Start Gerald Wallace over Batum

[mook]

Gerald Wallace last night had the highest +/- (+3), which pretty much matched what my eyes saw. Normally I don't put much weight on that number, but when your team was down by 20 at one point and comes back to lose by 7 maybe it's a little more relevant.

One thing Wallace brings that I hadn't really expected was the ability to create his own shot. He's actually got an ok handle for a guy who is known for "hustle." He's far from elite, but if I have to have Batum, Matthews or Wallace make a one-on-one move, I'd definitely go with Wallace.

In the last 7 games, Batum has gotten into double figures only twice while averaging nearly 40 mpg. It's hard for me to see Gerald Wallace doing that on this team. Add in that Wallace is a far superior rebounder and much more active defender, and I can't really see much argument for letting Batum start again over him.

 

[illmatic99]

Yup. I fully endorse staring Wallace, and putting Nic @ backup 4.

 

[e_blazer]

I have little doubt that Wallace will earn the starting spot over Batum, but I think it might be best to let him learn the offense before making the switch.

Another thing, has anybody heard how long they're going to keep this 15 minute limitation on Roy? He's never been a player who gets going quickly. As long as his knees aren't causing problems, it seems like stretching it to 20-25 minutes would be reasonable. He's still the only player on the roster who can consistently break his man down to create his own shot.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Wallace needs to start. Nic can bring his energy off the bench. That's easily the best move for us.

 

[Rhal]

Batum has gotten to used to guarding smaller players that have a hard time shooting over him, Make him come in at the backup 4 and guard PF/Centers

 

[mook]

I have little doubt that Wallace will earn the starting spot over Batum, but I think it might be best to let him learn the offense before making the switch.

Is it really that hard for Wallace to learn how to play the "Batum role"? Hang out around the three point line, pass the ball a lot, score in transition.

Actually, rather than Wallace "learning the offense," I'd prefer to see Wallace out there "shaking up the offense." He's mostly going to play on the weak side anyway, taking advantage of holes in the defense created by Aldridge in the post. Get him in there and let him crash around a little, make the offense less predictable.

Anyway, it really is just a matter of time until he starts.

 

[B-Roy]

Wallace makes things happen. Batum waits for things to happen.

Two contrasting styles, and I definitely favor the first.

 

[HailBlazers]

I welcome Gerald starting, once this team gets some practices in. It's about time Batum has a replacement who can defend just as well. Personally I would like to see them both on the court at the same time. There was a critical stretch at the end of the game last night where Rudy's defense was inadequate and I wish Batum was in instead.

While the game was less than spectacular, I'm glad I was there to Welcome Gerald Wallace. Along with everyone else!







And my favorite:



This was worth the ticket:

 

[BBert]

I think it's a foregone assumption that Wallace will start at SF once he's up to speed with the 'offense' and the timing with his new teammates. The problem is, Wallace is the one and only closest thing the Blazers have to a backup PF. If he starts at SF, then what?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think it's a foregone assumption that Wallace will start at SF once he's up to speed with the 'offense' and the timing with his new teammates. The problem is, Wallace is the one and only closest thing the Blazers have to a backup PF. If he starts at SF, then what?

Up to speed with our offense?

He should have been starting from day 1 if that's the case.

 

[e_blazer]

I was thinking about the idea of starting Wallace at the PF spot and bringing Camby off the bench. Unless Cho adds another big, we're essentially looking at a 3 man rotation of Camby, Wallace, and Aldridge at the 4 and 5 spots anyway. With Camby being limited in the number of minutes he can play right now, I'd rather save more time for him at the end of the game.

 

[maxiep]

I think it's a foregone assumption that Wallace will start at SF once he's up to speed with the 'offense' and the timing with his new teammates. The problem is, Wallace is the one and only closest thing the Blazers have to a backup PF. If he starts at SF, then what?

Then he moves over and plays the backup 4.

Batum - 3

Wallace - 3/4

Aldridge - 4/5

Camby - 5

You can even have a few minutes per game when Matthews or Roy is playing the three or even have Nico play the four.

