Wesley Matthews expectations?

[Nikolokolus]

This blog post over at ripcityproject.com really got me to thinking about Matthews and how little attention he seems to be getting from not only the local Blazers media but also fans -- we're just not talking about this guy much.

http://ripcityproject.com/2010/09/1...ws/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Generally speaking, when a free agent signs with the Blazers, expectations are placed on him. There’s a level of hype or buzz around his name. Don’t believe me? Rewind to last year when Hedo Turkoglu was believed to be a Blazer for 10 minutes and then when Andre Miller eventually signed. That buzz and hype…is simply missing with Matthews. There are question marks that can’t be answered until people see him on the court. Seemingly, that’s been protocol for his entire career.

So what do we expect? A sophomore slump, Bruce Bowen 2.0, a "nice" player but nothing special?

 

[theprunetang]

I remember seeing him last year and wondering, "Who is this guy"? He just seemed so poised and smooth and hardworking.
He is a bit of a junkyard, workhorse type of player, but he also has skill.

He will probably be backing up the SG and SF position quite a bit this year and will probably be featured in almost every 3 guard lineup we go with. He will get time. Trust me. Nate will love him. With those minutes, here are my expectations:

12 ppg
2.8 rpg
1.8 apg
1 stl
.400 3p%
.490 FG%

Couple that with "glue guy" teamwork and diligent defense and you have a really awesome addition to our team. He is not going to be some superstar. But he is going to make our team better.

 

[JDC]

Here's my scouting report on Wes from a post over at BlazersEdge...

Going through tons of footage on Wesley on Synergy....
I think I have a firm grasp on what this guy is going to bring to this team.

Offensively:

- Above average spot shooter. Has trouble shooting of the dribble, or on the move coming off a screen.

- Run’s the lane HARD. Always looking for transition opportunities. (I think this is part of the reason he is statistically a below average rebounder.)

- Very aggressive attacking gaps in the defense. Only a decent finisher though as he lacks ideal size and athleticism.

-Very comfortable in the post (Played some 4 in college on a small Marquette team). If they stick an undersized 2 on him, Portland needs to exploit that match-up.

- Is not viable iso or pnr option. Has pretty bad handles (worse than Martell’s) and is not a shooter on the move with his awkward shooting mechanics. Becomes quite turnover prone when put into these situations as well.

- Smart passer, but not a great one. Has trouble with entry passes (tends to throw the pass before post player has good position).

Defensively:

- Great defensive instincts. Really has a nose for the ball.

- Quick hands. Creates a lot of deflections.

- Deals well with screens. Has the strength and awareness to position himself and fight over both on and off-ball screens. Has the quickness to recover if he decides to go under them.

- Physical and pesky. He doesn’t have the ideal size or athleticism to be a lockdown defender, so he uses his upper body strength and quick hands to get into people and frustrate them.

- Has trouble guarding in the post. He has good strength, but has trouble contesting shots due to his physical limitations.

My statistical predictions:

In roughly 25mpg...

8ppg (ts% 57), 3rpg, .7 ast, 1spg, .2bpg w/ good defense.

Thought we overpaid, but I like the addition regardless.

 

[ppilot]

This blog post over at ripcityproject.com really got me to thinking about Matthews and how little attention he seems to be getting from not only the local Blazers media but also fans -- we're just not talking about this guy much.

http://ripcityproject.com/2010/09/1...ws/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter



So what do we expect? A sophomore slump, Bruce Bowen 2.0, a "nice" player but nothing special?

Scott Zachary tonight mentioned that he thought Matthews would be our Junk Yard dog this year. We've definitely been lacking a physical presence on the perimeter since....Udoka?, so I agree with the 10ppg mark as his biggest impact will be letting Brandon Roy spend more energy on the offensive end.

 

[Minstrel]

a "nice" player but nothing special?

Put me down for that one. I think he'll be a useful and worthwhile member of the rotation, but no game-changer or "core" player. "Championship-caliber depth" so to speak.

 

[Luther]

I think he'll be a lot like Batum in that his numbers won't truly reflect his impact.

 

[MickZagger]

He'll have a similar role to what Toni Kukoc brought to the 90's Bulls.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I hope he can be what Raja Bell was for the Suns:

11-14 PPG
40% from three
DRtg 102-104

 

[Ed O]

Put me down for that one. I think he'll be a useful and worthwhile member of the rotation, but no game-changer or "core" player. "Championship-caliber depth" so to speak.

