Blazer Focused: Portland Trail Blazers’ midseason report, what have we learned about this team?

Blazer Focused: Portland Trail Blazers’ midseason report, what have we learned about this team?

The Portland Trailblazers reached the halfway point of the Season what do we know now that we didn’t know at the start of the Season we will talk about that and more on the latest edition of the Blazer Focus podcast I Aon Fentress of The Oregonian Oregon live and I’m

Joined by Craig burnback who’s coming back from a weekend of debauchery in Las Vegas with Kelly a coin I saw the reports that you guys were wanted for at least most of the weekend there was some kind of like hangover is things going on tell the truth I me I can’t believe

We’re doing this podcast cuz it’s going to be traced you know to you and then the police are going to find you so what what what do you guys do in Vegas man come on I watch I know what happens in Vegas I did actually over you know like

I’m not a debauchery guy we watch some sports you know I bet less than others we hang out same group of guys for 20 years you know about been doing this so Kell coin Blazer fanatic actor extraordinaire Ben the fence for 20 years that’s all I

Heard yeah my real our good our good connecting friend benang Ben MTZ who’s the host of Turner Classic Movies who I’ve known for 25 years and Kelly’s known for longer yeah we had a good time watched a lot of football little bit of basketball uh overpaid for some dinners

Uh and you know I don’t I don’t take part in the spirits so I’m uh you know I’m still drinking my Snapple iced tea while the rest is getting I don’t I mean I’m a child like in the morning everyone’s getting coffee I hate coffee it’s hot dirt water I get hot chocolate

Tonight people are getting drinks and I’m like uh can I uh can I get Coke juice on the Rocks that’s what I get I’m like can I get a Coke they’re like everyone’s like you want Diet Coke I’m like no no I don’t like Diet Coke I’m

Not an adult I want I want a child drink I want all the sugar I want the coke so caught a couple of the Blazers games missed a little bit of last night’s on the plane but caught up you know not not a good one but uh yeah here we are

Halfway Mark I feel I feel pretty good I gotta tell you you know if we go back and look at the predictions my win loss total I’m right I’m right there you know where finish what was your to it was in the 20s you know high end was like 28 I

Think I might have said 25 so they’re right there you know right you do the double I I can’t remember what I said I think I said right around you thought they were going to do a little bit better and there there was potentially 30 yeah

Maybe 30 so there 12 29 at the halfway point now they’re 12 and3 after losing to the Lakers on Sunday that puts them on Pace for about 24 wins I I I still think 30 is legit because I didn’t know ant was gonna be gone for 22 or whatever

It is I didn’t know eighton was gonna miss 12 so I think I think those two missing that many games is worth a few wins and if you give him three more wins that puts him on Pace for 30 I feel good about that but injuries are a part of it

Right just do whatever you can to make yourself right do whatever you can like just just fix stuff right make it move stuff around it just changed the variables and boom you’re good oh you’re wife your wife is an angel you just know it huh just know it

Because like without even any stor you at one point You’ be like well Aaron you’re a half hour late well you know technically I had to get gas because you left the car without gas so that’s eight minutes and I’m only half hour late because you said 7 not 7:30 otherwise

I’d be right on time I don’t know what you’re talking about all right um so so basically you’re saying they’re right about where you thought they would be I think they’re a little below I’m gonna blame injuries and that’s you know I think that’s fair but um any okay let’s

I did a mid-season report uh I do it every year and I gave out some Fess Awards trying to keep it positive trying to keep it positive so let’s let’s talk let’s let’s use that vehicle to talk about the team where it is right now and

Sort of what we sort of see for the second half first MVP for me it’s easy Jeremy Grant 22 points per game four or something rebounds has been the most consistent player been the most healthy player amongst their best players and obviously has missed like 22 games you

You any problem with Jeremy Grant as as a team’s MVP elevated his his aggressiveness this season he’s carried them some nights he’s been looking pretty good process of elimination like who else like who are you competing honestly when I thought about it right like who else would it be like there’s

No Shar or brog probably right but you know sharp you can’t put there so still inconsistent missed a ton of games up and down brockton’s missed a you know some games and he’s off the bench you’re right in the wins there’s all you know he’s been consistently good but yeah the guy

Averaging you know 22 who’s played the most is your MVP because he’s almost like running unopposed you really have to stretch argument for anyone else so yes I agree with Jeremy Grant is your MVP I still don’t think he’s having a great year I I look at the other no the

Other numbers are not good I mean he should rebound more you talked about you thought this guy was gonna average eight rebounds a game when he got and I was like hey those are real when did I say that remember we argued I he’s like oh he’s gonna increase his rebounding when

