Aminu is not a Starter!

[Pinwheel1]

Aminu does bring a lot to the team. I appreciate what he does. When he is wide open, and is not tired, sure take the occasional 3.

But six 3 point attempts seems too many to me....unless he is hot. The problem is that if he is covered while the shot clock is winding down, he isn't really good at dribbling (or passing) out of trouble....which compounds the problem. So maybe he should not be put (or put himself) in that situation? Sometime it actually looks like wants the ball in his hands late in the clock, so he hesitates and does not pass right away.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I agree with you, but it won't happen. Stotts doesn't believe in Aminu at the 3. He'll play 3 guys 6'3" or under at the same time, but 3 guys he views as a PF or C--NEVER!!

I think Stotts likes players who can dribble to play the 3.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think Stotts likes players who can dribble to play the 3.

Like Harkless?

 

[andalusian]

If you look at net-rating (offensive rating - defensive rating) - Aminu is 4th best on the Blazers, behind Z-Co, Bazz and Dame. I would argue that he is fine. Sure, he can get frustrating offensively - but there is a good reason Terry plays him as much as he does - he impacts the game positively.

https://stats.nba.com/players/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular Season&TeamID=1610612757

Add the fact that his USG% is low - I think we are just fine with his offensive issues.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Like Harkless?

lol, he's got to play someone....

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Harkless is just enough of a better dribbler than Aminu for Stotts to allow it.

 

[dviss1]

I agree with you, but it won't happen. Stotts doesn't believe in Aminu at the 3. He'll play 3 guys 6'3" or under at the same time, but 3 guys he views as a PF or C--NEVER!!

I use that lineup on 2K. I end up playing Hark and Turner way more. Aminu needs to go.

 

[dviss1]

Like Harkless?

Hark can score and finish when you give him the ball.

Much more consistently than Chief. Every time Aminu gets a rebound I yell for him to get it to a guard.

 

[HailBlazers]

If you look at net-rating (offensive rating - defensive rating) - Aminu is 4th best on the Blazers, behind Z-Co, Bazz and Dame. I would argue that he is fine. Sure, he can get frustrating offensively - but there is a good reason Terry plays him as much as he does - he impacts the game positively.

https://stats.nba.com/players/advanced/?sort=NET_RATING&dir=-1&Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular Season&TeamID=1610612757

Add the fact that his USG% is low - I think we are just fine with his offensive issues.

And we need all the affordable contracts we can get.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Aminu is a good player if he plays within his limitations.

He should never try to create something for nothing on offense, try to beat his man off the dribble. Actually the only time he should put the ball on the floor is if he's attacking a closeout in a straight line drive.
and he should never take a midrange shot

 

[Natebishop3]

The problem is that teams are leaving him wide open on the perimeter and daring him to shoot. And on nights like last night, I would rather just about anyone else taking that shot.

I like his defense. I like that he gets rebounds. But his offensive game is so limited that he's simply not a good stretch four. Zach's offensive game is so much better than Aminu that it's sickening to have Aminu on the court.

It is a problem that has gone back almost three years now. Harkless and Aminu are simply too similar in their limitations. Starting both of them makes our life so much harder. When they're both doing their disappearing act, it requires the other starters to play out of their minds. Luckily we have Nurk now, so at least we have three starters that can put up points. Back in the Plumlee days, that probably would have been a loss.

 

[riverman]

it's sickening to have Aminu on the court.

wow.....you realize Bruce Bowen, Dennis Rodman and Doug Christie were always left open too right? Chief is our 3 and D guy...nothing against Collins but Chief has about the same wingspan as Nurk.....he's one of our best help defenders...and most importantly...he doesn't need to score to help us win games...he also doesn't complain if Collins comes off the bench and plays extended minutes..what's not to like?

 

[BBert]

I think the key is making sure he understands he’s not an offensive player. Every time he dribbles I cringe.

I have a similar reaction. Only, my "cringe" is me screaming at the TV and waiving my arms wildly to get his attention.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

I have a similar reaction. Only, my "cringe" is me screaming at the TV and waiving my arms wildly to get his attention.

Quit distracting him! He's having a hard enough time as it is!

 

[SportsAndWhine]

wow.....you realize Bruce Bowen, Dennis Rodman and Doug Christie were always left open too right? Chief is our 3 and D guy...nothing against Collins but Chief has about the same wingspan as Nurk.....he's one of our best help defenders...and most importantly...he doesn't need to score to help us win games...he also doesn't complain if Collins comes off the bench and plays extended minutes..what's not to like?

Wait, has Nurk complained, or are you just talking about Mr Robot?

 

[Natebishop3]

wow.....you realize Bruce Bowen, Dennis Rodman and Doug Christie were always left open too right? Chief is our 3 and D guy...nothing against Collins but Chief has about the same wingspan as Nurk.....he's one of our best help defenders...and most importantly...he doesn't need to score to help us win games...he also doesn't complain if Collins comes off the bench and plays extended minutes..what's not to like?

Bowen was a SIGNIFICANTLY better three point shooter.

Chief is having his best season from beyond the arc statistically, and he's still way behind Bowen in terms of accuracy.

Aminu - 39.5% FG and 38.6% from three.

Bowen consistently put up numbers like this:

2004-2005: 42% FG and 40% from three

2005-2006: 43% FG and 42.4% from three

He had multiple seasons where he was shooting above 40% from three, while also shooting a passable 42-43% from the floor. He was just an all-around better shooter. But Bowen was also much older when he started in the NBA. His first season wasn't until he was 25. He played well into his 30s, and he didn't even get to San Antonio until he turned 30. The Spurs could also afford to have a defensive specialist because they had Stephen Jackson to help score. Their starting lineup was Parker, Jackson, Bowen, Duncan, and Robinson. They never relied on him for his scoring.

