I love our bench

[Natebishop3]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again....

This bench is amazing.

On a night where Hendo and Crabbe came up dry (Crabbe 1-6 / Hendo 1-6) we still got 38 from our bench.

Harkless with 17 and 7, Davis with 11 and 5. This bench is awesome. It's SO nice to have solid guys that you can bring in to carry the load. A new guy like Roberts can't even get into the game.

 

[riverman]

The bench mob rules!

 

[riverman]

Our bench reminds me of the Spurs benches over the years..and why Pops rests his starters more than any team in the league. Because he can still win games with his bench more often than not.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Wasn't it two seasons ago we had the historically worst bench in NBA history? Not sure how you quantify such a thing, but I do recall seeing that. I believe last year was only slightly better (again, however such things are measured). So yeah, this is really, really nice.

 

[Strenuus]

And we always need someone to step up cause Leonard sucks. So there's always one that'll suck every game... at least crabbe and hendo have solid games for the most part.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wasn't it two seasons ago we had the historically worst bench in NBA history? Not sure how you quantify such a thing, but I do recall seeing that. I believe last year was only slightly better (again, however such things are measured). So yeah, this is really, really nice.

I think it's usually measured in ppg.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The bench mob rules!

Any excuse to post Dio...

 

[0-Our!]

Our bench reminds me of the Spurs benches over the years..and why Pops rests his starters more than any team in the league. Because he can still win games with his bench more often than not.

We're going to b able to do this too vs. some teams; the addition of Roberts is going to make this more possible

 

[0-Our!]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again....

This bench is amazing.

On a night where Hendo and Crabbe came up dry (Crabbe 1-6 / Hendo 1-6) we still got 38 from our bench.

Harkless with 17 and 7, Davis with 11 and 5. This bench is awesome. It's SO nice to have solid guys that you can bring in to carry the load. A new guy like Roberts can't even get into the game.

Yup! This is no slight to Roberts but more so a credit to the strength of our bench!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Roberts has a 54.4 PER! FREE ROBERTS!!!

 

[Trackjack]

This bench is the reason why we are fighting for playoff spot right now. Without them we are a lottery team.

 

[Natebishop3]

This bench is the reason why we are fighting for playoff spot right now. Without them we are a lottery team.

Agree 100%. If we had the same bench that we had 3-4 years ago, we would be horrible.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Agree 100%. If we had the same bench that we had 3-4 years ago, we would be horrible.

Nolan Smith is a sad panda...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Roberts has a 54.4 PER! FREE ROBERTS!!!

The Dread Pirate needs to hijack some minutes. Can someone get him a black mask, please?!

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Our bench reminds me of the Spurs benches over the years..and why Pops rests his starters more than any team in the league. Because he can still win games with his bench more often than not.

I wonder if we have a "system" that is allowing this kind of bench play. Surely not because of the past few seasons, right?

 

[Natebishop3]

Nolan Smith is a sad panda...

Not even China wanted him.

 

[HailBlazers]

So your saying our TEAM is better than last year? @KingAlbertoJrSpeed

 

[The Professional Fan]

Who did we pass up for Nolan Smith? Anyone remember off the top of their heads? Who was our GM at the time? Was it Pritch or Cho? I'm at work and can't look it up right now. I want someone to be held accountable hahaha...

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Who did we pass up for Nolan Smith? Anyone remember off the top of their heads? Who was our GM at the time? Was it Pritch or Cho? I'm at work and can't look it up right now. I want someone to be held accountable hahaha...

Kenneth Faried, Jimmy Butler, Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas.

Our GM? Interim GM Chad Buchanan.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Who did we pass up for Nolan Smith? Anyone remember off the top of their heads? Who was our GM at the time? Was it Pritch or Cho? I'm at work and can't look it up right now. I want someone to be held accountable hahaha...

That was the Chad Fucking Buchanon draft. He traded Andre Miller to Denver and agreed to let Kenneth Faried fall to them by taking Nolan Smith. Here are my thoughts on that trade at the time:

"Summary: We got younger, but worse at PG and still have no decent back-up power forward, we wiffed on both counts. We would have been better off to just keep Milller and take Faried at 21. Instead, we made ourselves worse and Denver better. Lose:lose".

BNM

 

[The Professional Fan]

Kenneth Faried, Jimmy Butler, Chandler Parsons, Isaiah Thomas.

Our GM? Interim GM Chad Buchanan.

I remember Faried. Butler and Parsons though? Shoot me. Maybe I shouldn't re-open the wounds. Ouch.

 

[Natebishop3]

I remember Faried. Butler and Parsons though? Shoot me. Maybe I shouldn't re-open the wounds. Ouch.

You fool! What have you done!?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I remember Faried. Butler and Parsons though? Shoot me. Maybe I shouldn't re-open the wounds. Ouch.

Parsons and Butler went HAM after the Nolan Smith thing stopped being a meme here.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Bad trades of the past really make me appreciate Olshey. I mean the only real questionable trade was AAA but in his defense he was what we needed AND he was playing well off the bench and ending games for us when we went Dame-AAA-Wes-Nic-LA. It's not his fault Wes got hurt and he messed his shoulder up. Last season was basically a throwback to a Roy year with injuries.

