Dame plays better without Batum - it is known

[Natebishop3]

In the first four games this season without Batum - west conference player of the week.

Next game without Batum - career high 43 points.

Coincidence? I really don't think so.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Dame's last 5 games... 43, 29, 23, 18, 35... He is just on fire.

 

[KingSpeed]

Just a coincidence, I think, Nate. Lillard does know, though, that he has to step up if people are out. For the long haul, we're better with Batum.

 

[bemac]

This

we're better with Batum.

 

[Eastoff]

Just a coincidence, I think, Nate. Lillard does know, though, that he has to step up if people are out. For the long haul, we're better with Batum.

Qft

 

[Pinwheel1]

If it were true, who's fault would it be? Dame can take over a game anytime he wants. Batum does not prevent him from doing so. Dame does. He chooses to wait and let his teammates get involved first.
16 pts tonight....after regulation. You can't argue with the strategy as he tends to be fresher at this end of games this way.

One complaint about Batum is he disappears at times. Maybe that is because he has 4 other teammates that need the rock too.

 

[RR7]

4 games? come on.
He had nice stretches when we were without Aldridge also, next thing you'll say, we should move him...oh, wait.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Dame has to have hero games for us to win without Batum.

 

[Natebishop3]

4 games? come on.
He had nice stretches when we were without Aldridge also, next thing you'll say, we should move him...oh, wait.

Uh.... ahem..... FIVE games.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Uh.... ahem..... FIVE games.

Oh, well... That's different!

 

[Natebishop3]

Oh, well... That's different!

Obviously...

Seriously though, I feel like Lillard plays better when he dominates the ball more. When he shoulders more of the distributing load. Batum takes the ball out of his hands.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Obviously...

Seriously though, I feel like Lillard plays better when he dominates the ball more. When he shoulders more of the distributing load. Batum takes the ball out of his hands.

Of course Dame is better with the ball more... However do you want Dame to have to shoulder a huge load like this every night? Batum takes a lot of pressure off him and allows him to do work in the 4th.

 

[Natebishop3]

Of course Dame is better with the ball more... However do you want Dame to have to shoulder a huge load like this every night? Batum takes a lot of pressure off him and allows him to do work in the 4th.

Dame and Aldridge had to shoulder a larger load because we are still lacking one more scorer. We have two amazing stars and then there's Wes, but we have been sorely lacking the scoring punch that Kaman had been giving us off the bench. Batum is not a scorer. We still need another scoring wing. Dorell Wright was supposed to be that guy.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Dame and Aldridge had to shoulder a larger load because we are still lacking one more scorer. We have two amazing stars and then there's Wes, but we have been sorely lacking the scoring punch that Kaman had been giving us off the bench. Batum is not a scorer. We still need another scoring wing. Dorell Wright was supposed to be that guy.

I think the extra scorer will come via trade very soon.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think the extra scorer will come via trade very soon.

I hope so. I think it's the last piece that we need.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think the extra scorer will come via trade very soon.

 

[Natebishop3]

Jeff Green.

Make it so.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Now, this may not get anyones rocks off (Like any of the Greens would) but...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ml5zux6

then turn around and do this...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k7t8mvh

 

[Natebishop3]

Now, this may not get anyones rocks off (Like any of the Greens would) but...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ml5zux6

then turn around and do this...

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=k7t8mvh

So there's a couple problems with that trade.

Firstly, Detroit would have Daron AND Jennings. That would not work.

Secondly, the Kings lose a pretty good point guard and only get Augistin in return.

Third, the Blazers don't really need Collison. I think Blake is a pretty decent backup.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

So there's a couple problems with that trade.

Firstly, Detroit would have Daron AND Jennings. That would not work.

Secondly, the Kings lose a pretty good point guard and only get Augistin in return.

Third, the Blazers don't really need Collison. I think Blake is a pretty decent backup.

I think Detroit wants to unload Smith, all they would get is expiring deals for flexibility. Their season is over anyway.

Sacramento would get VERY versatile up front and Augustin isn't THAT bad and proved he could run an offense last season (In Chicago).

