The Blazers biggest issue(s), outside of defense..

[julius]

I think it's TOO many players for too few positions.

They're getting little out of Meyers and Davis, Aminu has dropped off the planet and this is without Festivus playing a minute yet.

I think there is too much uncertainty among the guys who aren't starting, and thinning the herd might be the best option.

The team should've signed only 2 of the 3 wings they did (Harkless, Crabbe and Turner). Only one of them has earned his salary and that's because he's been given consistent minutes.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I think it's TOO many players for too few positions.

They're getting little out of Meyers and Davis, Aminu has dropped off the planet and this is without Festivus playing a minute yet.

I think there is too much uncertainty among the guys who aren't starting, and thinning the herd might be the best option.

The team should've signed only 2 of the 3 wings they did (Harkless, Crabbe and Turner). Only one of them has earned his salary and that's because he's been given consistent minutes.

Hmm. Isn't this kinda the common theme at this point?
Rather obvious?
It's to the point where the national media beleives we signed the players we did so we could trade them, and it makes sense. I think its inevitable.

 

[blue9]

How about offense? We consistently go through huge scoring droughts - that's on Terry "Offensive Genius" Stotts. If he were truly so great at offense he would be able to identify weaknesses in the opponent's defense and call some sets to attack the weakness so we wouldn't go 7 minutes without scoring a point.

 

[Jelloman]

bench play has been the most obvious, the starters can hold their own against the other team's starters. Once the bench comes in AKA Turner and Crabbe comes in at 4 or 5 mins mark of 1st then the offense got stagnant.

Even worse when the full second unit comes out. no one can create their own shot besides CJ. Crabbe is a pure catch and shoot guy, when he is not getting open from all the screen they are running then he is useless. Turner can create his own shot but he can't shoot to save his own life so that's useless too. All opposite team need to focus on is stopping CJ.

 

[blue9]

bench play has been the most obvious, the starters can hold their own against the other team's starters. Once the bench comes in AKA Turner and Crabbe comes in at 4 or 5 mins mark of 1st then the offense got stagnant.

Even worse when the full second unit comes out. no one can create their own shot besides CJ. Crabbe is a pure catch and shoot guy, when he is not getting open from all the screen they are running then he is useless. Turner can create his own shot but he can't shoot to save his own life so that's useless too. All opposite team need to focus on is stopping CJ.

True, but it's not JUST bench play. Coming out of half-time with our starters we often fall flat on our face. And these scoring droughts aren't something new - they've been a consistent problem over the past several seasons.

 

[julius]

I'm ready to give Layman minutes ahead of Aminu and Turner. Some change needs to happen, as the play has been sub par, despite winning.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Every time the Blazers have lost this season @HCP has been near the team. Coincidence?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Too many soldiers and not enough generals. I love our role players, but we need to try and combine them for the third of a biggish 3

 

[BonesJones]

True, but it's not JUST bench play. Coming out of half-time with our starters we often fall flat on our face. And these scoring droughts aren't something new - they've been a consistent problem over the past several seasons.

I feel like Stotts doesn't tweak anything at halftime, and is running fewer and fewer sets and more "flow" (aka ratball).

 

[BonesJones]

Harkless is a solid 4th player, not a 3rd. Turner signing has been a wreck.

 

[riverman]

The loss last night made me think that something is going on....maybe there's a trade in the works causing some of our role players to mail it in knowing they will be elsewhere soon....food for thought ...Aminu has played solid defense.....Ed Davis has me worried and he was my favorite last season

 

[riverman]

I think by the allstar break Turner will be loved around here....we said the same about Henderson early last season...he rebounds really well for his size

 

[KingSpeed]

The loss last night made me think that something is going on....maybe there's a trade in the works causing some of our role players to mail it in knowing they will be elsewhere soon....food for thought ...Aminu has played solid defense.....Ed Davis has me worried and he was my favorite last season

You might be right.

I think by the allstar break Turner will be loved around here....we said the same about Henderson early last season...he rebounds really well for his size

Henderson was never this bad.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I haven't been able to watch much, how much time is Turner spending with both Dame and CJ on the floor with him, as opposed to only one of the two? Wasn't the whole point for him to spell one or the other as a secondary ballhandler?

