Is Joel Freeland becoming my favorite player?

[julius]

Freeland improved from a 0 to a 2 out of 10, but this board is way too impressed about it.

No, he went from -3 billion to 2

 

[illmatic99]

Against the Spurs, Joel looked every bit as good as Tiago Splitter. And that guy got a huge contract from SA (supposedly because we were gonna give him a similar huge contract).

 

[3RA1N1AC]

This is who I thought he would be LAST year, legit backup big...holy shit he was terrible though.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This is who I thought he would be LAST year, legit backup big...holy shit he was terrible though.

I think his problem last year was that he was trying to be the same player in the NBA that he is/was on Great Britain.

 

[B-Roy]

He's about as good as Nick Collison (who he tried modeling his game after). Not bad.

 

[magnifier661]

He's about as good as Nick Collison (who he tried modeling his game after). Not bad.

That's a great model. You won't get paid big bucks, but you will be needed throughout a very long career. I think he understands he doesn't have the skill to be a marquee player, so modeling himself from one of the best hard hat players today is a good thing.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

nice shoutout to Joel:
[video=vimeo;79082042]

 

[Draco]

Great game by Joel tonight. I was at the game and he got the largest ovation of the night (well outside the military vets) when he checked out for LaMarcus in the 4th. The fans are really getting behind a guy who busts his butt and does the little things to help the team.

It was interesting Stotts played Joel and Rob together so much, I haven't seen it at all before. I have to say at this point I'd rather see a 3 man big rotation with Joel backing up both PF and C. I was real excited about TRob but he doesn't have the IQ or comfort with his role as Joel does. Whats the expression, ride the hot horse? No thats not it but you get the idea. I'd rather see Joel getting ~20min a game. I'm fine with us settling in on more of an 8 man rotation because all of Wright/Mo/Freeland are deserving of more minutes and with their versatility we don't need any other positions on the court.

 

[illmatic99]

Nah, TRob will and should get minutes. He has at least shown some signs of being a keeper and needs a shot. But after every game, I come out thinking Joel just had his best game yet. His improvement is remarkable.

 

[Eastoff]

He was my Cult Hero pick during the preseason and I was the only one who mentioned him in that thread. He has certainly embraced his Nick Collison like role and it's paying off in terms of both results and increased playing time.

I put in Freeland as my pick, then waivered and changed to Claver. I'm kicking myself about it ever since.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Nah, TRob will and should get minutes. He has at least shown some signs of being a keeper and needs a shot. But after every game, I come out thinking Joel just had his best game yet. His improvement is remarkable.

Robinson is as bad as Leonard. I haven't seen shit that warrants him being on the court over Freeland.

If this team wants to have a shot at winning in the playoffs, they need to replace T-Rob ASAP.

 

[HailBlazers]

Robinson is as bad as Leonard. I haven't seen shit that warrants him being on the court over Freeland.

If this team wants to have a shot at winning in the playoffs, they need to replace T-Rob ASAP.

The thing is though, the Blazers are committed to developing him. We welcomed him with open arms and are trying to make him comfortable so that he can foster skills to live up to his potential. Not everything is about win now.

 

[magnifier661]

The thing is though, the Blazers are committed to developing him. We welcomed him with open arms and are trying to make him comfortable so that he can foster skills to live up to his potential. Not everything is about win now.

It really doesn't have to be with him either. Its pretty certain that LMA will be a 35+ minute player; which would only give T. Rob a good 10-12 minutes max. The only times we should see more playing time for T. Rob is when Aldridge is in foul trouble. Keep the rotation the same with Freeland, and adjust with T. Rob according to foul issues.

 

[Draco]

Robinson is as bad as Leonard. I haven't seen shit that warrants him being on the court over Freeland.

If this team wants to have a shot at winning in the playoffs, they need to replace T-Rob ASAP.

How about replacing TRob with Freeland? Joel is only average 14.8 MPG, he can play a lot more backup minutes at PF. Meyers and TRob are perfectly fine as 3rd string players. If we brought in a superior player who could contribute now he likely wouldn't be happy at all with DNP-CD or games playing 10 minutes. Look at the guard rotation if we add CJ and he meets expectations; that will be crowded enough.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

The thing is though, the Blazers are committed to developing him. We welcomed him with open arms and are trying to make him comfortable so that he can foster skills to live up to his potential. Not everything is about win now.

Would it be completely ridiculous to send both Robinson and Leonard to Boise, have Freeland be the only real 4/5 backup, and have Wright play more stretch 4?

 

[magnifier661]

Would it be completely ridiculous to send both Robinson and Leonard to Boise, have Freeland be the only real 4/5 backup, and have Wright play more stretch 4?

I wouldn't be opposed to that, especially if we still have claver just in case. I think wright at 4 isn't that bad of an idea. Could you imagine lillard, Matthews, batum, wright and Aldridge on the court together? That would be an insane cover!

 

[Draco]

Would it be completely ridiculous to send both Robinson and Leonard to Boise, have Freeland be the only real 4/5 backup, and have Wright play more stretch 4?

Clavier can play the the stretch 4 fine so I think it would be ok. Freeland/La/Lopez could all play center and Clavier/Batum/Wright can all play PF (for foul trouble or injury). But if the team wanted to alternate Leonard and Trob's stints in Boise that would be fine as well. Might make the most sense to send them one at a time along with one of Barton/Crabbe.

 

[BBert]

Would it be completely ridiculous to send both Robinson and Leonard to Boise, have Freeland be the only real 4/5 backup, and have Wright play more stretch 4?

I wouldn't. I'd send Leonard for sure for a short stay at some point. I don't think I'd send Robinson. I think he's a needed backup, I don't think he'd cope that well with the implications of sending him down, and I'm not sure it would help him much.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Bump.

He's really turning into that annoying Nick Collison type of player.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Bump.

He's really turning into that annoying Nick Collison type of player.

Annoying for opponents, or annoying for us?

 

[magnifier661]

Annoying for opponents, or annoying for us?

Sounds like to opponents

 

[rasheedfan2005]

He's got to be one of the best in NBA at going straight up already. I love it, I always have confidence now when someone drives the lane he's going straight up and blocking or at least effecting the shot. Very impressed with his hard work, I was ready to give up on him last year, now I feel like he was a gem.