Hickson definitely plays better without Aldridge

[Natebishop3]

He blew up without Aldridge last season, and he had a good game tonight. What is it about playing without Aldridge that makes Hickson play better?

Is it because he becomes a focal point of the offense?

Is it because he plays better as a power forward?

The guy has talent, no doubt about that, but I'm wondering how we can make this work with both Aldridge and Hickson in the lineup.

 

[B-Roy]

He's better when he's an option on offense. He's a garbage man when LA is in the game.

Have him come off the bench as the 6th man.

 

[Natebishop3]

He's better when he's an option on offense. He's a garbage man when LA is in the game.

Have him come off the bench as the 6th man.

So would you start Leonard? Is he ready to start?

I think we're lucky to have Leonard, Hickson, and Freeland, who are all capable bigs. I would hate to lose Hickson after this season. The guy is talented, no doubt about it, but it's not a polished talent like Aldridge. It's more of a raw athleticism.

 

[NOVoodoo]

So would you start Leonard? Is he ready to start?

I think we're lucky to have Leonard, Hickson, and Freeland, who are all capable bigs. I would hate to lose Hickson after this season. The guy is talented, no doubt about it, but it's not a polished talent like Aldridge. It's more of a raw athleticism.

I don't know jack sh*t about the Blazers' front-court, but commenting on the roster situation, I noticed that my team (the Grizz) got ten times better when we benched O.J. Mayo in favor of Tony Allen. Even though I'm a huge fan of what Allen brings to the court, and I'm a huge critic of Mayo's, the bottom line is that each player just worked better with different rotations. Mayo worked better as an offensive focal point, which he couldn't be as a starter, and Allen worked better as a last-ditch-effort offensive player who could concentrate only on defense when he was paired with the starters. Perhaps that could work in Portland with Hickson and Leonard.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't know jack sh*t about the Blazers' front-court, but commenting on the roster situation, I noticed that my team (the Grizz) got ten times better when we benched O.J. Mayo in favor of Tony Allen. Even though I'm a huge fan of what Allen brings to the court, and I'm a huge critic of Mayo's, the bottom line is that each player just worked better with different rotations. Mayo worked better as an offensive focal point, which he couldn't be as a starter, and Allen worked better as a last-ditch-effort offensive player who could concentrate only on defense when he was paired with the starters. Perhaps that could work in Portland with Hickson and Leonard.

Well, here's the thing.... OJ Mayo sucks. I don't think the Grizz really gave a rats ass if he was upset or if he left in the offseason. Now, I can't speak for the Blazers because obviously I'm not Neil Olshey, but I personally would love to see Hickson stick around. Either that, or traded for something of value. He's a young, talented big. I like how he plays, I like that he's aggressive, and I like that he plays inside. I don't want to see him pissed off because he's coming off the bench for a rookie that's most likely not ready to start. He needs minutes. He deserves minutes, imo.

The thing that bothers me about Aldridge is that he's so streaky. When his shot is falling, he's unstoppable, but if his shot isn't falling he's virtually worthless. I like guys like Hickson who don't rely on 20 footers to be effective. Is Aldridge the superior player? Absolutely. I am one of the few, however, who is in favor of trading him though. I think Hickson fits our window better and I think Aldridge could net us some talented pieces.

 

[NOVoodoo]

Well, here's the thing.... OJ Mayo sucks. I don't think the Grizz really gave a rats ass if he was upset or if he left in the offseason. Now, I can't speak for the Blazers because obviously I'm not Neil Olshey, but I personally would love to see Hickson stick around. Either that, or traded for something of value. He's a young, talented big. I like how he plays, I like that he's aggressive, and I like that he plays inside. I don't want to see him pissed off because he's coming off the bench for a rookie that's most likely not ready to start. He needs minutes. He deserves minutes, imo.

The difference is that O.J., despite being completely overrated and one dimensional, thought he was a superstar. He was bound to be bitter regardless of his role. Does Hickson have that same over-inflated ego? If he doesn't, then it might be worth a try. It's hard to be bitter on a good team, and if the roster move works, maybe Hickson would buy into it.

