Start Vonleh

[Orion Bailey]

I think the main thing Vonleh needs is a steady diet of touches and a long leash. He looks miles better on offense (especially in the post) than he did last year.

Alas, I don't think it's going to happen here. Stotts seems averse to playing young guys extended minutes and prefers his forwards to play away from the hoop.

I find that frustrating, especially with guys with the strength/body of a Vonleh.

It's evident too, that a guy like CJ - who can break down offenses at will - often finds himself the only offensive player near the hoop once he has gotten past his first defender. Makes it nigh impossible for the nice little dump off assists to big men - when they're parked out at the three point line.

Stotts plan is to try to have the paint devoid of bodies so Dame and CJ can drive to the hoop.

I understand the premise, but to Have Vonleh in the paint would mean a major change to our standard game plan of picknroll for our guards.
In order for Vonleh to plant himself in the paint prior to the ball entering,. we need to start posting him up and do the in and out thing, ala Malone/Stockton.

I am not opposed to this, because I think the NBA is weak on interior PF's right now, so Vonleh could probably make some ground there.
But it will kill the guards penetration abilities. Vonlehs man will rotate and good teams will continue to rotate.
I am not opposed to this at all, but then we MUST have CJ be our 6th man or trade him.
Cant have two ball dominant guards with no D and great range play with a post up PF.

 

[Blazers Roy]

Was going to post the exact same thing. It's probably a good defensive unit to try - but where does the offense come from?
The way Harkless has been shooting the 3 makes this worth looking at , but is his ball-handling good enough?

You would have 3 guys that could cover for each other at SG, SF, PF if a switch occurred on defense.

That's what we say when Dame goes down, but i think Plumlee shines in creating offense when he plays with one PG.

It's something that we need to experiment with in order to see if it's working.

I like what Gregg Popovich is doing, i don't think there's one possible lineup of Spurs players that coach didn't try already.

 

[Scalma]

Outside of dame/CJ, no player has more talent worth developing than Vonleh. We keep talking about how perfect Paul Millsap would be, but guess what, we have a much younger version of him already on the roster. The way Vonleh runs the court, his work on the boards, the way he competes on defense, and even the threat of a perimeter shot reminds of Millsap. His post up game also screams to be developed and utilized. I hope his insertion into the lineup is permanent. We are not a contender. Developing Vonleh is more important at this stage than the honor of getting swept by Golden State or San Antonio.

 

[HolyBackboard]

No reason Noah shouldn't be logging 20-25 minutes a night for the rest of the season.

 

[Scalma]

No reason Noah shouldn't be logging 20-25 minutes a night for the rest of the season.

Yes, and not just 20-25 minutes of getting out of the way either. Run some plays for him. How's he supposed to develop his post ups if he never gets to work on it during the game? It's time.

I'm so over this team not having a post presence, on either side of the court.

 

[Nate]

Yes, and not just 20-25 minutes of getting out of the way either. Run some plays for him. How's he supposed to develop his post ups if he never gets to work on it during the game? It's time.

I'm so over this team not having a post presence, on either side of the court.

Don't forget who his coach is. It's imperative that we waste as many years as possible of a players development.

 

[riverman]

I'm so over this team not having a post presence,

I've got to say I agreed early on but our post protection has been very good over the recent stretch of play...better than I ever expected...

 

[Scalma]

I've got to say I agreed early on but our post protection has been very good over the recent stretch of play...better than I ever expected...

That's because the team is committed to stopping easy buckets, but the tradeoff are wide open looks from outside.

And we still get killed on the boards consistently. Plumlee needs help.

 

[riverman]

That's because the team is committed to stopping easy buckets, but the tradeoff are wide open looks from outside.

And we still get killed on the boards consistently. Plumlee needs help.

recent podcast posted somewhere here has Mason listed as actually providing top rim protection contrary to what we tend to talk about when it comes to him...Vonleh and Plumlee rebounded well...I don't see that as a problem..we don't get second chance pts much though

 

[Scalma]

recent podcast posted somewhere here has Mason listed as actually providing top rim protection contrary to what we tend to talk about when it comes to him...Vonleh and Plumlee rebounded well...I don't see that as a problem..we don't get second chance pts much though

i like the combination of Vonleh and Plumlee, but I can't see Plumlee here long term for financial reasons. Everyone keeps throwing Crabbe in trade scenarios but this team can't afford to lose a shooter. Nobody will trade for Turner. All of this will leave us in luxury tax hell next season. Olsheys got quite a job coming up.

 

[riverman]

All of this will leave us in luxury tax hell next season

Last thing I ever worry about is saving Paul Allen money

 

[PtldPlatypus]

i like the combination of Vonleh and Plumlee, but I can't see Plumlee here long term for financial reasons. Everyone keeps throwing Crabbe in trade scenarios but this team can't afford to lose a shooter. Nobody will trade for Turner. All of this will leave us in luxury tax hell next season. Olsheys got quite a job coming up.