 

[ripcityboy]

Aminu is fine for right now. I think one of the reasons hes in with the starting lineup is because he adds a defense presence when Dame and CJ are doing their thing. Give Collins the rest of the season to get comfortable and I think Aminu will eventually slot in nicely behind him.

 

[blue9]

Bowen was a SIGNIFICANTLY better three point shooter.

And SIGNIFICANTLY better defender. Ain't nobody afraid of being defended by Aminu - he's average as fuck on defense.

 

[SportsAndWhine]

And SIGNIFICANTLY better defender. Ain't nobody afraid of being defended by Aminu - he's average as fuck on defense.

Well, since Bruce Bowen isn’t walking through that door, what do you suggest we do until July? The answer we both know is “nothing”; you’re just giving yourself a justification for complaining about something we cannot change.

 

[Natebishop3]

I love 82games.com

http://www.82games.com/1718/17POR10.HTM

Aminu's best position is small forward. He plays his best defense at small forward. He puts up a significantly better PER at small forward. It sure seems like Harkless is the weakest link, because right now the lineup of Dame/CJ/Turner/Aminu/Nurk is better by 8 win %.

We have yet to see Dame/CJ/Aminu/Collins/Nurk.

That's the lineup that I want to see.

 

[blue9]

Well, since Bruce Bowen isn’t walking through that door, what do you suggest we do until July? The answer we both know is “nothing”; you’re just giving yourself a justification for complaining about something we cannot change.

Between now and July? Trade him on Draft Day! (The draft is in June, right?)

 

[BBert]

Quit distracting him! He's having a hard enough time as it is!

 

[illmatic99]

He's gonna get so many open looks in the playoffs. Teams will load up on Dame/CJ. And they'll send rotation to Nurk leaving Aminu wide open on the wing, and Harkless/ET wide open in the corners on the weak seide. I hate that we will have to rely on these dudes to make open shots. It's gonna be exactly like that series against the Clips where we got throttled the first two games in LA when they were just daring Aminu to shoot.

If these dudes aren't hitting, I hope Terry quickly reverts to the bench and gets Napier/Patty/Collins in there to loosen up defenses. At least we have some of these pieces who can knock down an open shot now and then.

 

[bobf]

Defense is half of the game. Chief is an excellent defender. According to ESPN real plus minus, Aminu was the 82nd, 80th, 66th, and 54th best player in the NBA in the past 4 years, primarily due to his defense. He's a starter and the most underrated player on the Blazers.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Stotts has to let Collins start and Aminu coming of the bench, it's about Time. Like Dwight Jaynes said on Twitter: "You cannot give Aminu the ball unless he’s going to shoot it immediately. Otherwise, it’s disaster. Can’t handle or pass. Overrated defender. Would not start on a lot of NBA teams." I think he's 100% right, Aminu shouldn't be a Starter on a Playoff Team, i allways have a Bad feeling when he has the Ball in his hands, i close my eyes when he Starts to dribble, Zach has a 100 Time better bball iq than chief, is a great Defender for his 1st year and can also shot the 3!

As to the thread title, I think the starting lineups for our games proves you wrong.

Looks like he is a starter to me... been starting all games when healthy.


Just sayin...

 

[Natebishop3]

Aminu is a MUCH better small forward than he is a power forward. He's playing out of position.

 

[dviss1]

Defense is half of the game. Chief is an overrated defender.

FTFY sans the analytics.

 

[mook]

Aminu is a MUCH better small forward than he is a power forward. He's playing out of position.

The problem is that last year the advanced metrics showed the team played better when he was our starting PF over SF.

But what Stotts seems to have forgotten is that during that stretch our only other PF options at the time were Vonleh or Butters.

It's really obvious at this point that Aminu should play SF and Collins at PF. But how do you make that change in the middle of a 10 game win streak, with only the last quarter of the season left?

I think we'll probably roll the dice on making this change whenever we get desperate in the playoffs. That's how Zach Randolph got his starting job many, many years ago under surprisingly similar circumstances....

 

[Natebishop3]

The problem is that last year the advanced metrics showed the team played better when he was our starting PF over SF.

But what Stotts seems to have forgotten is that during that stretch our only other PF options at the time were Vonleh or Butters.

It's really obvious at this point that Aminu should play SF and Collins at PF. But how do you make that change in the middle of a 10 game win streak, with only the last quarter of the season left?

I think we'll probably roll the dice on making this change whenever we get desperate in the playoffs. That's how Zach Randolph got his starting job many, many years ago under surprisingly similar circumstances....

We had to be down 0-3 against the Mavs before dumbass Cheeks finally made the change that we were all clamoring for, and we ALMOST came back and won the series. Pushed it to 7 games. I went to I think 2 of the games in that series, and it was the same series where the Natalie Gilbert thing happened. I was in the stands when it happened. It was crazy. One of the most inspirational things I have ever seen in person.

Pip
Bonzi
Sheed
Zach
Sabonis

I loved that lineup.

 

[Orion Bailey]

We had to be down 0-3 against the Mavs before dumbass Cheeks finally made the change that we were all clamoring for, and we ALMOST came back and won the series. Pushed it to 7 games. I went to I think 2 of the games in that series, and it was the same series where the Natalie Gilbert thing happened. I was in the stands when it happened. It was crazy. One of the most inspirational things I have ever seen in person.

Pip
Bonzi
Sheed
Zach
Sabonis

I loved that lineup.

Expand? Dont know what that was. I was in NY at the time.