Does Portland NEED a star wing?

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PtldPlatypus

PtldPlatypus

Let's go Baby Blazers!
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During pregame last night, David Fizdale dismissed Rachel Nichols' question about Portland joining the West contenders saying we hadn't done enough to separate from the other conference also-rans, and then Paul Pierce followed up saying that you can't be a contender without a superstar wing.

Well, he's right--we don't have a superstar wing. What we do have is a wing rotation with all the elements you want from superstar. We have:
  • Melo--offensive threat from every party of the floor, veteran savvy
  • RoCo--versatile defender, decent outside stroke, plays within the offense
  • Jones--otherworldly athleticism, disruptive on both ends of the floor, tireless motor
  • Trent-- continually expanding offensive game (seriously improved handle and passing displayed last night), active and tireless defender
  • Hood--if healthy, gives a little bit of everything
So Pierce is right, the Blazers don't have a LeBron, Kawhi, Luka, Harden, Booker (Porter, Zion, Wiggins?), but given the varied skill-set of their wing group, do they need one? Or soes the fact that those skills are spread amongst multiple wings mean we'll always see a deficiency regardless of which combo is on the floor at any given point?
 
Most of the teams that have a 'star wing', don't have a superstar PG. So it's kind of a lazy way of over stating that the team needs solid contribution from the SF spot and totally ignoring that they already have a superstar in their PG.
 
Warriors (pre Durant) Spurs Mavs Pistons won titles without superstar wings. Id say superstar wing is most likely position of a title winner but, no its not absolute requirement.

If Blazers get starter production from 9th man they can compete with any team in the league. Of course they aren't a favorite.... but teams like Toronto won a title with less.
 
I mean, it wouldn't hurt... But right now I'd settle for a solid backup PG
 
Who was the Lakers' superstar wing?
 
Need? No.

could use? Sure?

cant win without? Wrong.

Portland can win with team ball and a healthy roster.
This team can be better than the mathews rolo lma team.

im gonna go out on a limb and say this teams is almost as deep as the 2000 team. Not quite. But? We will be better. Less egos and more team togetherness WILL translate.
No superstar wing needed.
 
kjironman1 said:
Uh... A dude called LeBron?
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julius said:
I think LeBron can be considered a 'wing' here.
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meh. Thats questionable. He could be called a ptfoward but not sure he plays the style of a wing much at all anymore.
Does he post up in the corner and slash to the hoop much?

he is more of a facilitator than anything i would think.
But id put an asterisk on it and go with either opinion on lbj. He has proven he can play almost any position required.
 
They still need a wing who can be a playmaker when Dame gets trapped in the Playoffs. For all the defensive improvements RoCo and DJJ bring, neither approaches that.
 
TBpup said:
They still need a wing who can be a playmaker when Dame gets trapped in the Playoffs. For all the defensive improvements RoCo and DJJ bring, neither approaches that.
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not so sure. Djj brought it up a few times. Can he handle the trap? Doubt it. But can he be an outlet for Dame?
Not sure why not.
Hood as well when he is back. Melo isnt this?

i think the need for a star wing might be overated at this point for us.
Because a true impact wing on both ends of the court is so far and few between, i think id roll the dice on this team, over trading half the team away for a star wing.

To me though this should be your year to either be proven right or wrong about Stotts. To me its clear he now has roster flexibility to play any style of ball required. Will he adapt?

Will he scheme more on D? Will he force offensive changes when Dame is trapped?

i think we have the roster now and if we stay healthy, this is the year that makes or breaks Stotts.
 
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TBpup said:
They still need a wing who can be a playmaker when Dame gets trapped in the Playoffs. For all the defensive improvements RoCo and DJJ bring, neither approaches that.
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I would argue that Melo, Hood, and Trent all have the ability to fulfill that role.
 
Kinda stupid take, and a bit lazy. Not surprising from ESPN.

2015 Warriors are the model for us.

- Dame essentially replicated Steph's numbers from his MVP season last year. No reason why he shouldn't this year as well.
- Nurk is better than Bogut was on both ends. And he was great at finding open guys on 4 on 3 situations like Green was.
- Roco/Zach together should add up to what Draymond was to some extent.
- CJ/Gary/DJ together might combine together to add up to what Klay and Iggy were on offense/defense.
- On top of that we have Kanter and Giles, who are better than any of their bench bigs (Ezeli/Speights).
- Melo/Ant/ Hood should make up what Livingston/Barbosa/Barnes were that year.

