Has reality set in yet?

[Mediocre Man]

Questions....

Do you think T. Rob will be a better back up PF than Freeland? Yes

Do you think Wright will be a better back up than Claver? Yes

Do you think CJ will be a better back up than Rice? Yes, but so would Wheels and Barrett

Do you think Lopez will be a better center than Hickson? Defensively, yes

Those are really the key pieces here. Leonard will probably be the same Leonard as last year, so there is no real change in that department; but those pieces I just mentioned could be a big deal. I still think if we had maynor at the beginning of the season; we would have probably made the playoffs.

This wasn't directed at me, but I wanted to play

 

[magnifier661]

This wasn't directed at me, but I wanted to play

Go for it. I like your answers.

 

[RoyToy]

Saw it mentioned

Who says McCollum isn't Bayless? Do we know that for sure?

 

[maxiep]

I am also one who is concerned watching these summer league games. I don't get the good feeling or reassurances that some here have that Olshey's bench will take this team to the next level this coming season.

To me summer league reinforces some of the thoughts I had after the flurry of movements, that Olshey is more rebuilding for the future than trying to add pieces for immediate success this coming season. Olshey could have gone the route of getting more proven vets on the bench so you know what you are going to get, instead he went for value plays with potential.

I hope the potential works out, but that bench is almost as big of a wild card as it was last season. To try and be positive (because the negative post will no doubt lead to bashing my basketball intelligence), a wild card is just that, it can be good, really good . . . or the other way.

ToB, this bench will get us to the next level. Unfortunately, that level is probably only 37-42 wins. We need to move up several levels before we're serious competitors.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Saw it mentioned

Who says McCollum isn't Bayless? Do we know that for sure?

Of course we don't know for sure. He has an entirely different attitude though so it is safe to say imo.

 

[magnifier661]

Okay last year our rotations looked like this.

PG: Lillard/Rice/Smith
SG: Matthews/Claver/Smith
SF: Batum/Claver
PF: Aldridge/Freeland
Center: Hickson/Leonard/Freeland

Now our rotations look more like this

PG: Lillard/CJ/Watson
SG: Matthews/CJ/Claver/Crabbe
SF: Batum/Wright/Matthews/Claver
PF: Aldridge/T. Rob/Claver/Freeland
Center: Lopez/Leonard/Aldridge/Freeland

Our bench has a considerable overhaul. We don't need to worry as much as you believe.

 

[RoyToy]

Okay last year our rotations looked like this.

PG: Lillard/Rice/Smith
SG: Matthews/Claver/Smith
SF: Batum/Claver
PF: Aldridge/Freeland
Center: Hickson/Leonard/Freeland

Now our rotations look more like this

PG: Lillard/CJ/Watson
SG: Matthews/CJ/Claver/Crabbe
SF: Batum/Wright/Matthews/Claver
PF: Aldridge/T. Rob/Claver/Freeland
Center: Lopez/Leonard/Aldridge/Freeland

Our bench has a considerable overhaul. We don't need to worry as much as you believe.

The bench being better than last year does not mean it's a good bench, though.

It's my opinion that the bench will still be a weak spot for the Blazers.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Questions....

Do you think T. Rob will be a better back up PF than Freeland?

Do you think Wright will be a better back up than Claver?

Do you think CJ will be a better back up than Rice?

Do you think Lopez will be a better center than Hickson?

Those are really the key pieces here. Leonard will probably be the same Leonard as last year, so there is no real change in that department; but those pieces I just mentioned could be a big deal. I still think if we had maynor at the beginning of the season; we would have probably made the playoffs.

I answer yes to all that.

To me the question is more, will this bench help elevate this team into the playoffs (because the starters, IMO, are a good enough group that with a reliable bench they are a playoff team). Watching summer league, I'm not expecting any of them to come in and compete for 6th man of the year and think the odds of having a good bench are slightly higher than last year. I do understand that it is a young bench and has the potential to surprise the league. These youngsters will get their opportunity to prove themselves, like last year. But if I remember right, posters were excited about the bench last summer with Freeland, Leonard, Williams and Smith.

 

[magnifier661]

The bench being better than last year does not mean it's a good bench, though.

It's my opinion that the bench will still be a weak spot for the Blazers.

