Portland needs to add a go-to player

[RonBrewer]

Find a way to get into the draft and get Buddy Hield. I think he's going to be a superstar

 

[rasheedfan2005]

I slept on this and I disagree. We dont need more iso. We need to go back to team ball. Move, screen, and pass.

 

[jlprk]

We need players who don't suck.

 

[oldmangrouch]

We need players who don't suck.

I knew we forgot something!

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

If that is the true sense of the word then there are only about 10-15 go to guys in the league and not even enough for one for every team.

I think the argument KJ and I are making, is each team has a go to guy. Whether he is a TRUE NBA go to go or not is irrelevant because said team only has X players and none of them are NBA go to guys. But the team still has a go to guy. Every team does. Whether they fit the true sense of the definition or not. Whether we were trying to put a square peg into a round hole or not, he was still our go to player.
You may be right about his situation with the Spurs now, but yes. LMA was our go to player.

There are many players in the league that don't fit this NBA "go to" definition, but are still their respective team's "go to" player.

True. There isn't enough go to players hence why we have a handful of teams that are absolutely pathetic and a watered down league. I won't argue the point, but I'd argue mislabeling someone as a go to guy when they aren't... means not every team has one. Every team could say they have a sharpshooter...doesn't make it true.

I understand the argument you are making --- and it is still wrong in the sense that if each team has one go to guy -- the guy that they want the ball to go to with the game on the line... the Spurs is still Kawhi Leonard; thus LMA is not the Spurs go to player.

I never said he wasn't the go to player for the Blazers. I said he was a poor one for the Blazers and he isn't currently the go to player for the Spurs. Not sure what there is to dispute. I also believe he doesn't fit the billing to be a go to player because he can't create his own shot, which is almost imperative.

I stated the Spurs gave him a max contract to be second fiddle as well now that I think about it because (Kingspeed possibly) made a comment about it.

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

You seem to forget something....You are talking about the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have a second unit that would make the playoffs. Did you watch the game last night? I'm betting not. In the last 6 mins of the game LMA had 6 points 3 rebounds and a blocked shot. He got 4 of his points at the free throw line because the Spurs were running their offense through him and he drew the foul. He also commanded the double over and over again all night which he passed out of and created good shots for the offense. This happened again and again just like he used to do when he played here. If you do not double Aldridge he will burn you. Simple as that!
Now LMA got a double with 16 and 10 with a couple blocks and assists. Led the team in rebounding but of course you understand the entire Spurs team rebounds so that does not happen all the time. Leonard did if fact lead the team in scoring with 32 and was a huge factor in this and every game they play. Blocks, steals, rebounds, assists. Leonard is a great player no question. No body is taking anything away from him. The biggest point is so is Diaw/Duncan/ Parker/West/Green/Ginobili as well as LaMarcus Aldridge. Last night at the end of the game when the Spurs were behind they went to LaMarcus Aldridge over and over again. I don't care what you think a "Go To Guy" or an "Impact Guy" is. Last night when the game was on the line Greg Popovich went to LaMarcus Aldridge. Sorry but in this instance i'm taking exactly what i see and calling it Truth!

You're telling me the Spurs 'go to player' put up 16/10/1 on 10 shots when there was someone else they were clearly trying to get shots for...which is evidenced by the 22 shots for Kawhi Leonard and the 32/7/1 line.

LMA also had 2 points vs Kawhi 7 points in the last 4 minutes of the 4th. I'm really struggling to see the notion of LMA being Spurs go to player man.

 

[kjironman1]

You're telling me the Spurs 'go to player' put up 16/10/1 on 10 shots when there was someone else they were clearly trying to get shots for...which is evidenced by the 22 shots for Kawhi Leonard and the 32/7/1 line.

LMA also had 2 points vs Kawhi 7 points in the last 4 minutes of the 4th. I'm really struggling to see the notion of LMA being Spurs go to player man.

No look again. LMA had 6. 4 at the foul line because they kept going to him yes. That is because he was the Go To guy on 4 different plays that Pop called in the last 6 mins of the game. Give it up. The point has been made that you are talking about the Spurs. You don't seem to get it. There are 29 other teams in the NBA. By your definition there are like 20 teams that don't have a player they go to to get a score. Peace man have a nice night. Blazers won!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'm off the DeRozen bandwagon.

