Start Vonleh

[Boob-No-More]

If Vonleh keeps developing his defence, especially inside, it will also open up possibility of us trading for someone like Okafor i.e. someone with brilliant offense in the post but suspect defence. Vonleh + Okafor might be a good match.

I kind of feel the opposite. As Noah's offensive game keeps developing, he will give us the inside scoring we need to balance our offensive attack. There's only one basketball and we already have two 20+ ppg scorers in the starting line up.

If Noah can be that reliable 3rd scorer, I think it makes sense to pair him with an elite rim protector at center. The guy who would be perfect, if he could stay healthy, would be the other PHI big man that may become expendable thanks to Joel Embiid - Nerlens Noel. We could kind of have that with Noah and Festus, but Festus is injured even more than Noel, and he's 5 years older.

Yeah, the injuries scare me (WTF is an inflamed plica anyway?), but Noel, even as a 20-year old rookie was already an elite defender. In spite of missing 15 games last season and 7 the season before, he is the only player in the entire NBA to record >100 BLKs and >100 STLs for each of the past two seasons. And he did that at 20 and 21 years of age. He was also top 8 in DBPM for each of his first two seasons. He is a difference maker on the defensive end. Offensively, he's raw and limited, but opportunistic and runs the floor well.

I'd make sure to get multiple medical opinions before I gave up anything of value for him, but with Joel Embiid looking like the real deal, Noel is likely available.

BNM

 

[blue9]

^^^Didn't they try and fail to get a draft pick for Noel? That could mean that the price for him wouldn't be TOO high.

 

[Boob-No-More]

^^^Didn't they try and fail to get a draft pick for Noel? That could mean that the price for him wouldn't be TOO high.

Too bad we can't trade some of our guys until December 15. Now would be the time to act. PHI is absolutely euphoric over Embiid right now, which means they think Noel is redundant and expendable. And, he's recovering from minor surgery, but only expected to be out 3 - 5 weeks.

PHI desperately needs guards/wing players and outside shooting to go with their surplus of low post bigs. It would be interesting to see what kind of package Neal could put together. PHI is currently about $16 million under the salary floor, so they can take back a lot of salary, essentially for free. That creates lots of possible trade scenarios that would work under the current CBA.

BNM

 

[OneLifeToLive]

The fact that he -hit- open shots and a hook shot is the exact reason some people are excited.

I get that. As they should be. But I'd def be more excited if he was flourishing with his back to the basket, beating his man with his first quick step and then dunking it or hooking it in for the two points. Or if he was showing any kind of movement going to the basket and scoring.

This is not to take anything away. He's doing a nice job.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I kind of feel the opposite. As Noah's offensive game keeps developing, he will give us the inside scoring we need to balance our offensive attack. There's only one basketball and we already have two 20+ ppg scorers in the starting line up.

If Noah can be that reliable 3rd scorer, I think it makes sense to pair him with an elite rim protector at center. The guy who would be perfect, if he could stay healthy, would be the other PHI big man that may become expendable thanks to Joel Embiid - Nerlens Noel. We could kind of have that with Noah and Festus, but Festus is injured even more than Noel, and he's 5 years older.

Yeah, the injuries scare me (WTF is an inflamed plica anyway?), but Noel, even as a 20-year old rookie was already an elite defender. In spite of missing 15 games last season and 7 the season before, he is the only player in the entire NBA to record >100 BLKs and >100 STLs for each of the past two seasons. And he did that at 20 and 21 years of age. He was also top 8 in DBPM for each of his first two seasons. He is a difference maker on the defensive end. Offensively, he's raw and limited, but opportunistic and runs the floor well.

I'd make sure to get multiple medical opinions before I gave up anything of value for him, but with Joel Embiid looking like the real deal, Noel is likely available.

BNM

After losing by 50 to GS in the preseason and other struggles, Clips could blow it up instead of letting Griffin and Paul walk.

Aminu and the Ivory Towers for DJ would be amazing.

