2019/20 Blazers 1.0 vs Blazers 2.0

[RR7]

I don't see why putting out a slower, bigger lineup would not increase the amount of open threes we give up.

Where did the Blazers rank in the league this year at open three attempts given up? I'm assuming it's bad, just not sure how bad.

I think if we have a better defender, in Nurkic, in the middle, it wouldn't require as much rotation elsewhere, cutting back on a lot of those open 3s. Just one thought

 

[TBpup]

I think if we have a better defender, in Nurkic, in the middle, it wouldn't require as much rotation elsewhere, cutting back on a lot of those open 3s. Just one thought

I believe Collins helps with that as well. He's got length but also the mobility to close out and at least somewhat stay with guys a little smaller on the perimeter. Gabriel is the best big at that but he likely won't sniff minutes for the rest of the season.

 

[JDC]

I don't see why putting out a slower, bigger lineup would not increase the amount of open threes we give up.

Where did the Blazers rank in the league this year at open three attempts given up? I'm assuming it's bad, just not sure how bad.

3rd most in terms of raw 3pt attempts.

Only Toronto and Milwaukee give up more, but at a lower percentage. Both do a better job giving up those looks to the right guys and more of them are likely late in the clock as well.

https://stats.nba.com/teams/opponent-shots-closest-defender-10/?Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season&CloseDefDistRange=6+ Feet - Wide Open&sort=FG3A&dir=1

 

[Tince]

3rd most in terms of raw 3pt attempts.

Only Toronto and Milwaukee give up more, but at a lower percentage. Both do a better job giving up those looks to the right guys and more of them are likely late in the clock as well.

https://stats.nba.com/teams/opponent-shots-closest-defender-10/?Season=2019-20&SeasonType=Regular Season&CloseDefDistRange=6+ Feet - Wide Open&sort=FG3A&dir=1

Awesome, thank you. Pretty bad! Interesting the teams who give up more are among the best in the NBA and many teams near the bottom of this list aren't very good. Surprises me a little bit.

Also interesting to me that Toronto and Milwaukee's opponents aren't as good at making wide open threes. Maybe they're leaving the right people open, or maybe that's a lot like the FT% defense stat and we just had some bad luck.

Still not convinced playing Whiteside and Nurk together would improve that number.

 

[TBpup]

Awesome, thank you. Pretty bad! Interesting the teams who give up more are among the best in the NBA and many teams near the bottom of this list aren't very good. Surprises me a little bit.

Also interesting to me that Toronto and Milwaukee's opponents aren't as good at making wide open threes. Maybe they're leaving the right people open, or maybe that's a lot like the FT% defense stat and we just had some bad luck.

Still not convinced playing Whiteside and Nurk together would improve that number.

It's who those teams leave open. Stotts thought it was a good idea to leave Curry open. Budenholzer and Nurse seem to have a different (better/winning) opinion as to whom to leave open in their game plans.

 

[riverman]

I think Ariza and Trent Jr are better defenders than our stats show this season because they didn't play first half of the season much. Baze was super inefficient on offense, Mario couldn't shoot...couldn't pass...tried hard on defense...was starting to play better but Trent Jr made a leap this season and Ariza showed he can still hoop and play big minutes

 

[THE HCP]

I think if we have a better defender, in Nurkic, in the middle, it wouldn't require as much rotation elsewhere, cutting back on a lot of those open 3s. Just one thought

I'm no analytics guy, but to imagine taking the NBA's leading shot blocker OFF the floor and you would become a better defensive team!?!?

 

[JDC]

I'm no analytics guy, but to imagine taking the NBA's leading shot blocker OFF the floor and you would become a better defensive team!?!?

Hassan is the better pure rim protector for sure.

Nurk helps our defense in more subtle ways imo. Better positional defender, far more physical and smarter with his help around the rim.

Shows up most in defensive rebounding impact metrics.

Adjusted defensive rebounding rate (5-year sample): Nurk 29th, Hassan 366th.

http://nbashotcharts.com/rapm5?id=-756193914

 

[damianlillard]

I'm no analytics guy, but to imagine taking the NBA's leading shot blocker OFF the floor and you would become a better defensive team!?!?

