We need bench scoring.... badly.

[TBpup]

The 04-05 Suns are the closest comp to this current team as I can find.

That Suns team was first in the league in 3PTA, near the best in the league at limiting 3PTA, and mediocre defensively (PHX was ranked 17th).

http://tinyurl.com/ky684mn

Thanks for the homework. I think most fans would be quite happy if the Blazers climbed that high. Where exactly are they? Last I heard it was in the mid-20's.

Charcoal Filtered wrote:
So you are saying having three PF projects plus a SF/PG that do not work well together as your bench is a bad idea?

When you mention it that way, it sounds even worse. NeO has some work to do.

magnifier661 wrote:
Have you ever wondered if bringing in a true playmaking PG may take care of all needs?

I think that would make a big difference. Getting the ball to Wright on time in good spots, developing timing with Leonard because if there is one thing that kid can do, it is jump out of the building. It wouldn't hurt if he could run a decent pick and role with Joel. Freeland has decent touch out to 18' and attacks the rim hard even though he doesn't have tremendous athleticism at the rim.

 

[Natebishop3]

Have you ever wondered if bringing in a true playmaking PG may take care of all needs?

I always thought someone with great court awareness could make other around him better. This gives better opportunities for defensive specialists to not worry about having to score. The floor general will find you in rhythm or under the basket for an easy score.

I think we absolutely need that "playmaking" reserve. That should be our #1 concern.

I wish we would have picked up Kendall Marshall.

He's playing decently for the Lakers right now.

 

[Draco]

The 04-05 Suns are the closest comp to this current team as I can find.

That Suns team was first in the league in 3PTA, near the best in the league at limiting 3PTA, and mediocre defensively (PHX was ranked 17th).

http://tinyurl.com/ky684mn

The Blazers are not in the top 5 for 3pt attampts or percent of possessions ending in a 3. Its a big misconception this year.

 

[RR7]

The Blazers are not in the top 5 for 3pt attampts or percent of possessions ending in a 3. Its a big misconception this year.

We're #1 in makes, and #2 in 3pt attempts this season.

 

[Sinobas]

Apparantly Mo has a history of whining for shots....
http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2010/09/shaq-takes-a-shot-at-mo-williams/

 

[magnifier661]

I wish we would have picked up Kendall Marshall.

He's playing decently for the Lakers right now.

That would have been a good pick up

 

[Draco]

We're #1 in makes, and #2 in 3pt attempts this season.

Ahh thanks, I guess this just changed with our three games played in four nights. We are 6th in percent of possessions ending in a three. The Rockets, Suns, Lakers, Hawks and Knicks all shoot threes at a higher rate than us. The Rockets shoot a 3 on 33.5% of their possessions while we shoot one on 29.6% of our possessions.

We've now dropped to second in the league in accuracy, the Spurs lead the league at 39.7%, we shoot 39.6% and the Warriors are at 39.3%.

 

[Samuel]

The Blazers are not in the top 5 for 3pt attampts or percent of possessions ending in a 3. Its a big misconception this year.

Click the link. Portland has been in the top 3 or first for 3pt attempts pretty much all year.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Well we have some Bench scoring now thanks to Kaman. I do think the Blazers could use a backup SF though. Maybe Neil could pry Mike Dunleavy away from the Bulls if Doug McDermott continues playing well?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Well we have some Bench scoring now thanks to Kaman. I do think the Blazers could use a backup SF though. Maybe Neil could pry Mike Dunleavy away from the Bulls if Doug McDermott continues playing well?

I think the bench is a good 7 - 10 points better than they were tonight on a normal basis. Im not concerned about what they have. They have enough and more importantly the starters played no more than 34 mins. That's key.

 

[Natebishop3]

I like Blake because of his playmaking, but he needs to be able to hit a few shots. I don't expect much. 5-6 points. That's all.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I expect better from Dorell Wright.

 

[KingSpeed]

I just don't think we're gonna have a high scoring bench. Our starters are very productive and there's usually two of them on the floor with the bench and they are the ones who are doing most of the scoring. But scoring, bench or starters, is not the challenge for Portland. It's defense. The defense was superb tonight. If we keep that up against teams with more firepower, we will win 60 games.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I just don't think we're gonna have a high scoring bench. Our starters are very productive and there's usually two of them on the floor with the bench and they are the ones who are doing most of the scoring. But scoring, bench or starters, is not the challenge for Portland. It's defense. The defense was superb tonight. If we keep that up against teams with more firepower, we will win 60 games.

I think it's just as important you limit amount of mins the starters get all through out the year so they aren't spent when the second round rolls around.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

CJ looks no better than Jared Cunnignham.

