I think it's a lie

[CupWizier]

Serious question: what do you think Stotts will do differently if he thinks KD is out?

I am not at practices so just like you i have no idea and really don't need to know.

 

[Elton]

Stotts almost lost us game 7 by starting Aminu and Harkless. Denver got out to a big lead and if they hadn't completely tanked it would have been nearly impossible to come back on the road in the hardest place to play in the league. That was an incredibly stupid decision on his part. He should have started Collins and Hood. Or at the very least Collins. Aminu played 7 minutes and those 7 minute almost cost us the game.

There might be some politics and general team chemistry risks if he had done that. I think you’re right about Collins and Hood being more immediately effective but I can see where there might be nuanced stewardship of excellent team chemistry at play.

 

[Reep]

Stotts almost lost us game 7 by starting Aminu and Harkless. Denver got out to a big lead and if they hadn't completely tanked it would have been nearly impossible to come back on the road in the hardest place to play in the league. That was an incredibly stupid decision on his part. He should have started Collins and Hood. Or at the very least Collins. Aminu played 7 minutes and those 7 minute almost cost us the game.

I think that is highly speculative--especially considering Harkless helped a lot in that game. Stotts has to look at the big picture. Harkless and Aminu may be very important in this round. If Stotts pulls them as starters then what does that do for their confident this round? At this late time in the season, I like his strategy of keeping the starters as is, but bring in subs early if needed or change 3rd quarter starters.

Too late for wholesale changes and you are much more likely to disrupt chemistry, and the change wouldn't guarantee a win. Collins could have fouled out before he had a chance to make the contributions he made later in the game.

 

[Elton]

I think that is highly speculative--especially considering Harkless helped a lot in that game. Stotts has to look at the big picture. Harkless and Aminu may be very important in this round. If Stotts pulls them as starters then what does that do for their confident this round? At this late time in the season, I like his strategy of keeping the starters as is, but bring in subs early if needed or change 3rd quarter starters.

Too late for wholesale changes and you are much more likely to disrupt chemistry, and the change wouldn't guarantee a win. Collins could have fouled out before he had a chance to make the contributions he made later in the game.

Well said.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think that is highly speculative--especially considering Harkless helped a lot in that game. Stotts has to look at the big picture. Harkless and Aminu may be very important in this round. If Stotts pulls them as starters then what does that do for their confident this round? At this late time in the season, I like his strategy of keeping the starters as is, but bring in subs early if needed or change 3rd quarter starters.

Too late for wholesale changes and you are much more likely to disrupt chemistry, and the change wouldn't guarantee a win. Collins could have fouled out before he had a chance to make the contributions he made later in the game.

Do you think Aminu only playing 7 minutes didn't effect chemistry? These guys know that it's win or go home. Aminu has played like ass. And pretty much 3 games in a row we had gotten out to a bad start with him and Harkless in the starting lineup.

 

[Elton]

Do you think Aminu only playing 7 minutes didn't effect chemistry? These guys know that it's win or go home. Aminu has played like ass. And pretty much 3 games in a row we had gotten out to a bad start with him and Harkless in the starting lineup.

Which means he’s due to help the Blazers win tonight. I can feel a chief comeback at hand.

 

[Natebishop3]

Which means he’s due to help the Blazers win tonight. I can feel a chief comeback at hand.

That's the problem with Aminu..... he'll give you one game where he scores 19 and can't miss.... and then he'll give you four games of completely worthless play. But which will it be tonight?

 

[oldmangrouch]

I am not at practices so just like you i have no idea and really don't need to know.

How the hell should I know? I'm really not going out on a limb here. When an MVP caliber player isn't in the game, that changes the way 30 NBA coaches are going to scout and game plan for a game. That's just common sense, or I thought it was.

So....I'm stupid for saying Stotts will stay the course (which he has done for 7 seasons)....but you can't offer any actual alternative. That's bull dada.

 

[Elton]

That's the problem with Aminu..... he'll give you one game where he scores 19 and can't miss.... and then he'll give you four games of completely worthless play. But which will it be tonight?

I made my peace with Aminu a long time ago. He always gives good effort and I think he is more blessing than curse to this team’s fortunes.

