Game Thread GAME# 31: SPURS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 20, 2017 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

[riverman]

Lamarcus left a lot of money on the table and an extra year to not sign here.....which in itself is kind of y'know...dumb

 

[e_blazer]

Ask all the coaches that had him playing predominantly small forward. Besides, why does he need to be a ballhandler? We have two ball dominant guards.

The SF position in Stotts’ offense does a fair amount of ball handling, which is why he uses Turner and Connaughton at that spot. Chief is a lot bulkier than he was in his SF days.

 

[GrandJury]

You honestly asked this... which means you -think- our team is as good as the rockets? and you say OUR expectations are too high? Wow.

Yea you guys said Harden is overrated this and that so I just want to know what their doing different

 

[e_blazer]

His turnovers are way down and even @blue9 can admit that he looks way more confident handling the ball and making decisions.

His turnovers are down playing the PF spot. Playing SF as a full time thing against quicker guys? I’ll have to see it to believe it. Any time he takes it into his head to drive to the hoop I cover my eyes and yell “turnover”.

 

[Strenuus]

Yea you guys said Harden is overrated this and that so I just want to know what their doing different

Those dont equate. Nice try on the troll... work on your wording.

 

[e_blazer]

Yea you guys said Harden is overrated this and that so I just want to know what their doing different

Well, for one thing, they’re playing five other guys who are averaging double figure scoring on top of Harden’s 31 PF.

 

[Scalma]

The SF position in Stotts’ offense does a fair amount of ball handling, which is why he uses Turner and Connaughton at that spot. Chief is a lot bulkier than he was in his SF days.

Huuhhh? No one has played SF more for Terry than Aminu. Are you saying he can’t dribble now because he’s added weight (which isn’t a fact btw)

 

[e_blazer]

Huuhhh? No one has played SF more for Terry than Aminu. Are you saying he can’t dribble now because he’s added weight (which isn’t a fact btw)

Not since the 2015 season. Harkless started at SF last year and this year it's been a mix of Harkless, Turner and Connaughton. I'm saying he can't dribble now because he's never been a good ball handler. I have cringed whenever he's tried to do that ever since he's been in a Blazers uniform. I'd love to see some stats on his dribble drives, because in my mind 75% of them end up either in a turnover or a bad shot.

 

[Chris Craig]

anyone wanna take a guess at the free throw numbers? ill guess 34-6 spurs.

A new forum game

 

[stampedehero]

Leonard is going to trample ET. Hope Aminu turns into superman!

 

[Scalma]

Not since the 2015 season. Harkless started at SF last year and this year it's been a mix of Harkless, Turner and Connaughton. I'm saying he can't dribble now because he's never been a good ball handler. I have cringed whenever he's tried to do that ever since he's been in a Blazers uniform. I'd love to see some stats on his dribble drives, because in my mind 75% of them end up either in a turnover or a bad shot.

If you’re going to include Patty you may as well include Aminu because he’s been getting minutes at SF the last couple of games with Collins in the rotation. And our offense flowed just fine with him at SF full time. It’s not like he just forgot how to dribble.

 

[e_blazer]

If you’re going to include Patty you may as well include Aminu because he’s been getting minutes at SF the last couple of games with Collins in the rotation. And our offense flowed just fine with him at SF full time. It’s not like he just forgot how to dribble.

I guess you're right about that. I hadn't really noticed, but he has been staying on the floor the last couple of games when Ed and Collins are playing C & PF.

I know he does a lot of good things, especially defensively, but I am not a fan of him handling the ball. He just seems to get out of control too often. I like him better as a spot up shooter.

 

[Scalma]

I guess you're right about that. I hadn't really noticed, but he has been staying on the floor the last couple of games when Ed and Collins are playing C & PF.

I know he does a lot of good things, especially defensively, but I am not a fan of him handling the ball. He just seems to get out of control too often. I like him better as a spot up shooter.

Yeah I think everyone can agree they do as well. I just don’t see why he couldn’t do that at SF? The reason he’s at PF has more to do with his spacing ability than anything else.

 

[blue9]

What part of Chief’s ball handling makes you think he can play small forward?

Oh, it's definitely NOT his ball handling that makes me think he should play SF. It's mostly the fact that we don't have any* talent at that position, making him the de facto best option.

He's also playing FAR BETTER than his career average, so we might as well ride him while he's playing relatively well.

*Turner shouldn't be in the Western Conference. Harkless is pouting because his good buddy Dame stabbed him in the back over the summer. Pat C can play, but probably shouldn't start. But of all the players on the team only Aminu/Pat should see minutes at SF.

 

[Scalma]

Oh, it's definitely NOT his ball handling that makes me think he should play SF. It's mostly the fact that we don't have any* talent at that position, making him the de facto best option.

He's also playing FAR BETTER than his career average, so we might as well ride him while he's playing relatively well.

*Turner shouldn't be in the Western Conference. Harkless is pouting because his good buddy Dame stabbed him in the back over the summer. Pat C can play, but probably shouldn't start. But of all the players on the team only Aminu/Pat should see minutes at SF.

Turner is overpaid as hell, but he’s also at least twice the player Connaughton is, just for his defense alone.

Connaughton probably doesn’t belong in any playoff squads rotation.

