Wallace to start over Camby

[BlazerBeav]

I personally like the move - had to get Crash in the starting unit and Camby can fit better with Roy.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/03/trail_blazers_will_start_geral.html

 

[RoyToy]

This is dumb

Wallace should start at SF and Camby at C. Nate's fetish with having a hybrid 4 is really starting to piss me off.

 

[BBert]

I actually like this lineup against the Mavs.

Camby has not looked good, he supposedly tweeked his knee, and he's only playing 20 minutes a night anyway.

 

[RoyToy]

I actually like this lineup against the Mavs.

Camby has not looked good, he supposedly tweeked his knee, and he's only playing 20 minutes a night anyway.

His rebounding hasn't slipped at all so I'm not really sure how he hasn't looked good.

 

[illmatic99]

Good move. Marcus was not playing well at all, and Wallace looked out of place off the bench.

I think the injury thing is a disguise.

 

[RoyToy]

I don't get this "Marcus isn't playing well" talk. His rebounding really hasn't suffered at all and he's still the best rebounder on the team. Not starting your best rebounder when you've been getting beat on the boards with regularity the past couple games doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Poor Camby. First he was removed from the finishing unit and now the starting unit.

 

[magnifier661]

I am not in support of Camby coming off the bench. It is suspect to me; thinking this was just an excuse to start Wallace without benching Batum. I think this is seriously deeper than just "Camby is hurt and Wallace will start". Call me Moulder from X-files, but I smell ALIEN!

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

I think it's convenient for sure, but I believe Camby is the one that requested additional X-Rays. So, is Wallace going to press too much in his first start to try and justify it? I hope this move is given enough time to settle in and not just a short-term thing.

 

[RoyToy]

This just seems like another classic example of Nate McMillan overthinking the situation.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

I could see it as a stop gap way to get Wallace into the starting line-up. If/When Camby heals up, then bring him back in as starting Center and move Wallace over to SF and Batum to the bench...

 

[magnifier661]

I could see it as a stop gap way to get Wallace into the starting line-up. If/When Camby heals up, then bring him back in as starting Center and move Wallace over to SF and Batum to the bench...

I don't know man. If you want someone to start, just start the player! So what if it hurts an ego of a young player. Camby is a PF/C and is our starting center all season when healthy. Just seems weird that you would put Aldridge in an uncomfortable position at center (As sly has told me, he made clear he is uncomfortable being center), then bench your starting center and play Wallace out of position from his natural position of SF all for Batum? Does this mean Batum is more valuable to this team than Camby, Wallace and Aldridge? Makes no sense.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

in the short term, yeah, lets get our best players on the floor, but wallace is a nice player to swallow up minutes at the 3 AND 4, and getting 30+ mpg from the bench, it shouldnt matter who starts, but whos there at the end, ask ginobli, run on sentance

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I could see it as a stop gap way to get Wallace into the starting line-up. If/When Camby heals up, then bring him back in as starting Center and move Wallace over to SF and Batum to the bench...

That sounds about right; reminds me of when they benched Batum to get Matthews in the starting lineup; a lot of us (rightly) saw it as the first step to get Roy on the bench. Eventually, it happened. I could see this type of maneuver happening again.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

I don't know man. If you want someone to start, just start the player! So what if it hurts an ego of a young player. Camby is a PF/C and is our starting center all season when healthy. Just seems weird that you would put Aldridge in an uncomfortable position at center (As sly has told me, he made clear he is uncomfortable being center), then bench your starting center and play Wallace out of position from his natural position of SF all for Batum? Does this mean Batum is more valuable to this team than Camby, Wallace and Aldridge? Makes no sense.

I think is more about Camby being in worse physical shape right now than Batum... there is only so much you can do to protect player's egos.

 

[tlongII]

It might help us get our offense in gear a little quicker so I'm okay with it.

 

[BBert]

I think it's convenient for sure, but I believe Camby is the one that requested additional X-Rays. So, is Wallace going to press too much in his first start to try and justify it? I hope this move is given enough time to settle in and not just a short-term thing.

Nah, he'll press less in a more familiar role and routine.

 

[maxiep]

I could see it as a stop gap way to get Wallace into the starting line-up. If/When Camby heals up, then bring him back in as starting Center and move Wallace over to SF and Batum to the bench...

This scenario is exactly what I was going to post. Repped.

 

[maxiep]

Something isn't right with Marcus. His rebounding has been fine, but his defense has been a half step slow and his shot has been WAY off. I don't think he's 100%. I think working him in off the bench would work fine for him. Wallace is accustomed to starting. Camby came off the bench for the Clip Show.

 

[BBert]

Something isn't right with Marcus. His rebounding has been fine, but his defense has been a half step slow and his shot has been WAY off. I don't think he's 100%. I think working him in off the bench would work fine for him. Wallace is accustomed to starting. Camby came off the bench for the Clip Show.

This. The worst is Camby's shoulder level 'lobs' to LaMarcus for the TO. I just want our guys healthy for the playoffs for once.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Nate has been very effective with implimenting hybrid 4 lineups (outlaw). I give him thumbs up for trying it now. LA - Wallace - Batum - Matthews - Miller is a lineup ready to run, gun, and hustle. It's good for both defense and offense.

