Homework for the summer

[Blazer4ever]

I'll start by saying we need to keep almost everyone, no trades. I think even Terry deserves another chance. Watson will probably be gone, I would love him as an assistant. Mo is a question mark, if he opts out we either re-sign him or someone to replace him, I hope he doesn't.

Here are areas for improvement:

CJ McCollum (SL) - 3 point shot. Work on it all summer. If he's able to make an NBA 3-pointer with regularity he gets minutes.

Meyers Leonard (SL) - interior defense. I saw some improvement in the few minutes he played in the playoffs. Stand your ground, work on developing a better feel for team defense.

Alan Crabbe (SL) - just get into it, get more comfortable, show what u can do. Still a year behind CJ and Leonard.

Victor Claver - shooting. Start from practicing many, many Free throws. His 0-4 from the line cost him a place in the rotation.

Joel Freeland - more offense. Add a basic back to the basket move to compliment his mid-range shot. Start asking for the ball.

"Free Will" Barton and T-Rob - same thing: be more in control, be able to also stay earth bound while still keeping the same energy-level, explosiveness.

Mo Williams - get your teammates more involved. You run a great 2nd five, make them into a cohesive well-functioning unit.

RoLo - be able to go out on shooters, don't be afraid of the defense mixing it up, that's a good thing.

Wes - Continue to attack the rim. It might be ugly at first but when you figure it out you'd have another great tool offensively.

Nic - continue to create with the ball. Every time you start dribbling in the half court is a good thing.

LA - defend guard penetration. Make it something you enjoy doing, a challenge. If he goes to the rim you get in there even if you get on 7 posters. Be ready for what the Spurs did, don't back away allowing a stop and pop, you don't wait for him, you attack him instantly.

D-Lill - Learn to roll on screens defensively. If someone sets a pick on your right you get your right shoulder on their chest, roll with your back on their left shoulder and around them until you're facing your player again.

Team defense - don't be afraid to mix things up. Make switches, go out on shooters, trust each-other. Make the defense more fun.

Team offense - we're very good in P&R with Nic-Robin and Dame-Lamarcus (also pick and pop), why not see if we can have succes also with Dame and Robin or Nic and Lamarcus P&Rs.

Stotts - has to start feeling the game better, living it. We're going to be Very deep next year. Many options, many different ways to mix it up. First step: stop managing egos, if the team wins everyone is happy.

GM - keep the same players, wouldn't mind some extensions even. Take a look at someone called Warren Gillis, I think he's eligible for the draft. he's not going to be drafted and I think you'd like him as a big, natural PG.

 

[Natebishop3]

Damian needs to spend the whole fucking summer working on his defense.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Dame also needs to keep working on the floater. Not quite there yet.
Rolo also needs to focus on grabbing the rebound with two hands instead of trying to tip everything in with one hand.

I am impressed with how TRob progressed especially with his left hand. I don't necessarily want him shooting jumpers, but he needs to be able to keep the D honest by hitting them. So practice shooting the jumpers.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Dorell Wright - take more 2 pointers in the half court.

 

[Nikolokolus]

no trades = wrong answer.

 

[ripcityboy]

Just a few: Lillard: Work on you're shot selection, you get screwed up sometimes.
Mathews: Try to hit more of you're shots while creating high pressure environments.
Aldridge: Work on you're post up moves and you're defense around the basket.
Batum: Work on you're shot selection, too, you go to the three too much.
Lopez: Ask the Wizard for some Coordination, you have none.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Lopez: Ask the Wizard for some Coordination, you have none.

Lopez is not perfect, but for a center his size I think he his very coordinated. The problem I have is the type of passes he receives. Nic needs to cut down on the bounce passes to 7'1 centers. Hit him up high.

 

[ripcityboy]

Is it just me or can there be maybe three or four guys we can get rid off?

 

[Blazer4ever]

As a team I think we need to work on some more reliable moves to use in pressure situations other than Lamarcus ISO or Just going to Lillard.
The Lamarcus ISO by the way only works if there's at least one shooter on his side of the court.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Sure we can get rid of players, we shouldn't though. At least IMO.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Lopez is not perfect, but for a center his size I think he his very coordinated. The problem I have is the type of passes he receives. Nic needs to cut down on the bounce passes to 7'1 centers. Hit him up high.

I don't think I would say coordinated, but he's big and he can walk and chew gum at the same time so that's something. The main problem is that he's pretty slow-footed - kind of a plodder. So I don't think he should be traded, but they really need to add another big who can compliment his skillset. Imagine a guy like Freeland only 2 inches taller and a fair bit stronger.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Freeland should get stronger, physically. I agree.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Is it just me or can there be maybe three or four guys we can get rid off?

Off of the bench? Sure. Out of the starting five? No.

If there is a consolidation trade out there that could add a "significant" piece (whatever the hell that means) I think Olshey should look long and hard at his options. I wouldn't be shocked if Wesley's name came up.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I think the best way for him to do it is not just in the gym but also by getting real minutes of banging with NBA centers.