He got he does when he got here yeah I thought he might yeah I mean he’s been fine I mean he’s getting paid to to score 20 plus and he’s doing it um but I haven’t um I’m not sitting here saying that he’s having an amazing year but

Some of that’s not his fault because he’s not built to carry a team you know and he’s not he’s built to be um really a third wheel in a good way you know the third best player maybe um and defensively it’s hard for him to stand

Out because he is the kind of guy that if everyone else is doing their job he’s going to sneak in and get Steals and blocks um like th’s a one-on-one defensive monster you know I mean just it doesn’t matter like he jumps in that’s not Grant’s thing he’s always

Been really solid jump in the lane good Defender um but yeah he’s the MVP because you couldn’t even I don’t see any argument for anyone else okay first of all he would have improved his rebounding had he improve it so I wasn’t wrong on that you guys got to think

Exactly got to think about it for a second he was like what the hell did he just say what did he say but but let’s give the guy credit with ant being out a lot with youngans playing you know I mean some nights he’s out there starting

With scoot Kamar and wath yes with all of that dude’s shooting 46% from the field and 40% on threes he’s played really good basketball if I’m a contender and I need another dude why am I not interested in this guy why am I not maybe trying to get this yeah like

To me he’s played himself into a position where a team that feels like it’s one player away and you’re not necessarily talking about you know an allar you just want to get another guy that you can trust to make things happen gez look at what this guy’s doing and

You compare it to when he was in Detroit and he was the guy his shooting percentages were way way worse he was shooting 35% on threes 43% from the field so he’s gotten a lot better as being the guy on this team so I mean I I

Hate to see go but people talk about his contract but you know if you’re a good team 30 million what’s 30 million you getting a guy can give you 20 30 million seems to be the going rate it’s the five years that that’s hard it’s the five years four remaining yeah four remaining

Though yeah I mean I’m just saying like it’s 160 million with four more he’s 29 pay to win you gotta pay to win I’m not saying it if you’re asking what what the deterrent would be that’s what it is it’s year it’s year you know three and

Four in a contract when he’s 30 you know three years old um but back you know then 30 mil will be nothing so the S cap will be bigger so I don’t think it’s a huge deterrent except for it um but that’s the reason um and you don’t have

The you don’t have the space for it in your mind because you have a plan and you didn’t have the Jeremy Grant part of the plan and you would have to possibly change your plan but yes he’s he’s a proven player um the one thing that hasn’t proven is the

The winning part you know you don’t know what he’s going to be like in the playoffs and that’s the other part where you’d be like huh we’re gonna bring this guy in to win a championship or contend I wonder what he’s gonna be like because

Um we don’t know I mean I would I would think he’d be really good but you don’t know until you he’s your third guy you’re asking you’re asking for the reasons right those are the reasons contract and the guy hasn’t done it before as opposed to you know there’s

Plenty of guys that their numbers don’t look great I mean Robert ory’s you know regular season numbers don’t jump off the page but everyone wanted him and people talk about him being a Hall of Famer because of what he could do in the last you know eight minutes of every

Important game that’s ever been played you know right they don’t call Big Shot Grant yet that’s true they don’t they don’t that’s why all right uh top rookie we have we have a little bit of a controversy here I’ll let you go first yeah to me and I just played a

Little bit of video there so sorry about that uh didn’t mean to the sound I didn’t mute it um was it video from Vegas of debauchery no it was like something off you ESP an.com some stat thing I was looking at um yeah I’m not as my

Top my top rookie I’m putting tamani and wreath I’m gonna you know call it a tie because um I think that what they’ve given you tumani almost since the beginning who thought he would be would have been able to be taken out of the starting lineup

Right like he earned his way in he’s earned a role he was a second round draft pick possible you know I don’t want to call him a throwin because the Blazers pushed for him you know they they knew they wanted him but they could have had him earlier and didn’t um and

He’s turned out to be a player that you can now Envision seeing as a rotation player and come on wreath like what the heck I mean this guy’s starting and at he’s second leading score on some nights he was starting because two guys were injured I know but this guy was playing

In Lebanon you know like no one thought this guy was goingon to play in the NBA that makes him a top story not a top rookie but go ahead well I’m just saying like if I look at I’m doing it because I think it’s an amazing story he’s

Contributing and he has earned a a place in the rotation like he’s earned it he he’s been consistent I mean he’s a really a good shooter for a big man and in the modern NBA that’s important and tamani does uh defensively he’s been fun to watch um obviously he’s going a

