TBpup
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Coming off a WCF appearance, the Blazers are all in on the Dame/CJ back-court, as for the first half of the season or so, the dynamic duo will be the only starters back from the team that won a 2nd round series for the first time since 2000.
While 60% of that starting lineup missing, there is cause for optimism as the game by game guess of whether Mo will show up is now a thing of the past and the catapult '3's that may or may not hit the side of the backboard are also gone the way of the dodo bird.
But in the place of Harkless/Aminu that often left the Blazers playing 4-on-5 or worse on the offensive end, the SF position will likely be manned by Rodney Hood who assumed more and more of those minutes in the Playoffs. He will be supported by newly acquired Kent Bazemore, perhaps Mario Hezonja or even Jake Layman. All four of those options bring varying skills in place of Harkless but particularly in the case of Hood/Bazemore, the effort should be more consistent with higher production.
At center, Portland would have been hard pressed to get a better fill in for Nurkic until he returns in Whiteside. While there are questions about his motivation, stat-chasing and defense outside of the lower circle, he still brings a legit starter to man the position that gives Blazer fans a respectable level of comfort.
That leaves the last spot that needs a new starter....PF. It's assumed that will go to Zach Collins who continually prefers to play Center. However, that isn't an option for now unless it's on the 2nd unit. But what the Blazers desperately need from him is a solid increase from the 6/4 he averaged last season in 17 mpg and the ability to stay out of foul trouble and stay on the floor.
Collins averages just under 5 fouls/36 and that just has to go down for him to be allowed to be effective. He is going to need to be on the floor for 25-30 minutes, and hopefully up his 3-pt percentage from .331 to something closer to 36% or so and finish stronger at the rim.
Just as important is going to be his ability to play defense on a variety of '4's while cutting out the silly fouls that have plagued him starting at Gonzaga. He has to be strong enough to bang with Draymond, Millsap, LeBron, etc, while being nimble enough to stay with the likes of Giannis, Tobias Harris and Jason Tatum. He has the skills, lacks the experience bu has a bit of a nasty streak in him that tells you he won't back down from anyone or any challenge.
It's a lot to ask of the not yet 22 year old Collins but regardless, is what needs to happen to keep Portland in the Finals conversation. Some players experience a significant step-up in production in their 3rd year and that is exactly what Portland will need from Zach.
Is he up to the task?
While 60% of that starting lineup missing, there is cause for optimism as the game by game guess of whether Mo will show up is now a thing of the past and the catapult '3's that may or may not hit the side of the backboard are also gone the way of the dodo bird.
But in the place of Harkless/Aminu that often left the Blazers playing 4-on-5 or worse on the offensive end, the SF position will likely be manned by Rodney Hood who assumed more and more of those minutes in the Playoffs. He will be supported by newly acquired Kent Bazemore, perhaps Mario Hezonja or even Jake Layman. All four of those options bring varying skills in place of Harkless but particularly in the case of Hood/Bazemore, the effort should be more consistent with higher production.
At center, Portland would have been hard pressed to get a better fill in for Nurkic until he returns in Whiteside. While there are questions about his motivation, stat-chasing and defense outside of the lower circle, he still brings a legit starter to man the position that gives Blazer fans a respectable level of comfort.
That leaves the last spot that needs a new starter....PF. It's assumed that will go to Zach Collins who continually prefers to play Center. However, that isn't an option for now unless it's on the 2nd unit. But what the Blazers desperately need from him is a solid increase from the 6/4 he averaged last season in 17 mpg and the ability to stay out of foul trouble and stay on the floor.
Collins averages just under 5 fouls/36 and that just has to go down for him to be allowed to be effective. He is going to need to be on the floor for 25-30 minutes, and hopefully up his 3-pt percentage from .331 to something closer to 36% or so and finish stronger at the rim.
Just as important is going to be his ability to play defense on a variety of '4's while cutting out the silly fouls that have plagued him starting at Gonzaga. He has to be strong enough to bang with Draymond, Millsap, LeBron, etc, while being nimble enough to stay with the likes of Giannis, Tobias Harris and Jason Tatum. He has the skills, lacks the experience bu has a bit of a nasty streak in him that tells you he won't back down from anyone or any challenge.
It's a lot to ask of the not yet 22 year old Collins but regardless, is what needs to happen to keep Portland in the Finals conversation. Some players experience a significant step-up in production in their 3rd year and that is exactly what Portland will need from Zach.
Is he up to the task?
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