Can we get a Nassir Little appreciation thread?

[TBpup]

Little is the kind of shooting guard that should've always been paired with Dame.

We haven't had a properly matched shooting guard for Dame since Wes Matthews ruptured his Achilles.

It's crazy that we've gone that long when there's this crystal-clear example in Golden State of how important it is to have a complementary back court pairing.

Completely agree. SG is where I believe Nas could create the most havoc. He would be a mismatch like Clyde was for so long...just more physical and stronger than almost anyone he would be matched up against. Then when the inevitable switching started, he wouldn't be so undersized as what happens every night now with Dame/CJ/Norm.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Little is our best option at SF, but Stotts is a fucking moron.

Little should absolutely be starting at the three over Powell. Not because he is better per say, but the rotations would be better and balanced and we need more size in that starting position.

Period...

Fucking Stotts........

Who the hell starts three guards all 6'4 or less and expects it to win in the playoffs?
Such a fucking waste of time to have to just change it all up when it gets exposed in the playoffs.


And know. For those wondering. I didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed. I'm actually in a great mood and enjoyed last nights win. But i'm a big picture guy and this is not going to work long term. Period.


The worst of it is every time we win, he will think it can work completely discounting the win is against the worst teams in the NBA. Not playoff teams.


Im sooo frustrated right now though because I think this team has the right tools, but the wielder is an idiot who thinks he needs a jig saw to cut a sheet of plywood in half and needs a skill saw to cut out holes.

I mean you dont have to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but you still need to be the right tool for the right job!!!!!!


I just thought of something I think would be hilarious. Toss Stotts a swiss army knife, or a leatherman and watch him try to work it.


I think that could be hours of entertainment!!!!!

 

[Orion Bailey]

Completely agree. SG is where I believe Nas could create the most havoc. He would be a mismatch like Clyde was for so long...just more physical and stronger than almost anyone he would be matched up against. Then when the inevitable switching started, he wouldn't be so undersized as what happens every night now with Dame/CJ/Norm.

Still gonna play Powell at the three though? I don't see that working.

 

[James lamphear]

Little is progressing very good and if can play 2 or 3 that's give the young man more chance to more playing time. I thought he was steal when we draft him and I still thank that and with more playing time and more experience and Powell in the future will this make CJ more expendable.

 

[Scalma]

In an interesting move today, Stotts played Little at the 2 giving us more length and athleticism. His shooting is what is allowing him play there too. Stotts said to expect more of this in the future. To me I kinda liked it. It allow Little to use his superior length and athleticism against smaller players. If he can keep up his shooting around 38% from 3 point land, then that would be awesome. What y’all thoughts?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcsports.com/northwest/trail-blazers/enes-kanter-got-rebounding-record-nassir-little-won-new-position-blazers?amp

I like it, and I’m pretty sure this is at least the second game where Nas has gotten minutes at the two. I would like it even more if he had the freedom to attack those smaller players on the offensive end. He’s got good body control, explosion, and strength to be a consistent threat attacking the rim.

 

[boredinsalem]

It seems silly to emphasize what position he played in the modern game. With that said, since we apparently have to play Melo, I wouldn't mind a regular stint of position-less switching basketball.

8-10 minutes a night of this could be nice as a change-up: (Dame/CJ)/Little/Covington/Melo/RHJ. I think that collectively there's enough length, strength, defense, and rebounding out there to get by for a stretch.

I'm starting to think that Kanter lineups should be build around isolation. It seems like Covington is a must next to him (for spacing and help defense), and otherwise it's nice to have defenders that can keep guys in front of them (Little/Powell). With most/all of the scoring coming from the 1 and 2.

Nurkic lineups seem like the best way to unlock guys that need some motion and passing to score. I think Jones is the best example.

 

[TBpup]

Still gonna play Powell at the three though? I don't see that working.

Didn't insinuate that at all. Was merely talking about what I thought would be Little's best position. God knows, Stotts won't do what would actually be best for the team as he continues to play Melo despite his horrible efficiency since he got here and his even worse defense.

As for Powell, who knows if he is even here next season.

 

[Chris Craig]

So Nassir is a 2 now? Stotts said he will continue to play him at the 2 off the bench.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Is it fair to say Stotts starting to play Nas more is too LITTLE too late

 

[TBpup]

Is it fair to say Stotts starting to play Nas more is too LITTLE too late

If Melo and Ant are still getting minutes? Yes.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Is it fair to say Stotts starting to play Nas more is too LITTLE too late

I don't think we can blame this one on Stotts. Every time Terry started to give Nas more minutes he was either sick, hurt, or the season was interrupted.

 

[MickZagger]

Ideally it should be Powell at 2, Little at the 3 and CJ off the bench.