Little bit in the down Route but I’m gonna pick them both over scoot because if you ask me what here’s scoot’s numbers at the halfway part would you be disappointed I would say yes that’s not I would be disappointed I’m not saying it’s over he’s a bust I’m

Saying it hasn’t been a great first half of his first season he’s gotten plenty of minutes plenty of opportunities um but I look at it if you’re shooting at 37% and you’re not contributing in the wins usually it’s usually he’s not one of the reasons why they won um and your

Highlight is a 30-point game when you took 30 shots like I’m not going to be thinking that’s I’m not just going to default to it because he’s the third overall pick um and he’s averaging the most points so won’t do it I’m gonna shift mine a little bit I’m keeping

Scoot but instead of scoot to mine I’m gonna go scoot wreath Scoot and tman tamman is a better story because like you said second round pick works his way into the starting lineup scoot was a third pick Etc but they’re they’re shooting they’re both having trouble shooting the ball scoot though is

Saddled with more responsibility playing the point guard which is tougher to do um and he’s had enough positive moments he had a great stretch there he was shooting like 43% on threes over like 10 nine or 10 games um and then I think re reath has been better than than tumay

Has for sure so you convinced me on that but I’m gonna go with Scoot and wreath as your top rookies of the year but yeah I just feel like you know how I mean in in my world what you’re saying is that it was almost impossible

For scoot not to to get this award you know like I mean you well no if Tani was shooting if Tani was shooting like reath would then I’d be with you but Tani’s not so both of them are struggling offensively offensively but one has had

A far higher burden to deal with and has had more bigger games than the other ones scoot has had a lot of good games he’s had double digit assists he’s had 30 points like he’s had some nice moments whereas tumani has kind of been overhyped what he’s done because of the

Story but when you really look at the totality of him it’s like H you know he’s been okay so I’m going to ask so I’ll ask a different question to if I told you at the halfway mark scoot was GNA be averaging playing over 27 points a game he was going to be

Shooting 36% from 29% from three yeah averaging 4.7 assists 12.2 points and 3.3 turnovers a game I’d be like what’s your grade what I mean I guess different what’s your great average that’s what that’s what I expect you would expected that that poor 36 don’t you remember me S screaming the

Entire summer I thought he was gonna struggle shooting horribly there’s no way he was gonna get better as a shooter from what we saw in the G League to the to NE to the NBA so I’m not shocked at all that he has has struggled shooting the turnovers I’m not shocked at all

With that either because you’re you’re asking a 19-year-old to run an a mediocre NBA team that’s a lot to ask so again he and tumani offensively have both been negative players right but one of them has had some really good games the other one offensively the other one has not had

Any really good games offensively scoot has scored 30 points he’s had double digit like like I said assist he’s had nights where he’s lit it up so he’s shown some flashes offensively tman has not so that’s that’s all right so I’m basically grading on a bell curve here

And you’re not right I got you and and you’re right scoot’s still 19 all those numbers are what they are I guess really the part that has disappointed me with scoot is a little bit of the lack of the seeing that athleticism that I expected those moments of you know you had a

Moment where he he you know broke some ankles and made a beautiful layup and we’ve seen we haven’t seen enough of those and I guess that’s where maybe I’m overdoing the numbers and I think part of sorry I think part of that because he’s thinking so much he’s spending so

Much time trying to process and think and run the offense that he’s not just able to go out there and just play freely and that’s why we haven’t seen more of those moments where you’re like holy crap that looked like John Moran right but we’ll see we’ll see have fun

Let’s hope I mean I I mean I can’t imagine it’s not coming like there’s a reason why he was the third overall pick and what everyone saw in him and we so I I have to assume that that’s the reason and we’ll see more of that and um and

Eventually we’ll get to it there’s probably going to be no choice but to play him depending how this roster’s built and hopefully we’ll see uh see more of those moments all right okay most improved player I got Shaden sharp yeah I’m I’m I’m going to go I’m

Going to I’m going to go differently on on uh this start trouble you’re just here to start trouble I’m not starting trouble I’m going to go with Jabari Walker I mean I think that’s fa I’ll give you that I’ll give you that I mean the guy has has taken his game to

Another level and and consistently earned his way into the starting lineup you know what you’re getting with him from him every night and I still don’t know that with sharp so um yeah it’s sharp at there moments when you’re like oh that’s it there’s no doubt and there

Was a stretch there where this was going to be a no-brainer for me but I’m going to go with Walker over sharp just because I he went from a guy that you didn’t know if he was really gonna be able to step up and be a rotation player

Who played last year because they needed him and this year you’re like oh my he’s he’s he knows what he’s gonna do he’s gonna play in this league I think he’s gonna play in the league for a long time um and and so you know Sharps numbers I