 

[tester551]

After losing by 50 to GS in the preseason and other struggles, Clips could blow it up instead of letting Griffin and Paul walk.

Not with Doc being coach AND GM. There is no way he blows it up mid season.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Not with Doc being coach AND GM. There is no way he blows it up mid season.

If CP says "I'm walkin'" before the all-star break, he does blow it up - it would be foolish not to. CP is 31, Redick is 32.

 

[Strenuus]

I get that. As they should be. But I'd def be more excited if he was flourishing with his back to the basket, beating his man with his first quick step and then dunking it or hooking it in for the two points. Or if he was showing any kind of movement going to the basket and scoring.

This is not to take anything away. He's doing a nice job.

He actually did show that with the hook shot. He got denied going to the basket so he improvised and did a hook shot. It was nice.

 

[ehizzy3]

Oh really

 

[dviss1]

Buying my Vonleh Jersey on Thursday!~!!!!!

NOOOOOOO!! DON'T YOU DARE!!

 

[dviss1]

Yeah. The next thing I'd like to see from Vonleh is his ability to put it on the floor and drive past defenders who are running out at him. I think he can do this (one of my many Biebs complaints), but I'd like to see him do it in a game.

Do you remember that "Euro" step he did in 15-16 Sumner League?

 

[SwissBlazer]

I only know a few phrases in French. I sure don't know how to type them.

No problem. I make a lot of mistakes in english as well

 

[Orion Bailey]

NOOOOOOO!! DON'T YOU DARE!!

The OB Curse???

 

[Sinobas]

I really think Stotts needs to take a look at this. Vonleh's jumper looks nice this year, much better than Aminu's. And he's a tougher inside presense than Aminu.

 

[dviss1]

The OB Curse???

No the ML curse. Lol.

 

[dviss1]

I really think Stotts needs to take a look at this. Vonleh's jumper looks nice this year, much better than Aminu's. And he's a tougher inside presense than Aminu.

Aminu is looking like trade bait/filler.

 

[illmatic99]

I really think Stotts needs to take a look at this. Vonleh's jumper looks nice this year, much better than Aminu's. And he's a tougher inside presense than Aminu.

Aminu has largely been our best defender to start this season. Need that among the starters. I'd wait to see if he can get his shot back. Hell, Klay is shooting 3/28 from 3 this season.

Guys go in slumps. Especially ones with weird, inconsistent shooting strokes like Aminu.

 

[TBpup]

Aminu has largely been our best defender to start this season. Need that among the starters. I'd wait to see if he can get his shot back. Hell, Klay is shooting 3/28 from 3 this season.

Guys go in slumps. Especially ones with weird, inconsistent shooting strokes like Aminu.

That's the thing. Aminu's stroke is weird and inconsistent so expecting him to have the type of repeatable stroke like Layman has is doomed from the start. Since no one in the front court can shoot, the Blazers are getting pounded on the glass and on points in the paint. One reason to start Vonleh would simply be to have a little more size. Going small only works if you have an offensive advantage because you are going to get beat up on the defensive end. Vonleh is one of the Blazers most versatile defenders in that he has the bulk to battle bigger guys and the footwork to stay with a smaller player out on the perimeter.

If not for Utah missing 2 starters and a monumental meltdown by the Nuggets, Portland could be looking at an 0-4 start. Yes it's early but that is not the way to start the season. They just aren't playing very well yet.

 

[blue9]

Aminu has largely been our best defender to start this season. Need that among the starters. I'd wait to see if he can get his shot back. Hell, Klay is shooting 3/28 from 3 this season.

Guys go in slumps. Especially ones with weird, inconsistent shooting strokes like Aminu.

But he's not that good of a defender. Aside from a few timely blocks, he's a very average defender.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think it is situational. Against certain teams Aminu is the best option. Technically our starting lineup last night was the right call. We started off fine. But GS is different from most teams. So maybe Terry mixes it up with Vonleh at PF and Crabbe at SF.

