Observations

[Scalma]

Good:

Nurkic- Looks more agile.

Dame/CJ- duh

Collins- great feet. Can play PF. Advanced defensively. Love the idea of him next to Nurk.

Swanigan- would fit well with the starters. Ability to stretch the court is huge. Goes after every rebound.

Briscoe- handcuffed yet still made an impact. Gamer. I want him to get a chance to actually run the offense, not just hand off to dumb and dumber.

Bad

Dumb and Dumber- The two idiots from Massachusetts. Jesus Christ. Connaughton can't move. Layman can't shoot. Dumb play after dumb play with the offense running through these two. Biggest reason Phoenix came back.

Aminu/Turner- their jumpers are going to drive everyone crazy again. We'll need Turner on the second unit. I do like his post ups.

 

[Bronzewyrm]

When the 19yr Old out plays you in his first NBA game. Please, for the Love Of $^%, Let that game be the end of meyers. . .I yelled at him more than the entire OKC game today. And now I feel like the girl who got raped, and has to talk about it, in front of the entire graduating class, while being live streamed to the local Church(s)

On a the plus side. not only is biggie a beast, but collins has some grate D. They looked great on the court together tonight. typical rookie stuff yeah. all and all. Im way happy.

Fkn Nards.
Bronze.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Good:

Nurkic- Looks more agile.

Dame/CJ- duh

Collins- great feet. Can play PF. Advanced defensively. Love the idea of him next to Nurk.

Swanigan- would fit well with the starters. Ability to stretch the court is huge. Goes after every rebound.

Briscoe- handcuffed yet still made an impact. Gamer. I want him to get a chance to actually run the offense, not just hand off to dumb and dumber.

Bad

Dumb and Dumber- The two idiots from Massachusetts. Jesus Christ. Connaughton can't move. Layman can't shoot. Dumb play after dumb play with the offense running through these two. Biggest reason Phoenix came back.

Aminu/Turner- their jumpers are going to drive everyone crazy again. We'll need Turner on the second unit. I do like his post ups.

Agreed on the Good and the Dumb and Dumber. I though Aminu was OK - we're deep enough that we don't have to depend on his shooting. Turner's OK, but having him play PG was driving me nuts.

LeonarD was actually good on defense, for once, so I'd add him to the Good.

 

[Scalma]

Agreed on the Good and the Dumb and Dumber. I though Aminu was OK - we're deep enough that we don't have to depend on his shooting. Turner's OK, but having him play PG was driving me nuts.

LeonarD was actually good on defense, for once, so I'd add him to the Good.

Yeah Leonard wasn't bad but even though he wasn't bad, he still got outplayed by a 19 year old making his debut.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah Leonard wasn't bad but even though he wasn't bad, he still got outplayed by a 19 year old making his debut.

Debatable. I thought Leonard played very well in the first half--only thing I wanted was for him to be more aggressive offensively. And though Collins is clearly the more instinctive defender, he also got into foul trouble quickly; plus Leonard has size/strength that Collins can't match yet, and will simply be more effective against stronger centers. Leonard also has a much better command of the team's offensive scheme--as well he should considering the length of his tenure.

I was quite pleased with Meyers today, and only want to see more of that on Thursday. I know he can have good games; now he just needs to do it consistently.

 

[Scalma]

Bender ain't exactly a strongman but thats still a bigger guy that Briscoe moves out the way rather easily.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Turner was garbage tonight. Hoping it was just first game rust.

Swanigan should start at PF. His skill set would mesh seamlessly with big3+Moe.

Layman can give us everything Aminu does, including the crappy outside shooting.

We need a dynamic, aggressive, attacking swingman scorer to come off the bench. A Kevin Martin-type. Someone who believes they can score every time down the court, and can do so in a variety of ways. I'd easily deal Aminu/Vonleh/pick for someone who fits that bill.

 

[Scalma]

Turner was garbage tonight. Hoping it was just first game rust.

Swanigan should start at PF. His skill set would mesh seamlessly with big3+Moe.

Layman can give us everything Aminu does, including the crappy outside shooting.