 

[CupWizier]

So....I'm stupid for saying Stotts will stay the course (which he has done for 7 seasons)....but you can't offer any actual alternative. That's bull dada.

I have no idea if you are stupid or not as i don't even know you and yes, i expect some adjustments to be made. What they might be i am not involved in the practices so have no idea.

 

[Reep]

Do you think Aminu only playing 7 minutes didn't effect chemistry? These guys know that it's win or go home. Aminu has played like ass. And pretty much 3 games in a row we had gotten out to a bad start with him and Harkless in the starting lineup.

I think there is a big difference in sitting a guy who is having an off game after giving him a chance, compared to removing him from the lineup. I don't disagree on how Chief played. There were a couple times on defense he looked disinterested, which was very odd for me to see. But, there have been games where he has been critical. I think if you want to beat the Warriors you ideally would want him defending and hitting threes. If he isn't making an impact then play someone else. This strategy has worked to get past two difficult opponents, who most people thought would beat us.

Next season I hope Collins takes his spot.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I made my peace with Aminu a long time ago. He always gives good effort and I think he is more blessing than curse to this team’s fortunes.

I love the guy's motor - but at some point you have to tell a player to swallow his pride and take a seat for the good of the team. The forward spot has been a weak link for too long.

 

[Elton]

I love the guy's motor - but at some point you have to tell a player to swallow his pride and take a seat for the good of the team. The forward spot has been a weak link for too long.

I just don’t think that time is now.

 

[andalusian]

Personally, I think he's going to stick with his same starting lineup because he's hoping beyond hope that Aminu will find his shot.

Why is that beyond hope? Aminu has shot .409 from 3 in the first series, his playoffs 3P% is .399 - sure he had a bad series shooting the ball in the 2nd round - but beyond hope? I sure hope Terry knows to read basic stats for longer than 1 series.

There is recency bias in everything and it has a place, but there is also basic understanding of long term trends - and I do not believe Aminu forgot to shoot the ball just because he had a bad series.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I just don’t think that time is now.

Fair enough.

 

[Reep]

I love the guy's motor - but at some point you have to tell a player to swallow his pride and take a seat for the good of the team. The forward spot has been a weak link for too long.

If Collins could consistently avoid useless fouls, this might actually be a possibility. If you did that right now, I think you would alienate Aminu and end up with your only real power forward sitting on the bench with foul trouble. Then what do you do against the Warriors? Mo has been inconsistent, Meyers doesn't work with Warriors lineup and I don't see Skal getting minutes in the WCF.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why is that beyond hope? Aminu has shot .409 from 3 in the first series, his playoffs 3P% is .399 - sure he had a bad series shooting the ball in the 2nd round - but beyond hope? I sure hope Terry knows to read basic stats for longer than 1 series.

There is recency bias in everything and it has a place, but there is also basic understanding of long term trends - and I do not believe Aminu forgot to shoot the ball just because he had a bad series.

Where are you getting 41% from three in the first series and 40% for the playoffs?

Based on ESPN, he shot 34% from three against OKC, 19% from three against Denver, and he's shooting 31% from three for the postseason.

His CAREER postseason 3P% is 39.9%

 

[andalusian]

Where are you getting 41% from three in the first series and 40% for the playoffs?

Based on ESPN, he shot 34% from three against OKC, 19% from three against Denver, and he's shooting 31% from three for the postseason.

basketball reference.

Series:
https://www.basketball-reference.co...nce-first-round-thunder-vs-trail-blazers.html

Career:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aminual01.html

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think that is highly speculative--especially considering Harkless helped a lot in that game. Stotts has to look at the big picture. Harkless and Aminu may be very important in this round. If Stotts pulls them as starters then what does that do for their confident this round? At this late time in the season, I like his strategy of keeping the starters as is, but bring in subs early if needed or change 3rd quarter starters.

Too late for wholesale changes and you are much more likely to disrupt chemistry, and the change wouldn't guarantee a win. Collins could have fouled out before he had a chance to make the contributions he made later in the game.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I don't think we have much of a choice with Hood being banged up, Harkless needs to start at SF. And as I alluded to in another thread we will need Collins late in games. (Probably at center) We can not afford him picking up any cheap fouls early. Sometime the officials will call an early foul just to set the tone for the game. Collins is the type of young player they would sacrifice to set an example Don't give them the chance.

