Leagues best benches

[magnifier661]

Well I think Nic could dominate at the SG position. He has shown that he can play it very well in the past and he's bigger and faster than most SG. I really think this lineup could be quite good. Lillard or Willaims. Probably Lillard, Batum, Claver, LA and Lopez.

Actually no he can't. I thought he could too until I saw the 82games stats. He allowed his man get high PERS playing the 2. Nic is best at SF. He has the ability to be a 2, but he isn't aggressive enough to take advantage of his man.

 

[Draco]

but he isn't aggressive enough to take advantage of his man.

Steve Nash was able to guard Batum effectively.

I actually think Batum would be fine at SG if we needed him there, if we had some stud SF or whatnot. But he doesn't have some sort of advantage at that spot. He can play the 2 or 3 and the team will be best with whoever the best playing teammate is.

 

[Natebishop3]

Is BGD a real poster? I honestly can't tell.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Steve Nash was able to guard Batum effectively.

Context: Nate McMillan was our coach in that Phoenix series.

Andre Miller absolutely killed Steve Nash in game 1 of that series, and Batum also had a very efficient 18 points. Alvin Gentry made one simple adjustment, he swapped defenders on Miller and Batum and Nate never adjusted - until opening night of the next season, 6 months too late. He steadfastly refused to exploit the Batum/Nash mismatch. I've never seen an NBA head coach so incapable of making mid-game or mid-series adjustments. But hey, give him an entire off season and he finally realizes that the young athletic 6'8" forward has an advantage over the old 6'3" white guy.

BNM

 

[RoyToy]

Batum couldn't "exploit" Nash. That was the problem.

Batum's post game still isn't that good, either.

 

[Natebishop3]

Context: Nate McMillan was our coach in that Phoenix series.

Andre Miller absolutely killed Steve Nash in game 1 of that series, and Batum also had a very efficient 18 points. Alvin Gentry made one simple adjustment, he swapped defenders on Miller and Batum and Nate never adjusted - until opening night of the next season, 6 months too late. He steadfastly refused to exploit the Batum/Nash mismatch. I've never seen an NBA head coach so incapable of making mid-game or mid-series adjustments. But hey, give him an entire off season and he finally realizes that the young athletic 6'8" forward has an advantage over the old 6'3" white guy.

BNM

He processes things a little slower than the rest of us... cut him some slack

 

[magnifier661]

Batum couldn't "exploit" Nash. That was the problem.

Batum's post game still isn't that good, either.

That's absolutely an area he needs to work on

 

[Natebishop3]

Batum couldn't "exploit" Nash. That was the problem.

Batum's post game still isn't that good, either.

He isn't a post player. Not every small forward or guard can work with their back to the basket. It's an acquired skill.

 

[magnifier661]

He isn't a post player. Not every small forward or guard can work with their back to the basket. It's an acquired skill.

He didn't have to against Nash. Face him up and take his dumb ass to the hole. He needs to work on using his height to shoot over a team that puts a smaller defender on him.

Also, posting up can work. Players can develop that skill. Aldridge used to be a face up player for his first 4 years in the league.

 

[Natebishop3]

He didn't have to against Nash. Face him up and take his dumb ass to the hole. He needs to work on using his height to shoot over a team that puts a smaller defender on him.

Also, posting up can work. Players can develop that skill. Aldridge used to be a face up player for his first 4 years in the league.

Well, it's really a non-issue now. At the time it was a problem because they would put Nash on Batum and Grant Hill on Miller. If a team put someone like Grant Hill on Lillard, he would blow him the fuck up. Miller was slow but crafty, Lillard is fast and athletic. Go ahead and put your small forward on him. It won't matter.

 

[magnifier661]

Well, it's really a non-issue now. At the time it was a problem because they would put Nash on Batum and Grant Hill on Miller. If a team put someone like Grant Hill on Lillard, he would blow him the fuck up. Miller was slow but crafty, Lillard is fast and athletic. Go ahead and put your small forward on him. It won't matter.

Lol true dat!

Anyway, our bench will be top 5 in scoring this season.

 

[Natebishop3]

Lol true dat!

Anyway, our bench will be top 5 in scoring this season.

I really hope so. Last season was so frustrating to watch. Our starters would be killing it and then the parade of super scrubs would check in.

 

[magnifier661]

I really hope so. Last season was so frustrating to watch. Our starters would be killing it and then the parade of super scrubs would check in.

I broke 2 remotes last season and almost broke my phone. I looked like a spoiled kid in a candy store, screaming out what I wanted. It was one of the most frustrating seasons I had as a blazer fan.

It's one thing when you know you suck and take games for what it's worth. It's entirely different when your starting core was good and the bench took away anything they worked on getting.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Batum couldn't "exploit" Nash. That was the problem.

Batum's post game still isn't that good, either.

The problem was they never even TRIED - until opening night the next October. Batum posted up Nash about 6 times in the first quarter and Gentry put Grant Hill back on Batum.

It's not like Batum needed any post moves to score on Nash, just catch, turn and shoot over him - like playing on the Nerf hoop with against your 7-year old nephew.

BNM