It's Time to Play Nurkic With the Bench

[BonesJones]

I think we should try subbing Nurkic out at the 6min mark in the 1st and 3rd quarters, then subbing him back in to play with the bench. Along with this, J think we should bench ET and start playing Layman and Collins at the forward spots.. 4 shooters around Nurk. Hes not getting enough touches with the starters and the bench needs a leader and an offensive presence... Nurk would excel in the low post against backup Centers, and we could use Nurk as more of a passing option with cutters and shooters around him, instead of talking ET with creating everything in isolation and stagnant situations. Would also allow Curry to play more PG which might help him get back into a rhythm. This would also mean Collins could play more with the starters, which would help his game IMO.

1st Half
12M-6M - PF Aminu / C Nurkic
6M-3M - PF Harkless / C Collins
3M-9M (2nd) - PF Collins / C Nurkic
9M-6M - PF Aminu / C Nurkic
6M-Halftime - PF Aminu / C Collins

In the 4th quarter, decide at 3 minutes left to keep rolling with Collins or put Nurk back in.

Minutes:
Nurk - 30mpg
Aminu - 30mpg
Collins - 30mpg

 

[JDC]

I like this idea.

Only change I'd make is leaving Aminu in until the 3 minute mark of the first.

If Zach is at the 5, we need Aminu's defense and defensive rebounding (more importantly).

 

[BonesJones]

I like this idea.

Only change I'd make is leaving Aminu in until the 3 minute mark of the first.

If Zach is at the 5, we need Aminu's defense and defensive rebounding (more importantly).

I like Aminu playing 30mpg so to counter that,you could play Layman at PF from the 9M to 6M left in the 2nd and run with Curry or Stauskas at SF.

 

[KingSpeed]

I don’t think the rotations matter right now. We need increased effort on defense no matter who is in there. Lineups are fine. They need to work harder.

 

[JDC]

I like Aminu playing 30mpg so to counter that,you could play Layman at PF from the 9M to 6M left in the 2nd and run with Curry or Stauskas at SF.

Stuaskas/Layman/Collins would get destroyed defensively and on the boards....

 

[BonesJones]

Stuaskas/Layman/Collins would get destroyed defensively and on the boards....

It's a 3min lineup.

 

[JDC]

It's a 3min lineup.

But why play a clearly sub-optimal lineup when you don't need to?

Layman isn't even strong or a good rebounder for a SF...you're doubling down on defensive weaknesses for little offensive gain playing him as a PF next to Zach. There's easier, more sensible ways to get Jake on the floor more.

For example, you sit Stauskas and run Curry/Turner (he's not getting benched) /Layman/Aminu/Collins.

 

[BonesJones]

But why play a clearly sub-optimal lineup when you don't need to?

Layman isn't even strong or a good rebounder for a SF...you're doubling down on defensive weaknesses for little offensive gain playing him as a PF next to Zach. There's easier, more sensible ways to get Jake on the floor more.

For example, you sit Stauskas and run Curry/Turner (he's not getting benched) /Layman/Aminu/Collins.

Then structure it however. I'm just saying it doesnt really matter.

Playing Aminu 36mpg isn't a good idea IMO. Maybe run that in the 2nd half so he gets 33mpg.

 

[kjironman1]

Look i understand trying different things but if you pull Nurk and Aminu at the same time you are asking for a layup line. Collins will foul out almost certainly every game and on the games you actually get Harkless to show up he will still get smoked.

There are two things wrong with the Blazers right now. Lack of effort and lack of talent.

 

[James lamphear]

I don't think it lack of talent it more of lack of effort and the system that Stotts has implement on both ends of the court.

 

[kjironman1]

I don't think it lack of talent it more of lack of effort and the system that Stotts has implement on both ends of the court.

People always want to blame the coach. I can understand that. But in reality this team is made up of a seconds. Very few solid players on this team.

 

[Blazinaway]

I don’t think the rotations matter right now. We need increased effort on defense no matter who is in there. Lineups are fine. They need to work harder.

we need better players but that ain't gonna happen given our lux tax situation and in general poor trading chips, we are a treadmill team that plays mediocre boring basketball and has got at least 3 yrs now, time for some serious changes and/or dynamite to blow it up

 

[illmatic99]

What is it they say about rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?

Rotation changes won't do shit. Problems run deeper.

 

[BonesJones]

People always want to blame the coach. I can understand that. But in reality this team is made up of a seconds. Very few solid players on this team.

I HATE posts like this. "People always want to blame the coach"... You pass it off as if blaming the coach is the easy thing to do, and if someone does so, they're not actually paying enough attention. Meanwhile, theres people on here who blame the coach that could give you very detailed, logistical, basketball reasons for it, that would probably open your eyes a little bit.

