Skal Should Get More Playing Time

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mook said:
Listening to the Locked On Blazers podcast, it sounds like Skal really doesn't know the playbook very well from the PF position, and so starting him was...a non-starter.
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I don't see how thats the case for a few reasons. The PF has far less responsibility in our offense than the C, and he's been here since the deadline last year... A lot of our sets are flippable making the PF/C distinction irrelevant. Also, that doesnt explain why Tolliver has played some C minutes over Skal.
 
mook said:
Listening to the Locked On Blazers podcast, it sounds like Skal really doesn't know the playbook very well from the PF position, and so starting him was...a non-starter.
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Skal has potential, but he is lost out there at times and his defense and setting screens still needs lots of work as well to really be effective. I trust Stotts and his staff a lot more than posters who live on a forum.
 
Per/36 through 4 games

22.6 PPG
15.4 RPG
2.1 BPG

23 years old, but not that inexperienced that he should be eased into playing time. There’s no reason why Tolliver should be getting twice the minutes, I don’t care about any defensive lapses. Only way he’s gonna grow is by playing, and tbh he’s a more polished offensive player than Collins imo.
 
Skal is a bench mob player and in my view will be one all season.
 
Skal is such a slow reactor on both ends.

Can finish plays and has nice shooting touch, but on the whole his production outweighs his actual impact.

Once Tolliver finds his shooting touch and Zach and Pau are back, there will be no reason to play him.
 
Didn't mention Skal was "MVP of training camp" or that he has the 3rd highest PER on the team.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
Didn't mention Skal was "MVP of training camp" or that he has the 3rd highest PER on the team.
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I like Skal but in perspective, Dame said Biggie looked NBA ready and had a great rookie training camp....and said that about TRob as well....same with Ed Davis...all 3 are no longer Blazers. Skal is going to have to learn the PF position to keep in the rotation when Nurk, Zach and Pau get back ...he's going to have the role Zach had last season
 
riverman said:
I like Skal but in perspective, Dame said Biggie looked NBA ready and had a great rookie training camp....and said that about TRob as well....same with Ed Davis...all 3 are no longer Blazers. Skal is going to have to learn the PF position to keep in the rotation when Nurk, Zach and Pau get back ...he's going to have the role Zach had last season
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You seem pretty occupied with making sure to let everyone know what Skal will or won’t be. Why?
 
Scalma said:
You seem pretty occupied with making sure to let everyone know what Skal will or won’t be. Why?
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Me? That's rich! I didn't start this thread or a podcast about Skal...you've started a few Skal threads haven't you? I like Skal and give him props ….and I offered my opinion on his rotation situation...if you're looking for someone to agree with you that he's our starting PF....I'm sure someone will but from what I've read, you've posted more about the guy than any forum member....If I were that occupied with it, I'd be starting these threads and podcasts and arguing in every game thread about it...I'm not. I think you have an issue with me supporting Tolliver as a guy who can contribute....and that because I can cheer for Tolliver I must hate Skal….couldn't be futher from the truth but it's my opinion...
 
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He has shown promise but is soft IMHO. Mason Plumlee destroyed him on fakes on two low post possessions (and Mason ain't exactly known for his footwork). This team has too many nice guys. Two players with 'tude, Nurk and Zach, are hurt. The Blazers aren't tough enough. Whitesides needs to bring it more and get vicious.
 
riverman said:
Me? That's rich! I didn't start this thread or a podcast about Skal...you've started a few Skal threads haven't you? I like Skal and give him props ….and I offered my opinion on his rotation situation...if you're looking for someone to agree with you that he's our starting PF....I'm sure someone will but from what I've read, you've posted more about the guy than any forum member....If I were that occupied with it, I'd be starting these threads and podcasts and arguing in every game thread about it...I'm not. I think you have an issue with me supporting Tolliver as a guy who can contribute....and that because I can cheer for Tolliver I must hate Skal….couldn't be futher from the truth but it's my opinion...
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I literally haven’t started one podcast or thread about Skal. But I’m invested in him because I like him. Where did I deny that? You keep posting about he’s not this and he’s not that like you have some investment in him as well.

Actually it’s not just Skal. Anytime anyone goes against management or coaching you’re right there to cape. It’s annoying to read, especially since it’s filled with non factual bullshit so often.
 
mook said:
Listening to the Locked On Blazers podcast, it sounds like Skal really doesn't know the playbook very well from the PF position, and so starting him was...a non-starter.
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He's slow on every defensive possession and is generally slow to react to play calls. He hasn't earned the coach's trust. Someone is always yelling at Skal what to do when he's in the game.

His production is actually quite nice, boxscore wise, but coaches tend to favor veterans and predictability, and Skal is not that.

