Go back to the Three Guard lineup!

[Rastapopoulos]

...says Wayne Winston:

The key to the Blazers success are the minutes with Blake, Miller and Roy on the court. Whether Oden is in or out the Blazers play 21 points better than average with these three guys in. The rest of the time the Blazers play only one point better than average.

Remember how we were winning so much with that lineup, then we had a couple of losses and we started Martell over Miller? Hasn't looked so great since, has it? And it's not like Martell is looking anything but shit since.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Of course, the way things are going, we're going to have to have a 4-guard lineup.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Of course, the way things are going, we're going to have to have a 4-guard lineup.

I still like the Bayless-At-Center concept bandied about earlier in the week.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Remember how we were winning so much with that lineup, then we had a couple of losses and we started Martell over Miller? Hasn't looked so great since, has it? And it's not like Martell is looking anything but shit since.

I am not opposed to a three guard lineup - especially with the roster devastation we have had. However, I do not like the Blake/Miller/Roy lineup, I'd go with Miller/Bayless/Roy. With both Blake and Miller in there, we have two slow not very good defensive guards and it puts much more pressure on the interior defenders.

Also, I think we'd get a more aggressive, attacking group replacing Blake with Bayless.

IMO.

Gramps...

 

[BenDavis503]

That is nice and all... but Roy hates playing\guarding the 3 position.

 

[Ed O]

I'm glad that Nate keeps pushing his best player to play out of position rather than simply putting Blake on the bench.

Dumbass.

Ed O.

 

[andalusian]

That is nice and all... but Roy hates playing\guarding the 3 position.

So play him at the SG position. Blake can play the 3!

 

[SpanishFly]

No probs with 3 guard line IF the guards are Miller-Bayless-Roy and Blanky is benched!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'm glad that Nate keeps pushing his best player to play out of position rather than simply putting Blake on the bench.

Dumbass.

Ed O.

+100000000000000000000000

The love affair with Steve Blake is mind boggling.

 

[Schilly]

I'm glad that Nate keeps pushing his best player to play out of position rather than simply putting Blake on the bench.

Dumbass.

Ed O.

Holy Crap we agree!

 

[Schilly]

And something should be noted... Who was that lineup successful against?

SA, MIN, MEM, MIN, NO, CHA, DET

Not exactly a who's who of good teams in the NBA, the Spurs are the best of that Lot at 9-9 currently.

 

[handiman]

Well said, Schilly. The success of that lineup was an illusion.

 

[hasoos]

I'm glad that Nate keeps pushing his best player to play out of position rather than simply putting Blake on the bench.

Dumbass.

Ed O.

Huzzah!

 

[craigehlo]

The real benefit of the 3 guard lineup is not having Webster on the floor.

 

[SpanishFly]

The real benefit of the 3 guard lineup is not having Webster on the floor.

Bingo, and replace Blake with Bayless and it would work better. If you are going to use it then use the beat players you have to make it work

 

[hasoos]

We should trade for Nate Robinson and Ty Lawson, and put Brandon at Center!

AKA the "John Wall here we come" strategy!

 

[craigehlo]

Bingo, and replace Blake with Bayless and it would work better. If you are going to use it then use the beat players you have to make it work

I haven't heard much of the "having Webster back is like a free agent signing" after the media and fans have seen him continue his mediocre play. He really is key contributor to how poorly this team is playing lately.

I like the idea of Bayless in the 3 guard lineup though.

 

[MARIS61]

A 3 guard line-up with Miller is a waste of the other 2 guards.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And something should be noted... Who was that lineup successful against?
SA, MIN, MEM, MIN, NO, CHA, DET

Notice that Memphis kicked our asses AT HOME when Martell was starting. And we can't beat ANYBODY these days.

But TrueHoop covered that point:

Worth pointing out, the Blazers started that lineup for a stretch of games when they played weak opponents, although Winston's numbers account for oppostion.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

We should trade for Nate Robinson and Ty Lawson, and put Brandon at Center!
AKA the "John Wall here we come" strategy!

Nate Robinson has become this year's Stephon Marbury. They might even buy him out.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The real benefit of the 3 guard lineup is not having Webster on the floor.

What he said.

We could play Steve Blake at the three and do better than playing Martell at the three. In fact, in the three guard lineup that is effectively what's happening (on offense). I would suffer Blake being posted up a few times for the smarter basketball being played. And if Brandon's all worried about having to guard big strong men, we can zone up. With all the injuries we've had, we should probably play nothing but zone anyway just to conserve energy.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm glad that Nate keeps pushing his best player to play out of position rather than simply putting Blake on the bench.

Dumbass

Okay, when did MM take over Ed's account?

Haven't you heard, Ed - "positions" are so Twentieth Century.

 

[Ed O]

Blaming Webster for the team's recent woes makes no sense to me. He has not played well, with a few exceptions, but he hasn't been THAT bad.

Playing two point guards and Roy just to get Webster off of the floor is ridiculous.

My last post was a bit confused because it sounds like Nate/the coaches aren't actually doing this, right? Just that Wayne Winston thinks the three of them played well together.

Ed O.

 

[Schilly]

The simple solution IMO is to start Cunningham at the 3

 

[hasoos]

The simple solution IMO is to start Cunningham at the 3

That may well happen. I surmised before the season started that Cunningham would endear himself to the coaching staff because of the things he does on the court that our other SF don't. Those being a smart defender and rebounding. The only thing he doesn't have is 3 point range.

 

[Schilly]

I think the Portland fan base over values 3 point range.

 

[hasoos]

I think the Portland fan base over values 3 point range.

Live by the 3 die by the 3.

The game is won in the paint.

 

[Blazed Mania 52]

Don't start Blake.

Is it really that difficult of a task? Hell, if want you to do a guard lineup, sure, but why does Blake have to be involved? Miller, Bayless, and Roy would be nice. And they all would get their time with the beloved ball because Oden is now out.
And why hasn't Steve Blake taken the Dan Dickau-suckass assessment test yet? You'd think it would have been administered by atleast some of our coaching staff by now.

 

[MARIS61]

Live by the 3 die by the 3.

The game is won in the paint.

All recent championship teams had reliable 3 pt shooters, and used them.

You can't win in the paint unless you can spread the defense.

 

[hasoos]

All recent championship teams had reliable 3 pt shooters, and used them.

You can't win in the paint unless you can spread the defense.

There is a difference between used and overused. The facts are points in the paint are more efficient and efficiency is the name of the game. The determining factor obviously being, your personnel and how good they are at shooting it.

This is a good read:

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/12/03/mapping-the-nba-to-live-and-die-by-the-three/