I think we have very similar players when you kinda combine pieces and look at guys' roles and squint hard enough. Just need good health, chemistry, and a much improved defensive style. Keeping guys engaged when not playing is gonna be a huge task for Terry this year. Need guys to buy in.
 
TBpup said:
They still need a wing who can be a playmaker when Dame gets trapped in the Playoffs. For all the defensive improvements RoCo and DJJ bring, neither approaches that.
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We are going to have 0 problems scoring this year (if healthy) against any defense because of our versatility.

We have post threats in Nurk and Enes who can score down low. CJ is probably our best scorer against single coverage even in the playoffs. Dame can get whatever he wants until he gets trapped. DJ is crazy active moving off the ball who is gonna always be a rim running threat. Melo/Hood/Gary/Roco are LEGIT three point threats if left open. This isn't Aminu/Hood/Turner.

Everything this year will come down to defense. I saw more zone last night than I have in a long time here, and it wasn't just situational like last year. We finally have pieces to clog the lanes and also be able to get out and run when turnovers are created. The versatility on both ends is ridiculous.
 
illmatic99 said:
Kinda stupid take, and a bit lazy. Not surprising from ESPN.

2015 Warriors are the model for us.

- Dame essentially replicated Steph's numbers from his MVP season last year. No reason why he shouldn't this year as well.
- Nurk is better than Bogut was on both ends. And he was great at finding open guys on 4 on 3 situations like Green was.
- Roco/Zach together should add up to what Draymond was to some extent.
- CJ/Gary/DJ together might combine together to add up to what Klay and Iggy were on offense/defense.
- On top of that we have Kanter and Giles, who are better than any of their bench bigs (Ezeli/Speights).
- Melo/Ant/ Hood should make up what Livingston/Barbosa/Barnes were that year.

I think we have very similar players when you kinda combine pieces and look at guys' roles and squint hard enough. Just need good health, chemistry, and a much improved defensive style. Keeping guys engaged when not playing is gonna be a huge task for Terry this year. Need guys to buy in.
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illmatic99 said:
We are going to have 0 problems scoring this year (if healthy) against any defense because of our versatility.

We have post threats in Nurk and Enes who can score down low. CJ is probably our best scorer against single coverage even in the playoffs. Dame can get whatever he wants until he gets trapped. DJ is crazy active moving off the ball who is gonna always be a rim running threat. Melo/Hood/Gary/Roco are LEGIT three point threats if left open. This isn't Aminu/Hood/Turner.

Everything this year will come down to defense. I saw more zone last night than I have in a long time here, and it wasn't just situational like last year. We finally have pieces to clog the lanes and also be able to get out and run when turnovers are created. The versatility on both ends is ridiculous.
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I'm SlyPokerDog and I approve these messages.
 
illmatic99 said:
Here's the video btw.



We wouldn't have been fighting for the 8th seed if we had Nurk for more than 8 bubble games, you dumbass. We would have been fighting for HCA last year if we were healthy.
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Did I miss the part where (in that video) Richard Jefferson 'called out' Damian?
 
julius said:
Did I miss the part where (in that video) Richard Jefferson 'called out' Damian?
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good or bad? I heard nothing but good. But it was all bubble talk. Not about what he might or will do this season
 
PCmor7 said:
And if I need to support that, you can look at his assist numbers vs. the rest of his team, or his shot chart. Almost no shots from the wing.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/lebron-james-shot-chart-by-season-2020
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So then you are saying Luka isn't a wing either obviously because look at his stats and where his shots come from? Do you want to go this route with Leonard? Harden? Really?
When you have a star player you put the ball in his hands. When he is actually a star he does the things star players do. They get their own shot or get a pass to an open man for a better shot.
LeBron James is 6-9. However he is talented enough that they actually list him as PF, SF, SG, PG. However his All-Star appearances have all been as a Forward ie: Wing.
I rest my case.
 
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