839 --> 00:18:22,559 you play good, right, so that's got to help. But I am 280 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,559 really interested. And this kind of goes back to like not really knowing what 281 00:18:26,799 --> 00:18:30,920 style these guys are going to play with the new coach, new sets, 282 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:37,319 but I really see that there's gonna be a more of a deliberate effort to 283 00:18:37,519 --> 00:18:41,519 play small and that Jeremy Grant's going to be an important part of that. 284 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:45,880 But I also think, well, and I think we're going to have like 285 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:51,240 a distinct a big lineup and a small lineup. And last year it was 286 00:18:51,319 --> 00:18:55,400 kind of like, let's throw some smaller guys out and see how it works. 287 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,000 But I feel like this year they went out and got players who necessarily 288 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,039 fit the small thing instead of like, well we're small, we better play 289 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,319 him. So I think Jeremy Grant's going to be an important part of that. 290 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,519 He's just the best power forward the Blazers have had for a really really 291 00:19:10,559 --> 00:19:14,799 long time. And do you think since Lamar Case probably prompt that's yeah, 292 00:19:14,839 --> 00:19:17,200 I think so. I mean, you know, I love Alpha Rukamino, 293 00:19:17,319 --> 00:19:22,160 but you know that was that. I think Jeremy Grant is a better player 294 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,480 than he was, and I think that just he's gonna bring He's gonna unlock 295 00:19:26,799 --> 00:19:30,640 some interesting things that we haven't seen in a long time. Yeah, and 296 00:19:30,759 --> 00:19:34,359 like his defense is huge, just in especially with because I think with NRK, 297 00:19:34,759 --> 00:19:38,920 who's still good, I'm probably like more excited to watch a Drew Eubanks 298 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,839 or trend and Watford the Nurkich at this point because we know what he is 299 00:19:41,880 --> 00:19:45,920 and I feel like he's sort of just he didn't look the same defensively to 300 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,640 me. And now that you have Nerk and Jeremy Grant, Jeremy Grant can 301 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:55,440 very much be the type of four that is playmaking. Like behind Nerk, 302 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,000 who's who is going to be a good helper in addition to Okay, if 303 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,440 he can't, if you need him to go be like your one on one 304 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,880 guy, he can do that too. So I think he opens up a 305 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,759 lot of doors for them defensively. And I was a huge you know, 306 00:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,559 if they were going to give up the sixth pick whatever they had a fifth 307 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:11,839 pick for Jeremy Grant, like, yeah, I'm there, I probably would 308 00:20:11,839 --> 00:20:14,680 have an issue with that. But they got him for just that Bucks pick 309 00:20:14,759 --> 00:20:17,519 is going to be a fringe second rounder and it was. It took cap 310 00:20:17,559 --> 00:20:19,279 space in that Bucks pick basically, and so I thought it was a home 311 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:22,119 run, no brain or trade for them, And I was again shocked that 312 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:29,640 the Pistons ended up prioritizing flexibility over inbound assets for Jeremy Grant. I am 313 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:33,440 super excited to be interested to see how Nerk and Grant played together, because 314 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:38,279 he's definitely going to be the best person that Nerk has played with. And 315 00:20:38,519 --> 00:20:41,799 you know, there's been a lot of talk out of training camp. You 316 00:20:41,799 --> 00:20:44,599 know, take it with all the optimistic grains of salt that you can, 317 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,640 but it sounds like those two are are really working on how to play together 318 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:53,000 on the court. And I think that's exciting. And I think it's just 319 00:20:53,039 --> 00:20:59,039 been not to bring up dunks like for the millionth time, but like so 320 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,079 yeah, I kind of have to ask yourself, why were the Blazers like 321 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:07,119 dead last in the league, like dead dead last in the league in dunks 322 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,559 for you know, two years ago, previous year's safe. I mean the 323 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:12,799 last time they were in the top ten and dunks I think was when JJ 324 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:17,799 Hickson was here and he can't wake up without dunking the ball. And it's 325 00:21:17,839 --> 00:21:22,119 just like it tells me that there was like scheme involved. You know, 326 00:21:22,839 --> 00:21:26,319 this was not a team that was set up to allow that. Like we 327 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,079 had Derek Jones Junior and like he couldn't get to the rim, Like why 328 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,839 would you have Derek Jones junior on your team and not let him get to 329 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,400 the rim. So what I'm hoping is that this new iteration of the team, 330 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,599 with their new plays is going to clear out a little bit of runway 331 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,960 for some of this to happen. Maybe Jeremy Grant is involved in that, 332 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,240 but maybe the way Jeremy Grant and Nerk play together will open up space for 333 00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:52,960 some of those you know, lanes for guys to come in and dunk as 334 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,200 well. I'm also hoping that it kind of the way that they're built might 335 00:21:56,279 --> 00:21:59,559 juice up the spat of their offense at points like, yeah, when you 336 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:03,440 have Dame Simon's having the ball, it's do the deliberate, methodical stuff. 337 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:07,680 And I get that they can actually slowed down their average possession time after Damian 338 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,519 the Lord's injury, which feels counterintuitive, but then you're like, well, 339 00:22:11,559 --> 00:22:12,559 look at who was playing and they probably need to figure out what the hell 340 00:22:12,599 --> 00:22:15,599 they were doing, So I get it. I would like to see them 341 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,799 be like more opportunistic in transition with a lot of these guys, because Jeremy 342 00:22:18,799 --> 00:22:21,920 Grant is someone who can run the floor too, and if you have the 343 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,839 extra space, even if you're in the half court, like as you already 344 00:22:23,839 --> 00:22:26,680 mentioned it opens pathways to the rim, which should be able to just accelerate 345 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:30,400 the speed at which you operate your offense, which I think would be just 346 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,759 more dynamic for this team as much like you know, different layers that you 347 00:22:33,799 --> 00:22:37,799 can add, especially in this year's Western Conference, is going to be pretty 348 00:22:37,799 --> 00:22:41,400 important. Yeah, I've heard fast breaks are really exciting and I can't wait 349 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,960 to see something. And look, they're banning, They're gonna be Yeah, 350 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:51,839 the take faul that more closely officiate it anyway, and so that is exciting 351 00:22:52,039 --> 00:22:53,960 just in general, but maybe that leads to more dunks for the Blazers. 352 00:22:53,960 --> 00:23:00,839 You ever know, fingers crossed, how did you feel about the Gary Payton 353 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:03,960 signing? And then how do you feel about his overall fit with the team. 354 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:07,839 So this is one of those ones where I was like, Okay, 355 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:14,400 what's going on here? Because I've been conditioned over the last few years based 356 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,960 on listening to smart people who know a lot of things about basketball saying, 357 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,519 oh my god, the Blazers keep getting six three guards, Like why do 358 00:23:22,599 --> 00:23:25,880 they keep getting six three guards? Over and over and over again? And 359 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,799 you and I think talked about, like joked last year about how the Blazers 360 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:33,920 might play a four guard lineup, and I actually thought that that would be 361 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,559 like if they traded for Ben Simmons. But no, they actually played a 362 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,119 four guard lineup last season, and people think that that was sort of Chauncey 363 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,559 just like sticking it to the man, like, really, this is what 364 00:23:44,599 --> 00:23:48,079 you're giving me, Okay, we're playing four guards anyway. I've been very 365 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:52,960 sensitive for the last several years about six three guards because I've been told that 366 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,920 this is not what the Blazers need. So the Blazers get a six three 367 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:00,000 guard and everyone is like, hallellu, yeah, they got Gary Payton, 368 00:24:00,039 --> 00:24:03,960 another six three card. I feel like it's