Chief just needs to take what comes to him. Take one or two open shots, but do not try to dribble against these guys. And please do not go to him early..... just to get him going.

 

[Natebishop3]

basketball reference.

Series:
https://www.basketball-reference.co...nce-first-round-thunder-vs-trail-blazers.html

Career:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aminual01.html

I don't care about career. I care about right now.

Not sure where ESPN is getting their averages....

http://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4248/type/nba/year/2019

 

[andalusian]

I don't care about career. I care about right now.

Not sure where ESPN is getting their averages....

http://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/4248/type/nba/year/2019

I think we have a long enough body of work on Aminu to know he is not a .21% 3P shooter.

I also know that he was our 4th best player in the 1st series (based on game-score) and our 6th best in the 2nd series (better than Moe based on game-score). So, I think what Terry is doing with him (and Moe) is right. Start them - but be ready to let someone else get extended run if they are not performing.

 

[Reep]

Yeah I don't think we have much of a choice with Hood being banged up, Harkless needs to start at SF. And as I alluded to in another thread we will need Collins late in games. (Probably at center).

I think this is an excellent point and probably the most important factor. If Warriors go small, which they are likely to do, then if Kanter isn't killing them, we will need Collins playing late in the game.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think we have a long enough body of work on Aminu to know he is not a .21% 3P shooter.

I also know that he was our 4th best player in the 1st series (based on game-score) and our 6th best in the 2nd series (better than Moe based on game-score). So, I think what Terry is doing with him (and Moe) is right. Start them - but be ready to let someone else get extended run if they are not performing.

I would agree that he's not as bad as he has been shooting, but not as good as he was against Golden State several years ago. He needs to do better from the line though. That part is inexcusable.

 

[riverman]

This team really reminds me of the saying "It takes a village to raise a child"....we're in the WCF....there's NO justification for not cheering on the entire roster, staff, and crew battling the champs...I hope Chief beasts! Go Good Guys!!!!!!!!!!! We've won by committee all season long.

 

[dviss1]

Stotts almost lost us game 7 by starting Aminu and Harkless. Denver got out to a big lead and if they hadn't completely tanked it would have been nearly impossible to come back on the road in the hardest place to play in the league. That was an incredibly stupid decision on his part. He should have started Collins and Hood. Or at the very least Collins. Aminu played 7 minutes and those 7 minute almost cost us the game.

Then what did Stotts do???

He ADJUSTED.... and we won...

 

[CupWizier]

So if you got a 90% on a math test, and you got every single question wrong on one part of the test, would you not talk about that one section or would you just be like, "fuck it! I got a 90%!"

Also, I find people who only see the positive and are unable to consider constructive criticism to be extremely small minded and unable to perform critical thinking. They don't see the big picture. I guess ignorance is bliss.

And your opinion of me means absolutely nothing but let's leave the personal insults out of the discussion.

 

[Natebishop3]

there's NO justification for not cheering on the entire roster, staff, and crew battling the champs.

Do you think there are fans who don't cheer the entire team?

By that I mean, do you think they're happy when Aminu does poorly?

 

[Natebishop3]

And your opinion of me means absolutely nothing but let's leave the personal insults out of the discussion.

Interesting.... you thought that was a personal attack? Where did I say that I was talking about you?

 

[dviss1]

Collins could have fouled out before he had a chance to make the contributions he made later in the game

Hey @Natebishop3 What happened with Collins who had 5 fouls in the 3rd quarter of that game?

Rhetorical.

Stotts LEFT HIM IN and he played HUGE down the stretch.

 

[Natebishop3]

Then what did Stotts do???

He ADJUSTED.... and we won...

He made the adjustment after we were in a hole. It was an adjustment that should have been made before the game. You can't keep spotting free points to an opponent. If something isn't working, you stop doing it. Eventually it could cost us a series.

It's like driving drunk and saying it's fine because you were able to get home safely four times in a row.... but the fifth time you might crash into a tree and kill yourself.