Blazers Links: Can Mo Williams and Damian Lillard Continue Playing Together?

[dviss1]

http://blogs.columbian.com/blazer-b...and-damian-lillard-continue-playing-together/

The two-man line-up of Lillard and Williams has resulted in a negative point differential on a points per possession basis, even if it’s by a small margin. Line-ups with with the duo are giving up 107.3 points per 100 possessions while scoring 107.0 in 597 minutes together. What may be surprising to some is those line-ups don’t turn the ball over more than the team does on average.

However, units with those two see the percentage of assisted baskets drop from a top-six rate to a rate below the league average according to NBA.com. Their offensive rebounding, also drops from a rate that is second-best in the league to just slightly above league average.

Lowe also writes that Portland’s Wesley Matthews should be a participant in the three-point shootout.

 

[dviss1]

I'd like to see Mo go personally.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'd like to see Mo go personally.

These statistics don't necessarily show that Mo is bad; it just shows that playing Mo and Damian together may not be a good idea. I said 6 weeks ago that they either needed to figure out how to make this combination work or else cut Mo's time on the court back so that he only plays without Damian

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd like to see Mo go personally.

I like Mo the man... not too fond of Mo the player.

 

[dviss1]

I like Mo the man... not too fond of Mo the player.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Natebishop3]

Quoted for truth.

If he was consistent on offense I would have no problem with him. If he could be counted on to score 12-14 points a night off the bench, I could overlook the horrible turnovers, the dribbling, and the stupid shots.... but he doesn't. He'll have one really good game and then two or three really bad ones. So not only is he streaky, but that's in addition to the bad passes and stupid shot selection.

 

[dviss1]

If he was consistent on offense I would have no problem with him. If he could be counted on to score 12-14 points a night off the bench, I could overlook the horrible turnovers, the dribbling, and the stupid shots.... but he doesn't. He'll have one really good game and then two or three really bad ones. So not only is he streaky, but that's in addition to the bad passes and stupid shot selection.

More truth.

(Thanks for adding reputation to this user. May you be lucky enough to receive the same Reputation back in turn.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Oddly enough, over the last ten games, Mo has probably the best +/- per minute of the whole team. Meanwhile, Batum's is the lowest of the starters.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Should've signed Shaun Livingston...

Is there any site that gives comparative stats for when Lillard is playing PG and when he's off the ball? That would be interesting.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Stotts used to bring in Mo for Lillard. He made a rotational change at some point and now brings in Mo for Wes.

I thought it was a good change because it gives Lillard more PT in his first run and allows him a longer chance to find his rhythm. But maybe going back to playing Mo with Wes in the first sub rotation might spark Lillard

 

[oldmangrouch]

WTF?

A discussion of how to make the team better and it is not hi-jacked by lengthy rants, scornful insults and "our record is X - Y so neener-neener!".

Damn those Mods!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Back on subject.

Our starters thrive off of ball movement. When things are going well, the ball rarely touches the court. Mo is not a natural fit for that style. He is a ball-stopper and dribbler.

Mo isn't going to conform to Dame - and do we really want Dame to conform to Mo?

 

[riverman]

Mo does one thing this team needs, he speeds up the tempo off the bench. Another thing he does is to be a great locker room guy and a vocal guy on the court. He makes mistakes just like any player but just when you think Mo's turned the ball over or missed a shot, he'll hit two clutch shots to tie up the game and swing the momentum. What he brings as a 6 man to this squad doesn't always show up on a stat sheet and we pay him peanuts compared to the Jason Terrys of the league. It's not like we traded a starter for him you know. All the rookies and sophmores on the team praise his sharing of knowledge and LaMarcus credits Mo with changing his own leadership outlook. They say the same thing about Earl Watson. Mo is not to blame for Damian's slump. Bottom line is, Stotts knows what he's doing here folks. A lot of turnovers come from guys in the post who are not ready or able to handle a pass as well. The guy who passes the ball gets the turnover stat but the guy who wasn't ready for it or couldn't handle it does not.

 

[BBert]

WTF?

A discussion of how to make the team better and it is not hi-jacked by lengthy rants, scornful insults and "our record is X - Y so neener-neener!".