But Stotts has proven that he’s afraid to hurt little egos.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Well, this thread has been going for a while, and I noticed something....
Terry Stotts has not posted here

 

[TBpup]

Well, this thread has been going for a while, and I noticed something....
Terry Stotts has not posted here

Terry can barely answer an obviously realistic question in a press conference without getting bristling. Doubt he would do well in here. And he would run home and hide under the covers in Philly or New York.

 

[James lamphear]

Little defense rating before all star 121 and post 115. Each month his stats has improved and this month starting out pretty good for him.

 

[Hoopguru]

Hes a junk yard dog.Tell him to board with put backs and create. He’s a twiner so he has to super active and reactive. Cedrick Ceballis.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Nassir Little and Little Nas X are the same person right?

 

[mook]

Second highest TS% on the team (after Kanter).

11th on the team in USG%. Barely above Roco and Jones.

I've kind of stopped watching most of the game at this point and just check the box score to see if Little gets any burn. "Oh look, he got 12 minutes in a 9 point loss to Miami. Huh."

 

[Orion Bailey]

Didn't insinuate that at all. Was merely talking about what I thought would be Little's best position. God knows, Stotts won't do what would actually be best for the team as he continues to play Melo despite his horrible efficiency since he got here and his even worse defense.

As for Powell, who knows if he is even here next season.

Nor did I say you did. Must asking, because it wasn't mentioned.

If Little plays SG, who plays SF? DJJ?

Not opposed to that, but Id rather see CJ come off the bench and have Dame, Powell, little, Roco, Nurk out there.

 

[TBpup]

Someone needs to appreciate Nas because Stotts certainly doesn't. One game after 'promoting' Little to shooting guard, Nas played 8:30 over the span of his first 3 rotations. WTH is with that? 3 minutes, 1 1/2 minutes, and then 3 1/2 minutes. How is anyone supposed to get a rhythm from that jerking around. And yet he is so much more efficient, and plays much better D than players getting run in front of him. He can play 2-3 different spots, so not sure what the issue is in getting him on the floor.....other than Stotts.

 

[Scalma]

The issue is that everyone in front of Nas is a vet, and committing to playing him 20+ minutes every night would mean cutting one of those vets’ minutes. The most obvious one being Melo, but Stotts is shit scared of benching him. Personally I don’t see what the downside is. He bitches and whines? I would tell him too bad. If he doesn’t like it, cut his ass. He’d be doing Stotts a favor.

 

[TBpup]

Props to Nas basically requesting the toughest assignment in the floor per the Athletic.

That is the type of attitude this team desperately needs.

 

[AldoTrapani]

The issue is that everyone in front of Nas is a vet, and committing to playing him 20+ minutes every night would mean cutting one of those vets’ minutes. The most obvious one being Melo, but Stotts is shit scared of benching him. Personally I don’t see what the downside is. He bitches and whines? I would tell him too bad. If he doesn’t like it, cut his ass. He’d be doing Stotts a favor.

Crazy thing is Melo never gets injured too. Not even 1 game missed since he became a blazer.

 

[TBpup]

Crazy thing is Melo never gets injured too. Not even 1 game missed since he became a blazer.

When a player really only jacks up '3's, step back jumpers or turn around fadaways in the post and then doesn't play defense, the likely hood of getting injured would seem to be diminished.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Props to Nas basically requesting the toughest assignment in the floor per the Athletic.

That is the type of attitude this team desperately needs.

doesn't matter what Nas requests, Stotts assigns him the bench

 

[Scalma]

Fun fact about Nas: in games he’s played at least 20 minutes (37 total) he’s shooting just a tad over 36% from three. And in the six games he’s played over 30 minutes this season, he’s shooting over 40%. I think it’s time to expand his role even more. Should be our starting SF.

 

[Tince]

Fun fact about Nas: in games he’s played at least 20 minutes (37 total) he’s shooting just a tad over 36% from three. And in the six games he’s played over 30 minutes this season, he’s shooting over 40%. I think it’s time to expand his role even more. Should be our starting SF.

That is interesting. Do you think he playing more minutes in games because he's making a higher percentage of his shots... or is he making a higher percentage of his shots because he's playing more minutes?

 

[Cugel]

King Nas

 

[Scalma]

That is interesting. Do you think he playing more minutes in games because he's making a higher percentage of his shots... or is he making a higher percentage of his shots because he's playing more minutes?

probably both. Easier to feel confident when you know the opportunities will continue to be there. I think he’s a better shooter than say Aminu, regardless of what the percentages say. Aminu got 4-5 threes a night while Nas gets 2-3. If Nas got more consistent looks I think you’d see his percentages rise.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Who would’ve guessed that long, high energy guys could help us?