Most teams don't have a center who can punish LA for being undersized. Conversely, LA is too fast in the post for most who'll be guarding him. I think it'll work.

Wallace, arguably, became our best player on the day we traded for him, he should be playing as many minutes as he can get.

 

[RoyToy]

If this lasts more than a couple games I'll be pissed. Starting an undersized frontcourt when you have a player like Camby would be beyond foolish.

 

[mook]

I like the move. Aldridge plays better at center than PF anyway. It gets him closer to the rim, rebounding more and scoring in the post more. Teams were just sagging off Camby because he isn't making his 18 footers, so you only had to play him for the pass. When Gerald Wallace has the ball 18 feet from the rim, you have to pay attention because there's all kinds of crazy he can do.

Besides, the playoffs are all about adjusting to the other team. We've seen how the team works with Camby starting. Now let's see how Wallace looks as a starter playing off Aldridge so we'll know if that's a good option against a particular playoff matchup.

 

[RoyToy]

We already have a good idea what it looks like with them playing together as they play at least 30min together on the floor at the same time. Starting them together isn't going to drastically change anything.

Like I said before, just another classic example of McMillan overthinking the situation.

 

[mook]

If this lasts more than a couple games I'll be pissed. Starting an undersized frontcourt when you have a player like Camby would be beyond foolish.

I don't know about that. Who does Amare guard when the Knicks play us? Who does Randolph guard? Who does Dirk guard? Love? Griffin?

The thing I really love about this lineup is that there's nowhere you can stash your crappy-defending-star-power-forward against our team. Those guys have to guard either LaMarcus or Wallace, and neither is an easy out.

Camby brings rebounding and shot blocking. But Aldridge is a much better rebounder at center, and Gerald Wallace is an excellent rebounder for his size and a good shot blocker. You mostly give up passing in exchange for quickness.

 

[RoyToy]

I don't know about that. Who does Amare guard when the Knicks play us? Who does Randolph guard? Who does Dirk guard? Love? Griffin?

The thing I really love about this lineup is that there's nowhere you can stash your crappy-defending-star-power-forward against our team. Those guys have to guard either LaMarcus or Wallace, and neither is an easy out.

Camby brings rebounding and shot blocking. But Aldridge is a much better rebounder at center, and Gerald Wallace is an excellent rebounder for his size and a good shot blocker. You mostly give up passing in exchange for quickness.

Like I said above, we've already seen this combination of a Wallace/Aldridge 4/5 since Wallace has been here and it's not like the offense has exploded. If anything it's been laughable the past two games. Starting them together doesn't drastically change anything.

The starting lineup needs to be Miller/Matthews/Wallace/Aldridge/Camby. This is the one lineup we haven't see yet and it needs to be given a chance as it puts everyone at their natural position. It's pissing me off that it hasn't even been tried yet.

 

[JDC]

Like the move. Camby has been nothing short of terrible since he's been back. Sure we lose some rebounding, but Gerald has been a beast on the boards since the trade with a trb% of 16.5 which is above average for a PF.

According to basketballvalue.com, the units that feature Crash and LA at the 4 and 5 (only counting the units that have played 20+ minutes together), over the course of 157 minutes, the Blazers have outscored their opponents by 39pts, 334-295. Or around 12pts per 48min.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I like the move. Aldridge plays better at center than PF anyway. It gets him closer to the rim, rebounding more and scoring in the post more. Teams were just sagging off Camby because he isn't making his 18 footers, so you only had to play him for the pass. When Gerald Wallace has the ball 18 feet from the rim, you have to pay attention because there's all kinds of crazy he can do.

Besides, the playoffs are all about adjusting to the other team. We've seen how the team works with Camby starting. Now let's see how Wallace looks as a starter playing off Aldridge so we'll know if that's a good option against a particular playoff matchup.

+1

Notice LMA's numbers since Camby returned? LMA does get much more involved while playing the 5.

Miller + Matthews + Batum + Crash + LMA is how we have to run from here on out.

Let's see (over the next couple games) if LMA's points and rebounds go back up!

 

[mook]

Like the move. Camby has been nothing short of terrible since he's been back. Sure we lose some rebounding, but Gerald has been a beast on the boards since the trade with a trb% of 16.5 which is above average for a PF.

According to basketballvalue.com, the units that feature Crash and LA at the 4 and 5 (only counting the units that have played 20+ minutes together), over the course of 157 minutes, the Blazers have outscored their opponents by 39pts, 334-295. Or around 12pts per 48min.

Thanks for posting that. That's pretty much what my memory tells me--Aldridge and Wallace at the 4/5 does work when it's used. The best way to ensure it is used a lot is to start both of them and plan on allocating 36 mpg. Since he arrived, Gerald is only playing 31 mpg, which just isn't enough.

 

[jlprk]

Like the move. Camby has been nothing short of terrible since he's been back.

Camby is still hurting. His return was accelerated because we traded Joel and Marks.