Summer League Game Two: Blazers vs Lakers

[The_Lillard_King]

Have you never liked Earl Watson or has he slipped the last couple of years? The guy used to be pretty good. He has started a lot of games over his career. I think he is perfect for 12 minutes a game. Has he gotten worse with age?

I don't know much about Earl Watson. My simple analysis was he played on Utah team that had bad guards and could only average 17 mins a game for 48 games (racking up a total of a 2 point and 4 ast average) and he is 34 yrs old. But it is probably his age and that he is coming from Utah that makes me associate him closely with Ronnie Price and wonder is this a repeat of last year.

I thought Maynor took pressure off and helped Lillard's game. I was hoping for another player like that. Maybe Watson has something left in the tank, but it seems like there were lots of backup PGs out there to be had. I love the idea of Collison as a backup, but of course we aren't an LA team, Rid looks like he will be taking on a backup role . . . Devin Harris didn't pass a physical in Dallas and is available as a backup.

I understood the Price signing: as a mentor to Lillard plus Smith was penciled in as backip PG. But this year, they seem to be lacking a reliable backup PG and that put a lot of pressure on CJ (who looks more like a SG) and Lillard. But maybe I underestimate Watson.

 

[jlprk]

I watched 1 of 2 games and read the threads here, I'm not really concerned about Robinson or Leonard (they are kind of what to expect, lots of potential but unproven and will need to figure out how to be an effective NBA player)

But I am concerned about the back up PG position. I didn't think losing Maynor was a big problem until the Blazers replaced him with Earl Watson. Then I figured Watson was insurance and the Blazers will mainly go with CJ as back up. But I don't think that is the best thing for CJ or the Blazers. So are we going to be seeing Watson on a nightly basis?

I don't get the Earl Watson signing and wished the Blazers could have done better with back up PG. Maybe Earl will surprise . . . Price sort of surprised, but even that was painful to watch.

You keep posting that Watson is a Ronnie Price and I keep telling you, no he's not. He's 5 times the PG that McCollum is.

...At least when I watched him, a few years ago when he was a Sonic. As I've told you, Watson is like Jarrett Jack in driving to the basket. For a 6-1 guy he's good at defense. He was much better at 1) driving and 2) defense than Ridnour, an NBA starter. Ridnour was better at 3) shooting and 4) playmaking. They shared the starting PG spot under McMillan.

When Stotts finds himself in a situation needing a PG and Lillard's tired, he'll put in Watson, not McCollum. When we need defense at PG, he'll pull out Lillard and put in Watson. When we've lost the game and it's time to experiment, he'll put in McCollum at PG.

 

[maxiep]

You keep posting that Watson is a Ronnie Price and I keep telling you, no he's not. He's 5 times the PG that McCollum is.

...At least when I watched him, a few years ago when he was a Sonic. As I've told you, Watson is like Jarrett Jack in driving to the basket. For a 6-1 guy he's good at defense. He was much better at 1) driving and 2) defense than Ridnour, an NBA starter. Ridnour was better at 3) shooting and 4) playmaking. They shared the starting PG spot under McMillan.

When Stotts finds himself in a situation needing a PG and Lillard's tired, he'll put in Watson, not McCollum. When we need defense at PG, he'll pull out Lillard and put in Watson. When we've lost the game and it's time to experiment, he'll put in McCollum at PG.

Watson is a coach in uniform. He's here to teach Lillard and McCollum to play the position. He's here for practice. Anything else he adds is gravy.

I love the pickup.

 

[jlprk]

I haven't paid attention to Watson in recent years, but he used to be good, and is still certainly good enough to split the backup PG spot with McCollum, who has sucked at PG in SL.

Ronnie Price never was good, so I don't have to estimate how much he's declined. Watson should not be compared to Price. Watson's weaknesses were Ridnour's strengths, outside shooting and heady playmaking. In other words, Watson was the tough guy and "Ridnour is playing like a wimp." The ESPN Sonic board banned me for saying that.

Edit: Don't worry. I had about 10 new screen names already created in reserve. They slowed me down for about an hour.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

You keep posting that Watson is a Ronnie Price and I keep telling you, no he's not. He's 5 times the PG that McCollum is.

...At least when I watched him, a few years ago when he was a Sonic. As I've told you, Watson is like Jarrett Jack in driving to the basket. For a 6-1 guy he's good at defense. He was much better at 1) driving and 2) defense than Ridnour, an NBA starter. Ridnour was better at 3) shooting and 4) playmaking. They shared the starting PG spot under McMillan.

When Stotts finds himself in a situation needing a PG and Lillard's tired, he'll put in Watson, not McCollum. When we need defense at PG, he'll pull out Lillard and put in Watson. When we've lost the game and it's time to experiment, he'll put in McCollum at PG.

Nice you read all my posts because I think I've said it 2 times. Also we have been around this block, you can tell me 100 times and probably not something I'm going to take seriously (it's hard for me to know when you are serious).

My point with Price/Watson is they brought Price in here to mentor Lillard. As it turned out they actually needed Price as the back up PG and he really couldn't handle that role well. If they brought in Watson with the same thought (mentoring role), I think the Blazers will find they will actually need him to play a key role as back up PG. If they brought him in with the idea he is going to get key backup PG mins, well then I will trust Olshey and company . . . but they did miscalculate the back up PG position last year.

