Luke Babitt

[Wizard Mentor]

You've been consistent in your posts but I still haven't figured out your point. I'm sure you have a basis for your criticism. What are you trying to say when you say

Again, i don't want anyone to think that I believe there is not a chance in hell we won't be better, or even that we probably will be better. But statements like guys like McCollum who haven't played a second will be better than guys that have is dumb.

So LBJ was worse than every player in the league the minute before the first game of his rookie season because he hasn't "played a second". This can't be what you are saying.

 

[Mediocre Man]

You've been consistent in your posts but I still haven't figured out your point. I'm sure you have a basis for your criticism. What are you trying to say when you say



So LBJ was worse than every player in the league the minute before the first game of his rookie season because he hasn't "played a second". This can't be what you are saying.

I think if you re-read that post of mine or the one before it, I mention that McCollum wasn't a sure thing coming out of the draft. So saying any player that hasn't played a second in the league isn't my argument

 

[Boob-No-More]

Yes there is because we have no idea how Mo will do on this team....as a back up. look at the difference in seasons for Crawchuck as an example of this.

Remember who was coaching when Crawford was here. Nate tried to make Crawford into Brandon Roy. Something tells me Crwford would have done much better on Stotts' free flowing offense than Nat'es all-ISO-all-the-time system.

Jeffries was an exceptional defensive player.

Exceptional in what way? Exceptionally bad? Definitely.

I posted this in another thread a couple days ago:

According to 82games.com, Jared Jefferies net production per 48 by position:

PF:
Own PER = 0.4
Opponents PER = 21.1
Net PER = -20.7

Own PTS/49 = 6.0
Opponents PTS/48 = 24.7
Net PTS/48 = -18.7

C:
Own PER = 3.3
Opponents PER = 18.0
Net PER = -14.7

Own PTS/49 = 6.1
Opponents PTS/48 = 21.9
Net PTS/48 = -15.8

Total Production/48:
Own = 2.2
Opponents = 18.9
Net = -17.6

Please note all the negative signs in front of the ridiculously large numbers.

Robinson has been on 3 teams in less than a year.

So? If he manages to step on the court with a pulse, he will be >>>>> Jared Jefferies. Robinson definitely had a disappointing rookie year, getting traded with no clear role on either team. While his rookie PER of 10.9 is nothing to get excited about, it's still over 4x Jared Jefferies PER = 2.4. Jared Jeffries was, by far, the worst player on the worst bench in the 65 year history of the NBA. His net production per 48 was nearly 5 points worse than Luke Babbitt and Ronnie Price (both -12.7).

BNM

 

[THE HCP]

I'll end the argument. I don't give a fuck what THIS years bench does....... can't be worse than LAST years!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Now what might happen is teams scheme to stop Lillard and his production goes down. Force him right and funnel him to the side lines for double teams off Lopez. He didn't see that very much last season.

Actually, he did start to see a lot of that once it became clear stopping Lillard was the key to shutting down Portland's offense. And if you look at his monthly splits, you will see declining production during January and February as a result. Then we picked up Eric Maynor, which allowed Lillard to play off the ball for stretches and suddenly Lillard had, by a wide margin, his best month of the season in March.

This year, Lillard has a full year of experience and he will be able to play off the ball when paired with Mo Williams - for the entire season, not just after the trade deadline. But, leave it to you to find the cloud in every silver lining. You just predicted that the reigning ROY, with a year's experience and a better supporting cast, will see his production decrease in his second season.

Why so damn negative ALL the time? Why even follow the team if all you see is failure? You seem to be bound and determined to negate every positive of season move the Blazers have made. Olshey successfully addressed our two biggest needs, better interior defense and depth. There is no way in hell this year's bench will not result in additional wins. Last year's bench was, by a wide margin, the worst in the entire 65 year history of the NBA. We've added two very solid, proven veterans in Williams and Wright, who alone averaged 4 more PPG than our entire bench last season.

