Around the NBA: December to Remember 2018

[julius]

I think people might be over-reacting to how Vonleh is playing. He is putting up decent stats on a shitty team. Zach, who is younger, is putting up similar stats.

Noah had 3 and a half years to show something and the only thing he showed was inconsistency. And guess what, he's still inconsistent.

His 6-6, 15 point game was preceded by a 2-6 game where he scored 4 points. Before that? 2 games of 6 and 7 points. Before that? 3 games above 14. Before that? 5 straight games of under 9 ppg (only 1 game above his seasonal average).

As usual, fans cherry pick the stats (or games) to prove their point, ignoring the rest of the years. It'd be like using Zach's stronger games as proof of his overall season, when they're not the norm.

 

[kjironman1]

Can we also create a "Realness of Teams Thread"?

Is this like for those who believe in "Imaginary" teams?

 

[kjironman1]

You're the only one who can see it

Just put the thread on TV.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It's always refreshing to hear a coach say he has to do better: "All in all, I've got do a better job than I've done here the first couple of months of the season. This is ... just gotta get better. We've gotta get better shots. We gotta get more spacing, get better flow."
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...ch-golden-state-warriors-loss-detroit-pistons

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think people might be over-reacting to how Vonleh is playing. He is putting up decent stats on a shitty team. Zach, who is younger, is putting up similar stats.

Noah had 3 and a half years to show something and the only thing he showed was inconsistency. And guess what, he's still inconsistent.

His 6-6, 15 point game was preceded by a 2-6 game where he scored 4 points. Before that? 2 games of 6 and 7 points. Before that? 3 games above 14. Before that? 5 straight games of under 9 ppg (only 1 game above his seasonal average).

As usual, fans cherry pick the stats (or games) to prove their point, ignoring the rest of the years. It'd be like using Zach's stronger games as proof of his overall season, when they're not the norm.

I don't think his value is as a scorer; although at .521 from 2 and .452 from 3, he has become a very efficient scorer. His strongest trait, as his coach has said, is that he can defend almost any position. Also he blocks 1.7 shots per 36 and has almost 12 rebounds per 36 (which actually is right about at his career average.) He still might not be starter material on a lot of teams but he would be a damn good guy to have on the bench.

 

[julius]

I don't think his value is as a scorer; although at .521 from 2 and .452 from 3, he has become a very efficient scorer. His strongest trait, as his coach has said, is that he can defend almost any position. Also he blocks 1.7 shots per 36 and has almost 12 rebounds per 36 (which actually is right about at his career average.) He still might not be starter material on a lot of teams but he would be a damn good guy to have on the bench.

Like I said, similar stats to Zach. Zach, in his 2nd year, has already broken the rotation. It took Noah until his 5th season before he did.

 

[blue9]

Noah, 6 for 6 , 3 for 3 on 3 pointers, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, one steal.
Here are some recent quotes from Brian Freeman: "I was against Portland getting rid of Vonleh in the first place. I’m against all non-basketball salary moves, but I also wasn’t done with him in a Blazers uniform. People forget that when the Blazers dumped Vonleh, he was just 22 years old. His shooting and statistical improvements are pretty congruent with his age, so I do think progress is a big component here. Of course, I’m not betting on him to make an All-Star team, and certainly not counting out the ‘bad team’ effect, but I’m not surprised by the jump."
"After the draft, the Blazers had Jusuf Nurkic, Meyers Leonard, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, Maurice Harkless, Collins, Caleb Swanigan and Vonleh all on the roster. Eight guys (if you generously count Harkless) best suited for the 4-5 spots, and all of them deserved some time on the court. It didn’t make any sense to construct the team that way, and it made less sense to keep it like that. To this day, I’m not sure what the plan was."
"Portland had given up on Vonleh, and they clearly didn’t know that Vonleh was capable of making the leap as a shooter. The type of basketball that Vonleh is playing now would fit seamlessly with Portland. He is shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc, he can switch all over the place and he rebounds the ball with passion. He clearly fits the needs of this current Blazer team."

I was one of the few (only?) to say that Vonleh should have been kept and either Ed or Aminu shipped out. It was quite clear that he was better than both from a talent perspective. Perhaps he'll never be an above average starter - but neither will Ed or Aminu and they had no untapped potential like Vonleh still has.
I thought the Nic/Vonleh trade was perhaps one of the worst trades the Blazers have made in the past 20 years. But paying to get rid of Vonleh just doubled-down on their stupidity.

 

[kjironman1]

I was one of the few (only?) to say that Vonleh should have been kept and either Ed or Aminu shipped out. It was quite clear that he was better than both from a talent perspective. Perhaps he'll never be an above average starter - but neither will Ed or Aminu and they had no untapped potential like Vonleh still has.
I thought the Nic/Vonleh trade was perhaps one of the worst trades the Blazers have made in the past 20 years. But paying to get rid of Vonleh just doubled-down on their stupidity.

A bunch want Aminu shipped out.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Like I said, similar stats to Zach. Zach, in his 2nd year, has already broken the rotation. It took Noah until his 5th season before he did.

I was never a big Vonleh fan. He is a journeyman with a glacial learning curve.

That said - how would he have been a worse investment than Harmless, Crabbe, or Leonard - all of whom are/were paid a lot more?

 

[blue9]

A bunch want Aminu shipped out.

Not last season.
People are finally coming around to see Aminu (and Stotts) for what they've always been.

 

[oldmangrouch]

A bunch want Aminu shipped out.

Harmless and Turner are both playing worse than Aminu, and who knows if Leonard can maintain his current level of not being clueless. Why is getting rid of Aminu the priority for some fans?

