Wesley Matthews as a starter

[Fez Hammersticks]

It's a very small sample size but Wesley has been impressive in his three games as the starting SG. With a more defined role and consistent minutes he's starting to mesh in Nate's offense:

21.3 PPG | 6.0 RPG | 1.6 STL | 58 FG% | 45 3PT%

SILVER LINING!​

 

[THE HCP]

I thought these last 2 were the only games he started. Maybe I forgot.

 

[THE HCP]

Great #'s regardless.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

You're right. Brandon started the game in New Orleans but was atrocious -- 22 min. and 2 pts. I totally forgot he was even in that game. Completely invisible.

 

[THE HCP]

He played great in that Milwaukee game too!

 

[THE HCP]

So fix his averages for us FAMS!^

 

[Nikolokolus]

I just hope he doesn't press too much against the Jazz. I'm sensing a let-down game.

 

[LittleAlex]

I just hope he doesn't press too much against the Jazz. I'm sensing a let-down game.

As a Blazer fan in the 2000s how can you not expect a let down of some kind?

 

[maxiep]

I expect Matthews to have a crap game. Not because he'll press, but because Sloan knows his every weakness and will exploit them.

 

[Pinwheel1]

He just needs to stay out of foul trouble. I am sure he will play aggressive so he may pick up some cheap ones. Williams has scored at will against us the last few years. Wes physically matches up better than anyone else we have had since Deron has been in the leauge. I am hoping practicing against him all last year gives him an advantage. Just stay out of foul trouble.

 

[hasoos]

I expect Matthews to have a crap game. Not because he'll press, but because Sloan knows his every weakness and will exploit them.

I don't. How did he perform when he returned to Milwaukee, where he played in front of his Marquette crowd?

I also don't think that Utah has the shot blocking in the middle to effect his game going to the rim. So that part of his game should be stronger.

 

[mook]

Matthews these last few games really reminds me of Bonzi Wells when he was at his best. Bonzi had a post game Matthews doesn't have, and Matthews is a better three point shooter. But they both played this physical, fearlessly aggressive style. It wasn't terribly refined--he's the Anti-Roy in that respect. Just hard charging.

It'll be interesting to see what Nate decides to do if/when Roy is able to come back, even for limited minutes. Matthews' first two game as a starter matched or surpassed anything Roy has done this year. But Matthews as a bench guy has kind of sucked.

Funny to think Roy's new role might wind up being a Ginobili-esque super-sub. But if he can pull it off and if Matthews can keep up his current levels (and if Przybilla can come back 100%), man. We could go from having a dreadful bench to a really damned good one.

 

[MIXUM]

sloan will not be at the game saturday.

doesnt matter... fucking jazz own us

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

I expect Matthews to have a crap game. Not because he'll press, but because Sloan knows his every weakness and will exploit them.

Not that it really changes much about the Utah staff knowing Wesley's weaknesses, but no Sloan tomorrow.

Utah__Jazz Utah Jazz
Sloan to miss the next two Jazz games: Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) – Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan wi... http://nxy.in/x9lpx

 

[mook]

I expect Matthews to have a crap game. Not because he'll press, but because Sloan knows his every weakness and will exploit them.

I'm kind of expecting the opposite. I'm expecting the Jazz players to look at him as a complementary guy. Good, but wasn't worth re-signing. Mostly thank god he ain't Brandon Roy. I'm sure the Utah coaching staff doesn't feel that way, but the coaches aren't the ones lacing 'em up.

This game matters a lot more to Matthews than anybody else. Utah told him he wasn't worth the money. Yet a 34 year old Raja Bell somehow was. Just like people have told Matthews over and over again that he isn't good enough. Yet here he is, charging hard at the rim or taking every three pointer with the intention of proving everyone wrong.

I'm looking for a huge game from him. Especially since he knows all of Deron's tricks after a year of going at him in practice.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

We beat Utah and Wes let's um know the mistake they made letting him go... We owe UTAH, i see a great game for Sat!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Matthews these last few games really reminds me of Bonzi Wells when he was at his best. Bonzi had a post game Matthews doesn't have, and Matthews is a better three point shooter. But they both played this physical, fearlessly aggressive style. .