very understandable that I was like, 369 00:24:04,039 --> 00:24:08,240 hold on a minute, like, how is this different than what you've 370 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:11,119 been telling me all this time about how you know? And they're like, 371 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:15,279 oh, he's the tallest sixthreegard you'll ever play with or whatever. So like 372 00:24:15,319 --> 00:24:21,279 I get it. I get that Gary Peyton is different, but also like 373 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,759 I feel like I should not have, you know, should not be questioned 374 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:30,319 for questioning it, you know what I mean? Like you guys drilled this 375 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,880 narrative in my head that we have all these you know, six three guards, 376 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:36,480 and now that we have another six threegard and I was like asking questions 377 00:24:36,519 --> 00:24:38,839 about it, like you understand where the questions are coming from, right, 378 00:24:40,319 --> 00:24:44,599 So that's all to say how I felt about the Gary Peyton signing. I 379 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:51,319 was very conflicted and confused. I absolutely see why the Blazers are excited about 380 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:56,039 him, because, you know, he's just we haven't had that guy who's 381 00:24:56,119 --> 00:25:03,160 willing to just like who's like starter or like right off the bench level player 382 00:25:03,279 --> 00:25:07,359 who's willing to pick up a guy from one end and chase him all the 383 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:08,960 way down to the other hand. You know, we get guys who are 384 00:25:10,039 --> 00:25:12,519 trying to earn their spot who are willing to do that, but we haven't 385 00:25:12,559 --> 00:25:17,680 really had that in a player who's part of the regular rotation and it's just 386 00:25:17,759 --> 00:25:22,119 ready to just make someone's life miserable. So I'm kind of excited about that 387 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:26,599 for sure. Yeah, them playing a backup guard more than the league minimum 388 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,599 is actually quite shocking that they always just for someone they subsisted on, like 389 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,799 guys on rookie deals like Anthony Semons or was just like these you know, 390 00:25:33,079 --> 00:25:37,759 just coming in one year flyers that we're cheap, so you go and you 391 00:25:37,799 --> 00:25:41,960 spend the mid level on someone who your concerns are totally valid. They like 392 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:45,240 kind of flit because I think defensively you don't care about his size because of 393 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,240 the way he defends. But on offense, it's like what makes it work 394 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:49,960 is he can set screens and you could have him in the quarter. He 395 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:52,559 could be a good cutter, but he dealt with elbow stuff towards the end 396 00:25:52,599 --> 00:25:56,279 of last year. If that three ball is not falling, if his screens 397 00:25:56,279 --> 00:25:59,559 aren't is effective. You have a different type of concern with the three guards. 398 00:25:59,559 --> 00:26:02,920 But I like the signing overall, and you're you're absolutely on point with 399 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,480 his defense, like he is going to just ruin people's souls when he is 400 00:26:06,519 --> 00:26:08,319 on the court. Yeah, that's gonna be fun to cheer. Four. 401 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,160 Uh see, here's the big question that I have with regard to Anthony Simons, 402 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:17,319 and it comes from listener Ian in our discord. Is he really six 403 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:22,599 five? I have no idea how tall Anthony is. I have no idea, 404 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:25,799 And like I was going to the pictures to try to do that, 405 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:27,279 Like, Okay, if you're standing next to Damian, how much taller is 406 00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:30,599 he's in Damian? If you stand next to the coach, how where is 407 00:26:30,599 --> 00:26:33,839 he according to the coach, But I gave up immediately. I don't care 408 00:26:33,839 --> 00:26:37,640 how tall he is. You know, he's as tall as he is and 409 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,119 he's like, we can't change it, right, He's just as tall as 410 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,119 he's gonna be. He certainly does look like he has bulked up. And 411 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:48,200 whether that includes height, I don't know. I mean, he was so 412 00:26:48,319 --> 00:26:51,000 young when he came here, and it's also very complicated with him because he 413 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:56,599 has such a baby face. It's hard to right, Well, he's not 414 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,000 anymore though, Like twenty three is like he's been in the league. This 415 00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:03,079 is his fifth year coming in the league, so he's not a baby anymore. 416 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:07,319 You know, he's a mature man, and it would make sense that 417 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:11,960 he has grown. I think it's weird that like we always act like whatever 418 00:27:11,559 --> 00:27:15,279 somebody was when they came in the league, like that's their hype forever, 419 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:21,640 because like most I know keep growing until their early twenties. So it would 420 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,200 not surprise me if Anthony Simons was actually six five, and that would be 421 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:29,160 exciting because then he would have somebody even taller next to Dame than we did 422 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:33,440 with CJ. Maybe like yeah, and maybe he just looks taller because like 423 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:34,720 you said, he put on muscle. Maybe the hair was just looking like 424 00:27:34,759 --> 00:27:38,119 particularly high in that video. Well, his hair is actually shorter than it 425 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:42,680 used to be, so his hair was kind of made him look deceptively tall. 426 00:27:42,799 --> 00:27:47,240 But now he's wearing it a lot shorter, so I think that he 427 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:49,440 probably has grown. It would not surprise me, but I don't know where 428 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:56,839 he is in between that six three six five range. Nationally, Again, 429 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:02,720 the qualifier there was nationally there was this mini fur over his four year, 430 00:28:02,799 --> 00:28:06,480 hundred million dollars contract. I think one that people still need to look at 431 00:28:06,519 --> 00:28:08,400 these deals in the context of what the salary cap is about to be, 432 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,759 and less than twenty percent of the salary cap for or about twenty percent of 433 00:28:12,759 --> 00:28:18,799 the salary cap for Anthony Simons is fine. I also think he's viewed as 434 00:28:18,839 --> 00:28:23,319 just someone who is a good score, an excellent his catch and shoot like 435 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,880 three pointers just it's money. And then he's also shown it dipped a little 436 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:29,599 bit last year, and a part of that I think was just the extra 437 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,759 responsibility. But he's a good like off the dribble jump shooter as well, 438 00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:36,920 like someone who can hit the pull up three at a fairly high level, 439 00:28:37,039 --> 00:28:40,680 especially when he's playing off game. That's not even something that CJ did at 440 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:44,920 the volume Anthony Simon's ken and there's no compared like CJ. McCombs in between 441 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,559 game, which just like a hot knife through butter so smooth. So but 442 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:51,599 what is it, Like, what else did you see from him maybe last 443 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:55,799 year after the Dame injury or even just overall since he's been in Portland about 444 00:28:55,839 --> 00:29:00,680 where he's actually improved that people do not talk enough about. Well, I 445 00:29:00,599 --> 00:29:04,400 think you're absolutely right. In his you know, pull up threes, there's 446 00:29:04,519 --> 00:29:08,200 just you know, he's got a beautiful shot and it goes in, and 447 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:12,759 like that's what we want. We want somebody on the team who other teams 448 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:18,240 are wanting to guard. And I think one of the most important things that 449 00:29:18,279 --> 00:29:22,400 Anthony did last year is let everybody know that you need to guard me. 450 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,519 And that's going to help Daming a lot. It's gonna help a lot of 451 00:29:25,559 --> 00:29:30,519 other people a lot. Watching him handle the ball and be the floor general, 452 00:29:30,599 --> 00:29:34,400 it was great to see that he was able to do that. Even 453 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:40,440 there was this really short like four games stretch before everybody got shot down, 454 00:29:40,559 --> 00:29:48,200 it got sorry shut down, and where the healthy players were still healthy playing. 