BLAZERS BENCH NEEDS TO GROW UP

[tykendo]

It's time the Blazers bench wakes the "F" up and brings something on a consistent basis besides the excrement they have dropped on the court this season. Their effort is beyond pathetic. They let the the franchise, fans, and themselves down on a nightly basis. Dame and Nurk cannot afford a poor performance due to the fact, this version of the Blazers bench, DOES NOT HAVE THEIR BACK. It's shameful and needs to be corrected immediately. If it takes all night in a freakin' gym, get it done. I'm tired of the bench taking a lead and turning into a fiasco. Their effort has been poor, and I don't see any energy. Start making shots, steal passes, block shots in the paint and CRASH THE BOARDS, and get some second chance points. GET IT DONE!

 

[Scalma]

I’ve been thinking about changes and this is what I’ve come up with. Put Aminu and Harkless on the second unit. Their defense and rebounding will help Leonard out. Harkless can also expand his game with the backups, especially in the post. Start Collins and Layman. It’ll help Collins because he’d be playing with better players. He also wouldn’t have to worry about helping Nurkic out as much as he does with Leonard. It could be like the RoLo/Aldridge. Sacrifice some of CJs looks and develop Collins properly. We didn’t trade up and draft him 10th overall with the second unit in mind.

Dame
CJ
Layman
Collins
Nurkic

Layman and Collins both offer more dynamic offensive games than Harkless and Aminu imo.

Stauskas
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Leonard

I like the theoretical spacing here as well. Leonard would drag opposing centers away from the basket, opening up post opportunities for Moe and ET. You also have three above average defenders, so even if they’re not scoring, you’d at least get some defense, along with rebounding.

Just do something for fucks sake! Stop running the same units out there over and over and over and over and over again.

 

[hoopsjock]

I’ve been thinking about changes and this is what I’ve come up with. Put Aminu and Harkless on the second unit. Their defense and rebounding will help Leonard out. Harkless can also expand his game with the backups, especially in the post. Start Collins and Layman. It’ll help Collins because he’d be playing with better players. He also wouldn’t have to worry about helping Nurkic out as much as he does with Leonard. It could be like the RoLo/Aldridge. Sacrifice some of CJs looks and develop Collins properly. We didn’t trade up and draft him 10th overall with the second unit in mind.

Dame
CJ
Layman
Collins
Nurkic

Stauskas
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Leonard

Just do something for fucks sake!

That's not bad except Turner is still playing.

 

[Scalma]

That's not bad except Turner is still playing.

Well this isn’t the fantasy thread.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The coach has to play with who he has.

 

[stampedehero]

It's time the Blazers bench wakes the "F" up and brings something on a consistent basis besides the excrement they have dropped on the court this season. Their effort is beyond pathetic. They let the the franchise, fans, and themselves down on a nightly basis. Dame and Nurk cannot afford a poor performance due to the fact, this version of the Blazers bench, DOES NOT HAVE THEIR BACK. It's shameful and needs to be corrected immediately. If it takes all night in a freakin' gym, get it done. I'm tired of the bench taking a lead and turning into a fiasco. Their effort has been poor, and I don't see any energy. Start making shots, steal passes, block shots in the paint and CRASH THE BOARDS, and get some second chance points. GET IT DONE!

I have watched their lack of defense and especially anticipated positioning on picks. Perhaps this is the personnel Neil should dump. We are better off with college players. At least they break into a sweat.

 

[BonesJones]

The coach has to play with who he has.

We were last in assists last year. 28th this year. Why is that?

 

[TBpup]

We were lo ast in assists last year. 28th this year. Why is that?

Ball dominant guards, (CJ agonizingly so) and a coach what caters to that our doesn't hold them accountable for involving the rest of the team more.

That we are consistently at or near the bottom in fast break point with the' youngest team in the league' is also completely ridiculous. Young legs... use that to your advantage.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It's time the Blazers bench wakes the "F" up and brings something on a consistent basis besides the excrement they have dropped on the court this season. Their effort is beyond pathetic. They let the the franchise, fans, and themselves down on a nightly basis. Dame and Nurk cannot afford a poor performance due to the fact, this version of the Blazers bench, DOES NOT HAVE THEIR BACK. It's shameful and needs to be corrected immediately. If it takes all night in a freakin' gym, get it done. I'm tired of the bench taking a lead and turning into a fiasco. Their effort has been poor, and I don't see any energy. Start making shots, steal passes, block shots in the paint and CRASH THE BOARDS, and get some second chance points. GET IT DONE!