Mean he went from 10 points to 15 points that’s that’s impressive um but his shooting percentage is way down so I I it’s like well he’s playing 10 more minutes a game he’s he’s a focus of the offense um he’s shooting really you know poorly so that’s why I won’t give it to

Him he had a crazy stretch where he was playing literally like an Allstar for like five or six games and then kind of fell way off um and then of course you know got injured and ever since yeah then he got injured right so you know that’s that’s clearly impact to them now

He’s out again probably at least till the All-Star break but just I still think he made a big jump but I I give you Walker Walker has made a huge jump as well I don’t know if he’s you know a starting four in the NBA for a good team

But at the very least he’s a he’s a damn good versatile backup for uh who can play for a good team so definitely I’ll give you that one I I’ll give you I’ll give you Walker that’s a good one but I’m I’m Gonna Roll with sharp all right

Biggest surprise for me it’s wreath you know you come into the season thinking Aon Williams Jabari probably being the third Center and you obviously have injuries there and here comes this 26y old rookie like you said was playing in Lebanon who is who is playing really well now defensively obviously he’s

Gonna have some issues and I think that’s you know that’s to be expected but the fact that he’s shooting what 47% and 37% on threes or something like that uh you know Billups called him you know pick and pop and he’s definitely been pick and pop and so you can see a

Scenario moving forward where he could be your backup center and be a guy who can give you some versatility and give other teams a diff a different look and as he matures and grows and becomes a better Defender then he becomes a pretty pretty huge weapon for you yeah I have

No idea what the future is I have no idea like if you told me oh he’s out of the league next year I’d be like oh okay but what a story I mean he’s averaging almost 10 points a game and four rebounds and he’s shooting 48% like you said and he is

When he shoots threes you’re like oh that’s going in you know his last 10 he’s shooting at 40% rate um yeah he’s playing he’s I didn’t know who he was like no one did you know and you’re like oh who’s that oh that’s a cool story

It’s gonna be he’s you know he’s gonna get to play in an NBA game when he first got in you know what I mean you’re like oh he got NBA points like no matter what happens this guy can say he scored in an NBA game and I was like oh this guy

Could say he can hit a three I was like oh this guy could say he scored 20 you know like it’s amazing it’s definitely the biggest surprise and to me it’s the you know it’s pretty much the best story of the season so far is to to see this

Guy and and I’m just I’m you know rooting for him in five years he’ll be you know he’ll be close if he’s still in the NBA that’s amazing to me right uh yeah I Echo everything you said I wrote a little bit about him after his

Game his first game in La uh matis spent time with him in Australia so matis knew a lot about him and he was like when I asked him can I talk to you about uh reath he’s like if you want me to cry I was really I’m not gonna cry but it’s

Still it’s an emotional story he felt so happy for him all right best win of the Season there only been a you know 12 or one biggest disappointment oh big sorry biggest disappointment okay for me the fact that Robert Williams got injured that just really hurt this team you know

Like I said I still stand by my 30 wins because he got a eight missing tons 30 something games Williams missed 30 uh had Williams been healthy I I think that’s worth two or three wins at least just because he gives you some kind of Rim protection

When aon’s out when Aon was out and they were running out there with reath and and baji like that teams were just oaying themselves to the to the rim Williams would helped stop that uh really disappointed to not be able to see what he was going to bring to this

Roster so for me that’s the biggest disappointment it’s not fault it’s just something bad that happened but I’m disappointed in that the most this season yeah I would say if you thought Williams was going to be healthy that’s your fault and and I don’t mean that in

The B I mean that’s just looking at his career I mean he can’t stay healthy so and that’s why he was aail you know a big reason why Williams was available was because he can’t be dependent on so I don’t have him as the biggest disappointment because um he got hurt

And I didn’t think of it that way uh I have the guy who actually has started Center is the biggest disappointment and really based on how you convinced me how important it was and I have DeAndre Eon because as you said like that’s the key

To the get you know all the trades in the sense that I know it was a separate trade but if Aon ends up being a huge you know nothing out of this um getting rid of Lillard and doing this flip was a didn’t work and I just think it’s been

Really disappointing um he has been hurt uh with a knee injury that supposedly not serious but he missed a lot of gains because of it and he’s tall and he plays in Portland and he’s got a bad leg so like I can’t I can’t not have PTSD right

Like when you miss that many games and when he does play he’s averaging 31 minutes a game and he’s averaging you know less than 13 points a game and 10 rebounds and he has not even had a game of dominance um so I I just look at it