455 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,759 It was before you know, we saw a lot of bench players and 456 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:56,039 they played really well, and he did a really good job of you know, 457 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,920 playmaking and that I don't know that how long he would have been able 458 00:30:00,319 --> 00:30:04,119 do that after teams started planning for him. I think part of it is 459 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:08,960 people were like not really scouting him as much during that brief period, and 460 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:12,480 they would have started to do that more. But it was nice to see 461 00:30:12,519 --> 00:30:18,079 that he can run an offense like and so I don't know if you know 462 00:30:18,119 --> 00:30:23,160 how much people are are talking about that. I'm excited this season to see 463 00:30:23,319 --> 00:30:27,400 I've been trying to figure out what's the difference between Damon CJ and Damon Anthony, 464 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:33,319 and I think what I've settled on is that Damon CJ were like two 465 00:30:33,359 --> 00:30:37,480 point guards that were taking turns, and Damien was the lead point guard. 466 00:30:37,759 --> 00:30:41,000 But then you know a couple of possessions when they're in there together, CJ 467 00:30:41,079 --> 00:30:44,440 would play the point guard and they kind of took turns playing the point guard. 468 00:30:44,799 --> 00:30:48,200 And I think that what we might see is a little bit more of 469 00:30:48,319 --> 00:30:53,000 Damien playing the point guard and Anthony playing the shooting guard and like truly being 470 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:59,839 in that position and being you know, mindful of that from the get go. 471 00:31:00,640 --> 00:31:03,119 That I think that kind of goes back to that whole connectivity thing, 472 00:31:03,119 --> 00:31:07,359 because when you're thinking about two point guards taking turns, they're not like super 473 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,240 connected. They are in the way that they understand like who's got the ball 474 00:31:11,279 --> 00:31:15,640 and who's going to be like running this set or whatever. But I'm looking 475 00:31:15,839 --> 00:31:21,440 for that connectivity where they move the ball around a lot because you know they've 476 00:31:21,559 --> 00:31:26,240 they're they're running their plays and they are looking for that additional pass. So 477 00:31:26,319 --> 00:31:32,079 I think it's going to be really great to see Dame and Anthony playing together. 478 00:31:32,119 --> 00:31:36,839 And what I hope is that it looks different from what damon nothing. 479 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:38,559 I mean, I loved watching, like you said, watching him drop people 480 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:44,200 was so much fun. But I think this might be, in the long 481 00:31:44,319 --> 00:31:48,480 run, a better combination. I think you're right too. And there's also 482 00:31:49,519 --> 00:31:53,200 I think you you basically alluded to this. It feels more organic because of 483 00:31:53,200 --> 00:31:57,160 how used to Simons is one working off the ball and two spending a lot 484 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:00,680 of time beyond the arc and taking shot that way. And I also think 485 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,000 and this is you know, you mentioned his passing as a floor general. 486 00:32:04,039 --> 00:32:06,440 That is one of his biggest areas of improvement. They're not like he's not 487 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:09,720 throwing Luca don Chi's James Harden like one handed bullets, but like he is 488 00:32:09,799 --> 00:32:15,640 reacting quickly to what defenses are throwing at him. And part of that, 489 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,440 I think too is while he still doesn't get to the rim a ton, 490 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,920 he is more explosive on his drives and he actually shot I was looking before 491 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:29,400 it was like fifty three percent on drives after the Dame injury. And so 492 00:32:29,599 --> 00:32:32,200 what's mixed into there is like those were some pretty rough games that he played 493 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,839 in after the Dame injury as well. So the fact that there was almost 494 00:32:35,839 --> 00:32:38,839 probably less space available, I think that's big for the pairing to where CJ's 495 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:43,799 game not that it's stalled out, it was built to work in the in 496 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:45,920 between. Specifically, I think aftery Simons is going to give you a lot 497 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:51,440 more explosion and maybe an extra level when you look at going downhill than CJ 498 00:32:51,599 --> 00:32:53,920 did. And so that's just more natural to me then you know, and 499 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,599 look, the Damon CJ pairing was pretty natural to It was good, But 500 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,200 I just think that the Simons Lillard one, it probably to me, it 501 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:04,200 has a higher ceiling on the offensive end and the CEJ Dame one did. 502 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:06,559 Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it. I think it 503 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,759 might it might have a higher ceiling. Are you concerned about or this just 504 00:33:10,799 --> 00:33:15,359 same old, same all, Like we have these two well allegedly two small 505 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:17,759 guards. Afrey times might be six eight, could be immediate of small and 506 00:33:17,799 --> 00:33:22,079 the medium. Yeah, so he could be all defense, That's where he 507 00:33:22,119 --> 00:33:23,319 said. But are you concerned about that aspect of this at all? Or 508 00:33:23,319 --> 00:33:27,640 do you think that the Blazers have surrounded them with enough of defensive talent to 509 00:33:28,039 --> 00:33:31,960 make it work. This could just be me buying what they're selling me, 510 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:37,759 but I think that they have added more defensive capabilities. And I also think 511 00:33:37,839 --> 00:33:42,920 that with if Damien is feeling better, that he could improve on that end 512 00:33:43,519 --> 00:33:45,640 and you know, maybe might be able to bring a little bit more to 513 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:50,480 the table than he was in the last couple of years. So I'm hoping, 514 00:33:50,519 --> 00:33:52,240 I'm hopeful, let's say that way. I'm hopeful that the Blazers have, 515 00:33:52,799 --> 00:33:58,640 you know, have added the right amount of defensive players without sacrificing too 516 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:06,480 much of their offensive style. Shade and sharp. I think it's fitting based 517 00:34:06,519 --> 00:34:08,199 off when I know about a game that the one basket he makes in Summer 518 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:14,440 League before he gets injured, like this ridiculous baseline jumper. Any thoughts on 519 00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:16,800 his game overall, but I think also the bigger question is for a team 520 00:34:17,599 --> 00:34:22,320 that wants to make the playoffs, how much should we expect him to be 521 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:24,880 a part of this year's rotation. Yeah. I have a lot of thought 522 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:29,559 thoughts about Shade and Sharp. One of my favorite things these days is listening 523 00:34:29,599 --> 00:34:34,480 to people who've actually had eyes on him and seen him play try to describe 524 00:34:34,480 --> 00:34:37,760 it, because they get kind of tongue tied, and that's so intriguing to 525 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:39,880 me. They can't. They're just like, you just know, they just 526 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:45,679 like can't really actaculate it. Yeah. Yeah, So I'm really curious to 527 00:34:45,679 --> 00:34:50,599 see with my own eyes and with my own eyes. I did see that 528 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:55,199 one shot that he made at Summer League, and it looked to me like 529 00:34:57,039 --> 00:34:59,239 he just the way he took it. I was like, oh, he's 530 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,559 mellow, you know, just like it just looked like a Carmelo Anthony shot. 531 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:09,599 But he's so much more athletic than the mellow I saw anyway that I 532 00:35:09,639 --> 00:35:16,400 think he has a lot more in his bag. But the I think it's 533 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,480 far. I have no idea if they're going to pla him or not, 534 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,880 like I would love it. But this is gonna be where we're gonna We're 535 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:28,119 gonna learn a lot more about the coach in the front office when we see, 536 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:30,199 like who's in the starting lineup and who's in the rotation. Are we 537 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:35,039 gonna stick with vets like we've done for the last decade, or are we 538 00:35:35,079 --> 00:35:38,079 gonna let these guys play? And like I told you, I loved that 539 00:35:38,199 --> 00:35:42,320 about the end of last season as they let those guys play. Now we're 540 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:47,119 in a whole different situation. So are they gonna let Nas start still a 541 00:35:47,119 --> 00:35:51,880 pretty young guy, still fairly unproven, or are they going to give that 542 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:57,039 position to Josh Hart or Justice Winslow. Are they gonna make sure Trendon is 543 00:35:57,079 --> 00:35:59,519 in the rotation or is he gonna go all the way back to the end 544 00:35:59,519 --> 00:36:01,960 of the line. I'm super I have no idea what they're gonna do, 545 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:06,639 and I can't wait to find out. Who would you start at the three? 