About JJ Hickson....

[BigGameDamian]

Now I like the guy, he's a hustle player and puts up big numbers but is he really a game changer? His defense and passing isn't really all that great. He's like a young Elton Brand clone with Brand having a better outside shot. I just think his less than stellar defense gets overshadowed by his big numbers he puts up and hustle play. JJ Hickson is a perfect example of "buy low, sell high"

 

[Natebishop3]

Now I like the guy, he's a hustle player and puts up big numbers but is he really a game changer? His defense and passing isn't really all that great. He's like a young Elton Brand clone with Brand having a better outside shot. I just think his less than stellar defense gets overshadowed by his big numbers he puts up and hustle play. JJ Hickson is a perfect example of "buy low, sell high"

Not every player can be a "game changer", but I think Hickson's rebounding is game changing. Last night he was dominating the Knicks in the first half, and that's a team with Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby. For some reason Stotts didn't play him much in the second half, but he was a huge difference maker in the first half.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Stotts didn't play Hickson much in the 2nd half because of his lack of inside defense.

 

[blue9]

Yeah, his rebounding is definitely "game changing". Also, he's getting very high percentage shots. I love having a big guy who understands how to roll to the hoop after setting a pick. That side P/R with Nic is becoming a very nice tool for some easy points. And just having a hustle guy is game changing. I'm trying to think of the last time we had a guy like this and I'm coming up with Ruben Patterson - very different players, but both extremely valuable for their tenacity.
I can't blame his defense on him - he's guarding guys as best he can, and is doing a fair job at it, but he shouldn't be guarding Cs. But until Leonard develops, or we make a trade, we don't have anybody who can guard Cs and protect the basket. Because of that I think Hickson is doing as well as - or better than - expected.

 

[JDC]

Stotts didn't play Hickson much in the 2nd half because of his lack of inside defense.

I think it had more to do with the matchups. The Knicks went small for a large part of that 2nd half.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

Stotts didn't play Hickson much in the 2nd half because of his lack of inside defense.

I think it was the four fouls he picked up..did he not foul out?

 

[tester551]

I think Hickson's defense is a lot better than he gets credit for (not good or great.... but at least it is passible).

I also don't see that there is a large difference between Aldridge's defense and Hickson's. They let Aldridge defend the "weaker" post position and give Hickson the more challenging one.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Yeah, his rebounding is definitely "game changing". Also, he's getting very high percentage shots. I love having a big guy who understands how to roll to the hoop after setting a pick. That side P/R with Nic is becoming a very nice tool for some easy points. And just having a hustle guy is game changing. I'm trying to think of the last time we had a guy like this and I'm coming up with Ruben Patterson - very different players, but both extremely valuable for their tenacity.
I can't blame his defense on him - he's guarding guys as best he can, and is doing a fair job at it, but he shouldn't be guarding Cs. But until Leonard develops, or we make a trade, we don't have anybody who can guard Cs and protect the basket. Because of that I think Hickson is doing as well as - or better than - expected.

Then why doesn't he play more than 28 mins a game?

 

[blue9]

I dunno. Do you? I would guess that it has to do with a combination of things.
Match-ups
Flow of the game
Increasing outside shooting
Foul trouble
Stotts is trying to give Leonard AND Freeland some minutes - he surely isn't going to reduce LMA's minutes to play these guys.

I suppose that my guess as to the biggest reason for his limited minutes is that Stotts wants more outside shooters on the floor, coupled with the fact that Leonard/Freeland are taking minutes from Hickson. I certainly don't think that Stotts is limiting his minutes because of poor defense - rebounding is part of defense, so Hickson IS our best interior defender.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Stotts didn't play Hickson much in the 2nd half because of his lack of inside defense.

No, Hickson didn't play much in the second half because of foul trouble.

Funny thing is..... Hickson may not provide a ton of inside defense, but if you watched the game, everything else he was contributing was a big reason we were up big early. He was out of his rhythm in the second half because he was being called for ticky-tack fouls (though that one at the very end was dumb).

Hickson is doing what helped Z-Bo earn minutes here initially. You don't need to call plays for JJ. You just run your offense through the guys that need the ball, and he's going to get his by cleaning up. He's a high-energy guy. He's agressive, and his teammates clearly feed off the agressiveness and energy. He needs to put some of that energy and aggressiveness into his effort on the defensive end, and then he'll be alright.

That being said, I don't necessarily disagree with your buy-low, sell-high idea. But it really depends on what we can get for him (or "sell" him for). If we can truly sell high and improve the team, I'm all for it. I have the same belief with anyone on our roster, generally, though.

