Henderson/Crabbe/Aminu/Harkless

[PtldPlatypus]

Yes, Crabbe reaches too much. Yes, Aminu sometimes loses his man. Yes, Harkless gambles. But overall, these four give us defensive ability, effort, and versatility on the wings that we haven't seen in Portland in many years.

I don't know if we'll still have all four of these guys a week from now, but for the moment, I'm loving the way they work together.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's like taking Wes and splitting him into four guys without losing much from the process.

 

[Draco]

Yes, Crabbe reaches too much. Yes, Aminu sometimes loses his man. Yes, Harkless gambles. But overall, these four give us defensive ability, effort, and versatility on the wings that we haven't seen in Portland in many years.

I don't know if we'll still have all four of these guys a week from now, but for the moment, I'm loving the way they work together.

AGREED!

I also think they're a benefit of and a benefit to the Lillard-McCollum duo. With a more traditional backcourt we might need scoring at the wings. But with those two's ability to create offense we can have this group of athletic defensive role playing wings.

 

[Draco]

It's like taking Wes and splitting him into four guys without losing much from the process.

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked quality backup wings for what seemed like years. Now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes and Nic with scrubs.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked a backup wing for years; now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes and Nic with scrubs.

Exactly; Wes was really good on defense but he's only one guy. I'd rather have four guys 75% as good.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Solid trade sweeteners IMO.

I like the progress Harkless has made since being given a defined role.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Solid trade sweeteners IMO.

I like the progress Harkless has made since being given a defined role.

His defined role being "in the game"?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

His defined role being "in the game"?

Consistent minutes.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked quality backup wings for what seemed like years. Now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes+Nic+scrubs.

Better to have multiple players. There were players Wes could not guard that I think Aminu and Harkless do a better job with. We are much more versatile this year on D.

 

[Draco]

Better to have multiple players. There were players Wes could not guard that I think Aminu and Harkless do a better job with. We are much more versatile this year on D.

Yeah Wes was a SG who could defend some PG/SF. Aminu and Harkless are longer SF who can defend SG or PF.

I have really liked seeing Aminu or Harkless at PF. Its so damn exciting to watch basketball with that speed, quickness and athleticism at four positions. Many of us thought at the time of the Aminu signing he could be our poor man's Draymond Green. Draymond's stepped up his game another level so thats kind of silly to say now. But the concept of a wing that gives up nothing defending bigs and has speed is something to watch.

 

[riverman]

I think Draco nailed it with Wes was......if you've seen him with the Mavs, Wes is not better than our young guys defensively right now..he's lost a step

 

[KingSpeed]

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked quality backup wings for what seemed like years. Now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes and Nic with scrubs.

Yep. We have a better team this year.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Harkless is a smallball 4, obviously. I wonder if this means less Vonleh even when he's healthy.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Harkless is a smallball 4, obviously. I wonder if this means less Vonleh even when he's healthy.

Or maybe Vonleh becomes a smallball 5...?

 

[Draco]

Harkless is a smallball 4, obviously. I wonder if this means less Vonleh even when he's healthy.

Yeah thats kind of what I thought in starting my Noah Vonleh thread a few days ago.

Meyers plays pretty good off the bench where his slow footed defense isn't as exposed and Ed can cover him. It seems like Harkless is starting to earn a spot in the rotation. Noah had months of starting and never had a game like Mo did yesterday. Mo had some other big games playing forward with Aminu early in the season such as at Utah.

I'm just not sure how you cut Mo out of the rotation or Meyers. I know Noah was only playing 15 mpg but still somethings got to give. Last night Plumlee played 16 minutes and CJ 27 usually those will be higher. Hendo and Crabbe are both playing well. With everyone healthy we have a minute crunch. I think thats good because odds are eventually a guy or two misses games with injuries and this works out. But for a period there may be some tough choices for Stotts.

Who would've thought after free agency we'd have trouble with too many players warranting playing time.

 

[Denny Crane]

Defense is how you win (or keep games close) if you don't have the talent.

It's working.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah thats kind of what I thought in starting my Noah Vonleh thread a few days ago.

Meyers plays pretty good off the bench where his slow footed defense isn't as exposed and Ed can cover him. It seems like Harkless is starting to earn a spot in the rotation. Noah had months of starting and never had a game like Mo did yesterday. Mo had some other big games playing forward with Aminu early in the season such as at Utah.

I'm just not sure how you cut Mo out of the rotation or Meyers. I know Noah was only playing 15 mpg but still somethings got to give. Last night Plumlee played 16 minutes and CJ 27 usually those will be higher. Hendo and Crabbe are both playing well. With everyone healthy we have a minute crunch. I think thats good because odds are eventually a guy or two misses games with injuries and this works out. But for a period there may be some tough choices for Stotts.

Who would've thought after free agency we'd have trouble with too many players warranting playing time.

CJ lost playing time last night because terry wanted as many long guys to switch into harden as possible. That meant more harkless, crabbe, aminu etc


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[illmatic99]

It's GS lite on defense. Everyone can switch on everyone.

 

[blue9]

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked quality backup wings for what seemed like years. Now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes and Nic with scrubs.

I think this is spot on. Both Wes and Nic were better than any of their replacements, but neither had anyone serviceable behind them. Now that we're 4 deep at the wings (not counting CJ), and none of them are bad defenders we're better overall. But if we had Healthy Wes and Nic we'd be even better.

 

[B-Roy]

Our whole team is GSW light.

Dame/CJ --> Curry/Klay
Crabbe/Hark/Aminu/Hendo --> Dray/Barnes/Iggy/Livingston
Ed/Plums --> Bogut/Ezeli
Leonard --> Speights
Bench mob --> Bench mob.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Wes was better than any of them. But we sorely lacked quality backup wings for what seemed like years. Now we have a few of them and as a group they may be better than Wes and Nic with scrubs.

Speaking of Wes, I think all four of those players combined just barely eclipse Wes' salary this season lol