Notice Monday, 11/23: Blazers Press Conference @ 11am

[Blazinaway]

I bet he doesn't. I think Kanter is going to prove much too valuable on the second unit to replace. His offensive rebounding an scoring makes him a great backup big. I really think Zach is the odd man out, especially since he's in his final year. I don't think he has earned the contract he's going to want.

Zack has not earned squat IMO, yes he's been hurt a good bit and that has "perhaps" hindered his development, but frankly when healthy he hasn't shown as much as I had hoped, big yr for him and his future as a Blazer and getting paid

 

[B-Roy]

I think 17 minutes is perfect for him, but Kanter brings something that Zach doesn't. He can play the pick and roll with Dame/CJ at a comparable or maybe even slightly better than Nurk. That PNR was unstoppable against OKC in the playoffs two years ago. His defense sucks obviously, but we don't miss a beat with Kanter on the PNR with Dame or CJ.

It's going to be a matchup thing in the playoffs. Kanter was unplayable in the Warriors series, to the point where we started Meyers over him.

 

[BlazerBeav]

There are certain matchups where Kanter can really contribute - but the Blazers will be a better team if Collins is the one who earns those minutes.

 

[Natebishop3]

And Terry. The whole respect bullshit about a HOFer coming off the bench, etc. And Melo's own disdain for it. Plenty of reasons why it's a bit shocking for Neil to be so candid about it.

I think Melo starts for that reason. I think they start him to see if it's a game where he has it going, and if he doesn't they just rotate him out and he plays 20ish minutes or whatever.

 

[Blazinaway]

why what? Assumed he would start? Familiarity.

I like him in the second unit, and with this new roster we have a helluva lot more matchup versatility

 

[Hoopguru]

Said 2nd/3rd week of Jan for Zach

 

[noknobs]

People that act like they're the smartest person in the room are usually wrong.

You've just insulted 80% of the people on here.

 

[illmatic99]

I think Melo starts for that reason. I think they start him to see if it's a game where he has it going, and if he doesn't they just rotate him out and he plays 20ish minutes or whatever.

dude, Olshey just explicitly talked about Melo off the bench and said he talked about it with Anthony before signing, and just spent a good 5 minutes answering questions about the rotation with Melo specifically coming off the bench. You STILL think he's starting?

 

[Blazinaway]

There are certain matchups where Kanter can really contribute - but the Blazers will be a better team if Collins is the one who earns those minutes.

IF he can stay healthy enough I think Giles can move ahead of Collins, he a good rebounder and passer and I think his offense will be solid enough without a 3 pt shot however (Collins 3 pt shooting lacked as well)

 

[B-Roy]

I think Melo starts for that reason. I think they start him to see if it's a game where he has it going, and if he doesn't they just rotate him out and he plays 20ish minutes or whatever.

That means trying to get him a bunch of shots at the beginning of the game over Dame/CJ. Doesn't make sense to me since you want to maximize Dame and CJ's offensive production whenever both are in the game.

Getting Melo shots off the bench makes more sense to me. In the same vein that we gave ET a ton of freedom playing backup point guard in 18/19 - Melo will be able to take some of those possessions since our bench is lacking creators.

 

[Hoopguru]

You've just insulted 80% of the people on here.

95%

 

[Natebishop3]

dude, Olshey just explicitly talked about Melo off the bench and said he talked about it with Anthony before signing, and just spent a good 5 minutes answering questions about the rotation with Melo specifically coming off the bench. You STILL think he's starting?

I didn't realize Neil was in charge of the lineup lol

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I thought Neil was channeling his inner Damon Stoudamire with the number of, "You know" references.

I also thought he was going to say we can only afford a chair as our backup PG at this time.

 

[Natebishop3]

That means trying to get him a bunch of shots at the beginning of the game over Dame/CJ. Doesn't make sense to me since you want to maximize Dame and CJ's offensive production whenever both are in the game.

Getting Melo shots off the bench makes more sense to me. In the same vein that we gave ET a ton of freedom playing backup point guard in 18/19 - Melo will be able to take some of those possessions since our bench is lacking creators.

I'm not saying I want to see him start. I'm saying that Terry doesn't always do what is the most logical thing.

 

[B-Roy]

Also possible benefit of DJJ starting, I think this dude is going to feast off Nurk backdoor passes. Nurk really developed that chemistry with Mo before he got hurt and I think he can do the same with DJJ. So maximizing the time DJJ spends on the floor with Nurk will help him not be as much of a liability on offense.

 

[Natebishop3]

IF he can stay healthy enough I think Giles can move ahead of Collins, he a good rebounder and passer and I think his offense will be solid enough without a 3 pt shot however (Collins 3 pt shooting lacked as well)

I have a real issue with playing Giles over assets that could potentially be here long term. We only signed the guy one year, so we have zero bird rights for him. What is the incentive to play him and boost his value if he's just going to leave at the end of the year? I totally understand playing him if people are injured or foul trouble, etc, but I'm really not seeing the point of developing someone that won't be here long term.

 

[TBpup]

I'm surprise......then again, I'm not surprised, how when Neil quotes a stat like, "Dame and CJ played 95% of our plays at PG" and "Ant is our backup PG", that someone doesn't follow up with something like, "but to be fair, that didn't go so well".

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

how has no one got this joke fuckkkk

I got it. That word is the first thing I always think of when Olshey is gonna have a presser. Lots of politicians use that word to start a sentence when deflecting a question. It actually occured to me to make the same joke, but I never got around to it.