Indiana is forcing him to shoot and it aint pretty.

It's like watching Aminu.

 

[BBert]

I'm off the DeRozen bandwagon.

Indiana is forcing him to shoot and it aint pretty.

It's like watching Aminu.

Yeah DeRozen is not what we need.

 

[Natebishop3]

If there was some way to get Jabari Parker from Milwaukee.... that dude would be PERFECT as our power forward.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I like Parker but he would at least cost CJ. I think Neil's goal here is to surround Dame/CJ with talent.

Our best bet is through free agency. Maybe not a go-to guy but just a consistent scorer would do wonders.

KD is a pipedream. DeRozen's outside shot makes Aminu look decent.

The most realistic target IMO should be Evan Fournier -- 15 ppg | 40 3p% (six attempts per) | 23 years old

Ryan Anderson would be my backup plan. Keeping an eye on the future I'd find a way to trade into the mid-first to land Jonathan Jeanne. Also, I'd see what OKC would want (sans CJ/Dame/Plumlee) for Kanter.

 

[Scalma]

Yeah DeRozen is not what we need.

Yeah why would we want a guy that gets to the line consistently?

 

[Sinobas]

Imagine Ryan Anderson getting all the looks in this offense that Aminu does.

Ironically, both Anderson and Aminu shot 36% from 3 this year. Not sure what to make of that, but I think maybe it's because Aminu gets more open looks. Do you really thing RA would be averaging 1-7 on wide stinking open 3s this series?

Looks like Derozen is having a bad shooting series. But he shot 33% from 3 last year which is ok. But his biggest strength is getting to the FT line (8 attempts per game). Aminu can't penetrate at all.

 

[BBert]

Yeah why would we want a guy that gets to the line consistently?

My impression of his game is that, other than drawing a high rate of foul shots, he is a high usage low efficiency shooter who has to have the ball, a lot. We already have two guards who have to have the ball a lot, who are very good shooters. My only concern is him taking the ball away from Dame and CJ. Now if he wants to replace Henderson and come off the bench, that would be awesome!

I get maybe CJ should be the one coming off the bench. I just see chemistry and "flow" problems ahead.

 

[kjironman1]

If Harkless ever learns to shoot the ball from further than 3 feet out he will become a very big threat.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like Parker but he would at least cost CJ. I think Neil's goal here is to surround Dame/CJ with talent.

Our best bet is through free agency. Maybe not a go-to guy but just a consistent scorer would do wonders.

KD is a pipedream. DeRozen's outside shot makes Aminu look decent.

The most realistic target IMO should be Evan Fournier -- 15 ppg | 40 3p% (six attempts per) | 23 years old

Ryan Anderson would be my backup plan. Keeping an eye on the future I'd find a way to trade into the mid-first to land Jonathan Jeanne. Also, I'd see what OKC would want (sans CJ/Dame/Plumlee) for Kanter.

I actually like Anderson. He'd fit in seamlessly on offense.

 

[mook]

I disagree that we need a third go-to player. We've got two, what we need is an elite defender/three point shooter. I don't know who that guy is, but we need him.

Deron Williams has been shut down for the year. I wonder if Dirk surprised everybody and retired, would Wes Matthews be available? Eh, he's kind of sucked I guess since the Achilles. The price probably isn't worth it.

Maybe we just need CJ and Dame to spend all summer with Hark and Aminu trying to get them to become elite shooters.

 

[Blazer Freak]

While we don't need a "go-to" star like LA, we definitely need someone who is at least a threat at the PF position.

I like Nate's suggestion of Jabari, that type of player slid for perfect on our roster and with the future of the NBA. The cost, however, is likely too high.

The guy I've been saying would be a great fit would be Paul Millsap. Great range, character, good on D, and best of all doesn't always need the ball to be effective.

 

[Natebishop3]

While we don't need a "go-to" star like LA, we definitely need someone who is at least a threat at the PF position.

I like Nate's suggestion of Jabari, that type of player slid for perfect on our roster and with the future of the NBA. The cost, however, is likely too high.

