Start Ed Davis

[Scalma]

It's clear the team is at it's best when he's on the court. He protects the guards defensively and creates space on offense with his screens. Plumlees playmaking can be useful with the second unit since mccollum is the only ballhandler.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's clear the team is at it's best when he's on the court. He protects the guards defensively and creates space on offense with his screens. Plumlees playmaking can be useful with the second unit since mccollum is the only ballhandler.

Maybe next year, yeah.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I kind of like his energy off the bench.

 

[B-Roy]

I think Ed is clearly better than Mason, but I guess I don't mind him coming off the bench.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think Ed is clearly better than Mason, but I guess I don't mind him coming off the bench.

Plums is more likely to hit clutch FTs though.

 

[Scalma]

I think Ed is clearly better than Mason, but I guess I don't mind him coming off the bench.

I guess what I'm trying to say is sign larry sanders. Imagine the C depth chart consisting of davis and larry

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I guess what I'm trying to say is sign larry sanders. Imagine the C depth chart consisting of davis and larry

Gary Shandling is dead.

 

[B-Roy]

Plums is more likely to hit clutch FTs though.

I mean sure, barely, but everything Ed does well, Ed does WELL.

Setting screens, playing solid defense, rebounding.....etc. On a night in night out basis you're getting more production on average with Big Ed.

Mason has his moments, but even if he gets better stats than Ed the eye test tells me Ed is just better.

I also love that Ed doesn't lose chippy rebounds because of his T-Rex arms. *cough Mason*

 

[Scalma]

Mason also has leonarditis when attacking the basket. It's like DUDE. SLAM THAT SHIT DOWN THEY THROAT

 

[Scalma]

Gary Shandling is dead.

Legends never die

 

[PHXBlazer1]

I love Ed Davis

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Too late for this. Playoffs are just around the bend.

 

[Darkwebs]

Legends never die

So that means Meyers is immortal?

 

[Strenuus]

So that means Meyers is immortal?

Talk about one of our players being untouchable...

 

[ripcityboy]

Love Ed's motor around the rim. It never goes off. Mason and Meyers turn into silly putty when they get to the hole. Next year I want to see somebody who can go BOOM! So Neil if your reading....

 

[BonesJones]

I still view Davis as more of a PF. Problem is he can't play with Plumlee. My hope is we get a stretch 5 next year that can somewhat defend (Pau Gasol, Al Horford, Kelly Olynyk, etc.) That would allow Davis to play at the 4 and having a 3rd shooter would mean we could go after Derozen or keep Aminu and our unit would still mesh. Plumlee would be great off the bench next to Vonleh.

 

[Draco]

I've been one of the biggest Ed supporters this whole season. He's definitely our most certain 3rd core piece on this roster after DameCJ.

Ed is excellent off the bench. He can really exploit his advantage over other backups. There's a number of advanced statistics showing he has less of an advantage against starters. We could start him and yes he'd be productive but would be be more productive than in his current role? I tend to think not. Now if we have different starters next year perhaps the dynamic will change and he will be more beneficial at that time as a starter. But I wouldn't force him into the starting lineup.

Think of him as our big man version of Ginobili.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

No--keep him in the backup frontcourt with Vonleh. Those two worked great together in preseason, and are renewing that same chemistry now after Noah's demotion. The bench lineup we're running of Henderson/Crabbe/Vonleh/Davis is perhaps our biggest advantage over other teams. As long as Davis is getting plenty of minutes (which he is), I prefer him in the role he has now--dominating lesser bigs through sheer force of will.

 

[Jon]

no. he brings solid defense and rebounding to our bench. not to mention the energy. i love Ed, but he is more valuable off the bench at this time.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Nope, I agree with what others have said. Ed is PERFECT in his current role, thriving in it and seems content playing that role. I love the energy he brings when he enters the game. I like Harkless in the starting line up and Davis/Vonleh coming off the bench. I think Stotts has done a wonderful job maximizing each players production for the benefit of the team.

I know there was a lot of criticism of Vonleh starting, but I even think that was a good move. It made Vonleh more comfortable and helped his development. After a few months of starting, he doesn't have any jitters when entering the game. He's used to playing against NBA starters, so when he enters the game against reserves, he's calm and confident in his ability to play at this level. That's significant progress for a 20-year old.

It also made Harkless hungry. He's a young guy that wants to make his mark, but didn't always bring his A game earlier in the year. His effort night to night was very inconsistent. Since the all-star break, he has gone from being out of the rotation to being a key reserve to being a starter - and he's earned it and is playing much better and bringing much more consistent effort on a nightly basis. If he would have been gifted the starting role and training camp, I don't think he'd be nearly as productive and consistent as he is now.

So, different players, different needs. Stotts managed them both well, as he has with Davis, who seems very happy in his role on this team. He seems much happier as a bench player on a winning team with great chemistry than he was as a starter on that dumpster fire of a team he played for last year.

I'm done questioning Stotts' player usage. The man knows what he's doing.

BNM

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I'm done questioning Stotts' player usage. The man knows what he's doing.

Indeed; he's good at maximizing player performance for wins and for development simultaneously. Would Rick Adelman, PJ Carlissimo, Mo Cheeks, or Nate McMillain have done as well with this roster? Rick could probably (though he really only developed one rookie -- Cliff -- during his tenure), but I wouldn't trust any of the other guys to win 40+ with this roster.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I know there was a lot of criticism of Vonleh starting, but I even think that was a good move. It made Vonleh more comfortable and helped his development. After a few months of starting, he doesn't have any jitters when entering the game. He's used to playing against NBA starters, so when he enters the game against reserves, he's calm and confident in his ability to play at this level. That's significant progress for a 20-year old.