Just so.

Hedo was going to be a MUCH bigger acquisition than Mathews... Wesley is a MLE player, and MLE players tend to be rotation guys but are not often anything special.

Mathews will hopefully be a guy who can play a couple of positions and work with our star-level players when he comes off the bench.

Ed O.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It's a great question, Ed.

It seems to me he would compliment Batum better than Roy as they seem to be similar type players.

As far as my expectations, I hope he plays solid ball behind Roy and doesn't impede Cunningham's growth by stealing too many minutes at SF.

 

[MARIS61]

I expect he'll ask to be traded within a year due to limited PT and no chance to start.

Being grossly overpaid will hamper that severely.

IMO, thankfully, his game is nothing like Bowen's, who relies on cheating and deliberately injuring players to cover his glaring weaknesses.

 

[MickZagger]

I expect he'll ask to be traded within a year due to limited PT and no chance to start.

Being grossly overpaid will hamper that severely.

IMO, thankfully, his game is nothing like Bowen's, who relies on cheating and deliberately injuring players to cover his glaring weaknesses.

In other words, he's not foreign so you don't like him.

 

[jlprk]

- Is not viable iso or pnr option. Has pretty bad handles (worse than Martell’s) and is not a shooter on the move with his awkward shooting mechanics.

We could have had Hedo. What did Phoenix give for him--like, nothing?

 

[Minstrel]

I expect he'll ask to be traded within a year due to limited PT and no chance to start.

Being grossly overpaid will hamper that severely.

It's an MLE. Even as he is today, he's not "grossly" overpaid. If he improves at all, he probably won't be overpaid by any significant amount.

And if he actually breaks out to a much higher performance level, he could even be a bargain. That isn't the way I'd bet, but it's a possibility.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Actually, I hope he and Batum are used by Nate in the same way DEFENSIVELY as Jordan and Pippen were used:

One of the two in the game at all times guarding the other teams swingman (or even PG).
When they're both in the game, use an "escort pressure" press (Phil Jax words) to burn time off the 24 sec. clock.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

25 mpg
15 points
5 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals

 

[PtldPlatypus]

25 mpg
15 points
5 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals

Serious?

 

[mook]

I'd expect to see him, in his second year in the NBA, to become the team's best perimeter defender and best shooter off the bench. So basically Steve Kerr crossed with Stacey Augmon. (Or how Martel was supposed to be.)

Is that asking too much?

 

[THE HCP]

25 mpg
15 points
5 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals

REALLY??!!

 

[THE HCP]

25 mpg
7 points
3 rebs
2 assists

I think his value to us this year won't be measured in stats. Similar to Nic.

 

[gatorpops]

25 mpg
7 points
3 rebs
2 assists

I think his value to us this year won't be measured in stats. Similar to Nic.

I think he will be the "Bobby Gross" type player for this team. He and Nic will get you 20 if they cheat off them or make plays if they don't and play "D". He will likely be similar to Udoka only I think better all around.

This is going to be a great team I believe.

If they use Wesley and Rudy together Rudy may find that he can get a lot of opportunities off the bench if he will just stay. And maybe get a run at a ring as well.

 

[THE HCP]

The Ime comparison is right on!

 

[RoyToy]

Give me good defense and reliable 3pt shooting and anything else will be a bonus.

I still like the idea of Roy/Matthews/Batum/Aldridge/Camby at the end of games. That is a very good defensive lineup with good outside shooting.

 

[MickZagger]

I think Matthews is more skilled than Ime. Udoka was a nice player, but his athleticism was really limited.

 

[Draco]

As far as my expectations, I hope he plays solid ball behind Roy and doesn't impede Cunningham's growth by stealing too many minutes at SF.

Since Dante has NEVER played any minutes at SF I’m not too worried about that one.

If Matthews plays well in his minutes he will get time on the court, so I’m not concerned about him playing SG vs. SF. It’s very plausible one of Batum or Roy is injured and along with backup minutes there should be lots of available time if Wesley is able to play at a level worthy of $35 million. If Roy and Batum have a streak of marvelous health the team could experiment with brief lineups where Roy is at the 1 to keep all three guys on the floor.

 

[MARIS61]

In other words, he's not foreign so you don't like him.

Just saying he seems to have a competitive nature and a desire to play a big role.

Kind of like a more talented guy from Spain that we already have.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

25 mpg
15 points
5 rebounds
3 assists
2 steals

Pretty Solid BB