And say well you know you talk about his he’s got more steals than block shots per game like who who what like no no um and again I’m not giving up on him per se uh and it’s a weird spot for him to be in going from playing on the Suns where he

Was a guy that thought he deserved more off offensive opportunities but averaged 18 and 10 um yeah I I’m uh I’m very worried about the eighton AC acquisition right acquisation right now um I think he has been a huge disappointment because we should have been saying who’s

MVP Grant or Aon and we didn’t even he wasn’t even in the conversation so I gave Aiden the benefit of the doubt for most of the first half of the season because bips himself said they weren’t necessarily running running a lot of things for him but I did want

To see him be more aggressive uh and sort of go out there and establish that no matter what the situation no matter who the opponent is he’s GNA give you 20 and 10 if not more especially on a team with ants out and there’s a lot of

Points available now then he had the knee injury so I’m not gonna fault a guy for getting injury he missed 11 games because of the knee and then of course we had the ice capad situation so now now I’m now I’m neutral I’m no longer giving him the benefit of

The doubt I’m going be neutral for the second half of the season I want to see this guy bust out I want to see him dropping some 25s and 13s here and there I want to see him average closer to 208 at least 1819 for the

Second half of the season I want to see him demonstrate that he can be a legitimate piece to this puzzle because if he’s not and you’re stuck with a $34 million Center that everyone in Phoenix is saying ha we told you then everything’s the smoke and mirrors that

I said it was when they made all the trades because he was the most excited think people were most excited excited about and they were ignoring the fact that they didn’t really trade Dame and get Aon they traded Dame for Jew holiday and some stuff and then sent uh what’s

His face I can’t remember dude’s name who’s the guard Grayson Allen sent Grayson Allen to Phoenix was the only piece that came from that and then you traded nurkic who’s been better than Aon has this season and little and then of course Keon Johnson so they’re really

Separate but people like to lump them together because Aon makes the entire package look so much better and the reason why he looks so much better because the rest of the package was just me so if he doesn’t work out and you’re trying to get rid of him or trade him

And you’re not going to resign him then it’s a complete disaster and then you have to replace him because you’re gonna need some big people some people over six4 if you’re gonna ever get back to the playoffs so if you miss out on him being that guy at 25 26 27 28 moving

Forward that’s another that’s a piece you have to replace and those pieces are hard to find um so yeah there’s a lot writing on Aiden this as far as I’m concerned and I’m with you right now it’s a disappointment but like I said I’m neutral I’m going forgive the first

Half let’s move forward in the second half he needs to bust out and all that especially when Williams is hurt and you don’t know if he’s ever gonna be you know anything because right he’s out the entire year and you’re like well I hope he comes back and is okay but at some

Point in time you know guys just don’t recover and play consistently in this league if you keep having injuries so y I I’m uh I it’s just funny you talk through it and you’re like oh yeah that’s right little little doesn’t stink he’s he’s got you know he’s been playing

A little bit for you know contributing for the Suns and and nerkish is playing and um it’s not looking it’s not looking awesome no what what happened and all the crying about nish’s contract he makes half as much as aen does so yes all right biggest win of

The Season by far for me they beat Sacramento a really good team 130 to 113 on a night where Darren Fox had 43 sabonis had 34 ant had 29 but it was the bench the bench put up 65 points 20 21 rebounds and 15 assists scoot killed it wath

Killed it Jabari killed it uh that was the most impressive win by far for me they had some other nice wins they won at Cleveland they won they beat Indiana twice uh but for me that that win against Sacramento was most impressive yeah they beat Phoenix as a good win

Yeah but yeah I I don’t I mean they blew out a good team they did it at home the crowd got something you know to appreciate um and it’s not like they didn’t they played with you know their two two best players so I I’m 100% with

You on to me this is an easy one um because I mean reath had 25 Walker had 7 like it just it was nice the only thing it did 17 and 11 scoots game that was I mean he was a plus 21 he only had two fouls um he only had one

Turnover and 11 assists like y this is what you this that’s that’s what you want want that’s that’s a rebuild right like that’s like what you’re saying okay um we we know we’re getting what what you know what we need out of that so yes

I would um I I would agree with that completely okay so worst loss I’ll let you go first yeah well it’s kind of easy and so I made it less easy because you lose by 62 that’s usually you go right second worst l in franchise history so second

Worst yeah what I mean thunder thunder at the end of that road trip y bad yeah that’s I mean he lost by 62 I I threw in the conversation just kind of a joke the back-to-back Dallas losses on that um road trip were pretty awful because you