His jumper is killing him.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

CJ looks no better than Jared Cunnignham.

His jumper is killing him.

I've read the Nolan comparisons...I think he will be fine. The team early on was flat and he fed right into it.

 

[KingSpeed]

I've read the Nolan comparisons...I think he will be fine. The team early on was flat and he fed right into it.

Actually, it was when CJ came in, that we started to get back into the game. He was a +13 tonight.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Actually, it was when CJ came in, that we started to get back into the game. He was a +13 tonight.

Good. So what is our overall problem with him?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Good. So what is our overall problem with him?

He isn't Lillard.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I was expecting him to be Catino Mobley-esque right away but he looks lost.

 

[riverman]

Good. So what is our overall problem with him?

More turnovers than assists, Couldn't shoot...that's where I'd start. He might have needed 20 minutes to find his game but he didn't look good tonight. So far from summer league on he's been hot and cold. I hope he changes this, I really do. I did with Nolan too. We've seen CJ play very well but night in and night out, I'm holding my breath when he's in there

 

[magnifier661]

CJ is really a problem right now. He needs to find whatever is troubling him and get his head into the game.

He's definitely got the talent to excel but something is holding him back. It would be nice if he becomes scorer "B" off the bench consistently

 

[Rhal]

Its WAY WAY WAY to early to be either lauding or dumping on our bench. it'll take 10 to 15 games for everyone to get accustomed to playing with each other in an actual NBA game. i'll give them that before I start really worrying or getting excited.

 

[Natebishop3]

Its WAY WAY WAY to early to be either lauding or dumping on our bench. it'll take 10 to 15 games for everyone to get accustomed to playing with each other in an actual NBA game. i'll give them that before I start really worrying or getting excited.

We need one more scorer off the bench. I don't care who it is, but either Wright, CJ, or Barton needs to step up. Blake isn't going to score a lot of points. He's going to get you a couple of buckets, a decent amount of assists, and a few boards. I'm fine with that. I don't expect Blake is score a lot. So the scoring needs to come from somewhere else.

 

[Rhal]

We need one more scorer off the bench. I don't care who it is, but either Wright, CJ, or Barton needs to step up. Blake isn't going to score a lot of points. He's going to get you a couple of buckets, a decent amount of assists, and a few boards. I'm fine with that. I don't expect Blake is score a lot. So the scoring needs to come from somewhere else.

I know people are really down on how CJ played but he showed me flashes where I think he has that ability to be the #1 scorer on the bench.

 

[Natebishop3]

I know people are really down on how CJ played but he showed me flashes where I think he has that ability to be the #1 scorer on the bench.

The problem I've seen with CJ is that he isn't very quick. He's quick by college standards, and he's quick by NBDL or summer league standards, but he isn't that quick by NBA standards. He has trouble getting by his man, and his ball handling isn't that great either. He's an okay shooter, but most of his skills seem to be reliant on getting into the paint. He hasn't really been able to do that consistently in the regular season.

 

[ripcityboy]

The problem I've seen with CJ is that he isn't very quick. He's quick by college standards, and he's quick by NBDL or summer league standards, but he isn't that quick by NBA standards. He has trouble getting by his man, and his ball handling isn't that great either. He's an okay shooter, but most of his skills seem to be reliant on getting into the paint. He hasn't really been able to do that consistently in the regular season.

Give him a full season. He hasn't played a full season since he was a junior.

 

[Natebishop3]

Give him a full season. He hasn't played a full season since he was a junior.

I'm not sure if that's the problem. I watched him in the NBDL last year, and the summer league this year. He does just fine against lesser competition. He can pretty much score at will. When he gets to the big leagues, he has trouble doing the same things he can do in the NBDL. He's an okay three point shooter, but he isn't really big enough to rise up and get his shot off, and he isn't quick enough to create the separation he needs to get an open look. I like CJ, I think he could be a good player, but I'm getting skeptical.

 

[Schilly]

If we are going to complain and call CJ a problem after 1 game, we should be done with Lillard as well, he's a terrible shooter with no defense.

 

[magnifier661]

I'm not sure if that's the problem. I watched him in the NBDL last year, and the summer league this year. He does just fine against lesser competition. He can pretty much score at will. When he gets to the big leagues, he has trouble doing the same things he can do in the NBDL. He's an okay three point shooter, but he isn't really big enough to rise up and get his shot off, and he isn't quick enough to create the separation he needs to get an open look. I like CJ, I think he could be a good player, but I'm getting skeptical.

I'm actually thinking this is mental. Once he stops overthinking and getting down so quickly after a bad play, he will be a big contributor. We need a few big blow out games to give him even more burn.