 

[Trackjack]

The only way Von get more confidents is not being hook after 2 to 4 minutes out there yes miss a shot so what how many did the rest of them miss. This what I don't like about Stotts he has no trust in his young players and the 2nd his defense scheme.

 

[illmatic99]

But he's not that good of a defender. Aside from a few timely blocks, he's a very average defender.

Still the best defender in the starting lineup. And one of the top defenders on our team. More indicative of our team than Rouq

 

[Pinwheel1]

Still the best defender in the starting lineup. And one of the top defenders on our team. More indicative of our team than Rouq

Especially on the perimeter. Both Noah and Meyers are better shooters, but neither can cover the perimeter as well as Aminu. Which is why I am leaning toward mixing up the starting line up depending on who they have to guard.

 

[dviss1]

But he's not that good of a defender. Aside from a few timely blocks, he's a very average defender.

Your Aminu hate has clouded your judgement. Plus, I'll take Stotts opinion over yours any day.

 

[blue9]

Your Aminu hate has clouded your judgement.

If you say so. But do you think there's a player in the league that thinks to themselves "Oh man, I have to play against Aminu tonight!?". I sincerely doubt anyone has ever had that thought cross their mind.

 

[dviss1]

If you say so. But do you think there's a player in the league that thinks to themselves "Oh man, I have to play against Aminu tonight!?". I sincerely doubt anyone has ever had that thought cross their mind.

Semantics.

Stotts says he's our best defender and he's evaluated WAY more basketball than you ever will.

 

[Scalma]

Hey some of you; you know its possible to get guys like vonleh and layman more playing time without having to switch up the starting lineup right? Imagine if some of you were in charge of the lineups, there would never be any sort of consistency. That sound like a recipe for a winning team?

 

[blue9]

Semantics.

Stotts says he's our best defender and he's evaluated WAY more basketball than you ever will.

Saying Aminu is our best defender isn't saying a whole lot. He is the very definition of average. He's versatile, but average. I think Stotts probably meant he's our most versatile defender. But both Davis and now Vonleh are better post-defenders. I'd say Harkless is equally as good, and perhaps better, guarding the perimeter. Harkless is also, IMO, equally as versatile - he's more adept at guarding the smaller end of the spectrum (PGs) and Aminu more adept at the larger end (PFs). Vonleh's ability to guard the perimeter and stay with the ball as it's being driven towards the basket isn't far off from Aminu's ability, even if he isn't able to contain the player from starting a drive quite as well.

Also, Stotts knows stuff about defense? That's news to me!

 

[dviss1]

Saying Aminu is our best defender isn't saying a whole lot. He is the very definition of average. He's versatile, but average. I think Stotts probably meant he's our most versatile defender. But both Davis and now Vonleh are better post-defenders. I'd say Harkless is equally as good, and perhaps better, guarding the perimeter. Harkless is also, IMO, equally as versatile - he's more adept at guarding the smaller end of the spectrum (PGs) and Aminu more adept at the larger end (PFs). Vonleh's ability to guard the perimeter and stay with the ball as it's being driven towards the basket isn't far off from Aminu's ability, even if he isn't able to contain the player from starting a drive quite as well.

Also, Stotts knows stuff about defense? That's news to me!

Stotts is an NBA head coach with a top 15 D at the moment. Hell even D'antoni knows more about D than you. Armchair coaches wanting to down NBA head coaches is hilarious to me.

Stotts himself said Aminu is our best post defender. Again, I'll take his word as he's seen and consistently sees more basketball than you ever will. You have consistently hated on Aminu.

 

[blue9]

Stotts is an NBA head coach with a top 15 D at the moment. Hell even D'antoni knows more about D than you. Armchair coaches wanting to down NBA head coaches is hilarious to me.

Stotts himself said Aminu is our best post defender. Again, I'll take his word as he's seen and consistently sees more basketball than you ever will. You have consistently hated on Aminu.

Sweet - let's lock this message board down. Nothing to discuss since none of us know shit about basketball. Unless you're all NBA coaches, of course - then carry on.