 

[Natebishop3]

Bad trades of the past really make me appreciate Olshey. I mean the only real questionable trade was AAA but in his defense he was what we needed AND he was playing well off the bench and ending games for us when we went Dame-AAA-Wes-Nic-LA. It's not his fault Wes got hurt and he messed his shoulder up. Last season was basically a throwback to a Roy year with injuries.

I mean, realistically, if we still had Barton there would be a major logjam.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I mean, realistically, if we still had Barton there would be a major logjam.

Honestly AAA was the best thing long term, ya we will lose a pick but we picked up a confident CJ out of it. Who I will admit thought was a bust until the playoffs.

Losing Barton is really "meh" to me, I love him as a person and root for him but he isn't a guy who can help you go to the playoffs. He is like a slightly more talented Nick Young.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Wasn't it two seasons ago we had the historically worst bench in NBA history? Not sure how you quantify such a thing, but I do recall seeing that. I believe last year was only slightly better (again, however such things are measured). So yeah, this is really, really nice.

It was the 2012-2013 season. If you measure it by bench scoring, our bench averaged an NBA low (by a huge margin) 18.5 ppg (Indy was second worse at 24.1 ppg). But that doesn't tell the whole story, if you look at bench Deff (efficiency differential), we were dead last at -17.7 (Indiana was second worse at -9.4).

Here's how our bench scoring and bench Deff have progressed over the last 4 seasons:

2012-13:
Bench Scoring = 18.5 ppg, Rank = 30th
Deff = -17.7, Rank = 30

2013-14:
Bench Scoring = 23.6 ppg, Rank = 30th
Deff = -8.4, Rank = 27

2014-15:
Bench Scoring = 27.4 ppg, Rank = 27th
Deff = +1.4, Rank = 11

2015-16:
Bench Scoring = 34.4 ppg, Rank = 19th
Deff = +5.5, Rank = 4th

Note: We still don't have an exceptionally high scoring bench (although it's MUCH better than 4 seasons ago), but I think that is by design. Stotts always leaves one of Lillard or C.J. on the floor so we have one big time scorer on the floor at all times with the ball in his hands. So, although C.J. is a starter, he's the number 1 scoring option with our second unit. Since Deff also includes, rebounding, shot blocking, passing, field goal percentage, etc., guys like Ed Davis, who isn't a big time scorer, but is one of the best rebounders in the league off the bench, have a significant impact on our bench Deff ranking.

What I really like is the progression. We went from a historically bad bench (the worst in league history) that was a huge liability and incapable of holding a lead, to a bench that is a big asset and regularly increases our leads. I mean look at that Deff progression, from 30th (by a HUGE margin) to 4th in the entire league. I'd say Neil has done a great job upgrading our bench and Terry is doing a great job utilizing those guys in combinations that maximize their individual skill sets.

We're still not the Spurs (42.0 ppg, +13.1 Deff), but we're a damn sight closer than we were just two years ago.

All stats courtesy hoopsstats.com.

BNM

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The Spurs bench plays way more than any other bench, with (frankly) legendary but weaker starters than any other team. Their bench numbers wouldn't translate to a team that still regularly plays two starters 36 minutes a game. That said, our bench only produces 8 points less than theirs, and if you counted CJ's time with the bench as bench points, they'd be basically alike.

 

[KingSpeed]

And we always need someone to step up cause Leonard sucks. So there's always one that'll suck every game... at least crabbe and hendo have solid games for the most part.

Leonard has had a ton of good games for us that have helped us win. He's one of the best bench big men in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

It was the 2012-2013 season. If you measure it by bench scoring, our bench averaged an NBA low (by a huge margin) 18.5 ppg (Indy was second worse at 24.1 ppg). But that doesn't tell the whole story, if you look at bench Deff (efficiency differential), we were dead last at -17.7 (Indiana was second worse at -9.4).

Here's how our bench scoring and bench Deff have progressed over the last 4 seasons:

2012-13:
Bench Scoring = 18.5 ppg, Rank = 30th
Deff = -17.7, Rank = 30

2013-14:
Bench Scoring = 23.6 ppg, Rank = 30th
Deff = -8.4, Rank = 27

2014-15:
Bench Scoring = 27.4 ppg, Rank = 27th
Deff = +1.4, Rank = 11

2015-16:
Bench Scoring = 34.4 ppg, Rank = 19th
Deff = +5.5, Rank = 4th

Note: We still don't have an exceptionally high scoring bench (although it's MUCH better than 4 seasons ago), but I think that is by design. Stotts always leaves one of Lillard or C.J. on the floor so we have one big time scorer on the floor at all times with the ball in his hands. So, although C.J. is a starter, he's the number 1 scoring option with our second unit. Since Deff also includes, rebounding, shot blocking, passing, field goal percentage, etc., guys like Ed Davis, who isn't a big time scorer, but is one of the best rebounders in the league off the bench, have a significant impact on our bench Deff ranking.

What I really like is the progression. We went from a historically bad bench (the worst in league history) that was a huge liability and incapable of holding a lead, to a bench that is a big asset and regularly increases our leads. I mean look at that Deff progression, from 30th (by a HUGE margin) to 4th in the entire league. I'd say Neil has done a great job upgrading our bench and Terry is doing a great job utilizing those guys in combinations that maximize their individual skill sets.

We're still not the Spurs (42.0 ppg, +13.1 Deff), but we're a damn sight closer than we were just two years ago.

All stats courtesy hoopsstats.com.

BNM

Man, it's crazy to me that 34.4 is 19th best in the league....