I dont want to blame the coach. I want a coach who isn't blame-worthy.

 

[BonesJones]

Look i understand trying different things but if you pull Nurk and Aminu at the same time you are asking for a layup line. Collins will foul out almost certainly every game and on the games you actually get Harkless to show up he will still get smoked.

There are two things wrong with the Blazers right now. Lack of effort and lack of talent.

I hope you realize that, with the rotations I stated, pretty much one of them would be on the court at all times.

We can rearrange lineups to try to maximize strengths of individual players and create more cohesive 5-man units. It's easy to say "We lack effort and talent".. but how can we make a more cohesive string of 5-man units, and how could we maximize the strengths of our players?

 

[TBpup]

People always want to blame the coach. I can understand that. But in reality this team is made up of a seconds. Very few solid players on this team.

So I'm not saying that these guys aren't 'seconds', but look at their increases in production compared to when they were with the Blazers.

Noah Vonleh
FG% - up by 2%
3pt% - up by 35%
Rebs - up by 59%
Assts - up by 400%
Stls - up by 300%
Blks - up by 333%
PPG - up by 233%

Of course much of this is attributed to more minutes but those have only gone up by 76% in comparison. Then there is the, "he's putting up bigger numbers on a bad team" rationale which is true....but at the same time, the Knicks have won 4 of their last 10 while the Blazers have won 3 of their last 10. So how bad are they in comparison over 40% of the season so far?

Pat Connaughton
FG% - up by 3.5%
3pt% - down by 9%
Rebs - up by 213%
Assts - up by 73%
Stls - up by 33%
Blks - up by 233%
PPG - up by 30%

By comparison, Pat has had his increases on a much better team while playing only 7% more minutes.

Not that either of these players would be a franchise changer but certainly Noah, who can switch out onto the perimeter as well as any 'big' the Blazers had and now not being "Vonleh'd" by Stotts' rotation, is putting up significantly better numbers. A defensive PF who can defend multiple positions and shoot .455 from '3'?

Where do I sign up?

 

[Chris Craig]

Nurk hasn't been getting the ball enough. When he does get it he is hesitant and more than not refers back to the guards. There is something off about him lately. He seems a bit slow, a bit sluggish. He is fouling more and not defending the basket as well. I don't remember the last time he blocked the shit out of somebody. We need that energy. We need Nurk to pound the ball inside. We need to see that authority again.

 

[TBpup]

Nurk hasn't been getting the ball enough. When he does get it he is hesitant and more than not refers back to the guards. We need Nurk to pound the ball inside. We need to see that authority again.

Agreed. 9 shots last night...less shots than Turner! I think part of that hesitancy is because he doesn't get the ball that often so when he does, doesn't have a rhythm. Meanwhile, CJ took 19 shots and had the lowest shooting % of anyone on the team outside of Curry. Yuck!

 

[Chris Craig]

People always want to blame the coach. I can understand that. But in reality this team is made up of a seconds. Very few solid players on this team.

It is up to a coach to utilize his roster to bring out the best possible production. Each player brings something to the game, and the coach needs to find combinations that bring out the players and teams optimum, that hide deficiencies and flaws while drawing out and employing strengths.

A good coach can fit players into his system. A great coach can build a system around the players he has.

Stotts has failed to fit this team together and use it at its best capacity. The Players are running his system which is flawed and weak. It is easily countered by other teams. Stotts is at fault.

 

[illmatic99]

Agreed. 9 shots last night...less shots than Turner! I think part of that hesitancy is because he doesn't get the ball that often so when he does, doesn't have a rhythm. Meanwhile, CJ took 19 shots and had the lowest shooting % of anyone on the team outside of Curry. Yuck!

Nurk needs more shots but some of this is on him. Dame was throwing him some great passes last night and Nurk had brick hands and couldn't catch a damn thing on the pick and roll. Also, he needs to STOP BRINGING THE BALL DOWN. Annoys the hell out of me that we don't have a freaking big man coach who can tell him these fundamentals.

 

[Hoopguru]

I love Dame but he needs to show more leadership on the court with his teammates. I see him late really getting on the refs but rarely see him getting on other players. I know it's not his personality to address or critique players, but he could at least try more. He simply needs to be more vocal with his team, as it is, indeed his team. He and Stotts are similar in demeanor thats why Dames loves him so much, but if he ever wants to be a legit super star known as a great leader, he needs to influence his players performance too.
I don't care who you are everyone has areas for improvement, and I'm just saying I think this is an area Dame could improve on. Just my opinion.
Now go ahead and chastise me addressing the Star of the team....