Get blown out with Luca that’s you’re like okay but then you get blown out a day later without Luca and you’re like oh you know like that’s R that’s a that’s a bad um two things so but I will say um yeah you lose by 62 you got to

Win that you got to win worse slots you got to hope to right right so yeah I mean yeah but here’s the thing that no wait okay so the 62 Point loss that’s where you had baji and and wath no Rim protection you had scooting ant playing

Guards and they were hideous on offense as well the ant was 0 for 10 that game uh and you’re playing a far superior team you’re near the end of a long trip they were pretty gassed so yeah it still is the second worst most lopsided loss in franchise history but for

Me the loss at home to Washington which was 4 and 22 at the time and they come in there when you’re pretty much healthy and you let them beat you and for me and again it’s not like I was I mean you know how I like to cling on to things

Because I’m trying to get through the season mentally so I need things to latch on to and I just felt like that’s a game you gotta win of course to at least maintain the illusion that you’re respectable and it made no sense that they let Washington come in there and

Just torch them and it was a close game but offensively Washington was just on and so that was the most disappointing loss Oklahoma city was the worst the Dallas games you know those are bad but again they were ant hedes came back he was still kind of sick you know so I

Still give them the benefit the doubt there but that Washington loss for me was the worst yeah I I I’m 62 no one’s I can’t I I can’t get blasted I mean like ble Mr burnback yeah Mar rebuttal uh 62 and I rest2 like I I I just can’t I can’t get

Past it I mean I mean it’s 62 I mean and no he’s talking about it no one’s thinking you’re respectable if you lose by 62 you know it’s just not a but the last time but but when the blaze was lost by 65 which is the record they went

46 and 36 and made the playoffs that year that’s what’s funny about it yeah fine2 I mean it’s a worst I mean like here’s what I know if somebody would have asked done a podcast back then and they would have said which is the worst loss of the year it would have

Been the one where they lost by more than 62 like you know it’s uh I I just you know yes losing to Wasing at home is really bad but it’s hard to lose by 62 points like it’s so hard to do that I mean you don’t it’s you don’t score 250

Points you know you you I mean last night they they lost terribly uh and they lost by 24 and that’s a terrible loss that’s 38 points better than the loss I’m saying is the worst loss so I’m standing by it and I’m not gonna I’m not gonna worry about uh

Defending it I’m just gonna say 62 fair enough all right expectations for the second half what are your expectations Craig over under 12 victories they got 12 in the first half can they go over in the second half yeah I mean I think they’ll probably be you know

Between 10 and 10 and 15 you know I think that’s where they’ll be um because the NBA is a weird place and you just don’t know if you’re G to beat Indiana at home when they make a big trade and maybe haven’t figured it out right

Because you’re not uh and H and maybe you beat Phoenix every once in a while but they’re not good they’re done they’re not good they’re hopefully you know people have um there’s no reason to win that shouldn’t be like we keep talking about that’s not the wi that’s not what we’re

Going to evaluate success on um and any game they win on the road will be a shock right they’re probably not gonna be favored for by more than in many if you know five games the rest of the year they maybe they’re favored I I don’t know who they’re playing so enough

I haven’t looked at game by game yet but yeah I would think that you’re looking at a very similar uh win loss for the second half I see 16 winnable and the wibles are like I’m notna name all 16 but you know you got Memphis uh New Orleans comes to town

They’re beatable obviously you beat Charlotte EXC me you beat Phoenix you beat Sacramento you beat Indiana you can beat the Pelicans you got Houston a couple times you got Atlanta you got Charlotte you got Washington again uh you got Golden State at home you know you can play with them obviously so I

Think there’s 16 winnable that means maybe they win six and then they pull off some upsets here and there and then the non- winable category which I was 24 non- winnable so so to speak so I think right around 10 I think they’re gonna you know pull the plug on some guys late

To try and ensure that they have a a top five ping pong ball chance uh that’s been the the patternn so far so I can’t imagine that somehow some way in March you know ant’s going to have some Sharp’s GNA have something aon’s GNA have something and they’re just going to

Roll out the kids and just get blasted so I’m going to say under 12 I think they finish under 22 wins on the season mainly because I think that they’re gonna pull the plug at some point yeah I don’t think it would matter if they pulled it or not but they have

To okay so hold on a second I but here’s the thing I love what he’s done lineup wise I I’ve in my in my mind I’ve been thinking the entire time that this would be their best lineup get Walker at the four Grant at the three because you’ve

Been asking him to rebound and he doesn’t and bips mentioned it like he said he’s been on him about it and I had a funny exchange with Grant when I’m like so you know Jeremy had e the other night you had four tonight uh chi says

