Dorell Wright

[Natebishop3]

He definitely seems like one of those guys that simply plays better as a starter. I don't think it has anything to do with ego or attitude. I've seen guys like this before. They need a little time to find rhythm and coming off the bench doesn't allow them to establish that rhythm.

Some guys have that microwave mentality. They can come into the game and just immediately start producing. I don't think Dorell is one of those guys. He's a completely different player for us when he starts.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I wonder how much of it is playing with four vastly superior teammates as a starter? I'd bet Claver would bloom playing next to Robin and Lillard, too.

 

[Natebishop3]

I wonder how much of it is playing with four vastly superior teammates as a starter? I'd bet Claver would bloom playing next to Robin and Lillard, too.

I don't think that's it. The Wright that we saw earlier in the season was making bad decisions, he was missing wide open shots, and he just generally looked like shit.

He is playing like a completely different guy right now. I think he made a180 as soon as he was inserted in the starting lineup for LA.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

You make a good case. Unfortunately for this season the point is moot. Despite his improved performance, he's still not better than either Batum or LaMarcus... He's about the same as Wesley but I wouldn't start him over Wesley either, because that moves Batum to SG...

So, I guess now we know. But what do we do with this precious info?

 

[blue9]

Eh - I still think he sucks at everything other than spot-up shooting. I don't want him doing ANYTHING on offense other than sitting at the 3-point line and waiting for an open shot. And I don't particularly care for that style of play.
You can hide his mediocre talent when he's playing with 4 starters, but his mediocrity is all too noticeable when he's playing with non-starters. Hopefully he's not on the roster next season.

 

[illmatic99]

I wonder how much of it is playing with four vastly superior teammates as a starter? I'd bet Claver would bloom playing next to Robin and Lillard, too.

I'm pissed Claver didn't play more last night. We built our lead when he was in there, and he didn't see the court in the second half. Sometimes it seems like all Terry cares about is spacing the floor on offense. Claver might not be a scoring threat on O, but he plays D and makes smart plays. I think we might have won if he played in place of Barton or Wright in the second half last night.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm pissed Claver didn't play more last night. We built our lead when he was in there, and he didn't see the court in the second half. Sometimes it seems like all Terry cares about is spacing the floor on offense. Claver might not be a scoring threat on O, but he plays D and makes smart plays. I think we might have won if he played in place of Barton or Wright in the second half last night.

I share the same opinion; Claver wouldn't have left his man wide open to shoot a three.

 

[Strenuus]

I'm pissed Claver didn't play more last night. We built our lead when he was in there, and he didn't see the court in the second half. Sometimes it seems like all Terry cares about is spacing the floor on offense. Claver might not be a scoring threat on O, but he plays D and makes smart plays. I think we might have won if he played in place of Barton or Wright in the second half last night.

That IS all stotts seems to care about.

 

[Natebishop3]

You make a good case. Unfortunately for this season the point is moot. Despite his improved performance, he's still not better than either Batum or LaMarcus... He's about the same as Wesley but I wouldn't start him over Wesley either, because that moves Batum to SG...

So, I guess now we know. But what do we do with this precious info?

Well, it certainly improves his trade value. We need a better bench and a starting caliber small forward has decent value.

 

[BBert]

So, perhaps Wright does play better as a starter, as some of us speculated. He's still not good enough as a starter to be a starter. And if he can't play worth beans off the bench, what good is he? Not much.

 

[blue9]

So, perhaps Wright does play better as a starter, as some of us speculated. He's still not good enough as a starter to be a starter. And if he can't play worth beans off the bench, what good is he? Not much.

Bingo!

 

[BigGameDamian]

He definitely seems like one of those guys that simply plays better as a starter. I don't think it has anything to do with ego or attitude. I've seen guys like this before. They need a little time to find rhythm and coming off the bench doesn't allow them to establish that rhythm.

Some guys have that microwave mentality. They can come into the game and just immediately start producing. I don't think Dorell is one of those guys. He's a completely different player for us when he starts.

I have been saying this from the very beginning. I made a thread about starting Wright and bring Batum off the bench, Or maybe you could put Batum at SG and bring Wes off the bench. I wish Stotts would have played around with the roster a bit because the Blazers do have options.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I have been saying this from the very beginning. I made a thread about starting Wright and bring Batum off the bench, Or maybe you could put Batum at SG and bring Wes off the bench. I wish Stotts would have played around with the roster a bit because the Blazers do have options.

Lest we forget, Batum has proven himself to be pretty bad off the bench.

 

[HailBlazers]

I'm down for pulling Wes out the starting lineup.

Dame
Nico
Wright
LA
Lopez
...
Mo
Wes
CJ/Barton/Claver
T-Rob
Leonard

 

[blue9]

People, people, people. Just because Wright is slightly better when he starts vs when he comes off the bench, does not mean he's GOOD when he starts.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

People, people, people. Just because Wright is slightly better when he starts vs when he comes off the bench, does not mean he's GOOD when he starts.

I hate that I agree with you, but yes.

 

[Natebishop3]

So, perhaps Wright does play better as a starter, as some of us speculated. He's still not good enough as a starter to be a starter. And if he can't play worth beans off the bench, what good is he? Not much.

