The Bench (1 Viewer)

[Rastapopoulos]

Our bench was supposed to be much improved this year. Well, it's IMPROVED, in that it's no longer historically bad, but it's not good. Our starters are great. Surely one of the best units in the league, because everyone knows his role and is performing it well (Lillard's suspect shooting aside). But... do you trust the bench? Do you think, "oh great, now [opposing team] is in trouble" when substitutions start? Or do you think "shit, I hope we can buy Lillard/Aldridge/Matthews/Batum a little bit of rest..."

If I had to pick a bench "star" it would be, amazingly enough, Freeland. Of the bench he has by far the best +/-. And even he is someone who can be abused against particular players (Morris twins, for example). Mo Williams just blows so hot and cold, except for his defense which is universally awful. And Dorell Wright has just been kind of meh. Robinson blows SUPER hot and cold. You always know he's out there, but he's still incredibly erratic.

So, needs: a good backcourt defender. A backup stretch big. Candidates for the latter would be someone like Channing Frye or Hawes, both of which don't seem to fit with their team's tanking strategies. Not sure about the guard. If Chicago went full tankopalooza, Hinrich might fit, although he's pretty old and they don't really have a PG otherwise. I wonder if NY would part with Prigioni? He's VERY old, but he's in great shape and he's a real PG who plays smart D (within his limitations) and hits threes. Basically the idea for us would be what NY had in Kidd a couple of years back.

 

[magnifier661]

Well it's way better than last season. We gotta remember that CJ hasn't even played yet. I'm really excited to see what dynamic he will bring to this ball club.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That's the thing: I don't see CJ getting much, if any, burn. He's basically Mo with even less PG skills. If we moved Mo for a more Kidd-like backup PG then there might be a gap for CJ to fill.

 

[Natebishop3]

The bench has been a disappointment. I thought it would be better with proven guys like Wright and Mo. It will be interesting to see how things play out with CJ though.

 

[THE HCP]

Just put up this years bench number next to last. I'm happy with what we are getting from them. Especially in those first 4 minutes of the 4th quarter last night!

 

[magnifier661]

That's the thing: I don't see CJ getting much, if any, burn. He's basically Mo with even less PG skills. If we moved Mo for a more Kidd-like backup PG then there might be a gap for CJ to fill.

I see Mo as a 20 minute guy. Matthews can take breathers so that CJ can get more burn.

 

[julius]

To me, it's more that the bench is not incredibly inept like it was last year. I do wish there was a plug off the bench (besides Williams), and I'm not sure CJ will provide it.

BUT I like how they aren't totally taking a crap like last years bench was.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's the thing: I don't see CJ getting much, if any, burn. He's basically Mo with even less PG skills. If we moved Mo for a more Kidd-like backup PG then there might be a gap for CJ to fill.

I think CJ is a better pure scorer than Mo is. I think he's better at going to the rack. I guess we'll see, but CJ is supposed to be a very good pure scorer.

 

[magnifier661]

To me, it's more that the bench is not incredibly inept like it was last year. I do wish there was a plug off the bench (besides Williams), and I'm not sure CJ will provide it.

BUT I like how they aren't totally taking a crap like last years bench was.

Not to mention our starters have gotten much better. Just having back ups so our starters aren't logging +38 minutes a game is a Godsend! Lopez has been the biggest surprise, trumping Hickson's contribution easily.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It seems to me that the bench has gone from pathetic to being able to keep the game within reach.

IMO, we need a veteran big who can swing between the 4-5 spot that can punish teams inside offensively, as well as a veteran swing man that can handle 10-12 minutes per night...maybe a defensive stopper (Corey Brewer type?)

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The bench could always stand to improve; they have been outplayed a few times recently... but they are definitely better than they used to be.

I was amazed that LMA and Lillard only played 37 minutes last night; last season, this would have been a 40+ minute game for both.

 

[Natebishop3]

It seems to me that the bench has gone from pathetic to being able to keep the game within reach.

IMO, we need a veteran big who can swing between the 4-5 spot that can punish teams inside offensively, as well as a veteran swing man that can handle 10-12 minutes per night...maybe a defensive stopper (Corey Brewer type?)

Isn't that what Aldridge is? Why not just have Aldridge swing to the five at times and play Robinson with him more often?

 

[THE HCP]

I like seeing LA on the floor with Robinson. I think they work well together.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like seeing LA on the floor with Robinson. I think they work well together.

I agree. I really enjoy seeing the raw energy that Robinson brings when he's on the court.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Isn't that what Aldridge is? Why not just have Aldridge swing to the five at times and play Robinson with him more often?

