I think we're set

[Draco]

With 4 new starters in the lineup, I believe Henderson will be the starting SG. Hendo provides veteran stability.

If PA & NO give Stotts a free year to experiment with lineups without putting pressure on him to win a certain number of games. Then sometime after the first month or so, I could see CJ starting some games.

If CJ wants the starting job permanently, he will have to earn it. I hope he does, because that would mean he is better than a proven NBA starter. Giving CJ the starting job does not prove anything, unless he earns it.

Well what has Hendo earned here? He's never scored a point for the Blazers or thrown a pass to Dame, Meyers, Crabbe, Kaman. Hendo will have to prove he deserves to start. If CJ outplays him in training camp and the preseason then Stotts should definitely consider starting him. Everybody on this team outside of Lillard has to prove they deserve to start.

 

[Draco]

I'd say day 1
PG Dame
SG CJ
SF Aminu
PF Davis
C Plumlee
and things change based on who is improving and who isn't.

I don't understand how so many fans think we can play a trio of Plumlee, Davis, Aminu? The first two can't shoot outside the paint and the third is a 28% 3 point shooter. They are the three worst shooters on the team. We could play two of them but at least one has to come off the bench. I suspect Plumlee and Davis will never be on the court together; which is fine they could be a 24mpg each high energy tag team duo at center.

 

[ripcityboy]

Neil Olshey just brought in "The Other Guys"

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I don't understand how so many fans think we can play a trio of Plumlee, Davis, Aminu? The first two can't shoot outside the paint and the third is a 28% 3 point shooter. They are the three worst shooters on the team. We could play two of them but at least one has to come off the bench. I suspect Plumlee and Davis will never be on the court together; which is fine they could be a 24mpg each high energy tag team duo at center.

You know I've thought about that and was.swayed. However, then I think that none of Duck, Buck, or Jerome were very good shooters either, and that team did really well.

 

[ripcityboy]

You know I've thought about that and was.swayed. However, then I think that none of Duck, Buck, or Jerome were very good shooters either, and that team did really well.

We are going to have a LOT of dunks and second chance put backs with these guys.

 

[Draco]

You know I've thought about that and was.swayed. However, then I think that none of Duck, Buck, or Jerome were very good shooters either, and that team did really well.

Shooting is much more important in today's game than 25 years ago.

 

[oldfisherman]

Well what has Hendo earned here? He's never scored a point for the Blazers or thrown a pass to Dame, Meyers, Crabbe, Kaman. Hendo will have to prove he deserves to start. If CJ outplays him in training camp and the preseason then Stotts should definitely consider starting him. Everybody on this team outside of Lillard has to prove they deserve to start.

Using your logic, if James Harden was traded to the Blazers, CJ would start over Harden because he has played more minutes with Dame, the only starter left, and three backup players from last season, which he may have played a few minutes with.

Henderson has started in 296 NBA games. That is what he has done. He is a proven starter. Henderson has played with approx. 7 times more different lineups than CJ.

CJ is not a proven starter, he has only started in 4 NBA games. CJ has far less experience playing with different lineups with new players on the team, which is the bulk of the Blazer's roster.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

Using your logic, if James Harden was traded to the Blazers, CJ would start over Harden because he has played more minutes with Dame, the only starter left, and three backup players from last season, which he may have played a few minutes with.

Henderson has started in 296 NBA games. That is what he has done. He is a proven starter. Henderson has played with approx. 7 times more different lineups than CJ.

CJ is not proven starter, he has only started in 4 NBA games. CJ has far less experience playing with different lineups with new players on the team, which is the bulk of the Blazer's roster.

If James harden was traded to the blazers CJ would start over him cause he's a flopping piece of shit that ever real blazer fan hates. lol.

 

[Draco]

Using your logic, if James Harden was traded to the Blazers, CJ would start over Harden because he has played more minutes with Dame, the only starter left, and three backup players from last season, which he may have played a few minutes with.

Henderson has started in 296 NBA games. That is what he has done. He is a proven starter. Henderson has played with approx. 7 times more different lineups than CJ.

CJ is not a proven starter, he has only started in 4 NBA games. CJ has far less experience playing with different lineups with new players on the team, which is the bulk of the Blazer's roster.

Hendo has been a starting SG in a role similar to Thabo Sefolosha or Andre Roberson; not similar to James Harden. When Hendo's started his team has been a perennial disappointment. Yes he has value but that doesn't entitle him to anything. He just had surgery with an expected multi month rehabilitation. He has a career PER of 13.8 with a 3pt accuracy of 30.9%. I believe he can serve a role but acquiring him is nothing like acquiring James Harden.

Kaman has proven much more in the NBA than Hendo, was more effective last season (17.3 PER vs 13.2) but I don't hear any fans saying he should start. Heck some fans think he shouldn't ever be in the rotation next year and should be traded away for nothing (of which I disagree.)