 

[Blazinaway]

I have a real issue with playing Giles over assets that could potentially be here long term. We only signed the guy one year, so we have zero bird rights for him. What is the incentive to play him and boost his value if he's just going to leave at the end of the year? I totally understand playing him if people are injured or foul trouble, etc, but I'm really not seeing the point of developing someone that won't be here long term.

The incentive is to friggin WIN! We are in WIN now mode, IF Giles helps us win more than Collins so be it, if Collins can't beat Giles out IMO he's likely a short timer as well

 

[illmatic99]

Also possible benefit of DJJ starting, I think this dude is going to feast off Nurk backdoor passes. Nurk really developed that chemistry with Mo before he got hurt and I think he can do the same with DJJ. So maximizing the time DJJ spends on the floor with Nurk will help him not be as much of a liability on offense.

Agreed, this Jones starting idea is one that I never even entertained. Opens up a ton of opportunities. And our bench might be the highest scoring in the league with Trent/Hood/Melo coming off it.

 

[Natebishop3]

The incentive is to friggin WIN! We are in WIN now mode, IF Giles helps us win more than Collins so be it, if Collins can't beat Giles out IMO he's likely a short timer as well

Development doesn't work like that. Giles might look better immediately, but Collins might be better come playoff time if he gets the reps.

GTJ is the perfect example. He didn't hit his stride until the bubble. If we had played one of those scrubs that we brought in over him, long term it would not have been in the best interest of the team. I think we need to know what we have in Collins. I really don't want to see us make the same mistake that we made with Leonard.

 

[Haakzilla]

CJ Elleby: "He's young."

Aren't you glad you tuned in.

...to be fair, he said a lot more than that regarding CJ2

 

[Scalma]

Looks like the analytics guys working for the blazers LOVED Elleby, especially defensively.

 

[Scalma]

I’m actually ok with rolling with Simons, for now. Give him until the trade deadline, and then move for a vet if he fails again.

but if Batum hits the market now, Olshey better be all over that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That means trying to get him a bunch of shots at the beginning of the game over Dame/CJ. Doesn't make sense to me since you want to maximize Dame and CJ's offensive production whenever both are in the game.
.

Agree. This was always a minor frustration for me when they would try to force-feed Aminu and Harkless early to get them going. Why? A couple of shots for both was not going to make a difference. Not saying they should not shoot, but if someone is going to force a shot, let it be our best shooters.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He only played 17 mpg on a team in Boston last year that started Daniel Theis, and had over 10 DNP-CDs. Might play more than that here initially, but I don't think he's part of the 9 or 10 man rotation while healthy. Who do you play him over?

I see them only giving Nurk 24-28 minutes--6-7 at the beginning of the 1st/3rd, 6-7 at the end of the 2nd/4th. I could see Kanter coming in for Nurk and playing with Dame the last 5 minutes of the 1st (and 3rd), and Giles playing the first 5 minutes of the 2nd (and 4th) while CJ is running point.

 

[Scalma]

So if we’re not adding a 15th guy the only hope of keeping Wenyen is on a two way. Seems he’s better than that but there aren’t many roster spots left around the league, so maybe we get lucky.

 

[B-Roy]

Agreed, this Jones starting idea is one that I never even entertained. Opens up a ton of opportunities. And our bench might be the highest scoring in the league with Trent/Hood/Melo coming off it.

Just worried we don't have enough playmaking off the bench. Melo, Hood and Kanter are all isolation scorers, and Trent plays well off playmaking, so we'll see. CJ is going to be leading that second unit.

I have a theory about why CJ always seems to be a better playmaker when he starts at PG and Dame is out. CJ is not a natural playmaker like Dame, and doesn't function well as the secondary playmaker because he is a very cerebral player and needs a lot of time before making decisions. Having to dribble a bunch to break down the defense is not ideal when he's receiving the ball with 14 seconds on the shot clock. So instead of the right play, usually he just hunts his own shot.

But when he's starting at PG and Dame is out, he gets to use the 24-second shot clock on every possession, which gives him more time to set guys up. And when Dame is out, he's playing point guard with the first unit instead of the second unit. It's just much easier to make plays for other starters than it is when he's usually leading the second unit with guys like Evan Turner, Mario Hezonja, Anthony Tolliver etc.

No stats to back this up, but just my hypothesis. So hopefully having a more talented second unit is going to help him out a bit.

 

[illmatic99]

I see them only giving Nurk 24-28 minutes--6-7 at the beginning of the 1st/3rd, 6-7 at the end of the 2nd/4th. I could see Kanter coming in for Nurk and playing with Dame the last 5 minutes of the 1st (and 3rd), and Giles playing the first 5 minutes of the 2nd (and 4th) while CJ is running point.

Prolly not a popular opinion but I want Dame playing no more than 34 mpg. Save him for the playoffs. Hard to believe hes in yr 9.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I’m actually ok with rolling with Simons, for now. Give him until the trade deadline, and then move for a vet if he fails again.

but if Batum hits the market now, Olshey better be all over that.

Not seeing much of a difference. Nic is a good ball-handler/facilitator for a SF. But he is still below average as a PG.
Maybe with our offense, the goal is to just get it across half court, and from there the need for a PG diminishes greatly.
I mean we all criticize guards who dribble too much.