Hero ball = top lottery pick

[Draco]

Preseason leaders in shot attempts per game:

1) Dame 21.0
2) Anthony Davis 17.4 (that's 3.6 behind the leader)
3) CJ 16.9
4) Blake G. 15.3
...
6) Hardin 14.6
...
Westbrook 13.0
...
Curry 11.3

Keep telling me this is okay.

Its ok. Davis, Beal, Barbosa?, Durant, Griffin, Curry and Derrick Williams? are all shooting more shots than Damian per minute for the preseason.

 

[Draco]

Overall number of shots taken:
#4 Paul George 95 (7 games)
#3 Drummond 98 (7 games)
#2 Dame 105 (5 games)
#1 CJ 118 (7 games)

The green light brothers?

I'm actually not bothered by it as much as surprised. CJ took 20 more shots than anyone else? Wow. Hard to believe he and Dame are the top two and the Dame did it in only 5 games.

How many of those other guys played 42 minutes in a preseason game?

 

[THE HCP]

The Blazers second highest ranked player on ESPN player rating was Mason Plumlee at #128.

The Warriors have these players ahead of Mason:

16. Klay Thompson (one spot behind Dame)
19. Draymond Green
56. Andre Iguodala
66. Andrew Bogut
80. Harrison Barnes
117. Shaun Livingston

The Warriors also have additional veterans who know their role but can create offense if they need to; Jason Thompson, Marressee Speights, Leandro Barbosa. They have all been double digit scorers in the NBA.

But I thought we were better than last years team according to some in here!


Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS

 

[Draco]

But I thought we were better than last years team according to some in here!


Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS

No reasonable poster has said that.

 

[blue9]

Overall number of shots taken:
#4 Paul George 95 (7 games)
#3 Drummond 98 (7 games)
#2 Dame 105 (5 games)
#1 CJ 118 (7 games)

The green light brothers?

I'm actually not bothered by it as much as surprised. CJ took 20 more shots than anyone else? Wow. Hard to believe he and Dame are the top two and the Dame did it in only 5 games.

Seems like Stotts completely wasted the pre-season. We already KNOW that Dame/CJ can score. Should be working on getting others comfortable with an increased load.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Having 2 great players who can score is a good thing.

Yes, that would be nice.

 

[WillG]

Seems like Stotts completely wasted the pre-season. We already KNOW that Dame/CJ can score. Should be working on getting others comfortable with an increased load.

Agreed.
I think Stotts is an imbecile for letting Dame play massive minutes in pre-season.
Talk about 'tempting fate'.

We already know what we have in Dame, and, I think, he should have reduced minutes with the emergence of CJ. He can then concentrate on playing more efficiently, in a flat-out style- in slightly fewer minutes.

With the depth we have, we should be rotating in fresh players regularly throughout the game.
[though Stotts has shown some 'set-in-stone' sub patterns in the past]

 

[Orion Bailey]

Agreed.
I think Stotts is an imbecile for letting Dame play massive minutes in pre-season.
Talk about 'tempting fate'.

We already know what we have in Dame, and, I think, he should have reduced minutes with the emergence of CJ. He can then concentrate on playing more efficiently, in a flat-out style- in slightly fewer minutes.

With the depth we have, we should be rotating in fresh players regularly throughout the game.
[though Stotts has shown some 'set-in-stone' sub patterns in the past]

Whoa whoa, slow the horses guys... though I don't agree with AS MANY minutes, He should be getting good minutes. He is going to be the leader and spearhead of the offense. If he isn't in the game now then the other guys will be playing and possibly learning in a fashion that doesn't benefit our best player. Dame is our number one scorer. How will the others get cohesive in playing with the best player on the roster if he isn't on the court?

I wouldn't be calling Stotts an imbecile, I would consider him acknowledging where the scoring is going to come from and the only way to maintain that is to have the scorers playing with the non scorers to get tight.

 

[Draco]

Dame wanted to play a couple games near regular season minutes to get in shape for the regular season. He has 5 days off now. The minutes isn't a big deal. We're not making the playoff this year so being burned out by the end of the season will be fine.

I expect to hear tons of bitching about Stotts this year; and as in this thread most of it is ludicrous.

 

[WillG]

Disagree. Growth season - no need to be firing 100% from the get-go.
By game five, Dame will be in shape - he's not a guy to let himself get too unconditioned.

Playing extended minutes, in meaningless games, is unwarranted exposure to the possibility of injury.

If its a 'Harkless' situation player, wanting to learn the system, or play themselves into the rotation - fine.
I cringed both times Dame rolled his ankle - and he was getting beat-up taking it to the hole - but for what?
It's lunacy to push a player that IS your franchise - over 40 minutes in a meaningless game.

 

[Draco]

Disagree. Growth season - no need to be firing 100% from the get-go.
By game five, Dame will be in shape - he's not a guy to let himself get too unconditioned.

Playing extended minutes, in meaningless games, is unwarranted exposure to the possibility of injury.