 

[Labinot41]

I don't think it would Change anything if Nurkic plays with the 2nd Unit or not. This Team has peaked and is done. It's Time for a new direction

 

[Chris Craig]

Nurk needs more shots but some of this is on him. Dame was throwing him some great passes last night and Nurk had brick hands and couldn't catch a damn thing on the pick and roll. Also, he needs to STOP BRINGING THE BALL DOWN. Annoys the hell out of me that we don't have a freaking big man coach who can tell him these fundamentals.

I agree he needs to stop bringing the ball down low. He looses it nearly every time he does it. He needs to keep it close to his chest then turn and bring it high to the basket with authority without hestitation. Too much catching and losing the ball because he wants to dribble to create space. He needs to create the space with his huge ass body.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I love Dame but he needs to show more leadership on the court with his teammates. I see him late really getting on the refs but rarely see him getting on other players. I know it's not his personality to address or critique players, but he could at least try more. He simply needs to be more vocal with his team, as it is, indeed his team. He and Stotts are similar in demeanor thats why Dames loves him so much, but if he ever wants to be a legit super star known as a great leader, he needs to influence his players performance too.
I don't care who you are everyone has areas for improvement, and I'm just saying I think this is an area Dame could improve on. Just my opinion.
Now go ahead and chastise me addressing the Star of the team....

Honestly, I've been thinking the same thing but have been afraid to say it out loud. Neither Dame nor Stotts appear to be providing much leadership right now.

 

[Chris Craig]

I don't think it would Change anything if Nurkic plays with the 2nd Unit or not. This Team has peaked and is done. It's Time for a new direction

They haven't peaked and are not done. They just aren't being used right. Coaching is like playing chess. You control the pieces. Yeah, in basketball the pieces move by themselves, but its a similar scheme. It's tactics, the combination of plays and moves you make as you play the game. The coach has to control the players, he calls plays to use the players in a certain way. He has to utilize his pieces to the best of his ability. At the same time he has to be able to pay attention to the opponents moves, and adapt to the opponent. It is all about tatics and strategy. It's chess and Terry is a terrible player.

 

[illmatic99]

Honestly, I've been thinking the same thing but have been afraid to say it out loud. Neither Dame nor Stotts appear to be providing much leadership right now.

Dame has never been a screamer. It's just not his personality. He leads by example and behind the scenes to empower his teammates, but there comes a time when you need get on their asses for playing like shit. Tim Duncan let Pop handle that part because he was the same way. We don't have Pop unfortunately.

We could really use a guy like Draymond right now.

 

[kjironman1]

I HATE posts like this. "People always want to blame the coach"... You pass it off as if blaming the coach is the easy thing to do, and if someone does so, they're not actually paying enough attention. Meanwhile, theres people on here who blame the coach that could give you very detailed, logistical, basketball reasons for it, that would probably open your eyes a little bit.

I dont want to blame the coach. I want a coach who isn't blame-worthy.

And in turn I’ll bet if you were privileged to know exactly what the coach deals with behind closed doors with the team he could open your eyes a bit also. You have no clue other than what you perceive to be what is going on. Then there are the numerous post by you and many others saying players “Suck” but then again and again this coach exceeds expectations over and over again.
Yeah it’s always easy to blame the coach.

 

[Gronk Brady]

I love Dame but he needs to show more leadership on the court with his teammates. I see him late really getting on the refs but rarely see him getting on other players. I know it's not his personality to address or critique players, but he could at least try more. He simply needs to be more vocal with his team, as it is, indeed his team. He and Stotts are similar in demeanor thats why Dames loves him so much, but if he ever wants to be a legit super star known as a great leader, he needs to influence his players performance too.
I don't care who you are everyone has areas for improvement, and I'm just saying I think this is an area Dame could improve on. Just my opinion.
Now go ahead and chastise me addressing the Star of the team....

Be careful man, you are going to make @BonesJones cry... you are totally right tho... this team has crossed over the line of continuity and are a little too friendly now... no one holds anyone accountable... these guys care more about being friends than winning

 

[kjironman1]

Be careful man, you are going to make @BonesJones cry... you are totally right tho... this team has crossed over the line of continuity and are a little too friendly now... no one holds anyone accountable... these guys care more about being friends than winning

The feel good story about millionaires that all get along playing basketball and love each other through adversity. It’s just soooo Portland.

 

[hoopsjock]

I have a question: Why don't we post up Collins mutiple times in the 2nd unit?

The last two games Zach has gotten the ball one time each game in a post situation and both times made a beautiful combo of moves to get an easy bucket.

Do we go back to him again? No, we don't. That's terrible coaching. It's the same thing when Nurk has it going.