Game Thread GAME# 24: BLAZERS @ GRIZZLIES - DECEMBER 8, 2016 - THURSDAY, 5:00 PM (PDT), CSNNW

[BonesJones]

I watched both Aminu and Batum play 82 games+playoffs. Aminu made the shots Batum missed, especially in the playoffs.
I can't even imagine Nico making the open threes Aminu made during the Clippers series.

Nico played lazy, you didn't see that? he couldn't even play PF for us. He was weak and ineffectual.

You already have Plumlee,Lillard and CJ in the starting lineup why do you need another soft playmaker? our starting 5 is not balanced enough as it is.

Just to clarify: It's a fact that Aminu is ASS on offense so far this year. His shooting form is disgusting to me, but i'm not going to lament over a past player who i find to be a non legit-starter and a bad fit as well.

Compare Batum's and Aminus career 3pt %.

Batum was a SF, who had 5 times the talent Aminu does. Just because Batum doesnt play as hard doesn't mean he's not better.

You can never have enough playmakers.

Plumlee isn't a playmaker. He can pass, but I don't see him running pick n rolls.

So his 5 assists a game was worthless, his better shooting wasn't enough and his 7 rebounds were useless too? Okay. I guess Lillards 28 a games is useless too.

 

[Orion Bailey]

A million threes? If he missed a million threes, then A minus missed a billion. Were talking Batum and Aminu comparisons... How can you have a problem with Nico's 3pt shooting and not Aminus?
So you don't care about good rebounders and playmakers?

And we were comparing Aminu, not Harkless. But you say Harkless shoots the same on more aggression (which makes no sense because they score at the same rate) and moves better without the ball (x2).

Compare Batum's and Aminus career 3pt %.

Batum was a SF, who had 5 times the talent Aminu does. Just because Batum doesnt play as hard doesn't mean he's not better.

You can never have enough playmakers.

Plumlee isn't a playmaker. He can pass, but I don't see him running pick n rolls.

So his 5 assists a game was worthless, his better shooting wasn't enough and his 7 rebounds were useless too? Okay. I guess Lillards 28 a games is useless too.

Bones, I posted their career three point shots. They aren't all that far off. 31.5% for Aminu and 37.7% for Nic I think it was? Too lazy to scroll up. lol.

Here is the key though. Nic was always thought of as more of a two way player. and can be an offensive player with a good three point shot.
Aminu was brought in for defensive purposes to help shore up the weakness of the guards. Any offense we get from Aminu is a bonus. I think Aminu needs to have better decision making and have a better feel for his own shot. When he is off, he needs to stop shooting and look to pass.

The key is, when the three point shots mattered? Key shots in playoff games, Aminu hit his and Nic wiffed.
Yes. Nic is a better shooter, but when it counts and the game is on the line or your back is against the wall, Aminu came through and Nic didn't. That has to amount for something no?

I dont think Nic was ever a playmaker with us. He had the potential to be, but he camped out too much and didn't slash into the paint off the ball.

You can say that he was passive because he was our fourth option, but when dame came onto the team not having played a game, he never deferred. He took the bull by the horns and said, look at me!!! Im the man.

I truly believe Nic has a that type of skill, but he lacks the heart.
He could have taken over many games if he just had that same type of killer instinct.
Trust me. At one point Nic was my fav player. Even during Dames rookie year. He had soooo much potential to become our next Grant Hill or Tracy Mcgrady.... and to me he is a partial bust because he isnt getting the most out of himself.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Compare Batum's and Aminus career 3pt %.

Batum was a SF, who had 5 times the talent Aminu does. Just because Batum doesnt play as hard doesn't mean he's not better.

You can never have enough playmakers.

Plumlee isn't a playmaker. He can pass, but I don't see him running pick n rolls.

So his 5 assists a game was worthless, his better shooting wasn't enough and his 7 rebounds were useless too? Okay. I guess Lillards 28 a games is useless too.

Career stats are irrelevant to the discussion.
I'm not arguing Batum isn't WAY more talented than Aminu because he obviously is , I am arguing his talent didn't add much to a team if he couldn't back it up with effort and balls.

Everyone want more playmakers, especially in today's NBA. Unfortunatly "playmakers" are often soft on D so you need some lumberjacks on the roster as well.

Batum was the only playmaker with Dame on that 2013-2015 starting lineup, it's only natural his assists numbers will be relatively high.
Trust me, CJ could easily have those assists to LMA mid-range jumpshot or to an automatic Matthews three or in a Lopez pick and roll.

About his rebounds: How often did you see him take the rebound below the basket and then try to put it in hard like Harkless does?

 

[Orion Bailey]

And I'm the type of person to pay more for an older more expensive quality built nice car , than a cheaper newer economy vehicle. Like to be comfortable at all times.

That is great and absolutely your right and I respect that.
It is awesome to have a salary that allows for spending in such a fashion you can purchase the luxury comfort at any cost without thought to a budget.

Unfortunately the NBA is not run that way and there IS a budget with a cap.

In your analogy, you would be happiest if the Blazers then wiped the roster clean and signed only 4 max players. LBJ, Curry, Durant, Westbrook, AD. Basically one of the best starting fives you could assemble from the league. But then you have no bench and no work horses.

When working within a budget you have to be practical and thrifty and purchasing luxury items for comfort is not an option.
You are on the inside. You do know this right? Or are you messing with me?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I liked Nic. I kind of like Aminu. But if you find yourself arguing X over Y as having any measurable impact on this team's prospects for an NBA title, then it's a little like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic -- neither of these two really gets us any closer to being able to hang with the Warriors in a series (or maybe any of the Western Confernence "elite" teams).