Crabbe/Plumlee for Henderson/Okafor. Who says no?

 

[Scalma]

Last thing I ever worry about is saving Paul Allen money

Allen is rich, not stupid. Why would he pay all that luxury tax for an average product? It's insane.

 

[Scalma]

Crabbe/Plumlee for Henderson/Okafor. Who says no?

Portland and Philadelphia.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Portland and Philadelphia.

Are you saying that Portland would't want to lose the outside shooting or receive a defensively-challenged big, and Philly thinks Okafor is worth more than that?

 

[riverman]

Allen is rich, not stupid. Why would he pay all that luxury tax for an average product? It's insane.

I don't see Mason as an avg product.....we're not talking the Joakim Noah Knicks deal here or Mozgov deal in LA......mason has had 3 double doubles in the last 3 games and is young...healthy..unselfish and a good teammate...value is relative. I used to think about him this way but seeing him as a guy who is improving a lot and doesn't bitch at all

 

[riverman]

Why would he pay all that luxury tax

rich people need to lose money for tax purposes more often than not...it offsets massive profits he has already...he's smart sure...if he thinks Mason is worth the investment...money won't stop him from investing...just fans like to dream about Boogie as the answer

 

[Scalma]

When I say product, I'm not talking about just Mason. I'm talking about the whole team. Its a flawed roster. It's not a contending roster. It's not worth the money.

 

[riverman]

Its a flawed roster

It's a rebuild....not halfway through the second year....Olshey and Allen said it was a 3 year window to compete...and this season is for development.....check back in March and see how well they've developed.

 

[Scalma]

It's a rebuild....not halfway through the second year....Olshey and Allen said it was a 3 year window to compete...and this season is for development.....check back in March and see how well they've developed.

Rebuilding teams don't usually operate with one of the leagues highest payrolls

 

[riverman]

Rebuilding teams don't usually operate with one of the leagues highest payrolls

so? The Knicks have been losing with that title for a long time

 

[Scalma]

And as far as rebuilding is concerned who outside of maybe Vonleh is going to take a big enough jump for this team to leap into the upper echelon?

 

[Scalma]

so? The Knicks have been losing with that title for a long time

Yeah, that's the team I want Portland to be associated with, the Knicks.

 

[riverman]

Yeah, that's the team I want the Portland to be associated with, the Knicks.

rich owner....big payroll...now has several superstars....I'll trust Paul Allen over Dolan anyday.....

 

[Scalma]

rich owner....big payroll...now has several superstars....I'll trust Paul Allen over Dolan anyday.....

I dont really understand your argument here, because you're just helping my point that this team, as currently constructed, isn't good enough.

 

[blue9]

And as far as rebuilding is concerned who outside of maybe Vonleh is going to take a big enough jump for this team to leap into the upper echelon?

Only Vonleh, Layman, and...Connaughton have any such potential for that much growth. And I don't expect any of them to make such a significant leap.

 

[Nikolokolus]

rich owner....big payroll...now has several superstars....I'll trust Paul Allen over Dolan anyday.....

Who has "several superstars?" You're not suggesting the Blazers are you?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Who has "several superstars?" You're not suggesting the Blazers are you?

I think he's saying that the Knicks, with Melo, Porzingis, and Rose, have several superstars, so perhaps that's not necessarily a bad situation to which to be compared (as was suggested in the post to which he was replying).

 

[Pinwheel1]

i like the combination of Vonleh and Plumlee, but I can't see Plumlee here long term for financial reasons. Everyone keeps throwing Crabbe in trade scenarios but this team can't afford to lose a shooter. Nobody will trade for Turner. All of this will leave us in luxury tax hell next season. Olsheys got quite a job coming up.

I am not sure I agree with this. If management likes Plumlee and Crabbe is needed in order to keep him.....then they can and will trade him. A lot easier finding another outside shooter to come off the bench then finding a a center like Plumlee. Plus if management really values Plums, don't they have up until the end of the following season to reduce payroll. There is plenty of time. Who knows maybe by then Layman will be ready to come off the bench as a SF and provide us the same production.

As for Turner, he is pretty good and I am sure other teams view him in the same way too. I would not want to trade him, but he is tradable. And people complain about Harkless and Leonard's new contracts....they both have value as well and can be moved for just cap space if needed.

 

[Scalma]

I am not sure I agree with this. If management likes Plumlee and Crabbe is needed in order to keep him.....then they can and will trade him. A lot easier finding another outside shooter to come off the bench then finding a a center like Plumlee. Plus if management really values Plums, don't they have up until the end of the following season to reduce payroll. There is plenty of time. Who knows maybe by then Layman will be ready to come off the bench as a SF and provide us the same production.

As for Turner, he is pretty good and I am sure other teams view him in the same way too. I would not want to trade him, but he is tradable. And people complain about Harkless and Leonard's new contracts....they both have value as well and can be moved for just cap space if needed.

Is it though? What does Plumlee do that's so hard to replace besides passing, which shouldn't be a centers primary strength anyway?