We had the most productive bench in the NBA to start the season. Then Harkless came back and Jake was given DNPs and the rotations became inconsistent and then the bench became non existent.

Not sure its the benches fault as much as poor coaching and substitution decisions.

For example. Why wasn't Baldwin on Harden? He proved last year he could handle him. Cant expect the bench to play well if the players on the bench aren't being utilized optimally.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We were lo ast in assists last year. 28th this year. Why is that?

A few reasons, but the biggest is that neither Dame nor CJ pass the ball.

 

[Orion Bailey]

A few reasons, but the biggest is that neither Dame nor CJ pass the ball.

Huh? Dame passes the ball. 18th best assist in the league?

 

[Scalma]

Stotts is partly to blame for the low assists, but to be fair it’s not all his fault. It wasn’t that long ago that Portland was in the upper half in that category. Look at the roster. Who would you say is an average/above average playmaker? The starting unit has two, and one is the center. Aminu and Harkless can’t pass for shit. The bench has better ability and explains why they do a better job of sharing the ball. I do agree that it’s not being emphasized enough, and that lands on Terry’s shoulders. He needs to stop treating CJ like a superstar and start holding him accountable because if it was Nurkic hogging possessions he’d already be sent back to Bosnia.

 

[James lamphear]

Another problem is even the 2nd unit is not moving the ball like they did the 1st half neither.

 

[tlongII]

I’ve been thinking about changes and this is what I’ve come up with. Put Aminu and Harkless on the second unit. Their defense and rebounding will help Leonard out. Harkless can also expand his game with the backups, especially in the post. Start Collins and Layman. It’ll help Collins because he’d be playing with better players. He also wouldn’t have to worry about helping Nurkic out as much as he does with Leonard. It could be like the RoLo/Aldridge. Sacrifice some of CJs looks and develop Collins properly. We didn’t trade up and draft him 10th overall with the second unit in mind.

Dame
CJ
Layman
Collins
Nurkic

Layman and Collins both offer more dynamic offensive games than Harkless and Aminu imo.

Stauskas
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Leonard

I like the theoretical spacing here as well. Leonard would drag opposing centers away from the basket, opening up post opportunities for Moe and ET. You also have three above average defenders, so even if they’re not scoring, you’d at least get some defense, along with rebounding.

Just do something for fucks sake! Stop running the same units out there over and over and over and over and over again.

I don't usually like your posts (sorry!), but I liked this one. It's a good idea. Still a bad bench though.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Huh? Dame passes the ball. 18th best assist in the league?

View attachment 23776

15th best pg, so average

Also, given his mpg, he is worse than that

 

[Orion Bailey]

15th best pg, so average

Also, given his mpg, he is worse than that

His minutes per game is almost average for those above him Maybe SLIGHTLY above average.

I/m not saying he can/t be better but to put no assists on Dame not passing the ball is not accurate, nor is it the whole story.

 

[Mediocre Man]

His minutes per game is almost average for those above him Maybe SLIGHTLY above average.

I/m not saying he can/t be better but to put no assists on Dame not passing the ball is not accurate, nor is it the whole story.

Not at all the whole story. Big part of it though

 

[Scalma]

His minutes per game is almost average for those above him Maybe SLIGHTLY above average.

I/m not saying he can/t be better but to put no assists on Dame not passing the ball is not accurate, nor is it the whole story.

Dame is literally the only player on the roster that can operate a pick and roll properly. Hes not the problem. And you don’t get assists without the guy you’re passing the ball to actually making the shot. His playmaking now is better than it was earlier in his career, but the assists are the same/lower because he’s surrounded by shittier players.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Not at all the whole story. Big part of it though

Nah... small part of it. Read below.

Dame is literally the only player on the roster that can operate a pick and roll properly. Hes not the problem. And you don’t get assists without the guy you’re passing the ball to actually making the shot. His playmaking now is better than it was earlier in his career, but the assists are the same/lower because he’s surrounded by shittier players.

Spot on.
When I watch Dame play I rarely see him with his head down not scanning like CJ. He seems t always be looking for an open person. There are those times when he decides to take over but that is not the norm. I've seen him trying to defer more this season than any season in the past.

It takes two to tango with an assist.

I can pass the ball every single possession, but if the guy I passes it to misses or turns it over, it looks like I never pass the ball in the stats.
You know this MM. Whats up?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Nah... small part of it. Read below.



Spot on.
When I watch Dame play I rarely see him with his head down not scanning like CJ. He seems t always be looking for an open person. There are those times when he decides to take over but that is not the norm. I've seen him trying to defer more this season than any season in the past.

