Dillon Goes for 28 in 25
Sometimes it comes down to where you are on The Timeline. Not the convoluted timeline of a Marvel movie, looping all over the place. Nor is it a question over the timeline of reality itself. We don’t need to determine where you stand in the debate over whether time moves in only one direction. We aren’t asking if time could behave like some mathematics describe it, and be manipulated. The question isn’t if time even exists. That all we have is linear causality, and suggesting there’s anything beyond it is simply beside the point.
No, we aren’t examining any of that, thankfully.
We’re looking at the timeline of rebuilding into first competence, then competitiveness, and then, it is to be hoped, contention for an NBA Title.
The Rockets timeline has them heading into the tank sooner, and more completely than Portland has. The Rockets dived almost all the way to the bottom of that tank. The Trailblazers seemingly tried to find a path that would allow perhaps more present competence, or a shorter turnaround time, with veteran players on the roster. One of those veterans was even recently re-signed to a deal: Jerami Grant.
The Blazers, unlike the depths of the Rockets tank, sport real, available, NBA players amidst the prospects, suspects and dross: Anfernee Simons, D’Andre (Domin) Ayton, Robert Williams III, the aforementioned Grant, and Deni Avdija.
That said, the Rockets started sooner and now are further along the timeline. But they wallowed along much the same as Portland has, but without real NBA vets. Last year saw a return to competence. Competence was restored in large part by Smilin’ Ime Udoka & Co, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.
Portland has veterans, but do any of their veterans do what Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks did? I’d suggest they, and coaching, reset the Rockets culture, and demanded a new, tougher, identity.
I’d argue that Ayton, at best, adds little to the culture of a Portland team seeking a new identity in the post-Lillard era. Williams is a fine player, but rarely available. Jerami Grant is a guy who at one time took less money to not play for a more competitive team, but to get more shots up himself on a worse one.
Chauncey Billups has a reputation as a tough, relentless player. A style that took him to the Hall of Fame. But what is it the Trailblazers are trying to achieve on offense or defense? The offense we saw from Portland tonight was reminiscent of The Silas Years. That is, “Your turn, my turn.” with no cohesion.
Portland’s most promising offensive players Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons (though it’s year six for Anfernee Simons, he’s probably pretty close to what he’s going to be) seem to alternate shooting possession much like Kevin Porter Jr and Jalen Green, without much thought to the other players.
Those other players are often guys trying very hard to move off the fringes of NBA rosters, like Toumani Camara or Delano Banton. When they get the ball, it’s generally going up, too.
All in all it’s a mess.
Defensively, well, two or three of Portland’s best defenders play center. Donovan Clingan makes guys like Steven Adams look small, and yet he seems to know how to play defense. That said, if attackers just get free runs at him, sure, he’ll stop it sometimes, but mostly he’ll foul. That probably seems familiar to you, if you watched Alperen Sengun during the Sad Silas Sojourn.
All in all, it’s the picture of a team a step or two behind Houston on The Timeline, just as OKC is a step or two ahead of the Rockets.
If you’re wondering why I’ve taken this approach, it’s because the Rockets roasted the Trailblazers and there’s really no new Rockets information to be had. The Rockets did what they do. They played great defense, they attacked on offense, and got offensive rebounds, and then Tari Eason and Amen Thompson (and Reed Sheppard to an extent as well) cried “havoc” and attacked like dogs of war (basketball war, anyway).
No Rocket played more than 30 minutes. The entire fourth quarter was garbage time. Every active Rocket played at least four minutes. The Blazers couldn’t break 90 points.
I should single Dillon Brooks out for praise, as he brought it on defense and offense. 28pts on 10-15 shooting, and 6-8 from three point range, along with 5 rebounds and 1 assist. For all the stuff Dillon does, he doesn’t really rebound. Fortunately others, like Amen Thompson rebound. A lot. Amen played 24 minutes, and scored 10 points. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, 5 offensive to go with 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Tari Eason continues to be by many metrics, one of the very best players in the NBA. Tonight in 22 minutes he scored 22 points on 8-14 shooting, along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals. If he’s made one more three, instead of 1-5, he’d have really crushed it. But as most of his non three point shots were dunks, it all worked out.
Alpie had a good game, and Fred VanVleet had a good non-scoring game. Jalen…Jalened. That is, he looked great, and then decided he looked so great he’d take some crap shots, so he ended up with not-so-great efficiency, despite perceptually playing very well.
The Rockets overall had 14 steals, and it felt like it could have been more.
The Rockets have now won two of two NBA Emirates Cup games. One more win probably gets them out of their group, and one step closer to The Falcon.
For some reason the Rockets play the Trailblazers again tomorrow night in Houston. Same time.
Please join us here, and on playback for the rematch!