We need a dynamic, aggressive during swingman to come off the bench. A Kevin Martin-type. Someone who believes they can score every time down the court, and can do so in a variety of ways. I'd easily deal Aminu/Vonleh/pick for someone who fits that bill.

Olshey has to be looking at making a deal before the season. We have a logjam in the front court and a huge hole on the second unit at SG/SF (depending on whatever position Turner is)

 

[The Professional Fan]

I know there's a whole game thread but I'm just now watching the game.

My focus was 100% on Collins.

This fucker can play. He can be massively disruptive as he developes. He and biggie make my pants tight

 

[JDC]

I know there's a whole game thread but I'm just now watching the game.

My focus was 100% on Collins.

This fucker can play. He can be massively disruptive as he developes. He and biggie make my pants tight

Yeah man. It's one game, but I think we might just have our front court of the future. Nurkic and Collins have the potential to be one of the better defensive duos in the league and Biggie gives us a chance at having a dynamic post / dho / pnp option on the floor for Dame and CJ to work off of at all times.

Find this team some legit 3 and D wings and we are starting to look pretty formidable moving forward.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Layman was hot garbage. Most unfortunate.

 

[The Professional Fan]

Yeah man. It's one game, but I think we might just have our front court of the future. Nurkic and Collins have the potential to be one of the better defensive duos in the league and Biggie gives us a chance at having a dynamic post / dho / pnp option on the floor for Dame and CJ to work off of at all times.

Find this team some legit 3 and D wings and we are starting to look pretty formidable moving forward.

3rd Q and and Collins shows me so many glimpses....my interest is 100% piqued. I have more to go but this dude fits

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Olshey has to be looking at making a deal before the season. We have a logjam in the front court and a huge hole on the second unit at SG/SF (depending on whatever position Turner is)

Jordan Crawford would maybe be interesting off the bench. Dude has no conscience when it comes to shooting. We need someone else like that...who is also taller than 6'3".

 

[Sweetriverphil]

The two idiots from Massachusetts is a pretty sweet nickname. I'm still a believer, but I do hope that sticks. Can't wait for the Two Idiots From Massachusetts™ to dominate garbage time against the Hawks or some shit later this year.

 

[The Professional Fan]

The Blazers should not use Stephan A Smith and Skip Bayless in their promo's, EVER

 

[Pinwheel1]

I though Aminu was OK - we're deep enough that we don't have to depend on his shooting. .

But did it keep him from shooting tonight? There are only three players on the team who can hit a 3 from the top. And sadly the 3rd player is Meyers. No one else should ever try. Aminu should not even try from the baseline, but at least from there he as a chance.
Why do players feel like they need to shoot it from there just because they are open?

 

[GDiama]

I don't understand why he used Turner in the first unit. A ball dominant wing that has no shooting range so he cannot wait in the corner for an open 3. He is basically a playmaker that was used in the same line up with another 3 ball dominant players. That was a garbage decision Terry, what's going on inside your head?

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not convinced at all that Pat and Layman can replace Crabbe. Neil still needs another shooter.

 

[theprunetang]

I'm not convinced at all that Pat and Layman can replace Crabbe. Neil still needs another shooter.

I am now completely with you on this. I wonder if Morrow sucks in practice. I figured Stotts would have given him some run.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I disagree with those saying Swanigan should start. I was on that bandwagon too, but with the three leading scorers dominating the ball, and Swanigan's offensive ability, he should come off the bench

 

[BonesJones]

But did it keep him from shooting tonight? There are only three players on the team who can hit a 3 from the top. And sadly the 3rd player is Meyers.

Swanigan?

 

[Scalma]

I am now completely with you on this. I wonder if Morrow sucks in practice. I figured Stotts would have given him some run.

There's a reason why he's bounced around the league so much, and I think we saw a glimpse of why last night. His defense was pretty awful. It's just one game and he barely played, but yikes.

 

[Scalma]

We should've just gotten Troy Daniels dammit.

 

[mook]

Portland really needs to somehow package 1 or 2 of Ed Davis, Vonleh and Leonard for picks or a young wing. There's basically nothing these three guys contribute that can't be done by Swanigan and Collins at a fraction of the price and much more upside.