I said both CJ and Hendo need to prove themselves in training camp and the preseason. Neither should be handed anything. CJ had two of the most impressive back to back playoff games for this franchise in a decade right there below LMA's back to back 40 pointers in Houston. Its a nice small accomplishment but doesn't entitle him to start; neither should Hendo's string of average role playing.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Olshey has EXPLICITLY SAID that he envisages CJ as a PG.

CJ will be on the bench.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

Olshey has EXPLICITLY SAID that he envisages CJ as a PG.

CJ will be on the bench.

Um no he didn't he said CJ needs the ball in his hands so if he starts or not he will spend some time at PG.

 

[Draco]

Olshey has EXPLICITLY SAID that he envisages CJ as a PG.

CJ will be on the bench.

Olshey, Stotts and CJ himself have said he's a GUARD, at either spot. As Jalen Rose often says positions were invented so a layman can follow the sport. The NBA game is having your 5 players on the floor that make the most effective team. Not how each player is pigeon holed into specific criteria.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

I could rewatch the press conference and get you an exact quote, but he didn't say that. Only thing he did say was CJ is an emerging star, he didn't say that about any other player when he talked about them. Just reading between the lines here.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Olshey has EXPLICITLY SAID that he envisages CJ as a PG.

CJ will be on the bench.

True, but he has not said that he envisions CJ STRICTLY as a PG.

He will come off the bench, but will play both guard spots.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

If you watched the Neil olshey pree conference like I did, I think it's pretty obvious that CJ will be starting. Olshey called CJ an emerging star, didn't say that about anyone else. When LA was here we were modeling ourselves to be like the spurs, now with LA leaving we are going more for a thunder model, two guys that can penetrate and create there own shot and surround them with defensive minded role players that may just pop into being actually decent on offense.

If we're following the Spurs' model, then I presume you're saying that CJ is our Ginobili. In which case, he would come off the bench, and someone like Crabbe would be our Danny Green.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

If we're following the Spurs' model, then I presume you're saying that CJ is our Ginobili. In which case, he would come off the bench, and someone like Crabbe would be our Danny Green.

I wasm't talking about the spurs model from yesterday kid, over the last decade. Our Danny Green? lolz. the blazers gms have actually said in the past that we werre following the spurs model, on camera.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

shit if I gotta argue with you about facts reported from our own organization this is gonna be a long night.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I wasm't talking about the spurs model from yesterday kid, over the last decade. Our Danny Green? lolz. the blazers gms have actually said in the past that we werre following the spurs model, on camera.

Would you prefer I referenced Michael Finley (or Brent Barry) starting over Ginobili in '07? You realize Ginobili has started only about 40% of the games he's played in his career, right? The point still stands; CJ is best suited as a scorer off the bench, and the "Spurs model" comment doesn't contradict that.

And by the way, condescendingly calling me "kid" and then unironically using "lolz" in the same post is embarrassingly inconsistent.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

Here is an interesting thought for you, we used to have this player named Rasheed Wallace. I personally loved Rasheed I know alot of you didn't. Behind him on the bench was a guy named Jermaine Oniel, he didn't look that great, barely ever played. So we trade off Jermaine because(probably) he is unhappy with his playing time and yada yada. Within a year or 2 Jermaine destroys Sheed with his stats, I think he was even in the mvp discussion. Point is Neil also said that some guys no matter how well they played were gonna always band their heads on a ceiling because of the guy in front of them. Reading between the lines again I think based on what Olshey has said. + we've upgraded some positions. That the blazers thought CJ was better than Wes last year, couldn't give him Wes's minutes or oppertunity of coarse cause Wes was reportedly LA's best friend on the team. And I LOVE Wes, but thats still what I think.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't understand how so many fans think we can play a trio of Plumlee, Davis, Aminu? The first two can't shoot outside the paint and the third is a 28% 3 point shooter. They are the three worst shooters on the team. We could play two of them but at least one has to come off the bench. I suspect Plumlee and Davis will never be on the court together; which is fine they could be a 24mpg each high energy tag team duo at center.

Wait until Aminu gets the shooting coach training from our epic staff. I bet his average goes up, much like Brewer when he was traded to the Rockets.

 

[magnifier661]

I wasm't talking about the spurs model from yesterday kid, over the last decade. Our Danny Green? lolz. the blazers gms have actually said in the past that we werre following the spurs model, on camera.

Bro, calling plat a kid is not cool. He is a well respected poster here and comments like that makes no sense.