546 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:08,519 Next to what we know are the four locks and Grant nor Gage, 547 00:36:08,599 --> 00:36:15,360 Damon Simmons. I would start not, I would start Nuss. You're a 548 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:21,119 little I partly because I also like what Josh Hart does with the ball in 549 00:36:21,159 --> 00:36:25,719 his hands, and I really would love to see him running the second unit. 550 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:32,239 Before it was like either Dame or c J was always on the court, 551 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:37,599 and whoever was on the court was the point guard. I think I 552 00:36:37,639 --> 00:36:39,599 would love to see you know, like I was saying, you know, 553 00:36:39,679 --> 00:36:45,480 Anthony, you know, really truly being the number two and then for a 554 00:36:45,559 --> 00:36:51,480 section of the bench play Josh Hart run that and have him be like and 555 00:36:51,519 --> 00:36:54,000 I know he's not really a point guard, but he reminds me a little 556 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,639 bit of Evan Turner with the ability to shoot. Like Evan Turner was actually 557 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:01,360 quite good with the ball in his hands, running plays, playmaking, getting 558 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,760 people the ball, passing, he was really pretty good at all of that. 559 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:08,079 And I see a little bit of Josh Hart having that ability as well 560 00:37:08,119 --> 00:37:12,199 as being able to shoot. So that's why I would start nases because I 561 00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:15,519 loved part of this, because I'd like to see Josh Hart with the second 562 00:37:15,559 --> 00:37:21,000 unit. We don't people, so I think if you trust Jeremy Grant to 563 00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:22,840 knock down enough of his threes, and you have Simon's and Dame, I'd 564 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:27,760 be just fine with that. Because Nas is pure energy, give you some 565 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:30,360 stuff on the glass, gives you can like some rim pressure too, and 566 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:35,119 can even be used as the screener. Do you worry about that fit with 567 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:38,199 NRK at all? And also what are can you give us the for people 568 00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:42,559 that don't watch. First of all, Nas has been sick or injured basically 569 00:37:42,559 --> 00:37:45,320 his entire career, which has sucked. What's most impressed you about him? 570 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:50,480 Or what's something about his impact that people outside Portland don't know enough about. 571 00:37:51,039 --> 00:37:57,199 I love NASA's rebounding. He's a fantastic rebounder and he's the rebounding sicko. 572 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,880 Yeah, offensive or offensive and defensive. I love his uh. I just 573 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:07,119 love his rebounding. Like nobody has their eyes on the rim like Naz does. 574 00:38:07,199 --> 00:38:10,360 Like it's amazing. Like every time Brucey Lee, the team photographer, 575 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:15,320 posts a picture of Nas rebounding, his eyes are just like on the rim 576 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:20,039 and it just it's just so striking, like he like, he loves rebounding. 577 00:38:20,559 --> 00:38:23,679 So I love watching Nas rebound and so that's part of the reason I 578 00:38:23,679 --> 00:38:29,320 love watching him play is he can jump over everybody and he is focused and 579 00:38:29,679 --> 00:38:34,800 you know he loves getting that ball, so you and you're perfectly fine with 580 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,840 the partnership with like Nerk. That doesn't give you any pauses on offense a 581 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,880 little bit. No, No, I think I think Nerk is. I 582 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:45,119 have very high expectations for Nerk. I think every year me and my fan 583 00:38:45,199 --> 00:38:50,159 relationship with Nerk is different every time we talk. It's very high right now, 584 00:38:51,519 --> 00:38:54,360 it is very high right now. I love what I love what I've 585 00:38:54,400 --> 00:39:00,840 seen out of Nerk for the last year. He actually played after things settled 586 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:05,159 down, like after the beginning of the year, nurkis just like kind of 587 00:39:05,199 --> 00:39:08,639 I don't know. He he played really well with the new guys. I 588 00:39:08,639 --> 00:39:13,039 don't know, he was just didn't seem like he was jelling with you know, 589 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:17,840 the first set of new guys. So when you know, Justice Winslow 590 00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:21,760 and Josh Hart came, he seemed like he really jelled with them. He 591 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:27,199 played really well during that brief period you know again where Damien was out before 592 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:30,880 they sat everybody. He played really well and he commanded a lot of attention 593 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:37,280 from other teams as well as kind of like I wouldn't say that he took 594 00:39:37,360 --> 00:39:40,880 over, but he was extremely supportive of Anthony and I think a lot of 595 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:45,800 Anthony's success was because of use of Nurkics, because I think use of Nurkis 596 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:47,519 cleared out a lot of space for him. He was watching out for him, 597 00:39:47,519 --> 00:39:51,840 He was an excellent partner in the pick and roll with him, and 598 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:57,039 I just I feel like it's a switch got kind of flipped with use of 599 00:39:57,119 --> 00:40:00,800 Nurkics, like watching him on the sidelines and interacting with the players who were 600 00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:05,119 playing and clearly like talking to them about what he would be doing or what 601 00:40:05,159 --> 00:40:08,440 they should be doing, and clearly like being super engaged with them even when 602 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:15,599 he wasn't there playing. He had this great run with the Bosnian team at 603 00:40:15,639 --> 00:40:22,239 EuroBasket, and I just have really high hopes that he's going to see what 604 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,760 his role is and that is like back to the connectedness. He really is 605 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:30,400 a major connector, and so I think that's going to work out really well. 606 00:40:30,719 --> 00:40:34,360 And I don't think he's you know, I think we're gonna have to 607 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:37,639 live with the fact that he's gonna take a couple of threes. I think 608 00:40:37,639 --> 00:40:39,599 we're gonna have to live with the fact that he likes to get in the 609 00:40:39,639 --> 00:40:44,079 post and back down people a couple of times a game, and you live 610 00:40:44,119 --> 00:40:45,760 with that because of the rest of the time, he has great vision, 611 00:40:46,039 --> 00:40:51,639 he's a really good passer. He knows how to protect his guards, and 612 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:55,159 especially when you have small guards. And I don't know if he's a room 613 00:40:55,239 --> 00:41:00,599 protector, but he's a riom deterrent for sure. Like when nurkches down there, 614 00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:02,719 people don't want to get by the rim. So I have very high 615 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:07,159 expectations and I think that he'll work really well with everybody. I'm interested to 616 00:41:07,159 --> 00:41:10,280 see what he because I just wasn't. But again, in the context of 617 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:13,679 the team, I don't know if you were impressed with anyone defensively last year. 618 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:16,840 Quite frankly, I just feel like he wasn't as good and he didn't 619 00:41:16,840 --> 00:41:20,559 feel like as much of a the turrant. But now if you look at 620 00:41:20,559 --> 00:41:23,599 the roster, I'm curious see how he does with better talent obviously, but 621 00:41:23,639 --> 00:41:27,880 it's more like I don't want to use the word explosive because that doesn't aptly 622 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:31,039 describe everyone. But it's more like, you know, debtonative talent, where 623 00:41:31,039 --> 00:41:34,800 it's you have Simon's isn't a good defender, but he's quick. GP two 624 00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:37,559 is all over the place. Jeremy Grant, Josh Hart and so now that 625 00:41:37,599 --> 00:41:40,239 you have all those guys where they can, Simon's is not a good defender. 626 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:43,360 I want to make that clear. But like looking at GP two and 627 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:46,599 Grant and Heart specifically, you have like not safety nets, but guys who 628 00:41:46,599 --> 00:41:49,760 can play in front of them behind you. And I'm wondering if that also 629 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:53,440 allows the Blazers to try different things on defense this year than how they've predominantly 630 00:41:53,559 --> 00:41:58,039 used Nurkic in the past. I would hope. So, I mean Nrk 631 00:41:58,119 --> 00:42:00,199 had to do a lot last year. He had to come up to the 632 00:42:00,199 --> 00:42:05,000 three point line and get back down to the to the basket. He had 633 00:42:05,039 --> 00:42:08,599 to fill in thing that I was sensing then because like he is so used 634 00:42:08,599 --> 00:42:13,000 to under Terry Stotts, it was just like drop drop, drop, drop 635 00:42:13,079 --> 00:42:15,519 drop, and that's what he did all the time. Yeah, and you 636 00:42:15,559 --> 00:42:21,519 know he I just feel like they never really figured out how they were supposed 637 00:42:21,559 --> 00:42:25,519 to work together, and maybe he got a little discouraged towards the beginning of 638 00:42:25,519 --> 00:42:30,920 the year, and with you know, Damien having a hard time and laboring, 639 00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:32,800 like it was just like nobody could really figure out, like how are 640 00:42:32,840 --> 00:42:38,159 we going to make this work? And so I think it's really important, 641 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:45,119 Like the time that he spent with Bosnia Herzevigovinia this summer and was like the 642 00:42:45,159 --> 00:42:49,599 man. And that didn't mean he scored like forty points. It meant that 643 00:42:49,639 --> 