It also made Harkless hungry. He's a young guy that wants to make his mark, but didn't always bring his A game earlier in the year. His effort night to night was very inconsistent. Since the all-star break, he has gone from being out of the rotation to being a key reserve to being a starter - and he's earned it and is playing much better and bringing much more consistent effort on a nightly basis. If he would have been gifted the starting role and training camp, I don't think he'd be nearly as productive and consistent as he is now.

This here is some great insight. I wouldn't recommend it for most teams, but somehow swapping the roles that Harkless and Vonleh have held virtually the entire year is paying dividends for us on both fronts. Pretty crazy that bench Vonleh seems to be more productive than bench Harkless, but starter Harkless is more productive than starter Vonleh, as well as more synergistic with Aminu.

So, different players, different needs. Stotts managed them both well, as he has with Davis, who seems very happy in his role on this team. He seems much happier as a bench player on a winning team with great chemistry than he was as a starter on that dumpster fire of a team he played for last year.

I'm done questioning Stotts' player usage. The man knows what he's doing.

BNM

You'll NEVER get me to give that up. It is my God-given right as a sports fan to question every aspect of every major decision-maker employed by my favorite franchise!

 

[Boob-No-More]

This here is some great insight. I wouldn't recommend it for most teams, but somehow swapping the roles that Harkless and Vonleh have held virtually the entire year is paying dividends for us on both fronts. Pretty crazy that bench Vonleh seems to be more productive than bench Harkless, but starter Harkless is more productive than starter Vonleh, as well as more synergistic with Aminu.

Yep, it's like Terry knew EXACTLY what these guys needed, even if they didn't. He knew exactly when to swap their roles, too. A masterful use of two very young players that are still learning the NBA game. Both will be better in the payoffs and, with both having experience starting, will be so much further along next year. Everyone talks about how Vonleh is only 20, but Harkless is only 22. That's still a young player who is about 4 or 5 years away from entering his prime. I think he's learned more under Stotts this year than in three years in ORL under Jacque Vaughn. He's played less, but learned more. That's a pretty damn good job of player development. It's also the first time he's played on a team that's won more than 25 games. So, I think that, combined with his previous team giving him away for nothing has provided additional motivation and maturity.

You'll NEVER get me to give that up. It is my God-given right as a sports fan to question every aspect of every major decision-maker employed by my favorite franchise!

Yeah, he may not be perfect, but the man has proven he knows way more about player development, motivation and team chemistry than I ever will.

BNM

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Everyone talks about how Vonleh is only 20, but Harkless is only 22. That's still a young player who is about 4 or 5 years away from entering his prime. I think he's learned more under Stotts this year than in three years in ORL under Jacque Vaughn. He's played less, but learned more. That's a pretty damn good job of player development. It's also the first time he's played on a team that's won more than 25 games. So, I think that, combined with his previous team giving him away for nothing has provided additional motivation and maturity.

Sucks that it's now going to cost us a lot more to keep him though, especially if he is an integral part of our inevitable "upset" of the Clippers. However, if he is a significant contributor to such an event, he will likely be well worth matching whatever offer he might receive this summer.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Sucks that it's now going to cost us a lot more to keep him though, especially if he is an integral part of our inevitable "upset" of the Clippers. However, if he is a significant contributor to such an event, he will likely be well worth matching whatever offer he might receive this summer.

If he earns it, pay the man. It's just Paul Allen's money and we're so far under the cap, I don't worry about such things. Like Stotts, Olshey has shown he's competent, if not perfect.

BNM

 

[noknobs]

So that means Meyers is immortal?

Good, that'll give him lots of time to work on his post moves.

 

[Draco]

So, different players, different needs. Stotts managed them both well, as he has with Davis, who seems very happy in his role on this team. He seems much happier as a bench player on a winning team with great chemistry than he was as a starter on that dumpster fire of a team he played for last year.

It's amazing we got the Lakers best player for MLE money while they wined, dined and got nothing from the stars.

We beat the Lakers in free agency last summer.

A trend that looks like it may continue for years. What a beautiful era to be an NBA fan.

 

[Draco]

If he earns it, pay the man. It's just Paul Allen's money and we're so far under the cap, I don't worry about such things. Like Stotts, Olshey has shown he's competent, if not perfect.

BNM

Certainly not perfect; just look at the Afflalo trade. Will Barton is better than any wing we have and any player outside DameCJ. That's looking like Jermaine Oneal 2.0. Who knows what the draft pick will do in 5 years.

I do think Neil is a great GM and his moves work out more often than not though.

 

[Orion Bailey]

It's amazing we got the Lakers best player for MLE money while they wined, dined and got nothing from the stars.

We beat the Lakers in free agency last summer.

A trend that looks like it may continue for years. What a beautiful era to be an NBA fan.

HA!! Id already forgotten we snagged him from them!

 

[Draco]

Sucks that it's now going to cost us a lot more to keep him though, especially if he is an integral part of our inevitable "upset" of the Clippers. However, if he is a significant contributor to such an event, he will likely be well worth matching whatever offer he might receive this summer.

Teams are so enamored with 3 point shooting I think we'll be able to keep Harkless for a big discount.

Crabbe on the other hand; a team could put us in a bad bind. I could seriously see a team offering him the max.