Starting Small Forward

[BonesJones]

Last year: http://www.82games.com/1819/1819POR.HTM

Turner played 30% of the SF minutes.
Harkless played 27% of the SF minutes.
Layman played 21% of the SF minutes
Hood played 12 % of the SF minutes.

Bunch of other guys filled the other 5 mins or so (CJ/Seth/Suace, etc). Once Hood came on, Turner's mins reduced and Layman was pretty much out of rotation.

This year, I see the breakdown as follows:

Baze starts for his defense and takes the Harkless role. Hood comes on off the bench midway through the first and replaces the Turner role. Hezonja is the third swingman and goes up to PF on occasion.

Minutes breakdown:

PG: Dame (33) / Simons (15)
SG: CJ (33)/ Hood (10)/ Simons (5)
SF: Bazemore (25)/ Hood (15) / Hezonja (8)
PF: Collins (25)/ Tolliver (15)/ Hezonja (8)
C: Whiteside (30)/ Collins (5) / Center to be named later (13)

The key to our SF rotation is Collins being to play consistently around 25-30 mins at PF without foul trouble.

Dame and CJ have always played more than that. We cant afford to consistently play them 33mpg. Tolliver and Hezonja getting 15mpg each is scary...

 

[borim69]

Tolliver does not scare me he can come in off the bench and has a decent shot and not lose ground while the starters are out he knows his role and will perform adequately . Mario well who knows but yeah he probably wont show much. I think we will see more Skal then him

 

[Dougnsalem]

What is a "basket case situation?"

When you find out the chick you are starting to date is crazy, and a psycho mass murderer....

 

[Reep]

When you find out the chick you are starting to date is bi-polar, and has ADHD....


(no offense Eric. I couldn't think of a different word)

How about replacing with Borderline Personality Disorder.

 

[ABM]

FWIW.....

https://ripcityproject.com/2019/07/23/rodney-hood-bench-portland-trail-blazers/

Rodney Hood should come off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers

Why might the Portland Trail Blazers bring Rodney Hood off the bench in 2019-20?

........Sure, Portland could just stagger Hood’s minutes, replacing him with Kent Bazemoreat the first substitution, and then bringing him back later in the quarter/half with the second. However, in my opinion, that takes both Hood and Bazemore out of their rhythm.

Instead, I suggest Stotts toy with the idea of starting Bazemore outright. Not as threatening of a threat with the ball in hands, Bazemore would be much better suited playing off Lillard and McCollum rather than being forced to have the ball in his hands in tandem with Anfernee Simons. Bazemore has consistently ranked in the upper tiers when it comes to assisted baskets, and that can only improve with such a dynamic starting backcourt.......

 

[Dougnsalem]

How about replacing with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Good idea. I should have gone even more generic.....

When you find out the chick you are starting to date is crazy, and a psycho mass murderer....

 

[BonesJones]

Tolliver does not scare me he can come in off the bench and has a decent shot and not lose ground while the starters are out he knows his role and will perform adequately . Mario well who knows but yeah he probably wont show much. I think we will see more Skal then him

He can come off the bench, be an average at best 3pt shooter, an average at best defender, and suck at everything else.

That's fine for an average team. I thought we were trying to contend.

 

[Hoopguru]

He can come off the bench, be an average at best 3pt shooter, an average at best defender, and suck at everything else.

That's fine for an average team. I thought we were trying to contend.

You didn't notice? we are now contending!

 

[PCmor7]

I think it's going to be Hood. Bazemore will finish more games, though. Hezonja will be playing the Turner role, and he might finish some games depending on situations.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I would imagine Hood starting but regardless, Hood will be finishing games. Adding yet another guy who can get his own shot will be valuable when teams decide on whether or not to blitz Dame/CJ.

 

[ABM]

Well, I just watched Olshey's little vid, and if you go by that, Hood's the starting 3.

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest...ers-upgrade-personnel-philosophy-remains-same

 

[mook]

Well, I just watched Olshey's little vid, and if you go by that, Hood's the starting 3.

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest...ers-upgrade-personnel-philosophy-remains-same

It does sound like Neil sold Hood on returning by offering him the starting job. It's interesting because he never started during our playoff run, and he only started 4 regular season games. He did play 40 minutes in the last of the Warriors sweep (scored 7 pts).

It's funny--he's only 27 years old this season. He has kind of an old man's demeanor and playing style, so I just kind of think of him as an older player.