00:42:52,360 he was the heart and the soul and he was able to see what was 644 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:55,199 going on and direct, like he and Musa played like great together, and 645 00:42:55,400 --> 00:43:00,679 you know, he was able to like be the anchor and be the and 646 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:04,679 instead of having to like be active in every single play, you know, 647 00:43:04,800 --> 00:43:07,159 he was. I don't know, I just I feel like that was a 648 00:43:07,199 --> 00:43:12,239 really important experience for him, and I would love to be able to see 649 00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:15,000 him play like a similar role where he doesn't have to be like let him 650 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:21,239 take his couple of three pointers or whatever, but like also let him be 651 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:24,760 that connector again, for lack of a better word, Hopefully we're going to 652 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:30,800 move that ball around a little bit more and Nurkis is a willing passer give 653 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:32,480 you a lot of damage out of the short role too. Yeah, he's 654 00:43:32,559 --> 00:43:37,239 not a black hole, Like the ball doesn't stop with him. Sometimes it 655 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:39,639 does, but you know, you also know that you can get him to 656 00:43:39,639 --> 00:43:45,519 move it the rest of the big man rotation and you kind of touched upon 657 00:43:45,559 --> 00:43:49,599 this when you mentioned smaller lineups. I'm guessing that's just what the plays are 658 00:43:49,599 --> 00:43:52,519 going to be committed to, because you're looking at Drew Eubanks is probably the 659 00:43:52,599 --> 00:43:57,719 only just other center, like you know, Italics center on this roster, 660 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:00,880 and then trend and Watford played a lot there, but he's also only six 661 00:44:00,960 --> 00:44:05,519 eight and they got like lampooned when he was playing center last year. Again, 662 00:44:05,559 --> 00:44:07,079 the talent wasn't great, but even just looking at their rebounding, So 663 00:44:07,159 --> 00:44:12,400 how is this like backup center rotation going to shake out? Is it we 664 00:44:12,519 --> 00:44:15,679 expect to see a lot of like Watford or maybe even Grant at the five? 665 00:44:16,199 --> 00:44:20,199 Are they really prepared to rely on Andrew u Bang's like, what's your 666 00:44:20,199 --> 00:44:22,159 read on that situation? I mean it kind of goes back to what I 667 00:44:22,199 --> 00:44:25,920 was saying earlier about how I think they're going to have a bigger lineup and 668 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:30,880 a smaller lineup and they're going to amuse them more strategically. And I see 669 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:37,199 Trendon Watford as really learning how to be a small center because he has you 670 00:44:37,239 --> 00:44:42,039 know, he's pretty good at moving. You know, he's getting better, 671 00:44:42,039 --> 00:44:45,599 but he's also just really smart and he has good instincts. Jabari Walker. 672 00:44:45,800 --> 00:44:47,760 Also, I don't know that he'll be, you know, a small ball 673 00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:52,119 center, but he'll be a really important part. I think of like that 674 00:44:52,119 --> 00:44:58,559 that unit that's going to learn how to play really effective small ball. I 675 00:44:58,599 --> 00:45:01,320 think that they don't have an another tall person on the roster because at this 676 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:05,840 point they don't need one, and rather than saying, oh some point, 677 00:45:05,920 --> 00:45:07,400 at some point, use if you're gonna get hurt, so we're gonna bring 678 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:13,320 in two extra guys, I think they're like letting him play because I think 679 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:16,119 for like people are like everyone knows Usef gets hurt. Everybody knows Nerk gets 680 00:45:16,159 --> 00:45:21,239 hurt, and it's like to me, I think it's important for him to 681 00:45:21,360 --> 00:45:24,360 know that they're like not counting on him getting injured. They're counting on him 682 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:28,519 staying well, and if he gets injured, they'll deal with it because like 683 00:45:28,599 --> 00:45:31,199 going out and finding a center, like if he is out for an extended 684 00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:36,880 time isn't as hard as some other things that they might need to do. 685 00:45:37,039 --> 00:45:42,480 So on White Side just there for the taking again. Tara Ye watching on 686 00:45:42,519 --> 00:45:46,280 YouTube, Tara al Will just passed out. Who do you think winds up 687 00:45:46,280 --> 00:45:49,079 playing? I think you already answered this too, But who do you think 688 00:45:49,159 --> 00:45:52,840 winds up playing a bigger role for this team? Is it Jabar Walker or 689 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:59,159 Watford? I have no idea that I vote, Yeah, what do you 690 00:45:59,480 --> 00:46:00,840 Watford? For me? And I think it's a lot of what I saw 691 00:46:00,880 --> 00:46:06,480 offensively from him where he is, so I don't want to say so dynamic. 692 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:08,639 He's a lot more dynamic than you think when you look at like he 693 00:46:08,679 --> 00:46:12,360 can do stuff around the basket, but like he can get around guys if 694 00:46:12,360 --> 00:46:15,280 he's by the three point line or at the top of the key. And 695 00:46:15,320 --> 00:46:16,840 he had like there was I can't remember which game it was I was watching, 696 00:46:16,920 --> 00:46:19,719 and it was the Blazers didn't give a shit at that point. I 697 00:46:19,719 --> 00:46:22,639 want to make that clear. But like he had this like nifty floater while 698 00:46:22,639 --> 00:46:25,519 he was on the move. And he's he's not a bad passer. He's 699 00:46:25,639 --> 00:46:29,599 I would say, he's a good passer. Like for someone who's six eight, 700 00:46:29,679 --> 00:46:30,800 you're probably thinking, like, oh, point forward, they could pass. 701 00:46:30,840 --> 00:46:34,800 But if someone who's gonna play the center position. And I also just 702 00:46:34,840 --> 00:46:37,000 wonder, because he's a little bit more dynamic with the ball, that's probably 703 00:46:37,039 --> 00:46:39,920 gonna give them room to futs and fiddle and like, maybe this is someone 704 00:46:39,920 --> 00:46:45,239 who can play the four a lot. So I'm fascinated by him and think 705 00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,400 that he can play a role on a team that is not just trying to 706 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:51,400 be competitive, but it is actually competitive. So that would be my vote. 707 00:46:52,199 --> 00:46:53,519 I think you're right, and I think that you know, if the 708 00:46:53,559 --> 00:46:58,440 Blazers are gonna carve out time for a rookie, they're more likely to, 709 00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:01,639 you know, make sure that Shayden Sharpe is getting on the court, and 710 00:47:02,519 --> 00:47:06,480 you know, I think Javari will play. But I think you're right. 711 00:47:06,480 --> 00:47:12,239 I think Trendon will will play more. Right. Is there like an underrated 712 00:47:12,559 --> 00:47:15,519 strength or element to this team that you don't think he is getting enough attention 713 00:47:15,559 --> 00:47:19,199 as we had into the regular season. I don't know. It's so different 714 00:47:19,239 --> 00:47:22,719 from the team than I know. I mean, it's Damian Lillard, but 715 00:47:22,800 --> 00:47:24,760 he's not. I don't know if he's I wouldn't say he's necessarily underrated, 716 00:47:24,800 --> 00:47:29,960 but maybe he is. Yeah, I just I don't, like I said, 717 00:47:30,000 --> 00:47:32,719 I just don't really know this team enough to know, because I really 718 00:47:32,800 --> 00:47:37,000 am expecting that they're gonna play a different type of basketball than I've seen. 719 00:47:37,239 --> 00:47:42,960 I've decided this year The way I'm gonna measure whether a team like it's a 720 00:47:42,960 --> 00:47:46,599 good game or not is by how many times a game I go, oh, 721 00:47:46,639 --> 00:47:52,719 I haven't seen that before, like fast breaks, dunks, you know, 722 00:47:52,880 --> 00:47:55,199 things that are We're not a part of their arsenal in the past, 723 00:47:55,519 --> 00:47:58,920 so I have no idea what we're going to see. So I don't know 724 00:47:58,960 --> 00:48:04,559 what their strengths are yet. Is there like a big weakness or just void 725 00:48:04,639 --> 00:48:08,239 on this team that you're concerned about. I know you tend to be relentlessly 726 00:48:08,239 --> 00:48:10,639 positive, which is which is awesome, But if you were to take off 727 00:48:10,639 --> 00:48:15,239 that hat for a second because you're somewhat optimistic. Now I noticed in your 728 00:48:15,239 --> 00:48:19,639 Twitter by it's not relentlessly optimistic, it's somewhat optimistic. But is there anything 729 00:48:19,639 --> 00:48:22,920 that you're concerned about when looking at this roster leading into this season? First 730 00:48:22,920 --> 00:48:28,440 of all, I'm so glad somebody noticed that I am relentlessly positive and somewhat 731 00:48:28,440 --> 00:48:31,039 optimistic because I'm not delusional. I try not to be delusional, and if 732 00:48:31,079 --> 00:48:34,880 I am delusional, I try to like recognize that and go hold on a 733 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:37,360 minute, just like I roll it back. Don't say delusion. When it 734 00:48:37,360 --> 00:48:40,320 comes to sports fandom, is not a bad thing until it turns toxic. 735 00:48:42,559 --> 00:48:47,119 So if you're if you're deludedly optimistic at points and you're being approachable or nice 736 00:48:47,119 --> 00:48:51,000 about it, I think that's perfectly fine. Well, and yeah, I 737 00:48:51,440 --> 00:48:54,840 don't know being full being one hundred percent optimistic is tough, just when you 738 00:48:54,920 --> 00:48:58,760 have the history of a fandom, as you know, goes back as far 739 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,880 as you just kind of like try to protect yourself. The organization has not 740 00:49:00,920 --> 00:49:04,679 made it easy on you. Right, But let's see, Okay, the 741 00:49:04,800 --> 00:49:13,159 question was it was about for the roster. I think my biggest concern is 742 00:49:13,639 --> 00:49:17,719 a little bit of concern with maybe a little bit of a lack of shooting. 