 

[gatorpops]

Yup. I fully endorse staring Wallace, and putting Nic @ backup 4.

Fixed your statement.

I fully endorse him as a star and demand that he start.

Coincidentally, he must be one of my distant relatives as my name is G. Wallace also (not gatorpops as you might think).
(He seems a different race though but I guess it could be possible as my father's name was George so....)

Lets give Nate more than one game to integrate one new player and one returning from a long injury though. I figure three to five games should do it.

As soon as I get a good avatar of Wallace as a Blazer I will begin using it.

gatorpops

 

[e_blazer]

Fixed your statement.

I fully endorse him as a star and demand that he start.

Coincidentally, he must be one of my distant relatives as my name is G. Wallace also (not gatorpops as you might think).
(He seems a different race though but I guess it could be possible as my father's name was George so....)

Lets give Nate more than one game to integrate one new player and one returning from a long injury though. I figure three to five games should do it.

As soon as I get a good avatar of Wallace as a Blazer I will begin using it.

gatorpops

Why are you staring at Wallace? If you want to see him in a starring role, just say so.

 

[BlayZa]

my god, i hope they start him. i love parts of nic's game but he is so passive unless its a 1on1 D stopper assignment.

we got wallace cause he does bang, drives the lane, creates offensive options etc - just let him loose ffs.

 

[THE HCP]

I think would be great coming off the bench. I love Nic, but Gerald needs at least 30 min a night!

 

[Ed O]

I think that the team would be better off bringing him off the bench.

#1, it leaves Batum in the starting spot. He has not been happy with/performed well coming off the bench.
#2, it gives lots of flexibility with Wallace. He could come in for Batum, Aldridge, or Camby and the team wouldn't miss a beat. It's true you could bring Batum in off the bench and slide people around, but I think bringing in the most flexible player, position-wise, is best.
#3, it gives us more energy and offense off of the bench. Rudy is too streaky and Roy is still, to me, unproven in his current state.

Gerald Wallace very well might be the second-best player on our team, but I think bringing him off the bench makes the most sense.

Ed O.

 

[jaspitzer]

GW should be starting at the 3. I know we need help at the 4/5, but Wallace is much better at the 3 than he his at the 4. He's a lot more dangerous on the wing with his face to the basket. From there he can pass, shoot, drive the lane, crash the boards, or slash. He's undersized and not much of a factor at the 4. I'd rather have batum play back up 4 and have wallace be the 3 because Wallace is gonna give you more at the 3 than batum and I see them pretty much being just as ineffective at the 4.

Either way I really hope we can sign another big man ASAP.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He could come in for Batum, Aldridge, or Camby and the team wouldn't miss a beat. It's true you could bring Batum in off the bench and slide people around, but I think bringing in the most flexible player, position-wise, is best.

I'd rather have batum play back up 4 and have wallace be the 3 because Wallace is gonna give you more at the 3 than batum and I see them pretty much being just as ineffective at the 4.

Two interesting, opposing, equally compelling positions. Rep for both of you. Now--FIGHT!!

 

[MIXUM]

pdxtrailblazers
RT @BlazerFreeman: I asked Coach Mac if he planned to start Gerald Wallace against the Rockets and he did not rule it out.
12 minutes ago via TweetDeck

 

[Ed O]

GW should be starting at the 3. I know we need help at the 4/5, but Wallace is much better at the 3 than he his at the 4. He's a lot more dangerous on the wing with his face to the basket. From there he can pass, shoot, drive the lane, crash the boards, or slash. He's undersized and not much of a factor at the 4. I'd rather have batum play back up 4 and have wallace be the 3 because Wallace is gonna give you more at the 3 than batum and I see them pretty much being just as ineffective at the 4.

Batum is a more effective perimeter shooter. Having him on the floor spreads the offense more than GW does.