 

[RoyToy]

Hickson has a better PER, ORtg, DRtg, WS/48 than Nic Batum

The users that adore weird advanced statistics like these should be in love with him.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

 

[Natebishop3]

Stotts didn't play Hickson much in the 2nd half because of his lack of inside defense.

Luke Babbitt is a better inside defender?

 

[Natebishop3]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

Paul Allen doesn't have a "price range".

 

[DaLincolnJones]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

wat you overlook is the fact that no matter what we have to pay (fair market value) I doubt that there is another player available as good as JJ, and we know he fits in here..

 

[santeesioux]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

What would you want back for him?

 

[BigGameDamian]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

I agree!!

 

[blue9]

He's playing himself out of the Blazers price range.

I think he's a prime candidate to be dealt before the deadline.

I agree. Unless we trade LMA - then that has the possibility of opening up a WHOLE LOT MORE cap space and then we'd be able to afford to keep Hickson.

 

[santeesioux]

This probably isn't fair to JJ, but i have a bad feeling he would get a big payday and then stop trying. I think Hibbert is kind of doing that now, Hedo really dropped off after the Raptors saved us from signing him.

 

[BigGameDamian]

wat you overlook is the fact that no matter what we have to pay (fair market value) I doubt that there is another player available as good as JJ, and we know he fits in here..

JJ has a low basketball IQ he gets his points off of hustle, rbs and put backs. buy low, sell high.

 

[blue9]

It's not like Hibbert has an amazing year and then stopped trying. He had a pretty okay year and somehow (ha!) got a max contract. I don't get the impression that he was busting his hump for a contract then stopped once he got it - he never appeared to bust his hump at all.
It could be that Hickson is just trying to secure a bunch of money and will fade once he gets it. Maybe I'm naive, but I don't think that's the case. Watching him play, he appears to be motivated by the game, by the ball, not by the money. He's doing dirty work, not just trying to pad stats. I think he has finally found a place where he's comfortable playing. And THAT could factor into his decision when it comes time to sign a contract. Kinda like Joel - he chose to come back here because he was comfortable here. I think that with some players that struggle finding a place in a dysfunctional team, stability and comfort means more to them than your average player.

 

[blue9]

JJ has a low basketball IQ he gets his points off of hustle, rbs and put backs. buy low, sell high.

You've said this before. Please give us further explanation to back up your statement that he has low BBIQ. I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I'm not sure I agree either.
And just as a retort - I'd rather have a player with low BBIQ but lots of hustle than a player with neither.

 

[Haakzilla]

Now I like the guy, he's a hustle player and puts up big numbers but is he really a game changer? His defense and passing isn't really all that great. He's like a young Elton Brand clone with Brand having a better outside shot. I just think his less than stellar defense gets overshadowed by his big numbers he puts up and hustle play. JJ Hickson is a perfect example of "buy low, sell high"

...you must not remember how good Brand was at defense before his Achilles blew up - JJ Hickson is a perfect example of a role player needed on a championship roster, let the cake bake!

 

[DaLincolnJones]

You've said this before. Please give us further explanation to back up your statement that he has low BBIQ. I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I'm not sure I agree either.
And just as a retort - I'd rather have a player with low BBIQ but lots of hustle than a player with neither.

no kidding. Idont care if he produces by blowing bubbles with his ass..he is a big positive for this team..

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

I think JJ is the first case of "oops" signed by Olshey. He's too good. We should be trying to lose games to acquire better pick for ourselves at this point. He's actually helping us win games.

If we continue like we are....we'll end up forfeiting our 2013 1st Pick to Charlotte and only have 12 million to spend in a mediocre market for free agents. Bleh!

 

[PapaG]

I'm not sure how anyone can be complaining about what Hickson has given this year to the Blazers. He is limited, but he fulfills what he's asked to do very well, which is mainly rebound and score outside of the flow of an offense. Is he a tier-1 player? I don't think so, yet I think someone is going to come close to paying him as one next year, which will be a mistake, IMO. It's one reason why I think he may be moved at the trade deadline. May as well try and get a pick or two with an expiring back for him, instead of losing him for nothing.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Hickson was not originally signed by Oshley was he?

 

[jlprk]

We should dump the league's #6 rebounder per game (#5 per minute) because we can use that money to get a better free agent!

http://bkref.com/tiny/kblUe

...uh, Earl Barron is #8...get him!

 

[Natebishop3]

Hickson was not originally signed by Oshley was he?

No, he was claimed off waivers last year during the season.

 

[jlprk]

Notice that when Hickson has a bad game, we lose? And when he has a good game, we win? He is more vital to us than some realize. He's the biggest reason for our surprising success.