Cavs beat writer Sam Amico big fan of Blazers

[Carlito]

http://tinyurl.com/af6yroo

 

[Mediocre Man]

He also believes Hickson is not as good as some fans here think and that we need another good draft


I like this guy

 

[BlazerWookee]

Attention whore.

Neener.

 

[BlazerWookee]

http://tinyurl.com/af6yroo

For a page with the word "transcript" in the title, it seems to be rather transcript-free...

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Thanks for the post.

For those of you who don't want to scroll through the chat here is the part where he talks about the Blazers -

Comment From Guest Thoughts on the Blazers?

Sam Amico:
Love, love LOVE them. Lillard and Aldridge and Batum are three awesome starting points. Terry Stotts has done an underrated job. JJ Hickson is still frustrating, and is probably best suited for a backup role despite his numbers. Anyway, all Blazers need is another good draft and to find some scoring off the bench.

 

[Carlito]

Can someone cut and paste for the readers who are scroll challenged?

Thank u sly

 

[Nikolokolus]

I agree with his take ... so he must be wrong.

 

[Carlito]

Well I still think goal is always to make playoffs but I just don't see us passing Houston, Jazz and Lakers likely catch us eventually.

However... We might lose our pick to bobcats and even if we do keep it... It will be a project type guy. That doesn't help the bench next year. So... I don't get where the "draft guys" see us making a big splash in draft.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I agree with his take ... so he must be wrong.

And stupid and a troll and negative and an idiot.......

 

[Carlito]

Listen we will likely finish in 9th or 10th which is by far worst case scenario.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And stupid and a troll and negative and an idiot.......

That goes without saying. But you also forgot, dull, slow of foot and gassy.

 

[drexlersdad]

And stupid and a troll and negative and an idiot.......

what is with you and niks self fulfilling hate spiral prophecy?

its almost as if you two enjoy it...

moving on...

#1 LMA, lillard, and batum are 3 awesome starting points. agree wholeheartedly

#2 stotts has done an underrated job...the blazers are surprising by staying around .500, i think most can agree he is getting the most (or close to it) out of the boys

#3, hickson is frustrating...anyone who watches 3 blazer games could tell you that

#4... he said "all the blazers need is another good draft, and some scoring off the bench"......all they need to what? to win a championship? to make the playoffs? vague city

 

[Nikolokolus]

what is with you and niks self fulfilling hate spiral prophecy?

its almost as if you two enjoy it...

 

[drexlersdad]

pic didnt work, but im sure its hilarious

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

what is with you and niks self fulfilling hate spiral prophecy?

its almost as if you two enjoy it...

moving on...

#1 LMA, lillard, and batum are 3 awesome starting points. agree wholeheartedly

#2 stotts has done an underrated job...the blazers are surprising by staying around .500, i think most can agree he is getting the most (or close to it) out of the boys

#3, hickson is frustrating...anyone who watches 3 blazer games could tell you that

#4... he said "all the blazers need is another good draft, and some scoring off the bench"......all they need to what? to win a championship? to make the playoffs? vague city

If Portland had a solid bench, they would be able to hang with anyone, IMO. Portland can hang with anyone on any given night, but some of the inconsistency is related to relying very heavily on a few key guys - they can't do it all every single night. Would they be championship contenders with a solid bench? Perhaps not. But they'd easily get into the playoffs, and when you make the playoffs, anything can happen.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think if the Blazers could find a really good 2 guard who can create for himself a little bit and drive, but doesn't need to dominate the ball to be effective and if they can find a starting quality 5 who rebounds and really defends and then round out the bench with just decent bench guys they might be able to make a deep playoff run, assuming Nicolas still has some room for improvement and Lillard can make the leap to legitimate all-star level play (he's close). So yeah, maybe they aren't that far away, but there's still a lot of work to do and they need some breaks.

 

[blue9]

... if the Blazers could find a really good 2 guard who can create for himself a little bit and drive, but doesn't need to dominate the ball to be effective ...

Got anyone in mind? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of talent at the SG position, and even less talent that's available. Though perhaps there's a lesser-known player that I'm not aware of that could fit the bill?

 

[drexlersdad]

one thing is, a decent bench lessens the production of the starters, so unless the new improved bench can split the difference between the current fetus fire of a bench and the current starter production, it might be neutral give or take improvement wise

just a thought

 

[drexlersdad]

Got anyone in mind? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of talent at the SG position, and even less talent that's available. Though perhaps there's a lesser-known player that I'm not aware of that could fit the bill?

its tough, i mean theres the monta ellis/jamal crawford type, available because they dont improve the team much, and then...

basically need to get lucky and find someone who is about to break out, i like me some lou williams?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Got anyone in mind? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of talent at the SG position, and even less talent that's available. Though perhaps there's a lesser-known player that I'm not aware of that could fit the bill?

SG is the weakest position in the NBA right now (even weaker than C).

Some under-the-radar names (most mentioned at one point or another):
J.J. Redick
Jared Dudley
Gerald Henderson
MarShon Brooks
Klay Thompson

Outside of the first two they would have to come via trade.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

one thing is, a decent bench lessens the production of the starters, so unless the new improved bench can split the difference between the current fetus fire of a bench and the current starter production, it might be neutral give or take improvement wise

just a thought

Yes, but burning our starters out for so many minutes per night because we have no bench is a terrible thing. We'd still need to rely on our starters to provide big minutes and big moments, but we wouldn't need to rely on them each and every game, just for the opportunity to win. When you have a bench, it's much easier for the team to recover from one of the starters having an off-night.