Wallace, on the other hand, is a superior rebounder, which is helpful if/when Aldridge is playing the 5 spot. Batum has no record (that I'm aware of) at playing the power forward, while Wallace has demonstrated that he can do so at a reasonably high level. If the coach plays matchups well, Wallace could be successful at the power forward spot, while I think it's a dream to hope for Batum to be able to do that.

I agree that the team adding another big man would be a good move.

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

Batum can be too inconsistent and when you have a player like Gerald Wallace that can step in you make that move.

Batum's only advantage over Wallace is 3pt shooting and it's not like Batum has even been a good 3pt shooter this year. With Wallace you get a superior rebounder and a better defender that can also post up and get his own shot. Looks like an easy move to me.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Batum has no record (that I'm aware of) at playing the power forward, while Wallace has demonstrated that he can do so at a reasonably high level.

http://www.82games.com/1011/10POR8.HTM#bypos

Batum has played 5% of the available PF minutes for Portland this year (according to the above link)--which equates to about 142 minutes (small sample size, yes). In that time, he's put up a PER of 17.5 and allowed a PER of 14.6.

Also, looking at his "5-man-lineup" record, the one with the best results (by far) is the Miller-Roy-Matthews-Batum-Aldridge lineup, in which he is clearly the PF.

So, there is some history of him playing the 4, and doing so successfully, in certain situations.

 

[jaspitzer]

Batum is a more effective perimeter shooter. Having him on the floor spreads the offense more than GW does.

Wallace, on the other hand, is a superior rebounder, which is helpful if/when Aldridge is playing the 5 spot. Batum has no record (that I'm aware of) at playing the power forward, while Wallace has demonstrated that he can do so at a reasonably high level. If the coach plays matchups well, Wallace could be successful at the power forward spot, while I think it's a dream to hope for Batum to be able to do that.

I agree that the team adding another big man would be a good move.

Ed O.

Batum is shooting 33.7% from behind the arc this season, Wallace is shooting it 33.6% this season.

Wallace appears to rebound better by crashing the boards from the perimeter not from being under the basket.

but my whole logic is that they both suck playing the 4 right? So why not put in the guy who is better at playing the 3 and let the other play the 4.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

but my whole logic is that they both suck playing the 4 right? So why not put in the guy who is better at playing the 3 and let the other play the 4.

What is the basis for your claim that Wallace sucks playing the 4?

 

[Ed O]

Batum is shooting 33.7% from behind the arc this season, Wallace is shooting it 33.6% this season.

But Wallace has only attempted about 106 3's, while Batum has attempted 249... Wallace doesn't shoot from deep as often, which means that he's not spreading the floor like Batum does.

Could Wallace do that, if it were asked of him? Perhaps. But I don't think that we should bank on trying to teach an old(er) dog new tricks.

Wallace appears to rebound better by crashing the boards from the perimeter not from being under the basket.

Maybe offensively. But defensively? I don't think so, personally.

but my whole logic is that they both suck playing the 4 right? So why not put in the guy who is better at playing the 3 and let the other play the 4.

I don't agree with that premise, though.

Ed O.

 

[andalusian]

Maybe offensively. But defensively? I don't think so, personally.

Surprisingly, Basketball-references shows us that Batum's defensive rebound% is lower than Wallace's (at least in Charlotte) - but is actually much higher than Wallace's on offense.

http://www.basketball-reference.com...m=0&p1=batumni01&y1=2011&p2=wallage01&y2=2011

 

[B-Roy]

Wallace actually asked to start:

McMillan had hoped to ease Wallace's transition to the team by bringing him off the bench, but in that one-on-one meeting, Wallace told McMillan he preferred to start -- both because he's most comfortable as a starter and because he feels he's earned the right after years of high-level production. When asked Monday if he would start Wallace against the Rockets, McMillan did not rule it out.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/02/trail_blazers_gerald_wallace_a.html

 

[VanillaGorilla]

He should have started.

 

[jaspitzer]

Im sure nate and the coaches are going to be putting Crash in all kinds of lineups this week to find out the most effective ways to use him. I just wanna see him do what he does best and hopefully that will translate into W's