Then again, Hickson did leave Israel (?) this past summer because the upper-middle class accommodations weren't up to par with his tastes,....

The thing that bothers me about Aldridge is that he's so streaky. When his shot is falling, he's unstoppable, but if his shot isn't falling he's virtually worthless. I like guys like Hickson who don't rely on 20 footers to be effective. Is Aldridge the superior player? Absolutely. I am one of the few, however, who is in favor of trading him though. I think Hickson fits our window better and I think Aldridge could net us some talented pieces.

Isn't Hickson pretty inconsistent as well though? Maybe his playing style gives into more consistency, but his numbers over the last few seasons have been all over the board, for whatever reason.

 

[Natebishop3]

The difference is that O.J., despite being completely overrated and one dimensional, thought he was a superstar. He was bound to be bitter regardless of his role. Does Hickson have that same over-inflated ego? If he doesn't, then it might be worth a try. It's hard to be bitter on a good team, and if the roster move works, maybe Hickson would buy into it.

Then again, Hickson did leave Israel (?) this past summer because the upper-middle class accommodations weren't up to par with his tastes,....



Isn't Hickson pretty inconsistent as well though? Maybe his playing style gives into more consistency, but his numbers over the last few seasons have been all over the board, for whatever reason.

There are some question marks about Hickson. Did he tank while in Sacramento or were the Kings just misusing him?

The guy was on a tear at the end of last season. How much of that was to get a new contract? Hard to say. He has the talent though. I don't think he's an OJ Mayo type of ego, but there is some evidence that he has an ego none the less. It's still too early to tell though. Only preseason and things could change.

 

[jlprk]

Hickson is a very capable starting PF. Who cares what happened in his half-season in Sacramento. I'm all for trading Aldridge but I want an all-star in return, so we need to patiently wait a year for some team to have a financial problem or something. Meanwhile, Hickson's happy subbing here if Paul Allen pays him like a starter. We can hold on to him as long as necessary.

 

[PapaG]

Hickson's main issue has always been that he tends to check out at times, be it for a few possessions, or a stretch of games. Stotts even alluded to it last night in his comments about him.

“This was J.J.’s best game of the preseason,” Stotts said. “He played well at both ends, he had activity. He sustained it for a long period of time. I didn’t think he took very many possessions off at either end. That’s the way he needs to play and that’s the way we need him to play. To have that energy and that activity makes it difficult for the opponents on both ends.”

Meanwhile, LMA was just voted the 4th-best PF in the game by NBA GMs behind Love, Dirk, and LeBron James. Interestingly, James was voted the top SF and the #3 PF.

http://www.nba.com/news/2012-13-gm-survey/index.html

 

[jwhoops11]

I think if it was my roster I'd start Freeland at the Center and have Hickson play the PF off the bench. Freeland is obviously far more comfortable playing outside/in and would be a a pretty solid option spotting up while LaMarcus was posted up down low. Not to mention, Joel seems to be a more rugged player and capable of mixing it up with some of the bigger centers we'll face.

 

[PapaG]

I think if it was my roster I'd start Freeland at the Center and have Hickson play the PF off the bench. Freeland is obviously far more comfortable playing outside/in and would be a a pretty solid option spotting up while LaMarcus was posted up down low. Not to mention, Joel seems to be a more rugged player and capable of mixing it up with some of the bigger centers we'll face.

It may also depend on who the opponent is on any given night. Against the Lakers, it's a must to play Freeland and Leonard against Dwight Howard. Against Sacto, it's a must to have those two against Cousins. Against a team like San Antonio, though, LMA has always played Duncan well, and Hickson could exploit the older Spurs in a more up-tempo offense.

I hope Stotts is flexible depending on the defensive needs of the team on any given night, and although they are young (Leonard in age, Freeland in NBA experience), the two centers give Stotts that option if he chooses to exercise it.