I think he should get more minutes, but he also needs to learn faster.
 
riverman said:
I like Skal but in perspective, Dame said Biggie looked NBA ready and had a great rookie training camp....and said that about TRob as well....same with Ed Davis...all 3 are no longer Blazers. Skal is going to have to learn the PF position to keep in the rotation when Nurk, Zach and Pau get back ...he's going to have the role Zach had last season
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I don't remember Biggie, TRob or Ed Davis having the 3rd best PER on the team after 3 games.

I do remember Biebs having a large PER, but no one has ever said he had the best training camp on the team.

Skal is not a rookie.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
I don't remember Biggie, TRob or Ed Davis having the 3rd best PER on the team after 3 games.

I do remember Biebs having a large PER, but no one has ever said he had the best training camp on the team.

Skal is not a rookie.
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The funny thing is I don’t think anyone is actually pro Skal because of something Lillard said. Don’t need to rely on words when there’s a sample of play. Also, Ed Davis in the same sentence as Biggie....huh?
 
B-Roy said:
He's slow on every defensive possession and is generally slow to react to play calls. He hasn't earned the coach's trust. Someone is always yelling at Skal what to do when he's in the game.

His production is actually quite nice, boxscore wise, but coaches tend to favor veterans and predictability, and Skal is not that.

I think he should get more minutes, but he also needs to learn faster.
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Skal is "slow to react" and confused out there which makes the team play much worse when he is in the game.

This is in stark contrast to z3, who is a long time vet, whose savvy makes the team play much better when he's in the game.

Clearly, Skal's +/- is way worse than z3's.

Oh, wait.
 
Scalma said:
The funny thing is I don’t think anyone is actually pro Skal because of something Lillard said. Don’t need to rely on words when there’s a sample of play. Also, Ed Davis in the same sentence as Biggie....huh?
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1) It's not proof, but it is an important data point. That combined with the 3rd highest PER makes a powerful combination, to me.
2) That was Riverman who put Davis and Biggie together, I just responded.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
Skal is "slow to react" and confused out there which makes the team play much worse when he is in the game.

This is in stark contrast to z3, who is a long time vet, whose savvy makes the team play much better when he's in the game.

Clearly, Skal's +/- is way worse than z3's.

Oh, wait.
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More like Zzzzzz3 amirite
 
Wizard Mentor said:
I don't remember Biggie, TRob or Ed Davis having the 3rd best PER on the team after 3 games.

I do remember Biebs having a large PER, but no one has ever said he had the best training camp on the team.

Skal is not a rookie.
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The per is just an okay stat but should never be used as a sole way to judge a player though (not saying you are). Also, 4 game into the season is also way to early to assess a players per as they will typically level out as time goes on.
 
Scalma said:
More like Zzzzzz3 amirite
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Interesting point.
If he literally fell asleep for 3 minutes on the court, could the remaining team play 4-on-5 and do better than a -15?

Was his presence actually worse than falling asleep? :)

I'm not actually anti-z3. I like that he's on the team as a mentor. I just think he shouldn't be playing.
 
If you give Skal minutes you give Zach his scoring and rebounding at a minimum will be on par with what Zach gives and he could eclipse Zach in those areas. He can’t touch Zach defensively but offense and rebounding is a different story if given minutes. His game has grown significantly over the summer.
 
Wizard Mentor said:
Interesting point.
If he literally fell asleep for 3 minutes on the court, could the remaining team play 4-on-5 and do better than a -15?

Was his presence actually worse than falling asleep? :)

I'm not actually anti-z3. I like that he's on the team as a mentor. I just think he shouldn't be playing.
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I’m not anti Tolliver on the blazers either. But giving him 30 minutes, wtffff. Whatever mistakes Skal makes defensively, he’d make up for on the other end, as he probably wouldn’t miss 75% of the shots he was given. And like I said, mistakes are a part of growth. Tolliver ain’t exactly draymond green out there either, dude gets lit up anytime he’s left on the perimeter defensively.
 
You guys--we really need to cool it on the "why are you posting about...?" stuff.

Post your observations. Post your opinions. Post your comments on and responses to other people's observations and opinions. But let's keep our inquiries and speculations about other posters' motivations inside our own heads, 'Kay?
 
PtldPlatypus said:
You guys--we really need to cool it on the "why are you posting about...?" stuff.

Post your observations. Post your opinions. Post your comments on and responses to other people's observations and opinions. But let's keep our inquiries and speculations about other posters' motivations inside our own heads, 'Kay?
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wow, what a change from yesterday. :dunno:
 
Wizard Mentor said:
Skal is "slow to react" and confused out there which makes the team play much worse when he is in the game.

This is in stark contrast to z3, who is a long time vet, whose savvy makes the team play much better when he's in the game.

Clearly, Skal's +/- is way worse than z3's.

Oh, wait.
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I'm saying this is why coach doesn't trust him for anything more than limited minutes. I'm not saying whether I agree or not. There's a lot of things about Stotts that I don't agree with. I think it makes sense to slowly ramp up his role on the team, and earn more minutes as he goes along, rather than just throwing him into the fire with starter minutes.
 
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