Official 2018-2019 training camp thread

[Hoopguru]

Lol. That one video convinced you he's a "slasher"?

Yeah, only if his name was Jack.

Well, for sure he's not 100% pure slasher, but he does look for and can get to the hoop for easy lay-ins or dunks.
I know he's mainly known for his shooting, but he moves very well without the ball and seems comfortable looking for seams and off the dribble.
We can call him Slashkus!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Thought experiment:

Whatever role and minutes Stotts has planned for Evan Turner this coming season: take that, and replace Evan Turner entirely with Wade Baldwin. Would we be worse off?
Yes, I realize this means Baldwin guarding SFs some of the time. So?

 

[dviss1]

Well, for sure he's not 100% pure slasher, but he does look for and can get to the hoop for easy lay-ins or dunks.
I know he's mainly known for his shooting, but he moves very well without the ball and seems comfortable looking for seams and off the dribble.
We can call him Slashkus!

YouTube videos don't tell the true story. He's in no way a slasher.

 

[Hoopguru]

YouTube videos don't tell the true story. He's in no way a slasher.

Since you are a round ball junkie and official, I'll consider you may be right on this one.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Since you are a round ball junkie and official, I'll consider you may be right on this one.

Slasher is kind of an awkward term in my opinion. Like are you good at coming off of screens and diving to the basket? Can you dunk?
Sure Stauskus has at least a limited ability to do those things, but is that really his game? I’d say no. His game at least offensively is shooter with the ability to put the ball on the floor and has two to three dribbles of either going to the paint or take a step in and hit a shot.
Overall though he hasn’t proved to be very good at any of it.

 

[Scalma]

YouTube videos don't tell the true story. He's in no way a slasher.

Stauskas got to the line about 6 times a game his last year in college, which to me is a staple when talking about “slashers.”

Even if you look at his NBA stats, he gets to the line more (per/36) than all the other wings on the roster (Harkless, Turner, Aminu, and Layman.)

And he did that without the freedom he’s about to receive in Portland.

 

[Hoopguru]

Slasher is kind of an awkward term in my opinion. Like are you good at coming off of screens and diving to the basket? Can you dunk?
Sure Stauskus has at least a limited ability to do those things, but is that really his game? I’d say no. His game at least offensively is shooter with the ability to put the ball on the floor and has two to three dribbles of either going to the paint or take a step in and hit a shot.
Overall though he hasn’t proved to be very good at any of it.

He definitely need to improve and be more consistent.
I read an article where he was compared growth wise to JJ Reddick as it took him 6 years to become consistent and effective.

 

[dviss1]

Stauskas got to the line about 6 times a game his last year in college, which to me is a staple when talking about “slashers.”

Even if you look at his NBA stats, he gets to the line more (per/36) than all the other wings on the roster (Harkless, Turner, Aminu, and Layman.)

And he did that without the freedom he’s about to receive in Portland.

You're really gonna hang your hat on a career average of 1.4 attempts per game?

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Stauskas got to the line about 6 times a game his last year in college, which to me is a staple when talking about “slashers.”

Even if you look at his NBA stats, he gets to the line more (per/36) than all the other wings on the roster (Harkless, Turner, Aminu, and Layman.)

And he did that without the freedom he’s about to receive in Portland.

What kind of freedom do you think he'll get here?
I don't really think of the Blazers offense as giving guys freedom. Except the few like 'ball' handlers, like Dame, ET, CJ, (bazz last year). I expect Stauskus to be kind of set up in a corner and maybe go to the basket once in a while...

 

[Scalma]

You're really gonna hang your hat on a career average of 1.4 attempts per game?

His career average is 2.3 attempts a game per/36. That’s identical to Moe’s career average.

Stauskas also came into the league with a reputation of being able to get to the line.

Now in Portland he’s probably going to get a chance to create more, something Neil has already hinted at.

 

[Scalma]

What kind of freedom do you think he'll get here?
I don't really think of the Blazers offense as giving guys freedom. Except the few like 'ball' handlers, like Dame, ET, CJ, (bazz last year). I expect Stauskus to be kind of set up in a corner and maybe go to the basket once in a while...

There’s a reason why guys like Connaughton, Moe, and Aminu didnt have the ball in their hands. It’s because they’re not ballhandlers. Stauskas can handle the ball. He can operate a pick and roll. He can pass. He doesn’t really turn the ball over. I think there’s an assumption here that he’s just going to stand in the corner and wait for the ball to come to him, but that’s not his game, that’s never been his game. It’s the box he was put into earlier in his career.

Now is he going to break out in Portland? I don’t know, but for the first time in his career, I think he’ll get the opportunity to fail at his own game.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

There’s a reason why guys like Connaughton, Moe, and Aminu didnt have the ball in their hands. It’s because they’re not ballhandlers. Stauskas can handle the ball. He can operate a pick and roll. He can pass. He doesn’t really turn the ball over. I think there’s an assumption here that he’s just going to stand in the corner and wait for the ball to come to him, but that’s not his game, that’s never been his game. It’s the box he was put into earlier in his career.

Now is he going to break out in Portland? I don’t know, but for the first time in his career, I think he’ll get the opportunity to fail at his own game.

