Need to put Melo in the starting five

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Instead of Derrick Jones Jr. I understand that he's supposed to give us defense but the starting unit right now sucks at both ends of the floor, at least with Melo we'll have the offensive firepower to battle our defensive shortcomings.
Also, I think DJJ is better suited to come of the bench than Melo. Melo with the bench takes every shot he sees, with Dame and CJ he at least considers passing.
All in all, I think we should put our strongest lineup on the floor to start the game and that to me is Dame, CJ, Melo, Covington and Nurkic.

 

[Mr. Robot]

1.) its preseason
2.) terry stotts is trying to implement a new defensive scheme and that requires time for players to gel and get used to new scheme (shortened training camp and preseason is not helping at all)
3.) we need to give it a chance and be patient (it might not work, but we know for sure old scheme was not working)
4.) you can always make changes later if things doesnt go as planned and you think theres no more time to lose

blazers have enough firepower with dame, cj mccollum, nurk, covington and djj, but what they need is more defense and thats why they brought covington and djj

 

[Rastapopoulos]

You need to change your name for this

 

[tester551]

I have a more simple solution... just cut Melo from the team

 

[blazerkor]

I have a more simple solution... just cut Melo from the team

If him, Terry and Dame are all cool with him being nothing more than instant offense off the bench getting less than 15 minutes per game and a mentor/extra coach on the bench and in practices... I'm cool with him being on the team, otherwise (and I believe it is otherwise) I'm with you.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

You need to change your name for this

Why? Wouldn't getting Melo off the second team benefit Trent greatly?

 

[Pinwheel1]

You need to change your name for this

I assume you mean start Trent? Yeah If you want more offense you could start Hood or Trent at SF.

 

[Hoopguru]

If him, Terry and Dame are all cool with him being nothing more than instant offense off the bench getting less than 15 minutes per game and a mentor/extra coach on the bench and in practices... I'm cool with him being on the team, otherwise (and I believe it is otherwise) I'm with you.

My concern is he wont always be instant O but instant ball hog and not get others involved. If they can get him to lead the second unit units with a splash of O great. Sure if he's on fire maybe let him go some but the goal should always be to play team ball. Just my opinion. I like Melo and but we all know what its like to play with a ball hog just because he thinks he should be.

 

[TBpup]

Melo and CJ both in the starting lineup....our defense will be the same botched train wreck that is was last year.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Melo needs to start








....preparing for retirement

 

[julius]

Maybe wait to see how the team gells before they make a big change?

 

[bobf]

Instead of Derrick Jones Jr. I understand that he's supposed to give us defense but the starting unit right now sucks at both ends of the floor, at least with Melo we'll have the offensive firepower to battle our defensive shortcomings.
Also, I think DJJ is better suited to come of the bench than Melo. Melo with the bench takes every shot he sees, with Dame and CJ he at least considers passing.
All in all, I think we should put our strongest lineup on the floor to start the game and that to me is Dame, CJ, Melo, Covington and Nurkic.

Melo doesn't have offensive fire power. He's a low percentage shot machine with poor defense.

 

[bobf]

I have a more simple solution... just cut Melo from the team

I agree. Melo looks like he has good offense because he can get up a nice looking shot at will. It just doesn't go in enough. On top of that it's a form of offense that stagnates the team -- first offensively and then defensively. Plus he's not good defensively. Plus it keeps us from developing other players who just might have an upside. It's a lose lose lose situation.

 

[James lamphear]

1.) its preseason
2.) terry stotts is trying to implement a new defensive scheme and that requires time for players to gel and get used to new scheme (shortened training camp and preseason is not helping at all)
3.) we need to give it a chance and be patient (it might not work, but we know for sure old scheme was not working)
4.) you can always make changes later if things doesnt go as planned and you think theres no more time to lose

blazers have enough firepower with dame, cj mccollum, nurk, covington and djj, but what they need is more defense and thats why they brought covington and djj

I already thinks Stotts has run out patient with his new defense I will give it 10 games when we start seeing the old defense scheme will his primary defense.

 

[B-Roy]

Need to put Melo in a retirement home*

 

[LayneStaley]

Melo will play 23-25 min per game, for every game he helps us win he will cost us 2. These are my Melo predictions.