 

[maxiep]

Nice you read all my posts because I think I've said it 2 times. Also we have been around this block, you can tell me 100 times and probably not something I'm going to take seriously (it's hard for me to know when you are serious).

My point with Price/Watson is they brought Price in here to mentor Lillard. As it turned out they actually needed Price as the back up PG and he really couldn't handle that role well. If they brought in Watson with the same thought (mentoring role), I think the Blazers will find they will actually need him to play a key role as back up PG. If they brought him in with the idea he is going to get key backup PG mins, well then I will trust Olshey and company . . . but they did miscalculate the back up PG position last year.

Nice point. Forgive me for being one of the people who didn't get your point the first time around.

 

[jlprk]

Mentoring is just a demotivation ploy to lower a player's expectations for minutes. He won't complain about minutes if you butter him up in advance about how he is such a brain that he won't get minutes. If he's dumb enough, he'll fall for it. Watson is here to play, not mentor, but Olshey's legend depends upon his own picks doing well, so he has prepared Watson in a professorial role in case McCollum is alright at PG (so far, not a chance).

I know you've expressed doubts about Watson 2-3 times before this time, and because you have the time, and are a far better mentor than I am, I leave it to you to prove that you haven't.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Mentoring is just a demotivation ploy to lower a player's expectations for minutes. He won't complain about minutes if you butter him up in advance about how he is such a brain that he won't get minutes. If he's dumb enough, he'll fall for it. Watson is here to play, not mentor, but Olshey's legend depends upon his own picks doing well, so he has prepared Watson in a professorial role in case McCollum is alright at PG (so far, not a chance).

I know you've expressed doubts about Watson 2-3 times before this time, and because you have the time, and are a far better mentor than I am, I leave it to you to prove that you haven't.

I strangely enjoy your sense of humor. Both admitting you haven't followed Watson in recent years yet being an expert on him and your one liners.

I"ve checked all my recent posts . . . mentioned my concern twice. Your welcome.

 

[jlprk]

I know the inside of your head better than you do.

But then again, I better cover my tracks. Please write another post comparing Watson to Price to ensure my correctitude about 2-3 other posts.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I know the inside of your head better than you do.

But then again, I better cover my tracks. Please write another post comparing Watson to Price to ensure my correctitude about 2-3 other posts.

You ask, I deliver ( I could use a rep for all that work):

I don't know much about Earl Watson. My simple analysis was he played on Utah team that had bad guards and could only average 17 mins a game for 48 games (racking up a total of a 2 point and 4 ast average) and he is 34 yrs old. But it is probably his age and that he is coming from Utah that makes me associate him closely with Ronnie Price and wonder is this a repeat of last year.

I thought Maynor took pressure off and helped Lillard's game. I was hoping for another player like that. Maybe Watson has something left in the tank, but it seems like there were lots of backup PGs out there to be had. I love the idea of Collison as a backup, but of course we aren't an LA team, Rid looks like he will be taking on a backup role . . . Devin Harris didn't pass a physical in Dallas and is available as a backup.

I understood the Price signing: as a mentor to Lillard plus Smith was penciled in as backip PG. But this year, they seem to be lacking a reliable backup PG and that put a lot of pressure on CJ (who looks more like a SG) and Lillard. But maybe I underestimate Watson.

 

[maxiep]

Mentoring is just a demotivation ploy to lower a player's expectations for minutes. He won't complain about minutes if you butter him up in advance about how he is such a brain that he won't get minutes. If he's dumb enough, he'll fall for it. Watson is here to play, not mentor, but Olshey's legend depends upon his own picks doing well, so he has prepared Watson in a professorial role in case McCollum is alright at PG (so far, not a chance).

I know you've expressed doubts about Watson 2-3 times before this time, and because you have the time, and are a far better mentor than I am, I leave it to you to prove that you haven't.

I think Watson is smart enough to understand he can mentor for seven figures or coach for six, and that he's no longer good enough to play regular minutes. He chooses to make more money. In other words he's at least of average intelligence for an NBA player.

 

[jlprk]

Kiss My Cheeks, I can't get Basketball-Reference to sort assist to turnover ratio. Anyway, Watson's A/TO has been about 2.5 over many seasons, which is pretty good considering that his playmaking skill is not a strength. He gets the opponent to foul because his strengths are defense and driving. His assists are a bonus. Last season was his low in the ratio, but he hardly played any minutes, about 800. He showed that he wouldn't complain about 10 mpg. Collison, Devin Harris, etc. would. Remember, the goal is to make Olshey's draft picks shine, i.e. to sign a FA willing to play few minutes.

Maxiep, you're right, but try the contra. Olshey's smart enough to not pay 7 figures for a rookie assistant coach. Olshey expects Watson's mentoring role to be a minor reason he's here.

 

[jlprk]

By the way Kiss, I always found you possibly the most reasonable person around. Here's hoping Spud's boyfriend dumps her so she goes back to flirting with you. A little confidence sure made her uppity.