Well considering that we were a +.500 team for most the season last year with historically the worst bench to ever step foot on court; I'd say any drastic improvement is a huge improvement to the bottom line.

I"M not saying contention, but at least the 5-8 playoff seeds.

 

[maxiep]

Saw it mentioned

Who says McCollum isn't Bayless? Do we know that for sure?

They have some similarities, but they are different players. Bayless is more athletic and physical. He drives to the hoop much more. McCollum is a much more finesse-type player. He has much longer arms, so plays longer. He has a much quicker release on his jumper and a much more developed offensive game.

But if you want to argue that both are SGs in PG bodies, we can go with that surface-level of analysis.

 

[magnifier661]

I answer yes to all that.

To me the question is more, will this bench help elevate this team into the playoffs (because the starters, IMO, are a good enough group that with a reliable bench they are a playoff team). Watching summer league, I'm not expecting any of them to come in and compete for 6th man of the year and think the odds of having a good bench are slightly higher than last year. I do understand that it is a young bench and has the potential to surprise the league. These youngsters will get their opportunity to prove themselves, like last year. But if I remember right, posters were excited about the bench last summer with Freeland, Leonard, Williams and Smith.

I think the big "game changers" will be the addition of T. Rob over freeland (giving aldridge some rest), Wright (deadly shooter from the perimeter and stable back-up; giving Batum rest) and CJ (Being a solid 2 guard back up for Matthews).

Matthews, Batum and Aldridge had some heavy minutes. Aldridge could take it, but I think the extended minutes hurt Batum and Matthews.

lillard will have some help with CJ and Watson; so a 36 mpg for him isn't that bad, IMO.

 

[maxiep]

Okay last year our rotations looked like this.

PG: Lillard/Rice/Smith
SG: Matthews/Claver/Smith
SF: Batum/Claver
PF: Aldridge/Freeland
Center: Hickson/Leonard/Freeland

Now our rotations look more like this

PG: Lillard/CJ/Watson
SG: Matthews/CJ/Claver/Crabbe
SF: Batum/Wright/Matthews/Claver
PF: Aldridge/T. Rob/Claver/Freeland
Center: Lopez/Leonard/Aldridge/Freeland

Our bench has a considerable overhaul. We don't need to worry as much as you believe.

Mags, it's Ronnie Price, not Onnie Rice that backed up Lillard last year.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

ToB, this bench will get us to the next level. Unfortunately, that level is probably only 37-42 wins. We need to move up several levels before we're serious competitors.

I also think this bench is a notch better than last year.

Hoping that Blazers pull out another pick like Lillard with CJ, but that is asking a lot (Lillard was a score and 4 picks higher). Otherwise, Blazers fans will have to be patient with this bench as they go through some growing pains.

 

[maxiep]

I also think this bench is a notch better than last year.

Hoping that Blazers pull out another pick like Lillard with CJ, but that is asking a lot (Lillard was a score and 4 picks higher). Otherwise, Blazers fans will have to be patient with this bench as they go through some growing pains.

More than anything, I hope Robinson proves he's a starting quality PF in case we need to trade LA. McCollum is almost a luxury at this point.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I think the big "game changers" will be the addition of T. Rob over freeland (giving aldridge some rest), Wright (deadly shooter from the perimeter and stable back-up; giving Batum rest) and CJ (Being a solid 2 guard back up for Matthews).

Matthews, Batum and Aldridge had some heavy minutes. Aldridge could take it, but I think the extended minutes hurt Batum and Matthews.

lillard will have some help with CJ and Watson; so a 36 mpg for him isn't that bad, IMO.

Sounds good, but you have to admit the bench is a bit of a wild card. We really don't know what T-Rob or CJ will bring. I like Wright the best out of all this because we know he can come in and contribute right away with his shooting. The other players . . . got my fingers crossed.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

More than anything, I hope Robinson proves he's a starting quality PF in case we need to trade LA. McCollum is almost a luxury at this point.

If the bench flops and the Blazers look like a lottery team again this year, i suspect LA will be shopped. So T-Rob could be the most important new player to this team. Lopez is also a very important new player to the team as he will be a starter. I guess I'm more excited about CJ because . . . well he is a rookie.