It takes two to tango with an assist.

I can pass the ball every single possession, but if the guy I passes it to misses or turns it over, it looks like I never pass the ball in the stats.
You know this MM. Whats up?

I watch too. It's been an issue for years.

No changing eithers mind. Enjoy the games

 

[tester551]

Dame is literally the only player on the roster that can operate a pick and roll properly. Hes not the problem. And you don’t get assists without the guy you’re passing the ball to actually making the shot. His playmaking now is better than it was earlier in his career, but the assists are the same/lower because he’s surrounded by shittier players.

Dame is a average/good passer.

However, his assist totals would go up if he was more precise with his passes. Too frequently his outlet passes are to the shins/knees causing the shooter additional movement in the shot.

It's one thing that could take Dame to the next level.

 

[Hoopguru]

I’ve been thinking about changes and this is what I’ve come up with. Put Aminu and Harkless on the second unit. Their defense and rebounding will help Leonard out. Harkless can also expand his game with the backups, especially in the post. Start Collins and Layman. It’ll help Collins because he’d be playing with better players. He also wouldn’t have to worry about helping Nurkic out as much as he does with Leonard. It could be like the RoLo/Aldridge. Sacrifice some of CJs looks and develop Collins properly. We didn’t trade up and draft him 10th overall with the second unit in mind.

Dame
CJ
Layman
Collins
Nurkic

Layman and Collins both offer more dynamic offensive games than Harkless and Aminu imo.

Stauskas
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Leonard

I like the theoretical spacing here as well. Leonard would drag opposing centers away from the basket, opening up post opportunities for Moe and ET. You also have three above average defenders, so even if they’re not scoring, you’d at least get some defense, along with rebounding.

Just do something for fucks sake! Stop running the same units out there over and over and over and over and over again.

I like the idea a lot, and I think knowing Stotts and how he uses the first half of the year, to look at different combo's, he will eventually try this out. Terry is a very methodical manger and seems to struggle with doing something on the fly.

 

[Scalma]

I like the idea a lot, and I think knowing Stotts and how he uses the first half of the year, to look at different combo's, he will eventually try this out.

Man I hope so, but putting Aminu on the second unit? I’m not sure Stotts has even considered it. Guy gets talked about by Stotts/Neil like he’s Dennis Rodman.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I’ve been thinking about changes and this is what I’ve come up with. Put Aminu and Harkless on the second unit. Their defense and rebounding will help Leonard out. Harkless can also expand his game with the backups, especially in the post. Start Collins and Layman. It’ll help Collins because he’d be playing with better players. He also wouldn’t have to worry about helping Nurkic out as much as he does with Leonard. It could be like the RoLo/Aldridge. Sacrifice some of CJs looks and develop Collins properly. We didn’t trade up and draft him 10th overall with the second unit in mind.

Dame
CJ
Layman
Collins
Nurkic

Layman and Collins both offer more dynamic offensive games than Harkless and Aminu imo.

Stauskas
Turner
Harkless
Aminu
Leonard

I like the theoretical spacing here as well. Leonard would drag opposing centers away from the basket, opening up post opportunities for Moe and ET. You also have three above average defenders, so even if they’re not scoring, you’d at least get some defense, along with rebounding.

Just do something for fucks sake! Stop running the same units out there over and over and over and over and over again.

Great thoughts.

 

[Hoopguru]

Man I hope so, but putting Aminu on the second unit? I’m not sure Stotts has even considered it.

Thats where he's always belonged imo, also, he's more of a small forward.

 

[Scalma]

Thats where he's always belonged imo, also, he's more of a small forward.

Didn’t his most efficient year come off the bench with Dallas?

 

[Hoopguru]

Didn’t his most efficient year come off the bench with Dallas?

Thats when I noticed him and I wouldn't have a problem starting him at three if we had a legit 4 or if Collins took the step.

 

[Scalma]

Thats when I noticed him and I would have a problem starting him at three if we had a legit 4 or if Collins took the step.

I don’t know why Stotts seems so against Aminu at SF. Like, what exactly does Harkless do that makes him capable but not Aminu?

 

[wizenheimer]

It's time the Blazers bench wakes the "F" up

I'm old, 6'3, and slow; have been for quite a while. No matter how many times I wake the F up, I'm never young, 6'7, and fast

this bench is very likely at the 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get-and-it's-not-much' stage.

 

[e_blazer]

I don’t know why Stotts seems so against Aminu at SF. Like, what exactly does Harkless do that makes him capable but not Aminu?

Ability to dribble into the paint without turning the ball over 90% of the time?