Collison could be our bench scorer, Blake would assume the role Dame had when Mo was on the floor last season.

I think a potential lineup of:

Lillard / Blake
Matthews / Collison
Batum / Crabbe
Aldridge / Wright / Freeland
Lopez / Kaman / Robinson

could be extremely deadly.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Detroit wants to unload Smith, all they would get is expiring deals for flexibility. Their season is over anyway.

Sacramento would get VERY versatile up front and Augustin isn't THAT bad and proved he could run an offense last season (In Chicago).

Collison could be our bench scorer, Blake would assume the role Dame had when Mo was on the floor last season.

I think a potential lineup of:

Lillard / Blake
Matthews / Collison
Batum / Crabbe
Aldridge / Wright / Freeland
Lopez / Kaman / Robinson

could be extremely deadly.

I think you're overlooking the beauty that is Steve Blake. One of the reasons why we wanted Blake was because he can play alongside Dame and distribute. We didn't want another Mo Williams, and Collison is a Mo Williams through and through.

I agree that Detroit wants to unload Smith though. I still think I would move Batum/CJ/Robinson for Green and Brandan Wright. That covers so many bases. Our bench would be Blake/Crabbe/Wright/Kaman. That's extremely solid. Starters would be Dame/Wes/Green/LA/Rolo (when healthy.)

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I think you're overlooking the beauty that is Steve Blake. One of the reasons why we wanted Blake was because he can play alongside Dame and distribute. We didn't want another Mo Williams, and Collison is a Mo Williams through and through.

I agree that Detroit wants to unload Smith though. I still think I would move Batum/CJ/Robinson for Green and Brandan Wright. That covers so many bases. Our bench would be Blake/Crabbe/Wright/Kaman. That's extremely solid. Starters would be Dame/Wes/Green/LA/Rolo (when healthy.)

I love Blake, but I'm thinking playoffs. We are going to need a ball handler that can score off the bench, Collison also gets to the line fairly well and his contract is very friendly (5.2 mail at the highest in his last season). We could keep him long term as 6th man and use our draft pick on a wing that we need.

 

[Natebishop3]

I love Blake, but I'm thinking playoffs. We are going to need a ball handler that can score off the bench, Collison also gets to the line fairly well and his contract is very friendly (5.2 mail at the highest in his last season). We could keep him long term as 6th man and use our draft pick on a wing that we need.

I like Collison, but I don't mind our bench rotation. I think we either need to add a wing scorer for the bench, or trade Batum and upgrade the starting small forward spot from a scoring perspective.

 

[tlongII]

We don't need a trade.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I like Collison, but I don't mind our bench rotation. I think we either need to add a wing scorer for the bench, or trade Batum and upgrade the starting small forward spot from a scoring perspective.

A wing scorer would be nice but they're way harder and more expensive (money and trade wise) than good scoring guards.

I mean look at all the top teams in the West, they have a backup guard who can come in and score as good as the starter if needed.

Golden State: More of a committee, but a good one of Iggy/Livingston/Barbosa

Memphis: Vince Carter

Us: CJ? Barton?

Houston: Jason Terry

Dallas: Devin Harris/JJ Barea

Los Angeles: Jamal Crawford

San Antonio: Ginobili/Mills(when healthy)/Joesph/Belinelli

Oklahoma City: Jackson/Lamb/Morrow

Phoenix: Isaiah Thomas

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Who cares if Lillard "plays better" (i.e., scores more) without Batum? The important question is how the team does.

When Jordan was young, they experimented with making him the PG. He averaged a triple double. But the experiment only lasted 10 games or so. Turns out what was "best" for Jordan wasn't necessarily best for the team.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Dame is averaging 43pts a game this season when Rolo isn't playing. Coincidence?

 

[magnifier661]

Dame is averaging 43pts a game this season when Rolo isn't playing. Coincidence?

Well played...

 

[Strenuus]

Dame is averaging 43pts a game this season when Rolo isn't playing. Coincidence?

and wright hits 4 3s a game when rolo is out.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

and wright hits 4 3s a game when rolo is out.

Rolo hasn't made a 3pt shot all season, he sucks.