Carry on

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Here is an interesting thought for you, we used to have this player named Rasheed Wallace. I personally loved Rasheed I know alot of you didn't. Behind him on the bench was a guy named Jermaine Oniel, he didn't look that great, barely ever played. So we trade off Jermaine because(probably) he is unhappy with his playing time and yada yada. Within a year or 2 Jermaine destroys Sheed with his stats, I think he was even in the mvp discussion. Point is Neil also said that some guys no matter how well they played were gonna always band their heads on a ceiling because of the guy in front of them. Reading between the lines again I think based on what Olshey has said. + we've upgraded some positions. That the blazers thought CJ was better than Wes last year, couldn't give him Wes's minutes or oppertunity of coarse cause Wes was reportedly LA's best friend on the team. And I LOVE Wes, but thats still what I think.

 

[Draco]

Here is an interesting thought for you, we used to have this player named Rasheed Wallace. I personally loved Rasheed I know alot of you didn't. Behind him on the bench was a guy named Jermaine Oniel, he didn't look that great, barely ever played. So we trade off Jermaine because(probably) he is unhappy with his playing time and yada yada. Within a year or 2 Jermaine destroys Sheed with his stats, I think he was even in the mvp discussion. Point is Neil also said that some guys no matter how well they played were gonna always band their heads on a ceiling because of the guy in front of them. Reading between the lines again I think based on what Olshey has said. + we've upgraded some positions. That the blazers thought CJ was better than Wes last year, couldn't give him Wes's minutes or oppertunity of coarse cause Wes was reportedly LA's best friend on the team. And I LOVE Wes, but thats still what I think.

Wes can play SF just fine. CJ has been injured, a rookie, then injured, a second year player on two 50+ win teams. It was hard for him to learn a role as Dame did on a 33 win team. Wes is one of my favorite players ever so I reject your premise. The team is different now and it may be best for CJ to start but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been an elite player with Wes around.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

Lolz
PtldPlatypus, good one, love me some Billy Madison. when CJ breaks out for 20 ppg next year though don't you all calll me a prophet just cause i read the signs. Teams do "feature" guys you know, these guys can all ball and learn if they get a chance. you can't sell jerseies if you switch your stars ever year though... Oh ZBO wasn't good before Sheed left, please........... but I'll give you props on that comeback, it was funny as hell.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

Bro, calling plat a kid is not cool. He is a well respected poster here and comments like that makes no sense.

Carry on

that was probably out of line, but I am kinda a dickhead.

 

[BonesJones]

Here is an interesting thought for you, we used to have this player named Rasheed Wallace. I personally loved Rasheed I know alot of you didn't. Behind him on the bench was a guy named Jermaine Oniel, he didn't look that great, barely ever played. So we trade off Jermaine because(probably) he is unhappy with his playing time and yada yada. Within a year or 2 Jermaine destroys Sheed with his stats, I think he was even in the mvp discussion. Point is Neil also said that some guys no matter how well they played were gonna always band their heads on a ceiling because of the guy in front of them. Reading between the lines again I think based on what Olshey has said. + we've upgraded some positions. That the blazers thought CJ was better than Wes last year, couldn't give him Wes's minutes or oppertunity of coarse cause Wes was reportedly LA's best friend on the team. And I LOVE Wes, but thats still what I think.

the thing you don't realize is CJ will get starters minutes off the bench... you play Dame 35 minutes and whoever your starting SG is 28 minutes, that leaves 33 minutes for CJ. That's enough for him to blossom into a 6th man of the year scoring 16ppg or so.

 

[LaScrewus Alldridge]

ok, what positions do ou guys think Neil meant when he said he upgraded some positions then? Not tryimg to prove myself right I just want opinions.

 

[oldmangrouch]

ok, what positions do ou guys think Neil meant when he said he upgraded some positions then? Not tryimg to prove myself right I just want opinions.

I suspect Batum had worn out his welcome, and that he was implying that Aminu was an upgrade because of his superior motor. I don't fully agree, but it is a valid argument.

I also believe Plumlee could be an upgrade on RoLo, maybe as soon as the end of next season. As useful as RoLo was his first season and a half, he seemed to really lose his motivation after that. Plumlee is another guy who has the rep of always playing hard.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Lolz
PtldPlatypus, good one, love me some Billy Madison. when CJ breaks out for 20 ppg next year though don't you all calll me a prophet just cause i read the signs. Teams do "feature" guys you know, these guys can all ball and learn if they get a chance. you can't sell jerseies if you switch your stars ever year though... Oh ZBO wasn't good before Sheed left, please........... but I'll give you props on that comeback, it was funny as hell.

Bones and omg have it right. Aminu and Plumlee are the theoretical upgrades, and CJ is expected to be a major offensive weapon playing 30 mpg of the bench (hence the multiple Ginobili references). We don't really disagree on CJ as much as you think we do; only on where he'll be at tip-off.

 

[Draco]

CJ is entering his 3rd year. In Ginobili's 3rd year he started all 74 games he played. He's started over 40% of the games he's played throughout his career. So CJ needs to start between 33 and 82 games next year to follow the Manu role.