McCollum won't be part of Blazers rotation

[BrianFromWA]

You know, our "Red" team of Watson/CJ/Crabbe/Claver/Robinson (or Leonard) would destroy our reserves from last year.

 

[jlprk]

I'd say that Freeman's correct, at least in the short run, that CJ won't be part of the rotation when he rejoins the team. But there's a lot of season left and, if he's as good as has been reported, I'd be willing to bet that he gets minutes before the season's over. I could see stealing him some minutes by letting him play in a small ball lineup alongside Damian with Wes playing SF. I wouldn't mind seeing a little less of Wright.

As good as has been reported? Can you link me to where it says he's some kind of Michael Jordan?

In the weak 2013 draft he went what, 10th? That's like 15-18 in the strong 2012 draft. Why does anyone think he'll take less than 2 years before finding his way? He sure sucked in Summer League, dragging down the most talented SL team to the league near-bottom record.

He's going to provide competition to former all-star, best sub on the team, highly underrated Mo Williams? As a rookie? After missing half the season?

I got news for you guys. McCollum won't play much NEXT season, either.

 

[MarAzul]

For the sake of your blood pressure, I'll submit that Stotts is using coach-speak. Of course he isn't going to say "Good Mo is pretty good, but there are days when he stinks like a fecal compost bin on a humid summer day, and we can't have too many of those", even if true. Of course he isn't going to say "CJ is probably the best hope we have on the bench going forward--Mo better watch his back", even if true. I like that he's praising the players who've been performing for him while protecting his rookies.

Thanks for the reassuring talk.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

First of all, dumb thread title. It should definitely be more like "Freeman: McCollum won't be part of Blazers rotation." He's citing zero sources and not even claiming he has any. He's pulling it out of his ass. Worse yet, he's acting like he knows. Weird, in a bad way.

As for the concept of not playing CJ, it's basically terrible. Mo Williams NetrtG is -10 while Lillard's is +10. In plain english, every minute Mo plays, his poor play "cancels out" every minute of good Lillard play.

 

[Samuel]

It's just a writer, you guys. He doesn't know anything about Terry Stotts, who has played it close to the vest when it comes to coaching decisions. As he should.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Are folks blind at what Stotts said? I know the author is.

When McCollum plays in Boise, Stotts said, he will fill a role that most closely “simulates” his role with the Blazers. He will come off the bench and exclusively play shooting guard.

Yup. He's definitely going to find minutes in the rotation. They wouldn't send him to D-League to play 2 games and come back if they didn't intend him to get in the rotation to some extent.

 

[Samuel]

He sure sucked in Summer League, dragging down the most talented SL team to the league near-bottom record.

Man, I watched every Summer League game and didn't come away with that at all. We must have been watching different games.

 

[Samuel]

After a month of SG play, the Stampede could start teaching him PG skills, behind D-league scoring leader Lucky Pierre Jackson, who went #42 in the 2013 NBA draft.

McCollum isn't a PG. Maybe we should send Meyers Leonard down to Idaho and teach him PG too?

 

[Natebishop3]

As good as has been reported? Can you link me to where it says he's some kind of Michael Jordan?

In the weak 2013 draft he went what, 10th? That's like 15-18 in the strong 2012 draft. Why does anyone think he'll take less than 2 years before finding his way? He sure sucked in Summer League, dragging down the most talented SL team to the league near-bottom record.

He's going to provide competition to former all-star, best sub on the team, highly underrated Mo Williams? As a rookie? After missing half the season?

I got news for you guys. McCollum won't play much NEXT season, either.

Damian Lillard went 6th in the steaming pile of crap that was the 2012 draft... what's your point?

 

[Natebishop3]

Man, I watched every Summer League game and didn't come away with that at all. We must have been watching different games.

Don't fret, it's just Jlprk. He's not a real person.

 

[Buffalo Blazer]

I wouldn't mind never seeing him (Wright) play again. At this point I'd give all of his minutes to Crabbe.

I completely agree. At least early in the season, he was making his 3's, but now he's not even doing that. He's a liability on both sides of the ball and is having trouble even catching passes lately.