 

[blue9]

I haven't been able to watch much, how much time is Turner spending with both Dame and CJ on the floor with him, as opposed to only one of the two? Wasn't the whole point for him to spell one or the other as a secondary ballhandler?

I haven't really paid attention to how often he's just with one rather than both, but I suspect most of the time it's with just one of them. As for ball handling - yeah, he's doing that. He just isn't very good at it (yet?). From what I've seen he dribbles his way into awful shots. You know how when Aminu dribbles the ball Aminu isn't in control of the ball? That's kinda how Turner is, except he controls the ball a lot better but doesn't control his body very well. Rather than just losing the ball altogether like Aminu does, he's able to retain the ball but gets himself into a position where he's halfway facing the basket, has a defender or three swarming him, doesn't know where his teammates are, and is forced to shoot a bad shot or turn the ball over on a travel.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I haven't really paid attention to how often he's just with one rather than both, but I suspect most of the time it's with just one of them. As for ball handling - yeah, he's doing that. He just isn't very good at it (yet?). From what I've seen he dribbles his way into awful shots. You know how when Aminu dribbles the ball Aminu isn't in control of the ball? That's kinda how Turner is, except he controls the ball a lot better but doesn't control his body very well. Rather than just losing the ball altogether like Aminu does, he's able to retain the ball but gets himself into a position where he's halfway facing the basket, has a defender or three swarming him, doesn't know where his teammates are, and is forced to shoot a bad shot or turn the ball over on a travel.

A lot of that can be fixed with practice and experience, if he's a good learner. Building chemistry takes time.

I hope he's a good learner.

 

[Orion Bailey]

A lot of that can be fixed with practice and experience, if he's a good learner. Building chemistry takes time.

I hope he's a good learner.

Ive heard he has a really high BBIQ

 

[blue9]

A lot of that can be fixed with practice and experience, if he's a good learner. Building chemistry takes time.

I hope he's a good learner.

That's kinda what I was getting at. I'm not ready to write him off because there's going to be a big adjustment going from Brad Stevens to Terry Stotts. But so far I have not been pleased with Turner - I thought that his game would look nicer than it does, regardless of the chemistry issues.

 

[illmatic99]

Our biggest issue outside of defense is that we don't have a legit third scorer.

That was supposed to be Turner/AC.

They have been completely absent.

 

[BBert]

I think by the allstar break Turner will be loved around here....we said the same about Henderson early last season...he rebounds really well for his size

I never loved Henderson. And he never played this badly.

I still have hope for Turner. What choice do I have?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Everyone on the team needs to be 4" taller.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[dviss1]

Too many soldiers and not enough generals. I love our role players, but we need to try and combine them for the third of a biggish 3

Others have made their feelings known. I'm not sure what your thoughts are. Where do you stand on a DMC trade?

 

[riverman]

Passing....good passing....alley oop passing...bounce passing...no look passing...this is a weakness the Blazers have had since Dre left

 

[Mediocre Man]

Others have made their feelings known. I'm not sure what your thoughts are. Where do you stand on a DMC trade?

It's tough because Portland is more successful than they should be because of their chemistry. DMC would probably ruin that, but totally increase the talent level. Also, does Stotts know what to do with a big?

 

[riverman]

It's tough because Portland is more successful than they should be because of their chemistry. DMC would probably ruin that, but totally increase the talent level. Also, does Stotts know what to do with a big?

DMC has mad respect for Dame....I think he'd welcome playing on a team where he wasn't the man for a change....he's a game changer

 

[Mediocre Man]

DMC has mad respect for Dame....I think he'd welcome playing on a team where he wasn't the man for a change....he's a game changer

Maybe

 

[riverman]

Maybe

I really wanted Mason or Ed to be a 20/10 guy but so far, that ain't happening....Boogie gives you that night in and night out

 

[julius]

Gooofh.....(not sure how to spell that), I'm almost on the Cousins band wagon.