Swanigan's shot looks so pure. He dropped 18 points in his first NBA experience, and it seemed like everything he shot was nothing but net. I still think Collins is a better fit with our starting lineup because it sets a better defensive tone, but I can see how reasonable people can disagree here.

Turner should never start again while Lillard and CJ are healthy. There's just no point.

The league is sleeping on Nurk/Dame/CJ. Those guys are going to be so damned good this year.

 

[perkinsfor3]

Portland really needs to somehow package 1 or 2 of Ed Davis, Vonleh and Leonard for picks or a young wing. There's basically nothing these three guys contribute that can't be done by Swanigan and Collins at a fraction of the price and much more upside.

Swanigan's shot looks so pure. He dropped 18 points in his first NBA experience, and it seemed like everything he shot was nothing but net. I still think Collins is a better fit with our starting lineup because it sets a better defensive tone, but I can see how reasonable people can disagree here.

Turner should never start again while Lillard and CJ are healthy. There's just no point.

The league is sleeping on Nurk/Dame/CJ. Those guys are going to be so damned good this year.

Last season I really wanted the Blazers to bring in McLemore. I think Dame and CJ's character might rub off on Ben, and he really needs some confidence. Got the tools and talent, its mostly mental with him. And a nasty injury now, so good thing he didn't sign here.

What kind of wing would you be looking at? Fournier or Hezonja?

 

[Sinobas]

I know there's a whole game thread but I'm just now watching the game.

My focus was 100% on Collins.

This fucker can play. He can be massively disruptive as he developes. He and biggie make my pants tight

I did too, I watched Collins the whole time he was in. I made a comment in the game tread that he reminded me of a 7-1 Andre Kirelenko. So quick, instinctive, long arms. And he's also a very good shooter, but we haven't been able to see that much in games. He definitely has star potential, just 19. I was a bit annoyed that some idiots in the game thread just wanted to talk about punching him in the face.. WTF

I also keyed in on Leonard. Leonard wasn't bad, but he still seemed tenative, over thinking...the contrast to Collins was noticeable.

 

[Sinobas]

I don't understand why he used Turner in the first unit. A ball dominant wing that has no shooting range so he cannot wait in the corner for an open 3. He is basically a playmaker that was used in the same line up with another 3 ball dominant players. That was a garbage decision Terry, what's going on inside your head?

I think he's just experimenting. Harkless is a better fit in the starting lineup, he's just a better player period. Evan is just not a good player. His shot sucks, he's not even that good at taking it to the hoop. He's decent defender, he's an ok ball handler and passer, but he can't run the point. I call him the Mason Plumlee of SFs.

What a terrible signing. His 18 million dollar contract is going to make it very hard for this team to have any kind of depth aside from rookies and guys getting the minimum.

 

[GrandJury]

Crabbe will be missed more than ppl think. He was automatic from 3point range and the SF shooter this team needs

 

[0-Our!]

Turner was garbage tonight. Hoping it was just first game rust.

Swanigan should start at PF. His skill set would mesh seamlessly with big3+Moe.

Layman can give us everything Aminu does, including the crappy outside shooting.

We need a dynamic, aggressive, attacking swingman scorer to come off the bench. A Kevin Martin-type. Someone who believes they can score every time down the court, and can do so in a variety of ways. I'd easily deal Aminu/Vonleh/pick for someone who fits that bill.

I agree w/ pretty much everything u said ^ but I'd change some of the players offered: some combo of Layman/Aminu/Mild LeoTARD/pick for the 1 we seek.

I like Layman but he's a shooter not hitting shots & IF we can package him up w/ other assets to get the consistent guy we need... I wish him well w/ the rest of his career elsewhere.

Aminu's painful to watch. ENOUGH... he needs to leave.

As for Mild LeoTARD... this summer/his trainer paid off; he increased his trade value!

 

[illmatic99]

I disagree with those saying Swanigan should start. I was on that bandwagon too, but with the three leading scorers dominating the ball, and Swanigan's offensive ability, he should come off the bench

Agreed, I'd start Collins. He looks really mobile-- I like the combo with Nurk and Hark.

Start Dame/CJ/Moe/Collins/Nurk
off bench: Turner/Aminu/Caleb/Davis

The lack of wing shooter off the bench is glaring.