 

[jwhoops11]

It may also depend on who the opponent is on any given night. Against the Lakers, it's a must to play Freeland and Leonard against Dwight Howard. Against Sacto, it's a must to have those two against Cousins. Against a team like San Antonio, though, LMA has always played Duncan well, and Hickson could exploit the older Spurs in a more up-tempo offense.

I hope Stotts is flexible depending on the defensive needs of the team on any given night, and although they are young (Leonard in age, Freeland in NBA experience), the two centers give Stotts that option if he chooses to exercise it.

That's a really good point. Inevitably Hickson will play a lot of minutes with LaMarcus so he'll need to find his niche. I have a feeling both Freeland and Leonard will spend a lot of time playing through foul trouble this season, as do all young big men!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think Hickson is pretty much a pure power forward ... and an offensive oriented one at that. If he and Aldridge are going to coexist -- I'm not really confident they can -- then somebody is going to have to be the utility player. That seems like a stretch to me.

 

[jlprk]

Hickson's main issue has always been that he tends to check out at times, be it for a few possessions, or a stretch of games. Stotts even alluded to it last night in his comments about him.

Sounds like Batum. It's up to Stotts to design plays that give everyone something to do so they can't take a quick snooze.

Meanwhile, LMA was just voted the 4th-best PF in the game by NBA GMs behind Love, Dirk, and LeBron James. Interestingly, James was voted the top SF and the #3 PF.

http://www.nba.com/news/2012-13-gm-survey/index.html

Check my post at the end of this thread.

http://sportstwo.com/threads/223349-2012-GM-survey?p=2876144#post2876144

 

[santeesioux]

Guess the coach didn't read this topic

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i..._earns_trail_blazers_starting_center_spo.html

 

[PapaG]

Guess the coach didn't read this topic

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i..._earns_trail_blazers_starting_center_spo.html

I hope Stotts doesn't put LMA on Howard to start the game. Seems like a waste when he has 18 fouls to give between Hickson/Freeland/Leonard.

 

[mook]

I guess Howard is going to destroy us anyway.

We actually have some semblance of hope in the other matchups. Nash/Lillard, Kobe/Matthews, MWP/Batum, Pau/Aldridge. It aint' great, but it could be worse. But that Howard matchup is going to be a fucking nightmare.

That's what's so great about the Lakers this year. No matter what team you are on, there's at least one of their Big 4 who is going to have a ridiculous advantage on you.

 

[Eastoff]

I hope Stotts doesn't put LMA on Howard to start the game. Seems like a waste when he has 18 fouls to give between Hickson/Freeland/Leonard.

Hack a Shaq 2.0 seems like a good strategy to me as well. Maybe Stotts didn't get the memo?

 

[Denny Crane]

I think Hickson is pretty much a pure power forward ... and an offensive oriented one at that. If he and Aldridge are going to coexist -- I'm not really confident they can -- then somebody is going to have to be the utility player. That seems like a stretch to me.

Seems like a reasonable pairing if one plays outside more (Aldridge).

Aldridge is more of a C than Hickson is.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I remember the days we would talk about Aldridge plays better without Roy.

 

[RoyToy]

Seems like a reasonable pairing if one plays outside more (Aldridge).

Aldridge is more of a C than Hickson is.

That's not true

Aldridge plays on the perimeter. Hickson plays mostly in the paint. He's also a better rebounder.

 

[Denny Crane]

That's not true

Aldridge plays on the perimeter. Hickson plays mostly in the paint. He's also a better rebounder.

Hickson is shorter and weighs less. There are lots of C's who played on the perimeter. Bob McAdoo did it in the 1970s, Laimbeer did it in the 90s, Okur did it in the 2000s. And so on.

 

[RoyToy]

Hickson is shorter and weighs less.

Doesn't change the fact that Hickson is the one that plays in the paint where as Aldridge plays mostly on the perimeter.

It amazes me that this Aldridge is a C talk will never end. He doesn't play nor rebound like one.

 

[Denny Crane]

Doesn't change the fact that Hickson is the one that plays in the paint where as Aldridge plays mostly on the perimeter.