I think he was put into that box because he wasn't very good though... Moe can take the ball to the hole, in fact good moe at the end of the year became much better at using his dribble to attack.
Maybe Stauskus comes to Portland and looks like a good player, we'll see.

 

[Scalma]

I think he was put into that box because he wasn't very good though... Moe can take the ball to the hole, in fact good moe at the end of the year became much better at using his dribble to attack.
Maybe Stauskus comes to Portland and looks like a good player, we'll see.

He can take it to the hole yet gets to the line at the same rate as Stauskas? So either he’s not very good at attacking the basket, or Stauskas’ abilities are being overlooked.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

He can take it to the hole yet gets to the line at the same rate as Stauskas? So either he’s not very good at attacking the basket, or Stauskas’ abilities are being overlooked.

I get there may be some correlation of going to the hole and amount of foul shots taken, but it's hard to say what the cause is. It could be a lot of different things.

 

[Scalma]

I get there may be some correlation of going to the hole and amount of foul shots taken, but it's hard to say what the cause is. It could be a lot of different things.

Yeah I’m not even saying Stauskas is a James Harden, I just didn’t agree with him not being able to slash.

 

[BigGameDame]

 

[Reep]

Major shrinkage. CJ does understand this is NOT how Gervin got his nickname?

I have done my share of ice baths (marathoning). Not a lot of fun, but very effective.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Major shrinkage. CJ does understand this is NOT how Gervin got his nickname?

I have done my share of ice baths (marathoning). Not a lot of fun, but very effective.

I love em! Especially when I was working out all the time ice baths, or like freezing cold showers so amazing...

 

[Reep]

Don't really want to start a new thread.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...oenix-suns-cj-mccollum-portland-trail-blazers

Can't see any package that works. Clearly they aren't trading Ayton. Bridges isn't enough without more. They do have Chandler's expiring contract.

I would almost like to see this as it would likely be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA.

 

[Scalma]

Don't really want to start a new thread.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...oenix-suns-cj-mccollum-portland-trail-blazers

Can't see any package that works. Clearly they aren't trading Ayton. Bridges isn't enough without more. They do have Chandler's expiring contract.

I would almost like to see this as it would likely be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA.

Olshey would never but I’d do it for Chandler, Jackson, Okobo, and a pick.

 

[Reep]

Olshey would never but I’d do it for Chandler, Jackson, Okobo, and a pick.

I guess a lot of it depends on how much hope you have for Josh Jackson. His transition to the league has not been great, but he is somewhat young still. Agree that I can't see Olshey taking the chance--unless Blazers flounder in the first half of the season.

 

[BigGameDame]

Olshey would never but I’d do it for Chandler, Jackson, Okobo, and a pick.

Phoenix would have to take Turner in any package for Dame.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Don't really want to start a new thread.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...oenix-suns-cj-mccollum-portland-trail-blazers

Can't see any package that works. Clearly they aren't trading Ayton. Bridges isn't enough without more. They do have Chandler's expiring contract.

I would almost like to see this as it would likely be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA.

PHO needs a PG. C.J. is not a PG.

BNM

 

[Propagandist]

Don't really want to start a new thread.

https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/8/...oenix-suns-cj-mccollum-portland-trail-blazers

Can't see any package that works. Clearly they aren't trading Ayton. Bridges isn't enough without more. They do have Chandler's expiring contract.

I would almost like to see this as it would likely be the worst defensive backcourt in the NBA.

***Epic quote alert***: "The Blazers may be clinging onto the facade of last season’s 3-seed..." Painfully well put.

 

[Hoopguru]

***Epic quote alert***: "The Blazers may be clinging onto the facade of last season’s 3-seed..." Painfully well put.

I don't think Dame and team would say they are clinging to anything or wearing some facade.

 

[Scalma]

Phoenix would have to take Turner in any package for Dame.

Who said anything about Dame

 

[BonesJones]

***Epic quote alert***: "The Blazers may be clinging onto the facade of last season’s 3-seed..." Painfully well put.

Of course that's something BlazersEdge would say. Sheesh.

It ain't a facade. It might be harder to do given the circumstances but how is it a "facade"...

 

[BonesJones]

I guess a lot of it depends on how much hope you have for Josh Jackson. His transition to the league has not been great, but he is somewhat young still. Agree that I can't see Olshey taking the chance--unless Blazers flounder in the first half of the season.

JJ is also a POS human, based on some of the stuff he's done...

 

[Propagandist]

Of course that's something BlazersEdge would say. Sheesh.

It ain't a facade. It might be harder to do given the circumstances but how is it a "facade"...

BlazersEdge quoted Danny Chau of The Ringer. (I personally think BlazersEdge sucks ass.)

The better question is how is it not a facade? Do you feel that we are a 3 seed team? Right now? No. No one does and I think that's the point. I mean, Houston had the best record in the league last season and look at the shit they've done. We're clinging to it; he's right.

 

[BigGameDame]

I don't think it's just the Blazers and Suns. I think Phoenix may be asking Portland to be a third to a bigger mystery trade. Would CJ fit on the Boston Celtics so the Sun's could get Rozier?