Wessy Wes Q&A with Zach Lowe

[axs88]

Surprised nobody has posted this yet, good stuff.

GRANTLAND

Stotts’s system looks to have been very good for you and Nic, in terms of broadening your games. You both move around the floor more, work off the dribble, and Nic is racking up assists like a point guard. What makes it work so well for you?

It’s free-flowing. He lets the players make the plays, and he has confidence in us. That’s why we’re out there. Even though we have an offensive scheme, he has confidence that the players are the ones who are going to make a play out on the court. Whatever play we see fit, he trusts us.

So you have a general structure, but you’re free to make reads within that structure.

Exactly. It lets you be a player, rather than a robot.

 

[mook]

I really enjoyed reading about him posting up. It's a part of his game that's really transformed him from a "Three and D" guy into the tier of player who is just a notch below All Star. 18ppg, 40% from three, .467FG.

The league is going to these lightening quick waterbug guards who slash, shoot and draw fouls. The one problem with these guys is it rewards guys who are maybe a little undersized, because they tend to be more mobile. Having an old-school shooting guard who can beat these guys up in the post is a really nice asset, and I'd like to see Stotts go to him even more. Really punish teams for putting their best wing defender on Lillard.

One of Portland's most underrated assets is how unconventional the starting lineup is. The power forward kills you with 17 footers. The shooting guard loves posting people up. The small forward is the best guy on the team at running the pick and roll. The point guard is fearless about take three pointers 4 feet behind the line with 17 seconds on the clock. (Except so far in 2014.) The center doesn't really rebound or block a lot of shots, and yet is critical for team rebounding and rim defense. Each of these starters plays an interesting, unconventional role on the team.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Surprised nobody has posted this yet, good stuff.

GRANTLAND

Great interview! Thanks for posting that.

Rep'd!

 

[jlprk]

Somehow Zach Lowe usually makes it interesting. Matthews just gave ordinary answers. It was all Lowe.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I was surprised that Wes posted up against a guy like Corey Brewer the other night. Corey is so long and considered a defensive specialist but Wes had no problem. Also interesting that he has always posted up since high school but that part of his game suffered under McMillan, because he knew if he didn't make his first shot that they wouldn't call it again. That philosophy really put pressure on guys.

 

[mook]

I knew that he played SF for most of his career prior to the NBA. Not really that surprising, I suppose, that he's not afraid to rumble a little underneath.

If he can make a similar leap next year to what he's done this year, he's a realistic All Star candidate. It's the last year of his contract next year, so he could be in for quite a payday.