 

[blazerkor]

Melo will play 23-25 min per game, for every game he helps us win he will cost us 2. These are my Melo predictions.

I hope you're wrong and all we use him as is instant offense when we have a slump or are coming out of a time out with a short clock. So I'm hoping for around 15 minutes per game but I doubt that happens with what I'm hearing from Stotts and Dame... your prediction seems right on even if it's not my preferred reality it will likely be the reality I'll need to get used to.

 

[THE HCP]

Please Merge

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Melo doesn't have offensive fire power. He's a low percentage shot machine with poor defense.

I don't know if this is supported by statistics, and I know Melo built his reputation on mid range shooting, but it seems to me that lately he looks best as a spot up three shooter. That would imply that he needs someone on the court with him who drives and kicks. (I don't want to think about the implication of this....)

 

[bobf]

Melo's three-point shooting was effective last year, but running your offense through Melo means his two-point shots must be a threat. Here are various TS% on two-point shots. To give maximum benefit of the doubt to Melo's two-pointers, I included all FT points in the TS%:
50.6% Melo (last year)
52.6% CJ McCollum (last year)
52.7% Evan Turner (last year as a Blazer)
56.8% Lamarcus Aldridge (last year)
57.2% Portland Trailblazers (last year)
63.7% Chris Paul (last year)

In his prime Melo took almost 50% of his two-pointers from 0-3 feet where he is most effective. Last year that was down to 27%. He can't bully-ball like he used to.

 

[blazerkor]

Melo's three-point shooting was effective last year, but running your offense through Melo means his two-point shots must be a threat. Here are various TS% on two-point shots. To give maximum benefit of the doubt to Melo's two-pointers, I included all FT points in the TS%:
50.6% Melo (last year)
52.6% CJ McCollum (last year)
52.7% Evan Turner (last year as a Blazer)
56.8% Lamarcus Aldridge (last year)
57.2% Portland Trailblazers (last year)
63.7% Chris Paul (last year)

In his prime Melo took almost 50% of his two-pointers from 0-3 feet where he is most effective. Last year that was down to 27%. He can't bully-ball like he used to.

Oh he didn't used to bully ball it was a lot more than that. He was so damn quick that he would maybe back down his defender for a second and then pivot and blow by them for an easy hoop. For a while there Melo was the most dangerous scoring threat in the half court, in the league. That quickness made guys back off of him and then he'd just turn around and bury an easy jumper that he no longer gets because the quickness is gone.

 

[bobf]

Oh he didn't used to bully ball it was a lot more than that. He was so damn quick that he would maybe back down his defender for a second and then pivot and blow by them for an easy hoop. For a while there Melo was the most dangerous scoring threat in the half court, in the league. That quickness made guys back off of him and then he'd just turn around and bury an easy jumper that he no longer gets because the quickness is gone.

Well yeah I didn't mean that all he did was bully ball. He was quick but he was also physical bodying his guy back and using his strength to finish or get the put back.

 

[blazerkor]

Well yeah I didn't mean that all he did was bully ball. He was quick but he was also physical bodying his guy back and using his strength to finish or get the put back.

Yeah his scoring was virtually unstoppable. One thing I'll never forget about Melo was his tourney performance in 2003. I don't think I've seen a more dominant NCAA Tournament performance by a freshman in all of the years I've been watching ball. Melo could be quite the tool this season if we just use him right and he can wrap his head around his role.

Edit: I meant tool in a good way but I guess he could be one in the bad way too if he doesn't embrace his role the right way.

 

[bobf]

Yeah his scoring was virtually unstoppable. One thing I'll never forget about Melo was his tourney performance in 2003. I don't think I've seen a more dominant NCAA Tournament performance by a freshman in all of the years I've been watching ball. Melo could be quite the tool this season if we just use him right and he can wrap his head around his role.

Edit: I meant tool in a good way but I guess he could be one in the bad way too if he doesn't embrace his role the right way.

Nice... I see the full game is available on YouTube I'll watch it.

 

[tester551]

I have a more simple solution... just cut Melo from the team

Bump!

 

[Orion Bailey]

Id be for this. Spread out our iso players. kanter, cj and melo on the court at the same time is a disaster.