He lead the league in minutes as a rookie and has never missed a game. I think your obsessing over something of little importance.

 

[WillG]

He lead the league in minutes as a rookie and has never missed a game. I think your obsessing over something of little importance.

You wouldn't be saying that if Dame had rolled his ankle worse than what he did - in a meaningless game.

 

[MarAzul]

Who was that dude that went 1 for 9 jacking up long balls? Perhaps someone ought to introduce him to Mr. Leonard.

 

[Draco]

You wouldn't be saying that if Dame had rolled his ankle worse than what he did - in a meaningless game.

Players get hurt in practice all the time, should all the Blazers starters stop practicing?

 

[WillG]

Players get hurt in practice all the time, should all the Blazers starters stop practicing?

Practice?

Mr. Iverson has your answer for you there.

We'll agree to disagree.
Dame could have easily sat at half time, and been just as effective, conditioning wise, in the next game. (which counts for something!).

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Disagree. Growth season - no need to be firing 100% from the get-go.
By game five, Dame will be in shape - he's not a guy to let himself get too unconditioned.

Playing extended minutes, in meaningless games, is unwarranted exposure to the possibility of injury.

If its a 'Harkless' situation player, wanting to learn the system, or play themselves into the rotation - fine.
I cringed both times Dame rolled his ankle - and he was getting beat-up taking it to the hole - but for what?
It's lunacy to push a player that IS your franchise - over 40 minutes in a meaningless game.

Honestly, I think it's well documented that it's not only stotts or Olshey. Lillard wants to play all the time. Rumors are that Olshey was upset last year because Damian wouldn't take some rest for the new jersey makeup game. Damian wants to play 48 mpg I'm sure.

 

[blue9]

Dame wanted to play a couple games near regular season minutes to get in shape for the regular season. He has 5 days off now. The minutes isn't a big deal. We're not making the playoff this year so being burned out by the end of the season will be fine.

I expect to hear tons of bitching about Stotts this year; and as in this thread most of it is ludicrous.

I agree that the minutes he played in preseason aren't an issue - the whole team needs to learn to play with him. The reason I think Stotts is dumb is because he didn't use pre-season to get other guys warmed up for the regular season. Again, we KNOW that Dame/CJ can score. We should have used these games to work on improving the scoring abilities of Meyers, Plumlee, Harkless, Vonleh, Davis, etc. But it doesn't seem like Stotts likes to create game plans, and instead prefers to let his players free-lance based on a loose, basic philosophy.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Well, I think we can all agree that this is Stotts make it or break it season, if our offense doesn't improve (from a team ball aspect) he will be fired.

 

[blue9]

Well, I think we can all agree that this is Stotts make it or break it season, if our offense doesn't improve (from a team ball aspect) he will be fired.

My fear is that, because there aren't any expectations, he'll be extended regardless of how the team does. Hopefully he only gets a 1-year extension though.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

My fear is that, because there aren't any expectations, he'll be extended regardless of how the team does. Hopefully he only gets a 1-year extension though.

Eh, with Thibs out there available... I think Stotts is on a short leash.

 

[MarAzul]

Well, I think we can all agree that this is Stotts make it or break it season, if our offense doesn't improve (from a team ball aspect) he will be fired.

I do not agree. But I am not trying to guess what will happen, I think he should have been fired based upon his lack of leadership last season.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I do not agree. But I am not trying to guess what will happen, I think he should have been fired based upon his lack of leadership last season.

I wasn't exactly happy about keeping him either but I'm willing to give him until around the all-star break to prove his worth. If we're a dumpster fire by then (talking 10-15 wins) he gets fired and we start our coaching search early. Guys like Thibs, Walton, Lue, etc. should be interviewed right away.

 

[MarAzul]

Walton

I would like to strart right there, Walton.

 

[Draco]

I agree that the minutes he played in preseason aren't an issue - the whole team needs to learn to play with him. The reason I think Stotts is dumb is because he didn't use pre-season to get other guys warmed up for the regular season. Again, we KNOW that Dame/CJ can score. We should have used these games to work on improving the scoring abilities of Meyers, Plumlee, Harkless, Vonleh, Davis, etc. But it doesn't seem like Stotts likes to create game plans, and instead prefers to let his players free-lance based on a loose, basic philosophy.

So you want our secondary scorers to play roles in the preseason they won't play in the regular season?

I saw enough of guys like Plumlee trying to create offense, dribbling around and jumping in the air with nobody to pass too.

The games Damian didn't play were brutal when CJ was on the bench. Having Davis and Meyers force shots in those situations won't help prepare for anything.

 

[blue9]

So you want our secondary scorers to play roles in the preseason they won't play in the regular season?

I saw enough of guys like Plumlee trying to create offense, dribbling around and jumping in the air with nobody to pass too.

The games Damian didn't play were brutal when CJ was on the bench. Having Davis and Meyers force shots in those situations won't help prepare for anything.