The guy I've been saying would be a great fit would be Paul Millsap. Great range, character, good on D, and best of all doesn't always need the ball to be effective.

Maybe ATL will blow it up if Horford leaves?

 

[BigGameDamian]

Find a way to get into the draft and get Buddy Hield. I think he's going to be a superstar

Every draft has a player you can say find a way into the draft and get him. The Blazers need to go after more veterans now.

 

[kjironman1]

I disagree that we need a third go-to player. We've got two, what we need is an elite defender/three point shooter. I don't know who that guy is, but we need him.

Deron Williams has been shut down for the year. I wonder if Dirk surprised everybody and retired, would Wes Matthews be available? Eh, he's kind of sucked I guess since the Achilles. The price probably isn't worth it.

Maybe we just need CJ and Dame to spend all summer with Hark and Aminu trying to get them to become elite shooters.

We might already have him in Pat Con. He is a shooter and he plays defense. Raw but coming along nicely.

 

[blue9]

We might already have him in Pat Con. He is a shooter and he plays defense. Raw but coming along nicely.

I can't wait to see him next season. In the few games he's played during the late season I was quite impressed by him.

If we consider this year's starting unit to be Dame/CJ/Aminu/Vonleh/Plumlee then I think we need two new starters at SF/PF/C - replace two of the three and the 3rd guy will be fine.

Barnes and Ibaka? Keep Plumlee.
Barnes and Sanders/DMC? Keep Vonleh.
Ibaka and Saners/DMC? Keep Aminu (although I'd actually go with Harkless).

 

[BBert]

Maybe we just need CJ and Dame to spend all summer with Hark and Aminu trying to get them to become elite shooters.

We definitely need this.

Not everyone can "learn" to become a good shooter. I feel like with Aminu (and Plumlee) WYSIWYG.

But with Harkless, I think he could improve, a lot. I'm very excited about Mo's potential.

 

[BBert]

We might already have him in Pat Con. He is a shooter and he plays defense. Raw but coming along nicely.

Pat has been such an afterthought. When he did get into the games at the end of the season, he looked GOOD.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He should be the primary target.

 

[Orion Bailey]

My impression of his game is that, other than drawing a high rate of foul shots, he is a high usage low efficiency shooter who has to have the ball, a lot. We already have two guards who have to have the ball a lot, who are very good shooters. My only concern is him taking the ball away from Dame and CJ. Now if he wants to replace Henderson and come off the bench, that would be awesome!

I get maybe CJ should be the one coming off the bench. I just see chemistry and "flow" problems ahead.

In my scenario, he would be our 6th man.

 

[kjironman1]

You're telling me the Spurs 'go to player' put up 16/10/1 on 10 shots when there was someone else they were clearly trying to get shots for...which is evidenced by the 22 shots for Kawhi Leonard and the 32/7/1 line.

LMA also had 2 points vs Kawhi 7 points in the last 4 minutes of the 4th. I'm really struggling to see the notion of LMA being Spurs go to player man.

So would you like to continue this conversation now?
http://stats.oregonlive.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2016043024&home=24&vis=25&final=true
Player Pos Min FGM-FGA FTM-FTA 3PM-3PA +/- OR Reb A Blk Stl TO PF Pts
L. Aldridge F 29:32 18-23 1-1 1-1 +30 1 6 1 2 0 2 1 38

 

[BBert]

How about the new and improved 2016-2017 Maurice Harkless? We won't really know until the unveiling next fall, but I'm anxious to see next year's model.

 

[TBpup]

Regardless of who it is, they need another guy who can consistently step up. It wasn't until part way through the 2nd quarter in Game 6 before anyone besides Dame/CJ made a shot outside of 2'. The misses from outside of that were brutal which is why the crowd inside the Rose Garden (Moda is no longer even in Oregon so that's out) was so nervous and not very loud. You could feel the apprehension because it was so obvious in most of the players.

 

[kjironman1]

How about the new and improved 2016-2017 Maurice Harkless? We won't really know until the unveiling next fall, but I'm anxious to see next year's model.

Kid is young and could really become a good player.