743 00:49:19,440 --> 00:49:24,400 Then McLamore is still out there. Just like whether or not there's somebody 744 00:49:24,440 --> 00:49:27,880 who will like, we just need a bucket, get somebody to come off 745 00:49:27,880 --> 00:49:30,800 the bench and get us a bucket. I feel like that might not We 746 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:34,480 might not be in as good a situation is that we could be with that, 747 00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:38,280 and then just you know, unfamiliarity with each other, unfamiliarity with the 748 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:45,639 new coaches plays, unfamiliarity with like now being expected to play defense. They 749 00:49:45,679 --> 00:49:49,159 brought in all these defenders. I'm super curious to see if that means that 750 00:49:49,199 --> 00:49:53,039 the Blazers can now play defense. And yeah, but just like that unfamiliarity 751 00:49:53,159 --> 00:49:59,119 and just lack of playing time together. I think mine for this team is 752 00:49:59,199 --> 00:50:01,239 just like the way that they're built, and because they have so much space, 753 00:50:01,360 --> 00:50:06,000 I think they'll naturally create more rim pressure than people think. I just 754 00:50:06,039 --> 00:50:08,760 worry about like sort of they're finishing where it's Anthony Simons and Dane can even 755 00:50:08,760 --> 00:50:12,400 be coin tosses, probably because of the difficulty of their looks when they get 756 00:50:12,440 --> 00:50:15,800 to the basket and then you are relying on I guess Jeremy Grant shold a 757 00:50:15,800 --> 00:50:19,239 lot more ball skills than we were used to in Detroit. I just want 758 00:50:19,239 --> 00:50:22,079 to see what this team looks like when it comes to finishing, how many 759 00:50:22,079 --> 00:50:24,239 free throws are they able to generate as well when you're looking at where their 760 00:50:24,239 --> 00:50:30,840 primary offense is going to come from. But I am endlessly fascinated by what 761 00:50:30,920 --> 00:50:32,320 the offense is going to look like in general, because, as you've mentioned 762 00:50:32,360 --> 00:50:37,800 a few times, I think it's gonna be aesthetically materially different than what we've 763 00:50:37,800 --> 00:50:43,360 seen from Portland in the past. Yeah, I'm Blajie brought up free throws 764 00:50:43,440 --> 00:50:46,480 and fouling, you know, because also on the other side of that is 765 00:50:46,519 --> 00:50:50,159 that if we're going to be playing, if they are going to be playing 766 00:50:50,239 --> 00:50:52,960 younger players, we may have to put up with a lot more fouling. 767 00:50:53,480 --> 00:50:58,760 And you know, that's always been a challenge for use of Nurkic as well. 768 00:50:59,199 --> 00:51:01,440 And you know, it's again one of those things that you just have 769 00:51:01,519 --> 00:51:04,480 to take the good with the bad. With use of Nurkis, I think 770 00:51:04,519 --> 00:51:08,199 he brings so much good that you know that I personally, you know, 771 00:51:08,320 --> 00:51:12,719 tolerate a lot of things that drive a lot of other people crazy. And 772 00:51:12,920 --> 00:51:16,239 you know he does get in foul trouble and so we'll see how that goes. 773 00:51:17,679 --> 00:51:22,920 So when you're when you're looking at this team, one of my favorite 774 00:51:22,920 --> 00:51:25,039 things to do is to predict, like what will be the top ten most 775 00:51:25,159 --> 00:51:29,519 use players. And as i've some teams were like no brainers for me. 776 00:51:29,639 --> 00:51:34,840 The Blazers were a little bit more difficult. I think they have seven locks. 777 00:51:35,000 --> 00:51:37,599 When you look at Dame Simon's, Josh Hart, Jeremy Grant, use 778 00:51:37,639 --> 00:51:42,039 of Nurkis, Gary Payton the second, and then nots Little are the guys 779 00:51:42,039 --> 00:51:44,400 that I just have painted in his locks, which will bring us to seven. 780 00:51:44,719 --> 00:51:47,320 If you agree with those seven locks or if you disagree, plea say 781 00:51:47,360 --> 00:51:51,679 so. But like, how do you envision like those final three if you 782 00:51:51,719 --> 00:51:54,440 had to pick right now, which I am forcing you too. So I 783 00:51:54,480 --> 00:52:00,400 think Justice Winslow is the what we've been hearing for training camp is that Justice 784 00:52:00,440 --> 00:52:05,280 Winslow is the type of player that the coach likes because you know, he 785 00:52:05,639 --> 00:52:09,079 loves playing defense. Justice said that he thinks the coach likes him because he 786 00:52:09,119 --> 00:52:14,559 feels like he could have played on that Detroit team. So I think we're 787 00:52:14,599 --> 00:52:21,039 gonna see Justice. I think we're gonna I hope we see Shadon, and 788 00:52:21,079 --> 00:52:27,880 I think we're gonna see Trendon. I think like Drew Eubanks and Jabbari Walker 789 00:52:28,119 --> 00:52:32,440 and even Keyan Johnson I mentioned him, He's just like you know, and 790 00:52:32,559 --> 00:52:37,519 also Keyan Johnson's also the story of you know, being the story of training 791 00:52:37,519 --> 00:52:38,239 camp, Like, oh, who were you impressed with? I was really 792 00:52:38,280 --> 00:52:43,079 impressed with Keyan Johnson. And you know, it'd be tough if you wanted 793 00:52:43,119 --> 00:52:45,079 to, like if you want to play key On Johnson, like you're kind 794 00:52:45,079 --> 00:52:49,159 of committing to not playing Shade and Sharp at that point then, because it 795 00:52:49,159 --> 00:52:52,440 gets really tough to start fitting these players into the rotation on the perimeter because 796 00:52:52,440 --> 00:52:57,760 they're filled with so many i'll call them non bigs. This roster's just stocked 797 00:52:57,840 --> 00:53:00,719 with non bigs at the moment. Yeah, So I think it's more likely 798 00:53:00,880 --> 00:53:07,920 that we'll see uh Shaden and Justice and Trendon than it is then we'll see 799 00:53:07,079 --> 00:53:14,920 like Drew Eubanks and you know, Keon and Jabari. I was actually thinking 800 00:53:14,920 --> 00:53:16,360 about this like a couple of weeks ago. I think that like we could 801 00:53:16,360 --> 00:53:20,280 see just based off the way that Blazers look right now, whins surprisely, 802 00:53:20,360 --> 00:53:23,840 we saw like Grant Windlow front courts when Nerk's not on the floor and it's 803 00:53:23,920 --> 00:53:28,440 we don't know who the center is necessarily maybe depends on the matchup, but 804 00:53:28,440 --> 00:53:31,800 that's something that they could try, especially because Winslow's three pointer is very very 805 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:36,880 shaky. It's very it's very very shaky. Yeah, and I see them 806 00:53:36,920 --> 00:53:43,519 trying to cycle Watford into that to learn how to really master that small ball 807 00:53:43,519 --> 00:53:46,119 play. I just feel like he for some reason, he just strikes me 808 00:53:46,199 --> 00:53:49,719 as really having really good potential for that. And we haven't even talked about 809 00:53:49,719 --> 00:53:53,880 Greg Brown junior or Greg Brown the third we talk about Greg Brown Junior two 810 00:53:53,880 --> 00:53:58,800 if you're I don't know that's about Greg Greg Brown junior, but Greg GB 811 00:53:58,920 --> 00:54:02,440 three or god Gogles Brown junior because he got and he started wearing goggles at 812 00:54:02,440 --> 00:54:06,039 the end of the year and that was really exciting. I don't see him 813 00:54:06,039 --> 00:54:12,599 making the rotation very much, but you never know. I mean, hopefully 814 00:54:12,639 --> 00:54:14,920 there's a lot of garbage time one way or the other, just for him 815 00:54:14,960 --> 00:54:19,239 to get in there and ensure that the Blazers meet the Tarabo and Biggs and 816 00:54:19,400 --> 00:54:23,079 quote imposed quota of dunks for the year. That's a much critical role that 817 00:54:23,119 --> 00:54:28,800 he holds. Yeah, for sure, No, we everybody enjoyed Greg Brown, 818 00:54:28,960 --> 00:54:36,159 and Greg Brown is a bundle of energy and uh, you know he 819 00:54:36,199 --> 00:54:38,199 could also be like especially when they're playing the second unit, you know, 820 00:54:38,280 --> 00:54:42,519 he could be that little bit of a spark that they need, kind of 821 00:54:42,519 --> 00:54:45,480 like nas could be the you know, the spark for the first unit. 822 00:54:45,039 --> 00:54:47,639 I will say, when you look at players on this roster though that maybe 823 00:54:47,639 --> 00:54:51,760 aren't just widely known just yet, trend and Waffer is the one that I 824 00:54:51,800 --> 00:54:54,760 just immediately go towards. I think that he might end up playing a bigger 825 00:54:55,079 --> 00:55:00,280 or more impactful than an anticipated role for this team. What should be fun 826 00:55:00,320 --> 00:55:04,519 because those are those are awesome storylines to follow. Yeah, and watch out 827 00:55:04,559 --> 00:55:07,960 for Jabari too, Like he surprised everybody at Summer League, and even I, 828 00:55:07,159 --> 00:55:10,840 who like I don't have an eye for analysis. You know, I 829 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:14,280 don't know what I'm looking at half the time. Half the time, I'm 830 00:55:14,360 --> 00:55:16,320 like, you know, this looks good and then I can go investigate more. 831 00:55:17,119 --> 00:55:20,199 Jabari Walker stepped out on the court and I was like, oh, 832 00:55:20,239 --> 00:55:22,320 he's an NBA player, Like after his first couple of plays, I could 833 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:24,280 even I could see it. Even I was like, oh, yeah, 834 00:55:24,320 --> 00:55:28,719 he's clearly an NBA player. He's a good decision maker, he's strong, 835 00:55:29,239 --> 00:55:34,519 he is happy to be a role player, and so he's another one I 836 00:55:34,519 --> 00:55:37,360 would just keep keep an eye out for. He feels like I've seen so 837 00:55:37,440 --> 00:55:40,679 little of him. He feels like he could be very disruptive on the defensive 838 00:55:40,760 --> 00:55:44,679 end, Like no matter how you use him, I don't know. I 839 00:55:44,719 --> 00:55:47,000 just have a terrible feel for like what does he look like just away from 840 00:55:47,039 --> 00:55:51,119 the ball on offense? And someone who's just like this accessory and so that 841 00:55:51,119 --> 00:55:52,320 would be big for him. If he winds up getting minutes for this team, 842 00:55:52,360 --> 00:55:57,000 I'd wonder something either went terribly wrong or terribly right, I think, 843 00:55:57,079 --> 00:56:00,719 or incredibly right. Excuse me, well, I'm gonna jumped forward to one 844 00:56:00,760 --> 00:56:04,480 of the questions that I was prepared for this time, where you were asking 845 00:56:04,519 --> 00:56:08,159 about my my wacky five man lineup that I wanted to see, because you 846 00:56:08,159 --> 00:56:13,360 can always do you always do the who closes or whatever, but you often 847 00:56:13,400 --> 00:56:15,800 also ask the you know, this is my favorite question of the look Ahead 848 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:19,719 podcast is what's the weird, old, bonkers, quirky lineup? You want 849 00:56:19,760 --> 00:56:22,559 to see the Blazers try so. I would like to see more of the 850 00:56:22,639 --> 00:56:34,320 twenty twenty two Summer League Championship roster with Trendon and Jabari and Shaden and Keion 851 00:56:34,840 --> 00:56:40,480 and Brandon Williams. I just want to see more of that. They were. 852 00:56:40,880 --> 00:56:45,880 They were so fun to watch at Summer League, and like they were 853 00:56:46,159 --> 00:56:51,679 they were playing deep, they were like holding other teams to very low scores, 854 00:56:52,000 --> 00:56:57,119 including your New York Knicks, and they were they were just really fun 855 00:56:57,159 --> 00:57:00,239 to watch. And I know if they're on the court, then things are 856 00:57:00,239 --> 00:57:02,519 either going incredibly well or incredibly poorly. But I want to see more of 857 00:57:02,519 --> 00:57:07,000 them together because they're in the future, right, Like, let's see it. 858 00:57:07,199 --> 00:57:10,280 Let's see what Shadon and Trendon can do. Let's see what Shaden and 859 00:57:10,360 --> 00:57:15,519 Jabari look like together. Let's see what people are saying about Kean Johnson. 