From your first question it appears that you don't think we should be looking to get other guys involved in our offense during the regular season. I think it's a flawed question. To answer it I'd say, no. I wanted to see them start working on roles that would carry over to the regular season. It's imperative that we get other players more involved in the offense.

Nowhere did I say I want to see Plumlee "creat[ing] offense, dribbling around and jumping in the air with nobody to pass too." But Stotts should have plays drawn up that result in Plumlee catching a pass on the move towards the basket. Ditto for Davis, Vonleh, Harkless, Aminu, etc. Getting these guys involved, getting them more shots, does not mean that we just give them the ball and they look to score on their own the way Dame/CJ do. It means that we utilize the 5 guys on the court, working as a cohesive unit to create cutting/passing lanes, that results in a more even distribution of shots...and with time, higher percentage shots.

 

[riverman]

I think you'll see Gerald Henderson and CJ on the court together in a lot of games but Dame will play big minutes. Teams are going to key on Dame every play so he can play decoy and defer to the other guys like Meyers and Noah ..if they get that pick and roll going teams will pay for keying on Dame. Crabbe has to play really well when he's on the court and shoot consistently to put the team on the next level.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I agree that the minutes he played in preseason aren't an issue - the whole team needs to learn to play with him. The reason I think Stotts is dumb is because he didn't use pre-season to get other guys warmed up for the regular season. Again, we KNOW that Dame/CJ can score. We should have used these games to work on improving the scoring abilities of Meyers, Plumlee, Harkless, Vonleh, Davis, etc. But it doesn't seem like Stotts likes to create game plans, and instead prefers to let his players free-lance based on a loose, basic philosophy.

So you want our secondary scorers to play roles in the preseason they won't play in the regular season?

I saw enough of guys like Plumlee trying to create offense, dribbling around and jumping in the air with nobody to pass too.

The games Damian didn't play were brutal when CJ was on the bench. Having Davis and Meyers force shots in those situations won't help prepare for anything.

Exactly. Practice is for having guys work on things they wont be doing on the court anytime soon. Games are for how to get the team to gel with the best players. Cant do that if your letting players work on scoring in a game when that isn't what they will be there to do in the regular season. Makes no sense to me. For example:

How can Plumlee work on picknroll and positioning for rebounds and catching the lob pass if he is busy trying to post a guy up? Yes we all want to see Plumlee learn more of a back to the basket post up game, same with Meyers. But I don't want them working on that in the game right now. I want them DOING it in the game.l Practice is for working on things you currently cant do in a game.
I want these guys working on how to play off Dame and CJ and if they are going to be shooting in regular season, then that is what they need to be doing in the preseason. Only way the rest of the team can get a head start for what they will supposed to be doing in the regular season. Doesn't that make sense?

 

[Orion Bailey]

From your first question it appears that you don't think we should be looking to get other guys involved in our offense during the regular season. I think it's a flawed question. To answer it I'd say, no. I wanted to see them start working on roles that would carry over to the regular season. It's imperative that we get other players more involved in the offense.

Nowhere did I say I want to see Plumlee "creat[ing] offense, dribbling around and jumping in the air with nobody to pass too." But Stotts should have plays drawn up that result in Plumlee catching a pass on the move towards the basket. Ditto for Davis, Vonleh, Harkless, Aminu, etc. Getting these guys involved, getting them more shots, does not mean that we just give them the ball and they look to score on their own the way Dame/CJ do. It means that we utilize the 5 guys on the court, working as a cohesive unit to create cutting/passing lanes, that results in a more even distribution of shots...and with time, higher percentage shots.

Of course we would want to see the players improve and expand their games, but that isn't first priority at the moment in preseason. Priority was to get burn for end of bench players to see who would be cut and to get this team playing together to see who is not gelling come mid season. Yes I m willing to bet Stotts is a good enough offensive minded coach that he will have plays written up for all sorts of lob and roll to the hoop type stuff, but that isn't the main objective in this preseason.

 

[blue9]

Of course we would want to see the players improve and expand their games, but that isn't first priority at the moment in preseason. Priority was to get burn for end of bench players to see who would be cut and to get this team playing together to see who is not gelling come mid season. Yes I m willing to bet Stotts is a good enough offensive minded coach that he will have plays written up for all sorts of lob and roll to the hoop type stuff, but that isn't the main objective in this preseason.

A - Our regular rotation players played a lot of minutes during pre-season. And pre-season is exactly for working on what I discussed (working together as 5-man units, getting prepared for the regular season). What we saw in pre-season was Dame/CJ scoring heavily - that's not a priority at all in pre-season.
B - I'll be shocked if Stotts has many plays. To this point in his Blazers career he's mostly gone with a free lance offense with very few set plays.

 

[Trackjack]

There other players had good pre-season games. All those shots that flew up was the last game and CJ threw up alot in certain games but that when he got In groove. But don't blame the offense if we got guys afraid to shoot the ball. It all comes down to trust in your team mates or trusting yourself.