Damn those Mods!

Ha, ha. I was reading along, biding my time, waiting to post this: It's refreshing to be able to read a basketball discussion that includes criticism of a player, without posters getting flamed out of their socks.

I like it.

 

[riverman]

Ha, ha. I was reading along, biding my time, waiting to post this: It's refreshing to be able to read a basketball discussion that includes criticism of a player, without posters getting flamed out of their socks.

I like it.

It's early, those folks aren't awake yet

 

[roywonder07]

The way I look at it is that Mo Williams is better than having no bench at all. If we can unload him for a better backup pg then kudos to our gm. But for right now, Mo is all we got. Would you all like to cut Mo and re-sign Nolan Smith? I didn't think so.

 

[dviss1]

The way I look at it is that Mo Williams is better than having no bench at all. If we can unload him for a better backup pg then kudos to our gm. But for right now, Mo is all we got. Would you all like to cut Mo and re-sign Nolan Smith? I didn't think so.

No one advocated such silliness so quit with your strawman argument. Especially when there's a whole thread about getting Andre Miller back.

 

[roywonder07]

Well not everyone agrees with a Mo for Dre swap. I personally like Mo over Dre due to his ability to space the floor.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I haven't read the Miller thread, but I wouldn't want Miller over Mo. I don't think Miller fits the Blazer's game plan and fear he could be more destructive than beneficial.

I'll go read the thread and see if I change my mind . .

 

[HailBlazers]

These statistics don't necessarily show that Mo is bad; it just shows that playing Mo and Damian together may not be a good idea. I said 6 weeks ago that they either needed to figure out how to make this combination work or else cut Mo's time on the court back so that he only plays without Damian

Word. These stats show the defense is bad with the two together on the court. Shocker.

 

[Sinobas]

Maynor used to hit Lillard for open 3s but Mo doesn't do that. He just turns the ball over and Lillard hardly gets any shots. Remember how Lillard's stats improved with Maynor on the court, I wonder what they are with Williams? It seems he's much less productive.

 

[riverman]

Maynor used to hit Lillard for open 3s but Mo doesn't do that. He just turns the ball over and Lillard hardly gets any shots. Remember how Lillard's stats improved with Maynor on the court, I wonder what they are with Williams? It seems he's much less productive.

Maybe you haven't noticed but Dame is missing wide open 3 shots for the last bunch of games...he has plenty of opportunity, he's just not converting

 

[Natebishop3]

Maynor used to hit Lillard for open 3s but Mo doesn't do that. He just turns the ball over and Lillard hardly gets any shots. Remember how Lillard's stats improved with Maynor on the court, I wonder what they are with Williams? It seems he's much less productive.

Kendall Marshall was available

 

[Draco]

Stotts used to bring in Mo for Lillard. He made a rotational change at some point and now brings in Mo for Wes.

I thought it was a good change because it gives Lillard more PT in his first run and allows him a longer chance to find his rhythm. But maybe going back to playing Mo with Wes in the first sub rotation might spark Lillard

The change is because CJ beat out Wright for backup minutes. The problem is now Stotts has to alternate rest for Wes and Batum so one is always available at SF.

 

[Draco]

Those advanced stats don't really tell us much of anything. The team is playing near .500 ball anyways over the last month.

I would hope CJ can eventually beat out Mo for all of the backup SG minutes at which point Mo would not play with Damian and only be his substitute at PG. But that might not happen this year and I doubt a CJ-Dam backcourt would be any better defensively.

It would be nice if we had a SG/SF off the bench who could play defense. But then court spacing might become an issue if that players isn't a 3 point shooter. Its pretty greedy to want a bench player who hits threes and plays great defense, I mean many teams would love that out of their starters.

If I were coach one change I would consider is having Damian play more with the ball in his hands. If he is getting trapped or double teamed or fatigued then let Mo help him out but in general I think Damian is better as a PG than a SG. The team should be configured to play to the strengths of our main weapons not our backups.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Mo's netRtg is up to -8 from -10 a month ago - not the kind of improvement I was looking for.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Dame picked up the ball and no one came to him. Double-messup