I guess I was trying to say having another big instead of Robinson and Freeland would probably benefit us a ton. Not that they are bad in any way, but a player with some playoff experience, that has to command the attention of the opposition when he is in the game would be huge

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess I was trying to say having another big instead of Robinson and Freeland would probably benefit us a ton. Not that they are bad in any way, but a player with some playoff experience, that has to command the attention of the opposition when he is in the game would be huge

I think that's why so many people wanted Jermaine last summer.

 

[BlazerBeav]

The best argument to be made for the bench is that last night, we played the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter with Damien and 4 bench players - and during that stretch we not only held our ground, we took our first lead of the game and built on it.

 

[Natebishop3]

The best argument to be made for the bench is that last night, we played the first 5 minutes of the 4th quarter with Damien and 4 bench players - and during that stretch we not only held our ground, we took our first lead of the game and built on it.

But the problem is that Mo is so dammed inconsistent. Last night he was on, and was an important cog in our victory, but there's no guarantee that he'll have a good game like that. He's our best scorer off the bench, but we have no idea what we'll get from him.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

But the problem is that Mo is so dammed inconsistent. Last night he was on, and was an important cog in our victory, but there's no guarantee that he'll have a good game like that. He's our best scorer off the bench, but we have no idea what we'll get from him.

I guess that's why he's a supersub, and why there's a tradeoff. We could have a low-risk, low reward wing like an Ime Udoka type who doesn't fuck up, but doesn't blow up for 20, but would that guy have helped us last night? I like that we have a more powerful weapon, even if he jams up sometimes.

 

[magnifier661]

But the problem is that Mo is so dammed inconsistent. Last night he was on, and was an important cog in our victory, but there's no guarantee that he'll have a good game like that. He's our best scorer off the bench, but we have no idea what we'll get from him.

But in a 7 game series, he most likely will be important. I could see him being the hero in one game of the playoffs. Hopefully CJ will get enough burn to be able to come in more if Mo's game is off.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I guess that's why he's a supersub, and why there's a tradeoff. We could have a low-risk, low reward wing like an Ime Udoka type who doesn't fuck up, but doesn't blow up for 20, but would that guy have helped us last night? I like that we have a more powerful weapon, even if he jams up sometimes.

Yep, and the bigger the moment, the more I think Mo will be the guy that rips the heart out of the other team. He's a risk/reward guy, our Herm Gilliam.

 

[Nikolokolus]

That's the thing: I don't see CJ getting much, if any, burn. He's basically Mo with even less PG skills. If we moved Mo for a more Kidd-like backup PG then there might be a gap for CJ to fill.

I'd probably be more inclined to move CJ than Mo. Hard to say what his trade value would be after the foot injury. Maybe there's a trade partner out there with a player we need that was in love with him during the draft?

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess that's why he's a supersub, and why there's a tradeoff. We could have a low-risk, low reward wing like an Ime Udoka type who doesn't fuck up, but doesn't blow up for 20, but would that guy have helped us last night? I like that we have a more powerful weapon, even if he jams up sometimes.

That kind of player is fine if you have the steady players as well, but right now we simply don't have the steady scoring bench players. I like Robinson and Freeland, but Freeland is only good for maybe 4-6 points per game and Robinson is another question mark. He could go off for 16 or he could score 4. We don't know. I think Wright has been a disappointment because I was hoping we could count on him for at least a couple threes every game. His shot has been off lately. I'm fine with Mo being a microwave player, but we need a steady hand that will get us around 8 points off the bench every night. Wright is only averaging just under 5 ppg right now. That's not enough. I'm hoping once CJ comes back he can be that steady hand off the bench.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think CJ is a better pure scorer than Mo is. I think he's better at going to the rack. I guess we'll see, but CJ is supposed to be a very good pure scorer.

Hard to say since he's never played against NBA competition. At this point he's all potential and no production, not exactly the recipe you want in your sixth man for a team with playoff aspirations - just saying, he's not going to get much time to prove if he can or can't play on this particular team.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hard to say since he's never played against NBA competition. At this point he's all potential and no production, not exactly the recipe you want in your sixth man for a team with playoff aspirations - just saying, he's not going to get much time to prove if he can or can't play on this particular team.

It's the only recipe we have because right now our bench doesn't appear to be anything special. I think we HAVE to give him some PT when he comes back because we need to know what we have. It's not like Mo is playing amazing ball right now. If CJ is half as good as some people say he is, he could be a huge piece in any playoff aspirations that we have.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think the starters are still playing too many minutes, because you have to have at least one or two of them out there at all times. We have three players in the top 25 in mpg (Aldridge at #8). Now, Lillard is down to 16th in the league from 1st, which is good, but look at San Antonio: Parker leads them at 31.1 mpg, which would put him 5th on our team, a hair ahead of Lopez. Or the Heat: Lebron plays 35.5 mpg, which would be 4th, while Bosh plays fewer minutes than Lopez!