Stotts has proven in the past that when he gets new guys he gives them a chance to shine, especially early in the season. Now that there's no natural incumbent at SF I wouldn't be surprised to see Hood, Bazemore and Hezonja all get the chance.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I hope its basemore. We need his D with the starters.
Hood is fine coming off the bench. Comfortable.
Hezonjas ball handling will also be needed in the second unit.

 

[BonesJones]

I hope its basemore. We need his D with the starters.
Hood is fine coming off the bench. Comfortable.
Hezonjas ball handling will also be needed in the second unit.

I dont think Hood's D is all that much worse than Bazemores

 

[Reep]

I'm sure if Hood starts, and the defense is notably worse then adjustments will be made. I'm not concerned as Hood seems like a decent defender to me.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I dont think Hood's D is all that much worse than Bazemores

I like how Hood played on the second unit though and Bazemore isn't a scorer like Hood is. I think its more important to make sure the starter is good on D and the backup is primarily offensive. so for me, id rather see Bazemore start( he is used to it) and have Hood off the bench( he is also used to it)

 

[BonesJones]

I like how Hood played on the second unit though and Bazemore isn't a scorer like Hood is. I think its more important to make sure the starter is good on D and the backup is primarily offensive. so for me, id rather see Bazemore start( he is used to it) and have Hood off the bench( he is also used to it)

You didnt have a sample of Hood starting to compare his play off the bench towards. So how do you know hes better off the bench?

Hood only came off the bench for a year or so. He was a full-time starter before then, and he was a good one.

We already have two defense-first big-men and our bench is filled with offense-first players.

Hoods defense isnt noticeably worse than Bazemore's either.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You didnt have a sample of Hood starting to compare his play off the bench towards. So how do you know hes better off the bench?

Hood only came off the bench for a year or so. He was a full-time starter before then, and he was a good one.

We already have two defense-first big-men and our bench is filled with offense-first players.

Hoods defense isnt noticeably worse than Bazemore's either.

Well you are kind of twisting my words now. I never said he was BETTER with the second unit. I just said I liked how he played with the second unit. No I didnt see him start, but I liked how comfortable he seemed to be coming off the bench. I think him Whiteside, Hezonja and Simons will compliment each other very well on the second unit, which I think needs another scorer in Hood.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You didnt have a sample of Hood starting to compare his play off the bench towards. So how do you know hes better off the bench?

Hood only came off the bench for a year or so. He was a full-time starter before then, and he was a good one.

We already have two defense-first big-men and our bench is filled with offense-first players.

Hoods defense isnt noticeably worse than Bazemore's either.

I tend to disagree with our bench being offensive first. Whiteside sure isnt. I think Skal will be a better defender than offense as well. But just opinions.
I also think for how good Nurk is defensively, he is very much an offensive core as well.


I just like Bazemore starting and focusing on helping Dame and CJ on D and Hood focusing on scoring on the second unit.

 

[BonesJones]

Well you are kind of twisting my words now. I never said he was BETTER with the second unit. I just said I liked how he played with the second unit. No I didnt see him start, but I liked how comfortable he seemed to be coming off the bench. I think him Whiteside, Hezonja and Simons will compliment each other very well on the second unit, which I think needs another scorer in Hood.

He was very comfortable next to Dame, CJ, and Collins in the playoffs though. If anything thatd be a reason to start him compared to keeping him on the bench with players hes never played regular minutes with.

Also, Whiteside? Hes starting until nearly the deadline then theres going to be moves so who knows what that'll look like.

 

[BonesJones]

I tend to disagree with our bench being offensive first. Whiteside sure isnt. I think Skal will be a better defender than offense as well. But just opinions.
I also think for how good Nurk is defensively, he is very much an offensive core as well.


I just like Bazemore starting and focusing on helping Dame and CJ on D and Hood focusing on scoring on the second unit.

Simons, Hezonja, Tolliver, and Gasol should all be considered offense-first IMO. Thays the main pieces off the bench.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Simons, Hezonja, Tolliver, and Gasol should all be considered offense-first IMO. Thays the main pieces off the bench.

Fair enough. I disagree with Gasol though. He is more than solid on Defense.

Im sure there will be a variety of lineups for us to fine tune opinions, but for now, I think I prefer Bazemore starting and Hood off the bench. Besides if you don't do that then the ONLY guy on our bench core who has been here at all is Simons. That's alot to ask of a bench in my opinion. Id like to see two guys who were here last year be part of that core. I think it will help them gel quicker as well.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Fair enough. I disagree with Gasol though. He is more than solid on Defense.

