[Post Game] A clear tank job is in full swing

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[Blazinaway]

This team is panning about as expected, looks good some times and gives hope, but simply not enough talent - especially depth, probably win 30 games plus or minus a bit.

 

[BBert]

Starters are learning their roles and relationships in the offense, young players are being evaluated and developed, and we're riding our bench to the lottery. The plan is in full schwing.

 

[craigehlo]

Like pretty much every other Blazer season on recent memory, we have no players that slash and get to the FT line. This team continues to invest lots of money in players that settle for jumpshots. Lillard is the only real hope for that to change, but we need another legit starter that can get to the hole. An upgrade at the SG or SF spots seems to be the logical move.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How long can the starters continue to play 40+ minutes?

With this bench the starters are being ran into the freaking ground.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Though I cheered when Damian came out to start the 2nd quarter. It took 13 minutes of game time for me to see Ronnie's smiling face out there.

 

[BBert]

How long can the starters continue to play 40+ minutes?

With this bench the starters are being ran into the freaking ground.

I agree, and I don't like it. Eventually we really will be in tank mode. I hope our starters are still healthy by then. Please let's not ride our good horses to death, so to speak.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

 

[Nikolokolus]

 

[maxiep]

We're a shit team. We knew it before the season began. Some of the bench players will improve as they adjust to the NBA game (Claver, Freeland and Barton). I'm not sure in two years there will be more than two of the current players on this team.

 

[MARIS61]

We're a shit team. We knew it before the season began. Some of the bench players will improve as they adjust to the NBA game (Claver, Freeland and Barton). I'm not sure in two years there will be more than two of the current players on this team.

As long as their names are Lillard and Leonard, I'm okay with that.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

This team is panning about as expected, looks good some times and gives hope, but simply not enough talent - especially depth, probably win 30 games plus or minus a bit.

This.

we have some talent, but lack both enough quality & quantity to be a playoff team. Also, some of our talent is developing. This was well established before the season started. Why cry about it now? Overall we're making pretty good strides.

 

[Mediocre Man]

How can anyone be upset about this team? Did any of you really think we were going to be any good this year? Portland has probably won 1-2 more games so far this season than their roster should win, so IMO, they are playing better than they should

 

[The_Lillard_King]

How can anyone be upset about this team? Did any of you really think we were going to be any good this year? Portland has probably won 1-2 more games so far this season than their roster should win, so IMO, they are playing better than they should

I didn't think the Blazers were going to be good. But I didn't think they would be the kind of team to lose to an 0-12 team.

It is getting embarrassing.

 

[DaLincolnJones]

I didn't think the Blazers were going to be good. But I didn't think they would be the kind of team to lose to an 0-12 team.

It is getting embarrassing.

I blame Kingspeed...every damn game ho goes to.....bah

 

[Eastoff]

I am disappointed Batum has been faltering in his consistency

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I am disappointed Batum has been faltering in his consistency

I don't want to make excuses for the guy but he has been sick lately. Now some of the greats actually play as well or better sick but Batum is no Jordan.

 

[RoyToy]

I don't want to make excuses for the guy but he has been sick lately. Now some of the greats actually play as well or better sick but Batum is no Jordan.

Lame excuse.

Nic is inconsistent because he basically only shoots jumpers. When your offensive game is primarily jumpers, and not driving to the basket/getting to the line, you're going to be inconsistent. Shit, over half of his FGA alone are 3pt attempts.

He's pretty much still the same player this year as he was under McMillan. The only difference is he's getting more playing time/opportunities.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Lame excuse.

Nic is inconsistent because he basically only shoots jumpers. When your offensive game is primarily jumpers, and not driving to the basket/getting to the line, you're going to be inconsistent. Shit, over half of his FGA alone are 3pt attempts.

He's pretty much still the same player this year as he was under McMillan. The only difference is he's getting more playing time/opportunities.

You could say his play has been lame while sick (which I agree with) but him being sick is not an excuse, it is a fact.

 

[RoyToy]

Yes it is an excuse.

A very lame excuse.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Yes it is an excuse.

A very lame excuse.

Easy to see we are done here. Excuses don't make you sick. Being in fact sick makes you sick. Take care RoyToy.

 

[jlprk]

Being sick might pull down your performance 20% one game, 10% the next, 5% the next and it's over. His performance has been down 80% for a number of games now, so illness is just an excuse.

The reason is that the offense emphasizes Aldridge over him, so it takes extraordinary energy for him to break a play and attack the basket. But Aldridge is good for only one thing, so Stotts has Aldridge shoot.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Being sick might pull down your performance 20% one game, 10% the next, 5% the next and it's over. His performance has been down 80% for a number of games now, so illness is just an excuse.

The reason is that the offense emphasizes Aldridge over him, so it takes extraordinary energy for him to break a play and attack the basket. But Aldridge is good for only one thing, so Stotts has Aldridge shoot.

80% sure seems like a number pulled directly from you know where.

Here is his game log this season:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/batumni01/gamelog/2013/

He has 3 games all year under double-digit points. That is actually pretty good. Blue9 had a nice thread months ago on the OregonLive forum where he showed that Batum is actually one of the more consistent SF's in the league outside of the big 3 in the league (LeBron, Durant if you want to classify him as SF, and Carmelo). People say he hasn't changed and that is true because for the last few years he has already been consistent.

If blue9 happens to see this I hope he will repost the thread.

 

[Hobbesarable]

You may want to try him between 8 am and 5 pm. He said he responds more during work time.

Btw, it's nice seeing you here, Rollin.

 

[jlprk]

I decided he didn't dip enough to argue over it. His efficiency points per minute dropped from great (60+) to good (40-49) to mediocre (25-39) in the 3 games before the Wizards loss (Minnesota, Brooklyn, Detroit). He never dropped to awful, just mediocre, so I will cease and desist since he showed signs of revival in the Wizards game.

Minutes...eff...efficiency points per minute
44.6 18 .40 Washington
37.8 11 .29 Detroit
37.8 12 .32 Brooklyn
36.1 09 .25 Minnesota
32.6 15 .46
38.3 16 .42
46.6 37 .79
33.3 21 .63
40.2 15 .37
39.1 37 .95
40.3 23 .57
35.8 16 .45
44.7 29 .65
36.7 -4 -.11
40.4 27 .67

To get the per minute stat, the above spreadsheet was sourced from

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketbal...yers/nicolas-batum/gamelog/13/25/355/1-1-date

 

[BrianFromWA]

To make sure I have this right, EFF is generally the same range as points, right? 10-15= average night and 35 = great night? So assuming a starter plays 35-40 minutes a night, you're looking at an average night being ~ .3-.4, and a great night being about 1? Is efficiency a cumulative stat like WAR or is it like PER?

 

[jlprk]

Efficiency just adds a player's box score line into one number. Everywhere except ESPN it's defined as

Points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks - turnovers - missed FG - missed FT

I used it so I wouldn't have to indidually compare Batum's games by rebounds, then by points, then by assists, etc. You can do it for one game or cumulatively for many.

Hoopsstats is the best site for efficiency stats examined from every angle, except per minute, so I had to feed its per game eff into a simple little spreadsheet to convert to per minute. The result would be a little close to each player's points if you multiply the eff/min by 48 to get eff/48 min. But I didn't. I just used eff per minute.