 

[ripcityboy]

I like Lopez, he gets a fair amount of rebounds, can block a few shots and knows how to avoid fouls. That's key. What we need is a PF/C who can come in there and throw his weight around and grab the rebound/play defense. Those guys are hard to find BTW.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think the best way for him to do it is not just in the gym but also by getting real minutes of banging with NBA centers.

I don't know what this means? How does he accomplish this during the off-season? And honestly, that wouldn't add strength. If he wants to get stronger, Joel needs to throw some iron around - do nothing but dead lifts, squats and power cleans between now and next October.

 

[Blazer4ever]

If we can bring a real 6th player I think we may go for it, especially considering Stotts' short rotations fixation. I would rather go the Popovich way of just playing very deep.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I like Lopez, he gets a fair amount of rebounds, can block a few shots and knows how to avoid fouls. That's key. What we need is a PF/C who can come in there and throw his weight around and grab the rebound/play defense. Those guys are hard to find BTW.

Maybe it's Robinson? Though he still has a ton to learn.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we can bring a real 6th player I think we may go for it, especially considering Stotts' short rotations fixation. I would rather go the Popovich way of just playing very deep.

No draft picks and very little cap room. How do we get a deep rotation without the assets to acquire this kind of depth?

 

[Blazer4ever]

I like Lopez, he gets a fair amount of rebounds, can block a few shots and knows how to avoid fouls. That's key. What we need is a PF/C who can come in there and throw his weight around and grab the rebound/play defense. Those guys are hard to find BTW.

Isn't that Joel's description?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Isn't that Joel's description?

Not really.

 

[Blazer4ever]

No draft picks and very little cap room. How do we get a deep rotation without the assets to acquire this kind of depth?

Simply by Stotts giving bench players more minutes. Will Barton is a good example for that. I think guys like Freeland and Claver could get minutes right now and would actually deserve them with more experience and by practicing some needed (but not impossible to improve on) areas.

 

[Blazer4ever]

It could be both Joel and T-Rob's description. I think we should try Robin with both.

 

[blue32]

If we don't trade, we are fucked.
Something has to give, whether that's Stott's system, Stott's himself, some players get moved or what, but something has to change to elevate these guys to the next level. An Offseason isn't going to magically make these guys WCF contenders. The bench guys needed real world experience.

 

[Eastoff]

As a team I think we need to work on some more reliable moves to use in pressure situations other than Lamarcus ISO or Just going to Lillard.
The Lamarcus ISO by the way only works if there's at least one shooter on his side of the court.

you mean so that shooter's defender can cheat and double team LMA and also block the passing lane? no thank you.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Keep TRob, CJ, and Crabbe. Everyone else on the bench can/should go.

I love Matthews, but if we make a trade we will need to move out salary, and the bench guys don't make enough $/have enough value.

I don't get frustrated that easily, but watching Barton make TWO jump/pass-turnovers in 3 plays in a playoff elimination game put me over the top!

The real offseason homework belongs to Neil. He has to man up and realize that Wright and Leonard were mistakes, and while Mo was a bargain, he's not a long term solution. He needs to not use any of the midlevel on Mo. So, if he doesn't trade Matthews I see the bench being CJ/Robinson/midlevel_dude.

I think CJ will improve substantially when he stops deferring.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I don't think I would say coordinated, but he's big and he can walk and chew gum at the same time so that's something. The main problem is that he's pretty slow-footed - kind of a plodder. So I don't think he should be traded, but they really need to add another big who can compliment his skillset. Imagine a guy like Freeland only 2 inches taller and a fair bit stronger.

I agree he is slow footed. The Blazers as a whole (At least the starting unit) are not quick to the ball. My biggest complaint is that they seem to be on the wrong end of the 50/50 balls. When a missed shot hits the floor, we don't seem to get them. When Barton and TRob are in the game we tend to do better.

As far as another big, I agree we need to add one more. But if we can't a healthy Freeland could help. I have always been impressed with Tiago Splitter. He has weaknesses as well but he is only 6'11" 255-260 lbs. Joel needs a new goal. Last year it was to be like Nick Collison, this year it should be Splitter. He is only a inch shorter and he can jump much better than Tiago.
Like everyone has said, he needs to continue to hit the weights.

 

[craigehlo]

Wes Matthews needs to be moved or go to the bench. He simply too limited as a starting SG and lets the opposing offense sag off him. We need an aggressive (can create their own shot) player at that spot and then we can actually impose our style of play rather than just react to the opposing team.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wes Matthews needs to be moved or go to the bench. He simply too limited as a starting SG and lets the opposing offense sag off him. We need an aggressive (can create their own shot) player at that spot and then we can actually impose our style of play rather than just react to the opposing team.

He's streaky. That's for sure.

 

[Eastoff]

Wes Matthews cannot come off the bench! He cannot create for himself. How many times will people suggest he can be a bench player?