 

[magnifier661]

Sounds good, but you have to admit the bench is a bit of a wild card. We really don't know what T-Rob or CJ will bring. I like Wright the best out of all this because we know he can come in and contribute right away with his shooting. The other players . . . got my fingers crossed.

Our bench last season couldn't score to save their lives. There were so many wide open opportunities for them and they just couldn't cash in. Most the time we had a lead only to lose it when our bench came in.

Wright, trob and cj all can score. I doubt we have a 8 ppg bench next season. I just don't see it happening.

 

[maxiep]

If the bench flops and the Blazers look like a lottery team again this year, i suspect LA will be shopped. So T-Rob could be the most important new player to this team. Lopez is also a very important new player to the team as he will be a starter. I guess I'm more excited about CJ because . . . well he is a rookie.

I think Lopez is HUGE to this team. I think Olshey wants a GS Jr. kind of offense. Think about it. With Lillard, Matthews/McCollum, Batum/Wright and Aldridge on the court at the same time, you have four shooters that can all hit mid to long range jumpers. All you need in the middle is someone to bang and rebound.

 

[Boob-No-More]

It seems like everyone is focusing on the young guys and ignoring the bench veterans from both last year (Sasha and Jefferies) and this year (Wright and Watson). To me, adding Wright and Watson instantly upgrades our bench. Plus TRob and CJ will be big upgrades over Babbitt and Nolan.

The way I see it, last season, with the worst bench in NBA history, we were 3 games under .500 on March 22, with less than four weeks left in the regular season. Adding Wright, Watson TRob and CJ in place of Sasha, Jefferies, Babbitt and Nolan makes our bench MUCH better and deeper. The new vets are better than the old vets and the new young guys are better than the old young guys.

Plus, adding Robin Lopez also addressed the biggest weakness in our starting 5, interior defense.

So, if were only 3 games under .500 on March 22 last year, with no interior defense and the worst bench in league history, I don't see it as much of a stretch that we could be 3 games over .500 on March 22 this season. And, with our deeper bench, hopefully our starters will be better rested for the final 4 week stretch run.

Honestly, I don't think it's unrealistic, barring significant injuries, to expect this team to finish the season the season with 46 - 47 wins and a 6th or 7th seed in the West.

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Our bench last season couldn't score to save their lives. There were so many wide open opportunities for them and they just couldn't cash in. Most the time we had a lead only to lose it when our bench came in.

Wright, trob and cj all can score. I doubt we have a 8 ppg bench next season. I just don't see it happening.

Remember Rice and his " Babbit hits 25 out of 25 3's at practice, looks really good"; articles about Nolan Smith's dedication in the off season and how he will be a new player. My point is you can say T-Rob and CJ can score, but until they do it consistently in the NBA, we really don't know if they can score. That's why it is a wild card kind of bench. No one but Wright is really a proven scorer.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Mags, it's Ronnie Price, not Onnie Rice that backed up Lillard last year.

He also forgot about Sasha, Jefferies and Babbitt. Claver was NOT our back-up SG.

BNM

 

[Mediocre Man]

It seems like everyone is focusing on the young guys and ignoring the bench veterans from both last year (Sasha and Jefferies) and this year (Wright and Watson). To me, adding Wright and Watson instantly upgrades our bench. Plus TRob and CJ will be big upgrades over Babbitt and Nolan.

The way I see it, last season, with the worst bench in NBA history, we were 3 games under .500 on March 22, with less than four weeks left in the regular season. Adding Wright, Watson TRob and CJ in place of Sasha, Jefferies, Babbitt and Nolan makes our bench MUCH better and deeper. The new vets are better than the old vets and the new young guys are better than the old young guys.

Plus, adding Robin Lopez also addressed the biggest weakness in our starting 5, interior defense.

So, if were only 3 games under .500 on March 22 last year, with no interior defense and the worst bench in league history, I don't see it as much of a stretch that we could be 3 games over .500 on March 22 this season. And, with our deeper bench, hopefully our starters will be better rested for the final 4 week stretch run.

Honestly, I don't think it's unrealistic, barring significant injuries, to expect this team to finish the season the season with 46 - 47 wins and a 6th or 7th seed in the West.

BNM

So purgatory here we come.