 

[illmatic99]

You are a joke. Sorry. Your a funny one though.

And you're a grown ass man that doesn't know the difference between your and you're. We can't all be perfect.

 

[Orion Bailey]

And you're a grown ass man that doesn't know the difference between your and you're. We can't all be perfect.

And your... yes...your a guy who cant seem to get that I do understand, but am simply too lazy to type the extra letters simply to appease your anal retentiveness with regards to grammar.
And your right. You are far from perfect.
Next?
Keep going. This is fun.

Edit: Oh yeah. And remember. YOUR the one telling ME I take this shit too seriously. LMAO!!!!!

 

[BonesJones]

Bones, I posted their career three point shots. They aren't all that far off. 31.5% for Aminu and 37.7% for Nic I think it was? Too lazy to scroll up. lol.

Here is the key though. Nic was always thought of as more of a two way player. and can be an offensive player with a good three point shot.
Aminu was brought in for defensive purposes to help shore up the weakness of the guards. Any offense we get from Aminu is a bonus. I think Aminu needs to have better decision making and have a better feel for his own shot. When he is off, he needs to stop shooting and look to pass.

The key is, when the three point shots mattered? Key shots in playoff games, Aminu hit his and Nic wiffed.
Yes. Nic is a better shooter, but when it counts and the game is on the line or your back is against the wall, Aminu came through and Nic didn't. That has to amount for something no?

I dont think Nic was ever a playmaker with us. He had the potential to be, but he camped out too much and didn't slash into the paint off the ball.

You can say that he was passive because he was our fourth option, but when dame came onto the team not having played a game, he never deferred. He took the bull by the horns and said, look at me!!! Im the man.

I truly believe Nic has a that type of skill, but he lacks the heart.
He could have taken over many games if he just had that same type of killer instinct.
Trust me. At one point Nic was my fav player. Even during Dames rookie year. He had soooo much potential to become our next Grant Hill or Tracy Mcgrady.... and to me he is a partial bust because he isnt getting the most out of himself.

Those percentages arent that different??? That amounts to an 18 point difference per 100 possessions.

He never had that kind of potential. A lotta people thought he did and got mad when he didn't fulfill it, but he never had Grant Hill/Tracy McGrady potential.

I just don't know how this argument supports Aminu being better than Batum.

 

[LuckyShot]

Just want to throw in that I think Nic would have fit well with this team built around Dame and a lot of motion and pick and rolls. His inconsistency was of course maddening, but we could have really used his ballhandling and playmaking in the playoffs when Dame got continuously doubled. Why did we go and get Evan Turner? We recognized the need for another ballhandling playmaker on the wing. I think other than Vonleh, Harkless is the player we would be without if we had kept Nic. Or Turner. Or both. Aminu fills another role. He's a 3/4 while Nic is a 3/2.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Neil basically made a 50$ bet, thinking he could net 150$ if he's lucky and now you people wonder how good those 50$ would have felt in our pocket right now.


Get over it, it's only Batum lol.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Those percentages arent that different??? That amounts to an 18 point difference per 100 possessions.

He never had that kind of potential. A lotta people thought he did and got mad when he didn't fulfill it, but he never had Grant Hill/Tracy McGrady potential.

I just don't know how this argument supports Aminu being better than Batum.

I think you read my post wrong. I was saying I think nic had Tracy mcgrady/ grant hill potential.
I also am not saying aminu is better than nic. I'm saying for the money, I'd rather have aminus numbers which are very close overall(again nic is hands down a better shooter) on all non shooting stats, than nic and his numbers.
Money + time on court+ production numbers prove aminus contract is a more value contract than nics. For the money you get better production from aminu

 

[BBert]

Just want to throw in that I think Nic would have fit well with this team built around Dame and a lot of motion and pick and rolls. His inconsistency was of course maddening, but we could have really used his ballhandling and playmaking in the playoffs when Dame got continuously doubled. Why did we go and get Evan Turner? We recognized the need for another ballhandling playmaker on the wing. I think other than Vonleh, Harkless is the player we would be without if we had kept Nic. Or Turner. Or both. Aminu fills another role. He's a 3/4 while Nic is a 3/2.

My nagging suspicion that they moved Batum in an effort to appease LaMarCooch remains. Batum is perfect for this team, especially now that he would be able to play his complete game instead of his previous primary duty, which was to feed the ball into LaMarCooch on every fucking possession. If they traded Batum thinking it might sway The Cooch into staying, when it was painfully clear The Cooch already had his bags packed and one foot out the door, then Olshey/Allen done fucked up.

 

[BonesJones]

My nagging suspicion that they moved Batum in an effort to appease LaMarCooch remains. Batum is perfect for this team, especially now that he would be able to play his complete game instead of his previous primary duty, which was to feed the ball into LaMarCooch on every fucking possession. If they traded Batum thinking it might sway The Cooch into staying, when it was painfully clear The Cooch already had his bags packed and one foot out the door, then Olshey/Allen done fucked up.

Aldridge did approve the trade.

 

[THE HCP]

NOBODY on here has been bringing up money bro! Ever since the deal and signing of Aminu, haters have straight up been saying we are better WITHOUT Nic.....that Aminu is better. THAT'S foolish and THAT'S what has been frustrating.

 

[Orion Bailey]

NOBODY on here has been bringing up money bro! Ever since the deal and signing of Aminu, haters have straight up been saying we are better WITHOUT Nic.....that Aminu is better. THAT'S foolish and THAT'S what has been frustrating.

I cant speak for others, but I assumed it was a foregone conclusion that people were looking at the contracts when saying they would rather have Aminu. I know anytime I have made a comment on the two, its been based on the all encompassing, which includes salary.