860 00:57:15,800 --> 00:57:19,599 I don't know. I'm excited for Hopefully there'll be opportunities to watch them and 861 00:57:19,599 --> 00:57:22,480 it'll be in a good way. That's like the mid April final game of 862 00:57:22,519 --> 00:57:25,559 the regular season, we clinched a play in or playoff spot. These are 863 00:57:25,599 --> 00:57:30,360 the guys we're gonna play type lineup totally. Plus, it just got me 864 00:57:30,400 --> 00:57:34,000 to be able to remind you about the twenty twenty two summer really Champion because 865 00:57:34,039 --> 00:57:36,000 for some reason, you haven't brought that up yet, and even though it's 866 00:57:36,000 --> 00:57:40,000 a really important storyline. Or did they hang a banner? Oh, I 867 00:57:40,119 --> 00:57:46,400 just had my picture taken with the trophy and the ring, so I don't 868 00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:50,000 We don't have a banner up yet, But that doesn't mean that there isn't 869 00:57:50,000 --> 00:57:52,880 going to be one. I mean, they already have one championship. I 870 00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:57,079 don't know if they you know everybody, Yeah, I mean, look, 871 00:57:57,079 --> 00:58:02,079 the Warriors get Ring Night. Why don't the Blazers mine you will not be 872 00:58:02,119 --> 00:58:07,559 surprised to know includes basically a small like a non traditional center. Look, 873 00:58:07,920 --> 00:58:10,880 I want to see Jeremy Grant, Trend and Wattford, Josh Hart, Gary 874 00:58:10,920 --> 00:58:15,320 Payton the Second and Dame. And my thought process there is just give me 875 00:58:15,440 --> 00:58:19,559 Watford's TBD. But I think if Grant's on the court and so is Heart 876 00:58:19,559 --> 00:58:22,920 and GP two, just give me four guys who could really defend and let 877 00:58:22,039 --> 00:58:27,119 Dame cook, let's just see where let's just see where this goes. Do 878 00:58:27,119 --> 00:58:30,800 you have enough shooting on there so they won't just like send four guys onto 879 00:58:30,880 --> 00:58:34,760 Dame. I think you need Gary Payton the Second to shoot as well from 880 00:58:34,760 --> 00:58:37,920 threes he did last year. I'm fine with Grant as sort of a spot 881 00:58:37,960 --> 00:58:43,679 up shooter. Watford's heart in that line. Yeah, and he's like I 882 00:58:43,679 --> 00:58:45,400 think John Hart, if they were he could shoot. But he's like the 883 00:58:45,519 --> 00:58:50,840 King of He shoots worse from three than you think because he's built, is 884 00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:52,360 like this three India guy and every year it just seems like he's under thirty 885 00:58:52,360 --> 00:58:55,920 five percent or whatever. But I would just give me Dame plus all defense. 886 00:58:55,960 --> 00:58:59,280 And if you don't think Watford's gonna be good enough. You have Winslow 887 00:58:59,360 --> 00:59:01,119 to throw in there, but that would give you even probably even less shooting. 888 00:59:01,159 --> 00:59:04,960 At this point, I trust Watford more n I trust Winslow on offense. 889 00:59:05,639 --> 00:59:07,639 This can change depending on the matchup, But who would be your go 890 00:59:07,719 --> 00:59:12,719 to crunch time unit for this team? You're right, I mean it depends 891 00:59:12,719 --> 00:59:15,119 on the matchup, and it depends on like who's playing center, I think 892 00:59:15,199 --> 00:59:21,360 is the biggest thing. I wouldn't be surprised if Gary Payton is in there, 893 00:59:21,440 --> 00:59:25,639 So we have Dame and then maybe Gary Payton to just hound whoever it 894 00:59:25,719 --> 00:59:29,639 is that. You know, if it's a crunch time situation, you need 895 00:59:29,679 --> 00:59:36,400 somebody who's just gonna go get up and yeah, so Dame and Gary and 896 00:59:36,440 --> 00:59:45,840 then you know Nas maybe for rebounding, and then kind of the rest sort 897 00:59:45,840 --> 00:59:47,199 of depends on who's playing center. Like if it's a big center, then 898 00:59:47,199 --> 00:59:52,039 we need Yusuf in there. And just who does he play best with? 899 00:59:52,199 --> 00:59:54,639 Is he playing best with Jeremy Grant? Is he playing better with you know, 900 00:59:54,920 --> 00:59:58,880 Justice? I'm not sure who like who that for is. But then 901 00:59:58,880 --> 01:00:01,159 if it's a somebody else who's playing a smaller lineup, I think we will 902 01:00:01,159 --> 01:00:08,320 see Jeremy Grant, and you know, possibly heart or justice. I do 903 01:00:08,480 --> 01:00:13,119 think though that if they're in a situation where they're subbing for offense and defense, 904 01:00:13,320 --> 01:00:19,480 they're gonna get Nurkis in there for the defense, because just sitting nurk 905 01:00:19,639 --> 01:00:22,199 completely at the end of the game seems a little risky on his psyche. 906 01:00:23,079 --> 01:00:28,960 You even think that they're that Chauncy Bills is sort of bold enough to play 907 01:00:28,960 --> 01:00:30,400 with Nurkis's minutes like that. So where even if the matchup, you know, 908 01:00:30,480 --> 01:00:32,639 in the playoffs, it's one thing, but like if it's a regular 909 01:00:32,679 --> 01:00:37,000 season game in January, do you really want to deal with the politics of 910 01:00:37,039 --> 01:00:39,400 pulling your starting center that you just paid a bunch of money over the off 911 01:00:39,440 --> 01:00:43,280 season for a game in crunch time? Because I looked at as, I 912 01:00:43,320 --> 01:00:45,400 was actually surprised that you And it makes sense though when you're talking about the 913 01:00:45,440 --> 01:00:49,360 matchups. But I viewed them as having just like we viewed them as having 914 01:00:49,400 --> 01:00:53,360 four starter locks. I just penciled in Simon's Dame nurk and Grant will always 915 01:00:53,360 --> 01:00:57,119 be on the floor for their closing unit. And so I guess you see 916 01:00:57,119 --> 01:01:00,320 that there might be more fungibility in the front court for them. I mean, 917 01:01:00,599 --> 01:01:02,519 I think so, I think it, but it is gonna be risky, 918 01:01:02,559 --> 01:01:06,280 and it's gonna have to be a conversation that the coach has already had 919 01:01:06,639 --> 01:01:09,079 previous. You know. I don't think it's something that you want to just 920 01:01:09,119 --> 01:01:12,199 pull in the middle of the game and be like, oh, yeah, 921 01:01:12,239 --> 01:01:15,719 you're not you're not finishing out. But you know, we shall see. 922 01:01:15,800 --> 01:01:20,559 But I don't think it's necessarily a given. If they have if they're playing 923 01:01:20,639 --> 01:01:27,199 against a fast athletic group that they need to catch up to or that they 924 01:01:27,239 --> 01:01:30,400 need to score on, then I think it's possible. It does feel like 925 01:01:30,440 --> 01:01:34,239 most of the changes would come in the front court, where I'd be fairly 926 01:01:34,280 --> 01:01:37,960 surprised if if you're getting into timeouts offense defense, I get up like Damon 927 01:01:37,039 --> 01:01:40,440 Simons are just gonna be tethered to the floor and crunch time and then you 928 01:01:40,440 --> 01:01:45,559 can play. I think between GP two Heart, Little Nurkic Grant, those 929 01:01:45,599 --> 01:01:49,519 are five options to fill the final three spots, and maybe you just sort 930 01:01:49,559 --> 01:01:52,239 of, you know, pull the strings as as you may depending on the 931 01:01:52,280 --> 01:01:57,440 match up. There, you had Simons in your closing lineup, I think 932 01:01:57,440 --> 01:02:00,320 I left him out do you think that that is like just something they just 933 01:02:00,360 --> 01:02:01,559 would not be willing to do, Like we just paid all this guy all 934 01:02:01,599 --> 01:02:05,599 this money. We're not going to not have him clothes because I just feel 935 01:02:05,639 --> 01:02:12,079 like if I was going to choose in a crunch situation between Simon's and like 936 01:02:12,159 --> 01:02:16,320 I want somebody just playing that hounding defense, I think it would to me 937 01:02:16,559 --> 01:02:19,639 it would be I mean, did they what were they doing with c J. 938 01:02:19,920 --> 01:02:22,639 I think they would approach And it's tough because Billips didn't really get that 939 01:02:22,639 --> 01:02:25,320 opportunity given all the injuries and stuff. I would I think he would be 940 01:02:25,320 --> 01:02:29,079 locked in for me, and it would be more likely that they try to 941 01:02:29,079 --> 01:02:31,360 downsize to the point of GP two Simon's dame, then we're not going to 942 01:02:31,440 --> 01:02:35,920 play Simon's at all. But I mean maybe you're right too though. I 943 01:02:35,960 --> 01:02:39,840 just can envision them giving Simon's one hundred million dollars and then being like, 944 01:02:39,880 --> 01:02:43,960 you know what, why don't you take a seat during the most important seconds 945 01:02:44,000 --> 01:02:46,760 of the game. And I think you're also right, and I like completely 946 01:02:46,800 --> 01:02:51,960 forgot that, like Gary Payton isn't necessarily a guard, so like he could 947 01:02:52,000 --> 01:02:55,679 be in there. I think that's a deficial position. He's the defender. 