He’s been getting on you but he’s like yeah you know I just need to do a better job of of crashing and getting more rebounds like and you had that one stretch of 10 games where you average like one point3 rebounds like you know

What do you need to do more of he goes well you know I just need to just do better grabing more rebounds and he kind of smiled at me like you know he knows he needs to do better but I think adding Walker with eight now you have two bigs

Who are gonna be able to bang around and get some offensive rebounds get some defensive rebounds and Grant doesn’t have as much of a burden on him and then Grant’s obviously is a way better three than Kamar and then you get scooted out of there right and then you’re starting

You’re G start sharp when he gets back but you’re starting Malcolm with ant that is like a legitimate starting five legitimate not playoff legitimate but at least an adult Laden starting five where you feel like you can do some things and not get blown out instantly which is

What they were doing before so I think if that lineup stays healthy that they could they could get some victories uh but I just don’t think it’s G to stay healthy and I think they’re going to pull the plug at some point on some guys so yeah they’re gonna trade I mean

They’re gonna trade their second most important score that’s the next conversation brog they got to trade him so and there’s a chance they trade Grant so unless I think that’s less likely but you got to trade brogon I mean and he has been in the winds in general he has it it’s

Close to he’s the argument for MVP because in their victories he’s been the most clutched player at times uh more consistently than anyone else obviously Simons hit a gamewinner the other day that’s pretty clutch but uh yeah the one constant it feels like has been brog in uh playing big minutes and

Scoring big buckets when it when it mattered so um but yeah you know fine you can I just feel like no matter what you say that when you push something up something gets pushed down right so Walker started he had seven rebounds in the loss to the Lakers and eight and

Somehow managed four so he only played 22 minutes so you know but that’s that’s not a lot Grant had three they got outrebounded by 10 so right I just feel like whatever you push up something gets pushed down on this team just because there’s a lack

Of talent um and and at times there’s a lack of focus and there’s a lack of um you know what they’re doing like they make huge mistakes uh on the defensive end and they make huge mistakes on the offensive end terrible turnovers complete and total breakdowns so there’s a lot of

Reasons why they’re 12 and 30 and it’s not just injuries so like yeah they could be 15 and 30 go you go Aaron you go come come on okay so they could be but I expected there to be could be even more okay of course if you break down

Everybody you know the Lakers are 2020 22 and 22 my guess is if you break down they could tell you where their three to five wins come from that’s that’s sports like you can always figure out why you lost except when you lose by 6 I believe

The Blazers lead the NBA in different lineups they they’ve had they they’ve had a pretty I mean you miss your best player for 20 plus you miss your Center for 15 you miss your backup center for 30 like that’s going to impact you of course a

Lot I’m not I’m not saying but there’s a lot and getting lucky with injuries is you know makes a big difference I mean Phoenix will tell you that they’ve not you know they got a big three that’s played two games together I I just expected there to be injuries on this

Team because they have a history of injuries a lot of the players that that you talk about I mean I didn’t expect Brogden to play the entire time I didn’t expect Aon to play the entire time um I certainly didn’t expect Williams to play the other the entire time Simon’s injury

Was just a kind of a fluke thing it happens but that stuff happens people spray in ankles people get hit in the head um they’re just not you know I I good for him change it up try to win I just when they win so like when they

Beat when they win games because I told you I’m not going to evaluate the season on wins and losses so when you beat the Pacers at home that’s good but when I look and see how you beat the Pacers I’m not that excited you know because I

Don’t I don’t see what I want like scoot was not a part of that win and the people that stepped up for you to win that game Grant scored 37 you’re like okay great you know like he had a he scored 37 a guy that I’d really rather

Not be the main scorer brogon had 30 I’m like wow he’s gonna be awesome when the Knicks get him I’m excited you know eight and at 12 right and Scoot didn’t play at all and I mean scoot played very he played eight minutes I mean he played good sharp didn’t play at

All and sco got you know he got banged up he played really well for eight minutes so it’s hard for me to be like oh this is awesome and you’re bet because what does it really mean for the franchise that win so that’s why I’m like good win I’m glad people that went

To the game got to see a victory but I evaluate that as a me not a like woohoo Fair all right let’s end on this trade deadlines February 8th we’ll obviously talk more about it but just initially we both agreed that brogon you got to move Brockton got ideally you

Probably move Grant both for him and for the franchise if you can get something really nice for Grant you can get a younger player you can get some Picks Grant probably not a part of the future ideally although you know I can see a scenario where you know in three years