It amazes me that this Aldridge is a C talk will never end. He doesn't play nor rebound like one.

Like I said, lots of C's played on the perimeter. If one of the two is more likely to be pushed around by "true" centers, it's going to be the shorter/lighter one.

And Michael Jordan played almost exclusively in the post his last seasons with the Bulls. Was he or Longley the C?

 

[RoyToy]

Like I said, lots of C's played on the perimeter. If one of the two is more likely to be pushed around by "true" centers, it's going to be the shorter/lighter one.

And Michael Jordan played almost exclusively in the post his last seasons with the Bulls. Was he or Longley the C?

I don't get your fixation on height and weight.

Chuck Hayes is/was considered one of the best post defenders in the NBA and has started many games at C in his career. He's 6-6 250.

You're not looking enough at how these players play. Aldridge doesn't play like a C. He doesn't even rebound like one. He's not a guy that lives in the paint and is a perimeter player. That's not a center.

Aldridge can play it in stretches as part of creating a more versatile lineup. But regularly? Not his position at all.

 

[Denny Crane]

6'6" 250 is heavier than JJ is, too.

There are lots of Cs who grabbed 8 RPG. And how the guy plays on offense doesn't determine if he's a C or not.

 

[RoyToy]

6'6" 250 is heavier than JJ is, too.

There are lots of Cs who grabbed 8 RPG. And how the guy plays on offense doesn't determine if he's a C or not.

JJ Hickson has a big body. He handles himself just fine in the paint.

Lots of Cs who grabbed 8RPG in 38min per game? That's not that great, btw. He doesn't block shots, either.

Aldridge doesn't live in the paint like you would expect your center too. Once again, he's not a center. It's fine because he's a mighty fine PF.

 

[Denny Crane]

He is a mighty fine PF, but he's suited to play C. I'm clearly not the only one who sees it. For all the years Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry were teamed up together, "they" said Chandler was too thin to play C. Now he's DPOY, getting votes for best defender by the GM survey, etc. At C.

Maybe in previous eras LMA wouldn't be fit to play C. But today, there are so few actual C's and most guys playing "C" are really PFs anyway.

Here's a PF who's similar enough to LMA and who's now playing C.

 

[RoyToy]

He is a mighty fine PF, but he's suited to play C. I'm clearly not the only one who sees it. For all the years Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry were teamed up together, "they" said Chandler was too thin to play C. Now he's DPOY, getting votes for best defender by the GM survey, etc. At C.

Chandler is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, listed a 7-1 and doesn't really have an offense game. Sounds like a center to me?

It's also the opposite of what Aldridge is. Again, Tyson owns the paint, Aldridge doesn't.

Maybe in previous eras LMA wouldn't be fit to play C. But today, there are so few actual C's and most guys playing "C" are really PFs anyway.

Here's a PF who's similar enough to LMA and who's now playing C.

It helps when LeBron is your PF. Him and Wade can score in the paint at will, and they've one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Plus it sounds like neither player are exactly thrilled about playing their new position.

You put Aldridge at center you still need a banger to rebound and get the majority of his points in the paint because of the type of player Aldridge is. He also needs to be able to protect the basket.

Now Hickson certainly isn't the ideal candidate, but he's still more of a center than Aldridge to me. Hopefully Leonard develops into that player.

 

[Denny Crane]

Chandler is one of the best rebounders in the NBA, listed a 7-1 and doesn't really have an offense game. Sounds like a center to me?

It's also the opposite of what Aldridge is. Again, Tyson owns the paint, Aldridge doesn't.



It helps when LeBron is your PF. Him and Wade can score in the paint at will.

You put Aldridge at center you still need a banger to rebound and get the majority of his points in the paint because of the type of player Aldridge is.

Rodman was a center too? No offensive game, great rebounder....

Aldridge doesn't need to own the paint, he just needs to stand tall and make people think twice about driving (which he does). You have a PF next to him that can bang for the boards.

It helps LMA play C when the C he has to guard is Bosh.