 

[blue9]

His turnovers are down playing the PF spot. Playing SF as a full time thing against quicker guys? I’ll have to see it to believe it. Any time he takes it into his head to drive to the hoop I cover my eyes and yell “turnover”.

I do agree that Aminu is better as a PF than as a SF.
BUT.
We actually have other players who are better (or could quickly become better) PFs than Aminu. Couple that with the fact that we don't have ANYBODY good at SF (and Aminu can kinda play the position sorta decently) and it's painfully obvious to nearly everybody that Aminu is the ONLY RATIONAL OPTION to start at SF.

 

[Scalma]

I do agree that Aminu is better as a PF than as a SF.
BUT.
We actually have other players who are better (or could quickly become better) PFs than Aminu. Couple that with the fact that we don't have ANYBODY good at SF (and Aminu can kinda play the position sorta decently) and it's painfully obvious to nearly everybody that Aminu is the ONLY RATIONAL OPTION to start at SF.

Yes and Stotts has started to experiment with it recently but he needs to hurry the hell up and make the change in the actual starting lineup. A Collins/Aminu/Nurk front court is the best we got.

 

[blue9]

Connaughton probably doesn’t belong in any playoff squads rotation.

I would say the same about Turner, Aminu, and Ed. If you're relying on any of these guys to give you more than 10-15mpg in the POs you're not gonna go very far.

 

[BonesJones]

I would say the same about Turner, Aminu, and Ed. If you're relying on any of these guys to give you more than 10-15mpg in the POs you're not gonna go very far.

Aminu and Ed definitely do. Aminu and Ed would be playing 20 minutes a piece for CLE and would make them better. Aminu would likely start at PF for Boston, and Ed would play there too. They're both underrated.

 

[Scalma]

I would say the same about Turner, Aminu, and Ed. If you're relying on any of these guys to give you more than 10-15mpg in the POs you're not gonna go very far.

Defense matters. They would and should all play. Not their fault they’re on an imbalanced roster.

 

[BonesJones]

Oh, it's definitely NOT his ball handling that makes me think he should play SF. It's mostly the fact that we don't have any* talent at that position, making him the de facto best option.

He's also playing FAR BETTER than his career average, so we might as well ride him while he's playing relatively well.

*Turner shouldn't be in the Western Conference. Harkless is pouting because his good buddy Dame stabbed him in the back over the summer. Pat C can play, but probably shouldn't start. But of all the players on the team only Aminu/Pat should see minutes at SF.

Yeah I'm at a loss. I say we need to experiment with CJ Wilcox or Wade Baldwin playing spot minutes at SF.

 

[riverman]

hurry the hell up and make the change in the actual starting lineup.

he solidifies the rotation every season after the allstar break...this is the time he looks at different rotations and why he's known as a development coach..Stotts plays his rookies early every season...then goes to 9-10 man rotation second half of the season..I like it...Nate would never do that with his bench back in the day

 

[e_blazer]

I do agree that Aminu is better as a PF than as a SF.
BUT.
We actually have other players who are better (or could quickly become better) PFs than Aminu. Couple that with the fact that we don't have ANYBODY good at SF (and Aminu can kinda play the position sorta decently) and it's painfully obvious to nearly everybody that Aminu is the ONLY RATIONAL OPTION to start at SF.

He may be the best option that we have at SF given the current roster. The only rational option is to trade for someone who would actually be good in the SF role.

 

[GrandJury]

Those dont equate. Nice try on the troll... work on your wording.

Damn your paranoid by me lol

 

[Strenuus]

Damn your paranoid by me lol

Not paranoid. Knowledgeable.

 

[H.C.]

Aminu getting minutes at the SF spot would likely drop his shooting %, and raise his turnover rate.
Simply because the guy guarding him would be another SF.
Personally with Aminu being Portland's best forward. You don't sacrifice his minutes anywhere imo.

 

[blue9]

He may be the best option that we have at SF given the current roster. The only rational option is to trade for someone who would actually be good in the SF role.

That would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[blue9]

Aminu getting minutes at the SF spot would likely drop his shooting %, and raise his turnover rate.
Simply because the guy guarding him would be another SF.
Personally with Aminu being Portland's best forward. You don't sacrifice his minutes anywhere imo.

I don't think the other team would necessarily guard him just because we change one of his front-court teammates. Teams will continue leaving him open regardless of whether he's playing with Zach or Turner.

 

[H.C.]

I don't think the other team would necessarily guard him just because we change one of his front-court teammates. Teams will continue leaving him open regardless of whether he's playing with Zach or Turner.

It's not about guarding or leaving him open.
Using the Minn game as an example.
Minn had Gibson on Aminu and Wiggins on Turner.
Wiggins being not a big therefore is more comfortable guarding the perimeter.
Meaning Wiggins is much better at closing out on shooters than Gibson is.
Where we saw Gibson close out and then get took off the dribble, it's unlikely that Wiggins put in that same situation wouldn't be able to keep Aminu in front of him.

I don't think it's a coincidence Aminu's three point % went up when he got the majority of his minutes at the 4, rather than the 3.

 

[ripcityboy]

Someone want to get me the San Antonio Press Kit so I can out find just how fucking groundbreaking and first class they are. How they are everything the Blazers aren't and how wonderful Pops is.