He’s still your starting three and you you’re a lot better you know we’ll see but or you trade him next year when his contract is or or you trade him next year you know where his contract gets better every year so do you expect you

Expect at least bro to be gone and what do you expect them to get well hopefully a first round draft pick you know that’s that’s useful I mean that’s it that’s all I care about get me a first round draft pick that you know and I hope they

Can get one for him but other than that I don’t um I don’t see any team and maybe there’s a young player that they’re people aren’t using I mean you know the Knicks have Grimes that’d be a nice if if that’s part of it that he can play

Good Defender young shown he can shoot at times and there’s he’s not happy and they can’t find a spot for him so and the the Knicks have accelerated their you know they have a chance to be contend ERS in the East pretty quickly with what they’ve done um so something

Like that but you know the thing with brogon is he it’s not like he’s a piece not a future piece you know what I mean like so necessarily and we know that because of why he’s on the Blazers I mean he’s quality player but you know

People willing to to give him up so I think that um if you got a first round draft pick for a first round a young guy that was a first round draft pick or has shown um the ability to be a you know a possible starter I think that’d be great

But he is he’s on his four team you know I mean like there there’s a reason why uh he’s been getable because nobody has said this the price is huge does that make sense right yeah all right one last thing for Blazers fans uh we’ll get this up here

Soon so you can benefit from this and this information helps you on Wednesday as well so the G League ignite excuse me the G League ignite are in town that’s where scoot played they are in town Monday night six o’clock against the remix and Wednesday night against remix

And that matters because the G League ignite are the team where kids go to play if they don’t want to go to high school they don’t they don’t want to go to college they right away you go to play for the GV ignite which is what scoot did and they have three potential

Lottery picks Craig three they got this kid Modis buellis 610 power forward Lowry Markin in type very skinny 209 can shoot it can put it on the ground not an elite athlete he’s projected by a couple mck drafts to go top two so You’ need some Lottery ball help there to get him

And then there’s a guard six six guard his name is Holland hold on a second here sorry Ron Holland small forward SL guard 6 six very athletic Defender mediocre shooter but um developing in that area he could be available he’s projected to be four through seven and

Then you got Tyler Smith power forward 611 dude shooting 38% on threes I think yep 53% on twos it’s interesting I watched all of their highlight videos against the remix when they played them when they hosted them it’s just hilarious dude they’re just babies it’s so funny you it’s you add another

19yearold to this mix with Scoot and sharp and it’s like you’re running the daycare center it’s going to take long for these guys to develop into impact players but these are three talented guys Smith is supposed to go later in the first in in the lottery which means

Maybe you get him with the pick you have from the Warriors The Warriors right now I think are 10th or no 12th I think in the west if they continue to stay out of the playoff mix that would be a lottery pick for the Blazers so hey if you head

Out to the child Center and watch the remix Monday or Wednesday you could be watching a future Blazer maybe even two it’s possible Craig I see you out there I don’t I have to look at the schedule I love watching basketball at the child Center I love that place for

Basketball yeah it’s just a cool it’s a weird looking Dome I mean I don’t want to say weird in a bad way it’s Unique um I feel that I feel it’s a really good place to watch basketball I’ve always I’ve always liked it I’ve watched a lot

Of you know small to midsize college basketball and um it it’s to me one of the best kind of midsize Arenas in the country um and you know it’s not g to you you’ll you’ll get a good seat and you’ll get to see some interesting you know basketball and you will definitely

Be able to say I saw him win maybe not be a Blazer but somebody on that team is going to be a uh an NBA Allstar I mean there’s good odds on that and you’ll be able to say I saw him win uh he you know

Scored 12 points in the game and and he looked like he was 12 so yeah and uh and Fentress Fentress gets uh if you put in the coupon code frentress is always right you get a 10% uh discount just just kidding just kidding I me but

Anyway all right is is that it yeah we covered everything we’re we’re golden it’s been a while the snow kept us apart for a little bit yeah oh that man how I bet you had a lot of fun working for a school district during that time yep

Yeah anyway a lot of early mornings but I’m glad to see I heard it’s going to be like 59 degrees next Saturday woohoo going to go uh go swimming in the in the river awesome all right that’s it for the Blazer Focus p podcast thanks for listening please click that subscription

Button and give us a positive rating and we will be back with another podcast between now at least one if not two between now and the trade deadline but that’s that’s where the focus is right now man you know what are the Blazers going to do how can they flip you know

Broading into more assets it’s probably the the the biggest storyline of the next couple weeks for this team we’ll catch you later

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the Portland Trail Blazers’ first half of the season while naming MVP, most improved, best rookies, biggest disappointment, greatest surprise and more.

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