Im sure there will be a variety of lineups for us to fine tune opinions, but for now, I think I prefer Bazemore starting and Hood off the bench. Besides if you don't do that then the ONLY guy on our bench core who has been here at all is Simons. That's alot to ask of a bench in my opinion. Id like to see two guys who were here last year be part of that core. I think it will help them gel quicker as well.

I think you’re thinking of Gasol from like 10 years ago! .

 

[riverman]

I'd bet we start Dame, CJ, Rodney, Pau and Hassan ….Pau probably won't play a ton of minutes but you start a 2 time champ with 6 allstar nods....Zach will be first off the bench for either Hassan or Pau and Skal will follow him..Ant will take the Seth Curry role..Bazemore will take the Evan Turner role...Mario becomes Jake Layman and Tolliver becomes a spot minute role player like Meyers was

 

[BonesJones]

I'd bet we start Dame, CJ, Rodney, Pau and Hassan ….Pau probably won't play a ton of minutes but you start a 2 time champ with 6 allstar nods....Zach will be first off the bench for either Hassan or Pau and Skal will follow him..Ant will take the Seth Curry role..Bazemore will take the Evan Turner role...Mario becomes Jake Layman and Tolliver becomes a spot minute role player like Meyers was

Pau as the starting 4? Thatd be scary. He's so slow. He'd be fine to start against LMA and Favors type of PFs but those are very rare and are playing C more and more. I couldnt imagine him fairing well chasing around guys like Millsap, AD/Kuzma, Gay, Bogdanovic, Draymond, Zion, Jaren Jackson Jr, etc.

 

[riverman]

Pau as the starting 4? Thatd be scary. He's so slow. He'd be fine to start against LMA and Favors type of PFs but those are very rare and are playing C more and more. I couldnt imagine him fairing well chasing around guys like Millsap, AD/Kuzma, Gay, Bogdanovic, Draymond, Zion, Jaren Jackson Jr, etc.

in 2015-16 he put up a triple double on us...if I remember correctly it was 22/16/14 and 3 blocks....he was 35 then....don't count him out at all. Healthy he's an elite PF...the guy is a SMART player. I don't think he'll play big minutes but I'm sure he'll start. I'd be real surprised if Zach gets the start over him

 

[riverman]

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

in 2015-16 he put up a triple double on us...if I remember correctly it was 22/16/14 and 3 blocks....he was 35 then....don't count him out at all. Healthy he's an elite PF...the guy is a SMART player. I don't think he'll play big minutes but I'm sure he'll start. I'd be real surprised if Zach gets the start over him

From his comments, and my own opinion on it I think Gasol is here mainly to be a veteran presence, to teach, and help the young guys. I absolutely trust him to play solid minutes when his number is called, but I dont expect him to be heavily relied upon for big minutes even if he’s healthy.

 

[riverman]

From his comments, and my own opinion on it I think Gasol is here mainly to be a veteran presence, to teach, and help the young guys. I absolutely trust him to play solid minutes when his number is called, but I dont expect him to be heavily relied upon for big minutes even if he’s healthy.

teaching more often than not is setting the bar....he can do that...everybody knows he's not playing 30 minutes a game but he's a HOF lock...our best player at the position for now until Nurk gets back and both Zach and Skal will learn a ton from him on and off the court...Stotts said he'll play Pau with both Hassan and Zach on the court different times but he's going to play...hell Noah Vonleh started a million games and played about 11-15 minutes when he did...you start him and if he gets gassed or loses a step you sit him

 

[BonesJones]

in 2015-16 he put up a triple double on us...if I remember correctly it was 22/16/14 and 3 blocks....he was 35 then....don't count him out at all. Healthy he's an elite PF...the guy is a SMART player. I don't think he'll play big minutes but I'm sure he'll start. I'd be real surprised if Zach gets the start over him

2015-2016? That was 4 years ago. Hes 39 now. Hes slowed down a ton. The PF position has also gotten more skilled and more athletic during that time.

Zach is more of a hybrid 4/5 big than Gasol so I don't see the reasoning in starting Gasol over Zach at the 4. Gasol couldn't even get on the floor for Milwaukee after he came back from injury. I don't think there's any chance that Gasol starts over Zach, and if it does happen, then I'll have even less faith in the coaching staff.