 

[drexlersdad]

Yes, but burning our starters out for so many minutes per night because we have no bench is a terrible thing. We'd still need to rely on our starters to provide big minutes and big moments, but we wouldn't need to rely on them each and every game, just for the opportunity to win. When you have a bench, it's much easier for the team to recover from one of the starters having an off-night.

i understand, its just not as automatic as some people think. any minutes a bench guy takes are going to be downgrades from our starters, and upgrades from our current bench...to what degree will determine the effectiveness.

just a thought, like i said

 

[Nikolokolus]

Got anyone in mind? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of talent at the SG position, and even less talent that's available. Though perhaps there's a lesser-known player that I'm not aware of that could fit the bill?

Apparently this draft has a few shooting guard prospects. I haven't watched one of them, so who knows if they're going to be any good? As for a current NBA player? I don't know to be honest. If Rip Hamilton wasn't 53 I think he'd play well next to Lillard, so if you can find a guy who sort of fits that profile -- a tall order I know -- I'd try to sign or trade for that kind of guy. A definitely less ideal approach, would be to try and get somebody like Tyreke Evans and convince him to be a sixth-man scorer; somebody that comes off the bench with carte blanche to shoot and drive as often as he wants for 20-25 minutes per game ... his lack of outside shooting and ball-dominating ways would be a terrible fit with Lillard though and I'm not sure what kind of teammate he would be after his ruinous run in Sacramento. he might be unsalvageable.

 

[blue9]

its tough, i mean theres the monta ellis/jamal crawford type, available because they dont improve the team much, and then...

basically need to get lucky and find someone who is about to break out, i like me some lou williams?

I'd be fine with Ellis as a 6th man, but I certainly wouldn't start him over Wes. And Crawford will never play for the Blazers again.
I don't think Lou is available. Seems like PHI really likes him. But I don't pay too much attention, so perhaps I'm wrong here.

Some under-the-radar names (most mentioned at one point or another):
J.J. Redick
Jared Dudley
Gerald Henderson
MarShon Brooks
Klay Thompson

I doubt Klay is available. And none of the others should start ahead of Wes. Some of them may be fine bench players (though I'm not too familiar with Henderson - maybe he's worthy as a starter on a Playoff team?).

I thought Nik's suggestion was to find a new starting SG. And looking at the talent around the league I just don't see any viable candidate. Was hoping there might be someone I'm not familiar with.

 

[Nikolokolus]

i understand, its just not as automatic as some people think. any minutes a bench guy takes are going to be downgrades from our starters, and upgrades from our current bench...to what degree will determine the effectiveness.

just a thought, like i said

You just need "decent." Not guys that probably should or could be starting for other teams or guys that are going to chafe if they don't get starters minutes.

The ideal is five clear cut starters backed up by three or four solid backups (a point guard or combo guard, a wing and forward-center) and then round out the rest with some aged vets and a couple of young developmental guys. I don't expect the team to ever achieve that ideal, but it's something to shoot for if you want to maximize team chemistry, clarify roles and get the most bang for your buck.

 

[blue9]

A definitely less ideal approach, would be to try and get somebody like Tyreke Evans and convince him to be a sixth-man scorer; somebody that comes off the bench with carte blanche to shoot and drive as often as he wants for 20-25 minutes per game ...

As much as I don't like Evans' game, I think this might be our best scenario. I'd take Evans over Ellis as a 6th man, but wouldn't take either of them as a starter.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

i understand, its just not as automatic as some people think. any minutes a bench guy takes are going to be downgrades from our starters, and upgrades from our current bench...to what degree will determine the effectiveness.

just a thought, like i said

I don't think they necessarily have to take big minutes from the starters (and let's face it.... our starters often go through big droughts, too, so that's an opportunity to rest them).

If we had signed Hibbert (or Asik, or were to sign Pek or someone else), and still had Hickson (though we wouldn't have kept both last year)...... You have a solid 3-man rotation at the 4/5. Then you have a young guy or two trying to fight for PT after that.

As has been said, add a solid 2/3 that can create for himself..... I think we'd be far better.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I thought Nik's suggestion was to find a new starting SG. And looking at the talent around the league I just don't see any viable candidate. Was hoping there might be someone I'm not familiar with.

Doesn't have to be a starter necessarily. I mean if you could find a guy that can eclipse Wesley in the draft then awesome, but even if it was just a super-sub, sixth-man, scoring type of guy, that could really bolster a completely anemic bench and give this team another guy who can get his own shot.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I doubt Klay is available. And none of the others should start ahead of Wes. Some of them may be fine bench players (though I'm not too familiar with Henderson - maybe he's worthy as a starter on a Playoff team?).

I thought Nik's suggestion was to find a new starting SG. And looking at the talent around the league I just don't see any viable candidate. Was hoping there might be someone I'm not familiar with.

I think anyone we bring in (outside of a blockbuster trade) would basically be roughly even to Matthews. So they could start or they could come off the bench.

Redick for example is having a slightly better year than Matthews. Not that I would bench Matthews for him necessarily, he would be great coming off the bench.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

As much as I don't like Evans' game, I think this might be our best scenario. I'd take Evans over Ellis as a 6th man, but wouldn't take either of them as a starter.

I think Evans would be bomb as a sixth man here in PDX.