 

[magnifier661]

Remember Rice and his " Babbit hits 25 out of 25 3's at practice, looks really good"; articles about Nolan Smith's dedication in the off season and how he will be a new player. My point is you can say T-Rob and CJ can score, but until they do it consistently in the NBA, we really don't know if they can score. That's why it is a wild card kind of bench. No one but Wright is really a proven scorer.

T rob still averaged at least 5 ppg last season and was buried on the bench. No reason to think he couldn't get at least that on this bench. That's over half of all our bench scoring last season.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

So purgatory here we come.

Again I say, improvement =/= purgatory. If we were a team full of prime players, and that's all we could muster, then you'd have a point. But a team full of youngsters (Aside from Watson, Aldridge is the OLDEST player on the roster) will have room for more improvement just through development.

 

[Boob-No-More]

So purgatory here we come.

No, it's a huge step forward AND a very young core. There is still plenty of room for improvement as our young guys improve as they grow toward the primes of their careers. Aldridge is the oldest player that matters, and he's only 28. Lillard is 23, Batum 24, Lopez 25 and Matthews 26. Plus, McCollum is 21 and Robinson is 22. I know you are eternally pessimistic, but do you not think ANY of these young guys will improve in the coming years. Have they ALL peaked in their early 20s? I don't believe they have.

So, to me, if this young team can win 46 - 47 games and capture the 6th - 7th seed this season, I don't see why they can't move up to 50 - 52 wins and possible HCA the season after - and still be young and improving. I think making the playoffs and gaining post season experience will help accelerate the development of our younger players.

BNM

 

[blazerboy30]

Saw it mentioned

Who says McCollum isn't Bayless? Do we know that for sure?

Have you had a chance to watch the games?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am also one who is concerned watching these summer league games. I don't get the good feeling or reassurances that some here have that Olshey's bench will take this team to the next level this coming season.

To me summer league reinforces some of the thoughts I had after the flurry of movements, that Olshey is more rebuilding for the future than trying to add pieces for immediate success this coming season. Olshey could have gone the route of getting more proven vets on the bench so you know what you are going to get, instead he went for value plays with potential.

I hope the potential works out, but that bench is almost as big of a wild card as it was last season. To try and be positive (because the negative post will no doubt lead to bashing my basketball intelligence), a wild card is just that, it can be good, really good . . . or the other way.

I feel much the same. I don't put much stock in wins and losses in Summer League, but for having 3 lotto picks on the floor ... I dunno, it's been a little underwhelming. A few flashes here and there, but I get the feeling the starters are going to be playing a ton of minutes again this year.

Lots of question marks.

 

[magnifier661]

I feel much the same. I don't put much stock in wins and losses in Summer League, but for having 3 lotto picks on the floor ... I dunno, it's been a little underwhelming. A few flashes here and there, but I get the feeling the starters are going to be playing a ton of minutes again this year.

Lots of question marks.

As long as Batum and Matthews aren't averaging over 30 minutes a game; we will be fine. I think their energy is extremely important to our success. Wright and CJ will be much better than Claver, Price and the others that tried to fill in.

Lillard and Aldridge can play 35+ minutes a game if they have to and I'm not too worried about them.

 

[e_blazer]

I think the talent level of the bench is significantly better than last year, but the experience level is very low. How fast guys like CJ and Robinson can adapt their games will be the major question marks as far as the bench goes. Wright is a known commodity and will be a major upgrade. Watson is better than Price, but probably not as good as Maynor was at the end of last season, so CJ is going to have to prove he's able to back up at PG or there's a net reduction in talent there. Unless Leonard somehow develops his game a ton by the end of summer, we're still screwed at the backup C position. LMA may have to pull some duty there. I think that Lopez is a huge plus on the defensive end and I think he'll make Aldridge even more productive. Overall, I expect the Blazers to be better, but CJ and Robinson will have to be productive if the team is going to make the playoffs. There's a lot of competition for those last 3 spots in the West.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

T rob still averaged at least 5 ppg last season and was buried on the bench. No reason to think he couldn't get at least that on this bench. That's over half of all our bench scoring last season.

That is a good point, with no role and limited minutes he averaged 5 ppg. He should at least do that with the Blazers. And I do come out of summer league with the expectations he will be an effective rebounder.

Strange how T-Rob reminds me of Hickson (only seen T-Rob for a game and half in summer league so may be off here). Will be interesting to see them match up against each other in the regular season.