 

[blue9]

Harmless and Turner are both playing worse than Aminu, and who knows if Leonard can maintain his current level of not being clueless. Why is getting rid of Aminu the priority for some fans?

As long as he's here he's going to start at PF. As long as he starts at PF we're going to be mediocre.
Also, expiring contract - gotta get something for him rather than letting him walk like so many others. And we certainly shouldn't re-sign him.

 

[kjironman1]

Not last season.
People are finally coming around to see Aminu (and Stotts) for what they've always been.

I disagree. A bunch wanted him gone last season from what i remember.

 

[kjironman1]

Harmless and Turner are both playing worse than Aminu, and who knows if Leonard can maintain his current level of not being clueless. Why is getting rid of Aminu the priority for some fans?

Because of the Starters he is what kills the offense against good teams.

 

[kjironman1]

Sounds like the team as comprised can't win a Championship. Who woulda thought?

 

[oldmangrouch]

As long as he's here he's going to start at PF. As long as he starts at PF we're going to be mediocre.
Also, expiring contract - gotta get something for him rather than letting him walk like so many others. And we certainly shouldn't re-sign him.

He'll start at PF until Zach stops getting into foul trouble. (assuming Zach isn't better suited for the 5) Even then he will start at the 3 because he is the best of our crop of bad options. It stinks, but it is what it is. Olshey has painted the team into a corner with no good path out.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Because of the Starters he is what kills the offense against good teams.

True enough - but in the absence of a viable option, what can you do? You can't start Zach because of foul trouble, and I would hope nobody actually believes Leonard is an option. Harmless and Turner are even less valuable and are on worse contracts. Let's start the purge there.

 

[handiman]

Noah, 6 for 6 , 3 for 3 on 3 pointers, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, one steal.
Here are some recent quotes from Brian Freeman: "I was against Portland getting rid of Vonleh in the first place. I’m against all non-basketball salary moves, but I also wasn’t done with him in a Blazers uniform. People forget that when the Blazers dumped Vonleh, he was just 22 years old. His shooting and statistical improvements are pretty congruent with his age, so I do think progress is a big component here. Of course, I’m not betting on him to make an All-Star team, and certainly not counting out the ‘bad team’ effect, but I’m not surprised by the jump."
"After the draft, the Blazers had Jusuf Nurkic, Meyers Leonard, Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis, Maurice Harkless, Collins, Caleb Swanigan and Vonleh all on the roster. Eight guys (if you generously count Harkless) best suited for the 4-5 spots, and all of them deserved some time on the court. It didn’t make any sense to construct the team that way, and it made less sense to keep it like that. To this day, I’m not sure what the plan was."
"Portland had given up on Vonleh, and they clearly didn’t know that Vonleh was capable of making the leap as a shooter. The type of basketball that Vonleh is playing now would fit seamlessly with Portland. He is shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc, he can switch all over the place and he rebounds the ball with passion. He clearly fits the needs of this current Blazer team."

Remember my prediction... Vonleh without the braids would break out like Flip Rodriquez without the mask. Then we went and dumped him for discarded peanut shells.

Like I said, similar stats to Zach. Zach, in his 2nd year, has already broken the rotation. It took Noah until his 5th season before he did.

To be fair, though, Zach is the future. That's not a bad measuring stick for someone we gave up for salary relief.

 

[dviss1]

You don't have to start to get Vonleh'd just play well and then get benched for the majority of the game. Stotts has a bad habit of forgetting who's hot unless you're Dame or CJ.

I disagree. To me getting The Vonleh means you start, play 15 minutes and that's it.

Layman was our Vonleh.

 

[kjironman1]

True enough - but in the absence of a viable option, what can you do? You can't start Zach because of foul trouble, and I would hope nobody actually believes Leonard is an option. Harmless and Turner are even less valuable and are on worse contracts. Let's start the purge there.

I cannot debate you there. They have no one better at this point. I do like what Meyers is bringing night in and night out to this team.

 

[THE HCP]

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Oh Lebron will make the playoffs, but a healthy curry, a healthy Draymond, a healthy DC and I bet GS looks a lot better than the team they've looked like most of the season.

 

[THE HCP]

Obviously I posted this in a joking manor. It is kinda funny that they almost have the same record considering the talent disparity of those rosters.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Obviously I posted this in a joking manor. It is kinda funny that they almost have the same record considering the talent disparity of those rosters.

I think the people who said Lebron couldnt make it in the west were funny lol. I dont think he’ll come out of the west without another FA or two, but Lebron in LA the NBA is going to make sure that he’s in the playoffs. Also Lebron is just really, really good.

 

[THE HCP]

I think the people who said Lebron couldnt make it in the west were funny lol. I dont think he’ll come out of the west without another FA or two, but Lebron in LA the NBA is going to make sure that he’s in the playoffs. Also Lebron is just really, really good.

They WILL land a superstar free agent this summer.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

They WILL land a superstar free agent this summer.

Carmelo!

 

[BonesJones]

They WILL land a superstar free agent this summer.

Kawhi doesnt wanna go there. KD won't want to play in LeBrons shadow and going from GSW to LeBron is bad and he knows it. Who else would go there?

 

[Sarni]

I think the people who said Lebron couldnt make it in the west were funny lol. I dont think he’ll come out of the west without another FA or two, but Lebron in LA the NBA is going to make sure that he’s in the playoffs. Also Lebron is just really, really good.

NBA does not need to "make sure LeBron is in the playoffs". They are good enough to finish with 48-52 wins.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

NBA does not need to "make sure LeBron is in the playoffs". They are good enough to finish with 48-52 wins.

Maybe, but if there was any question about it and they were the 9th seed last week of the season those refs would know what to do.