Maybe a few similarities. (Same type body type) But I don't remember Bonzi trying too hard on defense. And he was much "craftier" with the ball.

 

[MIXUM]

if we could go 9-5 through this rough stretch.....

and get roy back + joel.... thats not bad at all

 

[BrianFromWA]

maybe this is the thread to ask the question: has Roy been Wally Pipp'ed? Should he be? Should Wes continue to start, and Roy come off the bench in a Ginobili/Vinnie Johnson/Ricky Pierce mode? Because honestly, Roy's not going to give you much on D, he's not going to give you much rebounding or running, but he can light it up in the halfcourt. So use him as a super-sub, but actually USE him when he's in. No coasting through possessions, and if he can only go 5 minutes at a time then he only goes 5 minutes, but it's aggressive when he's in?

 

[THE HCP]

^C'Mon man! Really? That's Brandon Roy, our leader, our go to guy. Arguably up until 5 days ago, the 2nd best 2 guard in the NBA.

 

[MIXUM]

shit...

i agree with hcp

 

[BrianFromWA]

HCP, how does HOU see Yao? As a high-priced backup, or as the best guy (and a leader) on their team when he can get on the court?

I would submit that since Roy hurt his knee in March he hasn't been playing like the 2nd best SG in the NBA. Obviously that's due to injury. And if it's just a couple of weeks before he's all better, then nevermind.

However, if it is degenerative, or it's not going to get better, or any of the other doomy-and-gloomy things that are being speculated, I think he's more valuable as a Ricky Pierce-style bench gunner than as a 35mpg starter. Especially if he have Wes playing anything like he's playing now.

 

[MIXUM]

wow can we seriously wait and see roy for a few games before these insane conversations????

 

[mook]

^C'Mon man! Really? That's Brandon Roy, our leader, our go to guy. Arguably up until 5 days ago, the 2nd best 2 guard in the NBA.

Do you really think he was the 2nd best 2 guard in the NBA this year? I don't. And that was after taking the whole summer off and only playing 11 games.

If the condition is inoperable and the most we can really hope for is that Roy is able to play like he did over those 11 games through a whole season, he's no longer the team's go-to guy or team leader. He's Steve Smith circa 2001. Smart, crafty, nice-passing shooter with poor defense and slow on both ends.

At that point you have to look at a guy like Matthews like maybe we looked at Bonzi at that time. (Bonzi before he accumulated his truckload of extra baggage, that is.) It sucked, but it was time for a changing of the guard.

I don't know for certain that we've reached this point, but if I had to place a bet on who will be a productive starter for the next decade between Matthews or Roy, I'm leaning toward Matthews. And I'm not exactly thrilled about it.

 

[Minstrel]

maybe this is the thread to ask the question: has Roy been Wally Pipp'ed? Should he be?

It depends entirely on how good Roy is when he returns. Pipp was Pipped because Gehrig was just much better. If Matthews is better than Roy, Roy should be Pipped. If Roy is still better, than he shouldn't be Pipped.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

If I remember correctly, Jazz owned us in the pre-season...even when Wes was on fire throughout the entire pre-season.

 

[Pinwheel1]

, he's no longer the team's go-to guy or team leader. He's Steve Smith circa 2001. Smart, crafty, nice-passing shooter with poor defense and slow on both ends.

If you are right then we have no team leader. Who else would it be?

 

[mook]

If you are right then we have no team leader. Who else would it be?

This team reminds me a little of the Rockets squad two years ago that beat us in the first round. No real "team leader," but two extremely good wing defenders, a competent post scorer, and a whole lot o' "scrap." Hopefully we go as far as they did.

 

[KingSpeed]

25.0 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 2.5 APG | 1.5 STL | 1.5 BPG | 51 FG% | 44 3PT%

SILVER LINING!​

Fixed. These are his actual numbers as a starter.

 

[KingSpeed]

This team reminds me a little of the Rockets squad two years ago that beat us in the first round. No real "team leader," but two extremely good wing defenders, a competent post scorer, and a whole lot o' "scrap." Hopefully we go as far as they did.

No real "team leader"??? Andre Miller is one of the best floor leaders you could have. Way better than Aaron Brooks.