 

[Natebishop3]

I completely agree. At least early in the season, he was making his 3's, but now he's not even doing that. He's a liability on both sides of the ball and is having trouble even catching passes lately.

Wright has been a pretty big disappointment for me this season. Mo has had his ups and downs, but Wright really hasn't filled the role that I thought he was brought in to fill.... three point shooter.

 

[Strenuus]

Wright has been a pretty big disappointment for me this season. Mo has had his ups and downs, but Wright really hasn't filled the role that I thought he was brought in to fill.... three point shooter.

The irony of that statement is awesome.

 

[magnifier661]

Wright has been a pretty big disappointment for me this season. Mo has had his ups and downs, but Wright really hasn't filled the role that I thought he was brought in to fill.... three point shooter.

By the end of the season, I think many will be wrong about wright. Even though wright has disappointed me, I actually think wright will prove to be a big asset at the later part of the season.

He is still a threat from three, which is why his man still runs out at him. If wright wasn't, teams would just leave him wide open and dare him to shoot. The reason why wright works is he can still spread the defense out. As long as the team is rotating the ball, he will be an effective addition to this club.

 

[jlprk]

Man, I watched every Summer League game and didn't come away with that at all. We must have been watching different games.

Expectations were that he'd be Lillard's backup, maybe another Lillard. He was the PG on the SL team. He completely sucked at PG and as a combo guard.

Our SL team, which had by far more draftees (most SL teams have 2 draftees and a bunch of scrub pickups) of all SL teams (and only 1 other draftee was a rookie), was forecast to maybe win the SL championship. It lost almost all the games. Freeland, Barton, Claver, Crabbe, Leonard, Robinson, and Terrell were told to feature McCollum. This made him one of the leading scorers in the SL, but the other leaders shot 45-50% while he shot 35%. His scoring was forced, but he has potential.

He'll be a good SG and a mediocre backup PG, but he'll take a couple of years to learn the game just like everyone else.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I saw this coming. Not surprised nor am I upset. You don't push a proven veteran out of the way to make room for a rookie just because he did well on the college level. I wouldn't even be surprised if he got traded to a rebuilding team.

 

[jlprk]

.

Damian Lillard went 6th in the steaming pile of crap that was the 2012 draft... what's your point?

What's yours? Mine is clear, while you have none.

 

[Natebishop3]

Expectations were that he'd be Lillard's backup, maybe another Lillard. He was the PG on the SL team. He completely sucked at PG and as a combo guard.

Our SL team, which had by far more draftees (most SL teams have 2 draftees and a bunch of scrub pickups) of all SL teams (and only 1 other draftee was a rookie), was forecast to maybe win the SL championship. It lost almost all the games. Freeland, Barton, Claver, Crabbe, Leonard, Robinson, and Terrell were told to feature McCollum. This made him one of the leading scorers in the SL, but the other leaders shot 45-50% while he shot 35%. His scoring was forced, but he has potential.

He'll be a good SG and a mediocre backup PG, but he'll take a couple of years to learn the game just like everyone else.

They were told to feature him, eh? I didn't know you were privy to that kind of information. What else were they told?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Sure, it could happen the way this article states (and maybe it is VERY likely to) but this is merely an opinion piece that Freeman could be wrong on in time.

 

[Samuel]

Don't fret, it's just Jlprk. He's not a real person.

Even trollbots deserve the respect of a rebuttal, on occasion.

 

[jlprk]

They were told to feature him, eh? I didn't know you were privy to that kind of information. What else were they told?

The players were told what every SL team is told, and what the Stampede is now being told:

Make the first-round pick the star. That's why this temporary team exists, to look at the best player the most, the second-best player the second-most, etc.

You feel like being a troll today, while your pal calls me the troll? Every post I've made here is well-reasoned, while all your responses have been nonsensical one-liners.

 

[Natebishop3]

The players were told what every SL team is told, and what the Stampede is now being told:

Make the first-round pick the star. That's why this temporary team exists, to look at the best player the most, the second-best player the second-most, etc.

You feel like being a troll today, while your pal calls me the troll? Every post I've made here is well-reasoned, while all your responses have been nonsensical one-liners.