Of course, the Blazers are comparatively young, but you don't want to burn them out come playoff time.

I do wonder why Stotts won't even include Claver in the rotation. Is he actually inactive? While Crabbe is active? I don't get it. His shot is off but he does so may other things. If you played him with some of the starters I think he'd be a good glue guy and then the starter he replaced could get some burn with other bench players.

 

[magnifier661]

I think the starters are still playing too many minutes, because you have to have at least one or two of them out there at all times. We have three players in the top 25 in mpg (Aldridge at #8). Now, Lillard is down to 16th in the league from 1st, which is good, but look at San Antonio: Parker leads them at 31.1 mpg, which would put him 5th on our team, a hair ahead of Lopez. Or the Heat: Lebron plays 35.5 mpg, which would be 4th, while Bosh plays fewer minutes than Lopez!

Of course, the Blazers are comparatively young, but you don't want to burn them out come playoff time.

I do wonder why Stotts won't even include Claver in the rotation. Is he actually inactive? While Crabbe is active? I don't get it. His shot is off but he does so may other things. If you played him with some of the starters I think he'd be a good glue guy and then the starter he replaced could get some burn with other bench players.

Last season, weren't our starters in the top in minutes? I think Lillard was like top 3 and Aldridge was right up there.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I think we're fine at the moment and wouldn't mess with anything currently (obviously). However, I do think a team like below would be more balanced than our current team (w/Moe and sans CJ).

Starters

Andre Miller (b/u 1 - 15 mpg) - Aldridge loves him, could get the team going when the shots aren't falling by getting it inside. We'd basically play a little different style while he's in, but he could play generally with Aldridge at 5 and someone who can stretch the floor a little at 4 (Frye/Robinson), to keep floor spacing and the lane unclogged. But I think that Stott's could adjust to him, he obviously had J-Kidd in Dallas and made it work. I'd prefer him to Mo.

Martell Webster (b/u 2-3-4) - He would be absolutely filthy in this offense. And as long as he's on the floor with a playmaker or two (Lillard/Batum), his handles wouldn't be a huge liability. Basically having two of he/Matthews/Batum on the floor all the time guarantees different physical looks from our D. I'd prefer him to Mo/Wright.

Thomas Robinson (b/u 4) - Keep him at 10-15 mpg, rebounding tenacity.

Channing Frye (4-5) - I think he'd fit this offense very well too, as long as he could play the post on D next to Aldridge, and defend the perimeter when next to Lopez. His floor spacing would be great. Could he bring the rebounding that Freeland does?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'd probably be more inclined to move CJ than Mo. Hard to say what his trade value would be after the foot injury. Maybe there's a trade partner out there with a player we need that was in love with him during the draft?

Wow. I didn't approve of the pick but I'm still intrigued by him. Meanwhile Mo is the epitome of journeyman and on the downslope of his career. If he was traded at the end of the season then he'd be remembered as a Blazer about as much as Eric Maynor (who has fallen off a cliff in Washington). I really wish we'd've gone after Shaun Livingston instead of Mo.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think the starters are still playing too many minutes, because you have to have at least one or two of them out there at all times. We have three players in the top 25 in mpg (Aldridge at #8). Now, Lillard is down to 16th in the league from 1st, which is good, but look at San Antonio: Parker leads them at 31.1 mpg, which would put him 5th on our team, a hair ahead of Lopez. Or the Heat: Lebron plays 35.5 mpg, which would be 4th, while Bosh plays fewer minutes than Lopez!

Of course, the Blazers are comparatively young, but you don't want to burn them out come playoff time.

I do wonder why Stotts won't even include Claver in the rotation. Is he actually inactive? While Crabbe is active? I don't get it. His shot is off but he does so may other things. If you played him with some of the starters I think he'd be a good glue guy and then the starter he replaced could get some burn with other bench players.

I feel like you're putting too much emphasis on minutes. For his first five years in the league, LeBron was averaging right around 40 mpg. He has only started coming down recently as he's getting older. In his second and third seasons he was averaging over 42 mpg. When you have a player as valuable as Dame or LeBron, you have to keep them on the floor. I would like to see Dame around 36 mpg, but right now it seems like we can't afford to take him off the floor. He and Aldridge are so vital to our offense. The fact that their minutes are down at all is huge.