948 01:02:57,599 --> 01:03:01,000 He's the primary defender. This is actually a fantastic nickname. By the way, 949 01:03:01,039 --> 01:03:04,159 It's not very creative because his dad was a glove. But when you 950 01:03:04,199 --> 01:03:07,360 hear the mitten, you do kind of laugh. Oh So, I actually 951 01:03:07,440 --> 01:03:10,719 had on my podcast Devon Pouncey, who used to play a he's a local 952 01:03:12,000 --> 01:03:16,199 sports guy here in town, and he used to play AAU with Gary Payton 953 01:03:16,239 --> 01:03:21,039 and they played on like Gary Payton's team, like the Gary Payton Senior team. 954 01:03:21,079 --> 01:03:27,159 And I asked him about Gary Payton's preferred nickname, and apparently, uh, 955 01:03:27,199 --> 01:03:30,679 he does not. He's not a fan of Mitten's. He likes young 956 01:03:30,719 --> 01:03:34,639 Glove. I don't like young Glove, but I don't think you get to 957 01:03:34,679 --> 01:03:37,840 choose your own nickname. But if he doesn't like the mitten, then we 958 01:03:37,840 --> 01:03:39,280 stopped calling him the mitten. That's right, Fawn is he doesn't get the 959 01:03:39,320 --> 01:03:44,159 pick. But if he doesn't like something like I don't know if he came 960 01:03:44,239 --> 01:03:46,119 up with the young glove, but he likes young Glove better than Mitten. 961 01:03:47,400 --> 01:03:52,159 Agree. First of all, he's like he's like thirty, So like, 962 01:03:52,159 --> 01:03:54,760 you don't get to be called young glove anymore. I guess in comparison to 963 01:03:54,800 --> 01:04:00,119 your dad. Sure, you like young glove. I like what he I 964 01:04:00,239 --> 01:04:02,519 like. I would rather call him what he prefers to be called, because 965 01:04:02,559 --> 01:04:06,159 I could see how mittens might rub him the wrong way, Like, you 966 01:04:06,199 --> 01:04:10,239 know, it took him a while to get where he was getting. He's 967 01:04:10,320 --> 01:04:14,679 not very big, you know, he's always in his dad's shadow. I 968 01:04:14,679 --> 01:04:15,920 could see how it just might like rub him the wrong way, and he 969 01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:20,239 just doesn't want to be called that. So I don't know synonyms for glove 970 01:04:20,280 --> 01:04:24,159 and mitten, Like I'm out after that, So I just googled it and 971 01:04:24,199 --> 01:04:29,719 we could call him the Gauntlet. That's so good, Dan, Oh my 972 01:04:29,800 --> 01:04:33,719 god, that's genius. So because everybody has to run the gauntlet. Yeah, 973 01:04:33,719 --> 01:04:38,280 there you go. So that's the The other ones are bad. There's 974 01:04:38,400 --> 01:04:43,159 muff that could turn terribly that would be so bad. And the other one 975 01:04:43,199 --> 01:04:45,039 is gauge, which I did not know was a synonym for a glove. 976 01:04:45,199 --> 01:04:47,840 But I don't mind the Gauntlet. I like it better than young Glove. 977 01:04:47,880 --> 01:04:53,760 I'll say that right now. Yeah. Yeah, we're recording this, and 978 01:04:53,800 --> 01:04:57,159 as we record this, their wind total is set at thirty nine point five. 979 01:04:57,639 --> 01:04:59,920 Are you smashing the over the under on that right now, and we're 980 01:05:00,079 --> 01:05:01,679 you sort of see them stacking up in the larger picture of the West. 981 01:05:03,320 --> 01:05:08,960 I mean it being fall of course, I'm hitting me over also, Damian 982 01:05:09,039 --> 01:05:12,159 lo Lord is coming back. Like earlier in the summer, it was like 983 01:05:12,280 --> 01:05:15,119 ridiculously low, and I think they're getting to a more reasonable over under. 984 01:05:15,760 --> 01:05:20,519 So I mean, I think the West is you know, all these other 985 01:05:20,519 --> 01:05:28,079 teams and all these other teams getting better is super annoying. So for once 986 01:05:28,119 --> 01:05:35,800 in my life, I'm grateful for the Jazz. But I think that realistically, 987 01:05:38,320 --> 01:05:44,840 I think they're probably high play or very low not play in like six 988 01:05:44,960 --> 01:05:49,760 or seven. Trying to be realistic and trying to be somewhat optimistic about it. 989 01:05:50,320 --> 01:05:53,880 You know, there's always the chance that they could be four, like 990 01:05:53,960 --> 01:05:56,119 for some reason, four is always like, you know, fourth in the 991 01:05:56,159 --> 01:06:00,920 West. But I just think, somewhat optimistically, I would go with seven 992 01:06:01,039 --> 01:06:03,840 or six, given the fact that these guys might take a little while to 993 01:06:03,920 --> 01:06:09,199 gel. They're still getting to know the new coach. The GM has come 994 01:06:09,199 --> 01:06:12,760 out and said we're not as good as we could be still, so that 995 01:06:12,800 --> 01:06:15,480 was like an incredibly refreshing thing, you know, to say too. But 996 01:06:16,280 --> 01:06:20,119 you know they're never out with Damian Lillard, they're always gonna do better. 997 01:06:20,159 --> 01:06:23,519 As long as you have Damian Lillard, they're always going to do better than 998 01:06:23,559 --> 01:06:26,320 what people think they're gonna do. I'm with you and that if if they're 999 01:06:26,360 --> 01:06:30,840 relatively healthy for the year, thirty nine point five does sound seem low because 1000 01:06:30,920 --> 01:06:33,960 like they're they're top seven guys, and certainly they're top six guys depending on 1001 01:06:34,000 --> 01:06:39,360 how you feel about nas little like, certainly they're top six are really good, 1002 01:06:39,719 --> 01:06:42,440 Like the top six seven of these guys can be really good, and 1003 01:06:42,480 --> 01:06:44,920 so if you have concerned about their depth or you think someone else is gonna 1004 01:06:44,960 --> 01:06:47,039 get injured, thirty nine point five does I have to go through and do 1005 01:06:47,079 --> 01:06:49,960 mine for the entire league. And I've been hitting me over on every single 1006 01:06:49,960 --> 01:06:54,679 podcast, but just sort of like where I don't expect the Kings to be 1007 01:06:54,760 --> 01:06:58,559 great, but they're over under feels really low. I have the Blazers in 1008 01:06:58,599 --> 01:07:01,079 my head around like five or a little bit over that, in which case, 1009 01:07:01,159 --> 01:07:04,440 like thirty nine point five just feels a touch too low for them. 1010 01:07:04,519 --> 01:07:08,880 Yeah, that's where I am like, Damian Lord can't do it all, 1011 01:07:09,039 --> 01:07:13,440 and it's potentially he has a lot more help. But until I actually see 1012 01:07:13,440 --> 01:07:15,320 it, I'm not ready to like go like, yeah, they're gonna come 1013 01:07:15,320 --> 01:07:17,719 in fourth in the West. Right now, I'm gonna hold it. You 1014 01:07:17,760 --> 01:07:21,280 know, you can get over but not buy a ton, And I don't 1015 01:07:21,280 --> 01:07:24,960 want to be too rosy, but like you can show a ton of progress 1016 01:07:24,960 --> 01:07:28,559 for the future and still not wind up too high in the standings this year. 1017 01:07:28,800 --> 01:07:30,760 Just looking at how many teams are, there are eleven teams in the 1018 01:07:30,800 --> 01:07:35,360 West that are chasing a playoff spot, and some of them there's like a 1019 01:07:35,360 --> 01:07:40,000 bunch of them that have the potentials to win fifty plus games. So is 1020 01:07:40,039 --> 01:07:42,679 there anything I didn't ask you about with regards to this team that you think 1021 01:07:42,719 --> 01:07:46,679 we need to discuss. I feel like we covered a lot. I'm still 1022 01:07:46,719 --> 01:07:51,000 I know that you always want to know what I've learned about, you know, 1023 01:07:51,199 --> 01:07:55,679 pets, and I am trying very hard to find out if the new 1024 01:07:55,679 --> 01:07:58,440 players who've been added to the game have any pets, but I'm afraid I 1025 01:07:58,480 --> 01:08:03,119 don't have any information on that. We did talk about how we've got some 1026 01:08:03,440 --> 01:08:09,840 extremely fashionable Jeremy Grant, so I'm really excited to see if that's gonna the 1027 01:08:09,840 --> 01:08:15,159 rest of the team's gonna step up their game in terms of tunnel walks. 1028 01:08:15,639 --> 01:08:18,159 These are the kinds of things I think about. I know, maybe they're 1029 01:08:18,159 --> 01:08:21,279 not what you think about, but yeah, I'll just say I have no 1030 01:08:21,319 --> 01:08:25,159 idea what this team is going to look like, and I just really hope 1031 01:08:25,199 --> 01:08:28,439 that like ten games in, I'll have a better idea and I won't be 1032 01:08:28,479 --> 01:08:30,279 still going what are they doing? That I'll be able to be like, 1033 01:08:30,359 --> 01:08:33,399 oh, I can see where we're headed. They have like the potential, 1034 01:08:33,720 --> 01:08:39,520 like there are some sneaky good like between Game and Jeremy Grant and even nerk. 1035 01:08:39,560 --> 01:08:45,520 They might have some like fashionistas on this team. Yeah, you know, 1036 01:08:45,960 --> 01:08:49,159 Keian Johnson is you know, he's a young fella, but he's got 1037 01:08:49,279 --> 01:08:54,680 high aspirations. He's already got a deal. He's actually a big fisherman and 1038 01:08:54,720 --> 01:08:58,880 so he has a deal with like a fishing brand for fishing outfits. I 1039 01:08:58,880 --> 01:09:02,479 mean all been like the overall cargoes or whatever. I'm all for it. 1040 01:09:03,680 --> 01:09:06,640 How cool is that? So? Uh Yeah, No, I just think 1041 01:09:06,680 --> 01:09:11,079 I think ever, there's like sort of this huge side of relief that whatever 1042 01:09:11,199 --> 01:09:15,079 we're calling last year is over. We're turning the page. We have the 1043 01:09:15,119 --> 01:09:19,000 team in place. Now it's up to them to go learn like what the 1044 01:09:19,079 --> 01:09:24,159 new kind of basketball is going to look like, and you know to work. 1045 01:09:24,520 --> 01:09:27,359 You know, have Damian Lillard back is just it's so great. I 1046 01:09:27,800 --> 01:09:30,239 can't wait to have them back. And like twenty five percent of the roster 1047 01:09:30,279 --> 01:09:33,840 has new abs, Like, how can you think about the Blazers, Tara? 1048 01:09:34,000 --> 01:09:38,439 This was fantastic as always, In case anybody skipped the intro, are 1049 01:09:38,479 --> 01:09:42,279 you able to tell our listeners where they can find you and the podcast that 1050 01:09:42,279 --> 01:09:46,479 you're putting out. Yes, I am on Twitter at tcb B i ggs 1051 01:09:46,600 --> 01:09:50,720 that has two b's and two gs, and the We Have a Take podcast 1052 01:09:50,920 --> 01:09:55,720 is on Twitter at we Have a Take and it's wherever you get podcasts. 1053 01:09:56,119 --> 01:09:59,000 I just want to echo that Tara's really fun to follow. But do we 1054 01:09:59,039 --> 01:10:02,079 have a Take podcast? A breath of fresh air relative to typical NBA coverage, 1055 01:10:02,119 --> 01:10:04,800 So go check that out. Thank you as always, Sarah. You 1056 01:10:04,800 --> 01:10:09,520 know by now I will be spamming your dms at some point in the future. 1057 01:10:09,600 --> 01:10:11,760 But thank you so much for all the time that you always give me. 1058 01:10:12,119 --> 01:10:13,039 Thank you for having me