For some teams he would be fine as a starter. He can shoot, he's long, and he's athletic. Not everyone can have a Nic Batum.

 

[blue9]

I hate that I agree with you, but yes.

 

[Schilly]

It's in how a person is wired. Like in Baseball, some pitchers are good starters, but terrible relievers and some could never be a closer, but some closers could never be long relief or a starter. Physically sure there some endurance issues at play, but more than anything it's mental makeup.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I bet ya if the Blazers lost Wight, He's the type of player that would go to the spurs and just flourish.

 

[BlazerWookee]

You make a good case. Unfortunately for this season the point is moot. Despite his improved performance, he's still not better than either Batum or LaMarcus... He's about the same as Wesley but I wouldn't start him over Wesley either, because that moves Batum to SG...

So, I guess now we know. But what do we do with this precious info?

About the same as Wesley? Seriously?

Wow...

 

[illmatic99]

About the same as Wesley? Seriously?

Wow...

Agreed.

He's about the same as Wesley when he's slumping and not playing D.

 

[Hobbesarable]

About the same as Wesley? Seriously?

Wow...

Yeah, I found that post a bit surprising. Surely he can't be serious.

 

[Natebishop3]

People, people, people. Just because Wright is slightly better when he starts vs when he comes off the bench, does not mean he's GOOD when he starts.

Slightly better? Are you kidding?

This season he's averaging 5.1 ppg, 2.4 rebounds, 39% FG and 37% from three.

He has started seven games this season.

Vs San Antonio - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-8 from the field, 2-4 from three in 20 minutes.

Vs Utah - 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2-4 from the field and 1-3 from deep in 21 minutes.

Vs Minny - 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1-2 from the field in 7 minutes.

Vs Denver - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-5 from the field and 2-4 from three in 27 minutes.

Vs Brooklyn - 4 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1-4 from the field in 25 minutes.

Vs New Orleans - 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 4-8 from the field, 4-6 from deep in 28 minutes.

Vs Golden State - 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 5-6 from the field, 3-4 from deep in 17 minutes.

So in his seven starts he's averaging 8.8 ppg, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 54% from the field and 52% from three in 20.7 minutes per game. Those numbers, especially his shooting percentages, are SIGNIFICANTLY better than what he has been averaging over the rest of the season coming off the bench. I wish he could do it as a reserve, but it doesn't seem like that's possible. He played his best ball as a starter for Golden State a few years ago.

 

[illmatic99]

I question the "significantly" claim.

<nerd> I'll run a t-test on per min production when I get home. </nerd>

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Slightly better? Are you kidding?

This season he's averaging 5.1 ppg, 2.4 rebounds, 39% FG and 37% from three.

He has started seven games this season.

Vs San Antonio - 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 4-8 from the field, 2-4 from three in 20 minutes.

Vs Utah - 5 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2-4 from the field and 1-3 from deep in 21 minutes.

Vs Minny - 3 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1-2 from the field in 7 minutes.

Vs Denver - 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 3-5 from the field and 2-4 from three in 27 minutes.

Vs Brooklyn - 4 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1-4 from the field in 25 minutes.

Vs New Orleans - 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 4-8 from the field, 4-6 from deep in 28 minutes.

Vs Golden State - 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 5-6 from the field, 3-4 from deep in 17 minutes.

So in his seven starts he's averaging 8.8 ppg, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 54% from the field and 52% from three in 20.7 minutes per game. Those numbers, especially his shooting percentages, are SIGNIFICANTLY better than what he has been averaging over the rest of the season coming off the bench. I wish he could do it as a reserve, but it doesn't seem like that's possible. He played his best ball as a starter for Golden State a few years ago.

I believe the point is those starting numbers aren't impressive overall (just compared to what he was doing because he was doing so dang bad). Now his GS starting numbers were impressive but that was another lifetime ago it seems (even though it wasn't) and in far more minutes. Even if starting here he isn't going to get those minutes.

 

[blue9]

Slightly better? Are you kidding?

You nit-picked a single word in my post, rather than my point. My post could have omitted the word "slightly" and the point would still be "[blah blah blah] does not mean he's GOOD when he starts."

 

[Natebishop3]

You nit-picked a single word in my post, rather than my point. My post could have omitted the word "slightly" and the point would still be "[blah blah blah] does not mean he's GOOD when he starts."

What exactly is your definition of good? He's only averaging 20 minutes per game as a starter, so he's shooting a much better percentage and still putting up decent numbers in 20 minutes per game. In Golden State when he was putting up impressive numbers, he was averaging over 38 minutes per game.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

My definition of good is better than average. I think outside of shooting percentages (which is nice to have of course) he is doing average for his minutes per game. Sure it is partially subjective but I would say he has been good only compared to the bad that he was before. If he didn't have the bad before this would seem average imo. I love that he is now shooting better. You can't expect those percentages to keep up though if he gets more minutes. Of course I can't see him getting too many more minutes (even with injuries big minutes just aren't available on our team at his positions).

 

[blue9]

What exactly is your definition of good?

Someone who plays basketball well. Wright does not play well. He's okay as a spot-up shooter, but that's about it.