I think he was talking about 3 point defense. Whiteside is an elite shot blocker, no one is denying that. But he drop by in the pick and roll pretty far meaning other players have to step in a little more. While Nurkic isn’t as great as a shot blocker, he is elite in the pick and roll defense. He rotate and time everything so well that other players don’t have to worry about leaving their man. Also one last thing Whiteside block shots toward outbound meaning that block is ineffective since the other team get the ball back. Nurkic forces block shot off of the backboard or forces tough shot around the rim so that his teammates have a chance to get the ball back

 

[riverman]

I'm no analytics guy, but to imagine taking the NBA's leading shot blocker OFF the floor and you would become a better defensive team!?!?

imagine how many shots he's going to block against bench 5s....we'll dominate with Nurk and Hassan...Nurk however is the better passer from the high post and finisher at the rim..Nurk is a triple double threat

 

[Tince]

It's who those teams leave open. Stotts thought it was a good idea to leave Curry open. Budenholzer and Nurse seem to have a different (better/winning) opinion as to whom to leave open in their game plans.

Ahh... Game 1 last year. Tough one to get over for sure.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I'm no analytics guy, but to imagine taking the NBA's leading shot blocker OFF the floor and you would become a better defensive team!?!?

Yup, blocks and steals don't equal defense.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Thinking ahead... who do we start against the Lakers? That’s the 100 million dollar question. Does Collins start on AD? The time we beat them, Gabriel played decent defense on him. Can’t imagine we want Melo or Nurk on him.

 

[damianlillard]

Thinking ahead... who do we start against the Lakers? That’s the 100 million dollar question. Does Collins start on AD? The time we beat them, Gabriel played decent defense on him. Can’t imagine we want Melo or Nurk on him.

At that point we would’ve played 8 games plus the wild card games. So Collins should have his rust shaken off by then allowing us to start him against Davis. If the only thing Melo can do is scoring than he will have no chance of doing that against Davis so we should have him come off of the bench giving him a better shot of getting points against the back up. I say we have a lineup of Lillard/CJ/Ariza/Collins/Whiteside with Trent/Melo/Nurkic all coming of the bench to give scoring and some defense. The reason why I would start Whiteside over Nurkic is simply because Nurkic haven’t played in so long that I think it’s reasonable that he will be inconsistent but he will be better than Swanigan no matter what

 

[TBpup]

They are probably out there, but where are the articles about Nurkic and Collins being completely ready and training/practicing to come back?

 

[Chris Craig]

Does anyone understand what our schedule will be?

I have a pal who is convinced we play the Lakers twice in that 8 game wrap-up schedule but @Chris Craig 's post above is totally different.

The last two games are unclear. The Blazers won't likely play both their 7th and 8th games against the Lakers. The Blazers will likely play the Lakers for game #7 then either Miami or Orlando for game #8. Knowing the Blazers luck it will be heat.

 

[Eastoff]

They are probably out there, but where are the articles about Nurkic and Collins being completely ready and training/practicing to come back?

Damian said in an interview, Nurkic was ready to come back when the league shut down. Collins said he would be ready as soon as the league started back up.

 

[Chris Craig]

They are probably out there, but where are the articles about Nurkic and Collins being completely ready and training/practicing to come back?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cb...rs-zach-collins-healthy-expected-to-play/amp/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fa...-fully-healthy-expected-to-be-cleared.php?amp

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/05... Nurkic, sidelined,are now both fully healthy.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/clutch...-warning-nba-about-healthy-portland-team/amp/

 

[Jon]

how are you going to start Nurk over Whiteside? Nurk is coming back from a year long + injury and has never had the numbers Whiteside has. starting Nurk this season would be foolish.

 

[Eastoff]

I think we'll see the starters remain the same. But the finishers... That's a different story. Terry will definitely be experimenting to find the right balance. I bet we'll see some GT2 at 3 and Ariza 4 and Collins 5 if necessary.

 

[TBpup]

I think we'll see the starters remain the same. But the finishers... That's a different story. Terry will definitely be experimenting to find the right balance. I bet we'll see some GT2 at 3 and Ariza 4 and Collins 5 if necessary.

I can see Whiteside starting but Nurk finishing. Or certainly going a little smaller to close (Terry like that) but having Collins makes that much more feasible. Hope GTR can build on the roll he was starting.