Last year, statistically Meyers Leonard was our best bench player. This year, with the added depth, Leonard is widely seen as the weak link in our bench. Think about that - from best bench player to weakest link on the second unit. And not because Leonard got worse, we now have 4 more bench players that are widely viewed to be better (Williams, Wright, Robinson and McCollum). I know in your pessimistic view, they will probably all suck and have career worst years, but I tend to think reality is somewhere a little north of your expectations.

BNM

 

[blue9]

Actually, he did start to see a lot of that once it became clear stopping Lillard was the key to shutting down Portland's offense.

Yup - after a couple months (maybe less?) it became quite clear that defenses viewed him as priority #1 and doubled him hard outside of the 3-point line. I suspect that'll still be the primary point of attack for defenses this season too. I also expect it to be less successful than it was last year.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Yup - after a couple months (maybe less?) it became quite clear that defenses viewed him as priority #1 and doubled him hard outside of the 3-point line. I suspect that'll still be the primary point of attack for defenses this season too. I also expect it to be less successful than it was last year.

Yeah they have to make the defense pay for doubling out there. The best way is for one of the wings to take the pass and attack the basket when it happens. And from the starting unit that means Nic.

 

[blue9]

Yeah they have to make the defense pay for doubling out there. The best way is for one of the wings to take the pass and attack the basket when it happens. And from the starting unit that means Nic.

Last season, even after the wrist injury, Nic was pretty good at being the second distributor. It's great that we have Lillard to run the overall show, but also have someone with Nic's passing ability to act as a "release valve" when defenses put too much pressure on Lillard. It'd be nice to see Nic get the ball and immediately go to the hoop, but his dribbling isn't that good - his passing more than makes up for that though.
Also, the coach could help in this area by creating a few sets that give Nic a screen once Lillard passes him the ball so that he has less defensive pressure on his dribble. I mean, with two guys on Lillard going right Lopez could roll to the hoop weak-side and then at the same time LMA could be coming off the baseline to have a screen ready for Nic by the time the ball is in his hands. At that point Nic has the ball with a screen giving him an angle to the hoop. LMA's man has either hedged onto Lopez rolling on the weak-side which gives Nic an open lane, or he stayed with LMA and jumps the screen which means Lopez is practically at the rim with Nic lobbing a pass to him.

 

[mook]

Nic averaged between 5 and 6 assists for 4 months of last season. He set career highs for scoring, assists and rebounds last year, and he was only 24. He was also logging 38mpg, which is just too much for a guy as injury prone as he is.

I think he lost his "upside" label a little prematurely. In truth he may never average 20 points in this league. But I think he still has a lot of potential to improve.

 

[THE HCP]

^Nic just needs to stay healthy. I think with the additions to the bench, that will happen.

 

[jlprk]

Last year, statistically Meyers Leonard was our best bench player. This year, with the added depth, Leonard is widely seen as the weak link in our bench. Think about that - from best bench player to weakest link on the second unit.

Maybe statistically, but only because he was featured with so many minutes.

 

[maxiep]

No one is talking about the real story. For the first time in Luke Babbitt's career, he won't be the whitest person on his team. Some Russians are damn near translucent. So I say congratulations to Luke and his now superior melanin concentration!

 

[Nikolokolus]

No one is talking about the real story. For the first time in Luke Babbitt's career, he won't be the whitest person on his team. Some Russians are damn near translucent. So I say congratulations to Luke and his now superior melanin concentration!

Hah

 

[THE HCP]

LUUUUUUUKE!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

 

[BrianFromWA]

Someone needs to splice Luke's face onto the Ivan Drago training montage from Rocky IV. Keep Brigitte Nielsen, though.

 

[jlprk]

First pics arriving from Russian League. Babbitt wears #16.

 

[BrianFromWA]

False. No Blazer has set a pick that well since Przybilla was traded.

 

[jlprk]

Yes, but Joel set them on opponents, not teammates.

Ever notice how Kirilenko's face looks like Babbitt's, only bonier?

 

[THE HCP]

Nice!^


Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!