Wait.... someone got under your skin? Inconceivable!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Speaking of Wright....I was impressed with his brother last night against the Ducks. A 6'5" PG that runs his team very well. Does not shoot much but when he does it is at a 70% clip. Great shot blocker. He is a JC transfer and looked very composed.

One to keep an eye on for sure.

 

[jlprk]

I'm just unhappy because no one liked my bump. How come everyone loves HCP's bumps? I hardly have any, and he has them all over his head.

 

[Samuel]

Expectations were that he'd be Lillard's backup, maybe another Lillard. He was the PG on the SL team. He completely sucked at PG and as a combo guard.

He was getting double teams almost immediately every time down the court. Did you notice that? He will not be getting this kind of treatment in the second unit, even going up against better competition vs. Summer League. All he has to do is hit shots and show energy. He will--right away.

Our SL team, which had by far more draftees (most SL teams have 2 draftees and a bunch of scrub pickups) of all SL teams (and only 1 other draftee was a rookie), was forecast to maybe win the SL championship. It lost almost all the games.

Forget it, Jake. It's Summer League. No one cares about records. Portland's team had a bunch of NBA contract players, several of which who had played significant minutes last year. One could argue that the opposite might be true of your point. These guys have guaranteed deals.

Freeland, Barton, Claver, Crabbe, Leonard, Robinson, and Terrell were told to feature McCollum. This made him one of the leading scorers in the SL, but the other leaders shot 45-50% while he shot 35%. His scoring was forced, but he has potential.

Specious argument. Summer League is the world series for a significant amount of the competition. These are the most competitive basketball players in the world that have dreamt of the Show since they were kids.

You either:

A. Have a contract, and are working on your game. Summer league is about working with the coaches for the first time and learning the offense.

B. Are an undrafted player from that year's draft or a FA journeyman, looking to interest a European team or get a training camp invite and possibly an NBDL deal. This is a HUGE moment for you to make the NBA. It's your NBA finals.

He'll be a good SG and a mediocre backup PG, but he'll take a couple of years to learn the game just like everyone else.

Stotts isn't asking a lot of him at this point. His job is to move the ball around, make shots and apply pressure on defense. Mo Williams or Lillard will be the primary ball handler in all of these situations. He's not going to be forced to do as much as he was in summer league, where they were simply kicking the tires on him. I expect Meyers Leonard/Thomas Robinson minutes if he's healthy and once he's fit.

I'm not arguing he's going to start or be a major part of the rotation. But he's definitely good enough to get a few minutes every night, even if Stotts prefers a 9-man rotation. Kid can shoot, and that's the MO of this offense.

I think people are forgetting that many NBA scouts had him as one of the most NBA ready players in the draft. His biggest challenge will be coming back from his injury and getting the rust off. We'll find out starting tonight how far he's come, but if he's relatively injury free, I don't see why he won't be given a spot in the rotation.

 

[Samuel]

They were told to feature him, eh? I didn't know you were privy to that kind of information. What else were they told?

Yeah, I never read that once.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, I never read that once.

If anything, I think they had him running the point to see if he could be a capable backup to Lillard.

 

[Samuel]

If anything, I think they had him running the point to see if he could be a capable backup to Lillard.

Exactly. I think we all learned was that he's more of a combo guard or simply a 2. He'll be fine alongside Mo or Lillard.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I'd like to see a run and gun small ball unit out on the court of Lillard, CJ, Wes, Batum and LMA at different times. Throw him in with the starters in brief stretches.

 

[jlprk]

Sam, your string of remarks in that one post summarize as, on a SL team, expect the best players (draftees) to do worst, and the worst players (pickups) to do best. Then why hold SL if the purpose isn't to feature the players with most potential like McCollum?

Yeah, I never read that once.

So you think it was a coincidence that the rookie forced most of his shots not in the flow, and took far more shots than teammates.

I'm not arguing he's going to start or be a major part of the rotation. But he's definitely good enough to get a few minutes every night, even if Stotts prefers a 9-man rotation. Kid can shoot, and that's the MO of this offense.

Then what are you arguing about? I say the same thing. Most posters here say he'll be a major contributor as a rookie. Some say he'll immediately take many of Mo's minutes. I say he'll develop like most 1st round picks taken 10 in a weak draft or 15 in a strong draft.