What is needed to improve the D?

[BigGameDamian]

Fuck.

Off.

Ya it's not a very good trade. I do think Zaza would be a fantastic backup center though. He just might be the only back to the basket center in the NBA nowadays.

 

[Natebishop3]

The poison pill makes Sanders nearly untradable.

 

[magnifier661]

The poison pill makes Sanders nearly untradable.

You would have to be extremely creative, plus needing a third team.
Pretty much impossible to organize.

 

[Natebishop3]

You would have to be extremely creative, plus needing a third team.
Pretty much impossible to organize.

What's the point of going after Sanders when Asik is available? I know the guy has been discussed at length, but he's a shot blocker and a great help defender. I'd rather go after Asik if we're going to make a trade for a big man.

 

[magnifier661]

What's the point of going after Sanders when Asik is available? I know the guy has been discussed at length, but he's a shot blocker and a great help defender. I'd rather go after Asik if we're going to make a trade for a big man.

Not saying we should trade for him. Just explaining how hard it would be.

 

[Natebishop3]

Not saying we should trade for him. Just explaining how hard it would be.

I know how hard it would be. That's why I said it would be almost impossible

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

You would have to be extremely creative, plus needing a third team.
Pretty much impossible to organize.

It's actually quite easy to do (and I think I have posted this before) http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mu3uxzd

 

[TBpup]

It's actually quite easy to do (and I think I have posted this before) http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mu3uxzd

Substitute Barton for Crabbe and I'd have to at least consider that. Sanders is young like Leonard so giving up on Meyer's potential is offset by Sanders potential. The down side is, you get some of his 'quirkiness'. I'm not up an all of the issues that he's had. Can someone specify?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I agree the Trade Machine seems to not know about it.

The poison pill makes Sanders nearly untradable.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Extenz or Enzyte

 

[TBpup]

I agree the Trade Machine seems to not know about it.

I'm not sure why the Trade Machine shows it as an 'acceptable' trade. You have to take the average of his salary over the life of his contract plus this years ending amount. It comes out to about $9.4MM/yr. Then you have the whole cap issue and trade guidelines. The Trade Machine doesn't seem to be taking that into account but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[magnifier661]

It's actually quite easy to do (and I think I have posted this before) http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mu3uxzd

That doesn't make sense, unless the bucks have a shit ton if cap space to take the hit of returned salary.

 

[riverman]

After the last two losses, my two cents on the defensive holes in those games is that turnovers cause the chaos more than lack of defensive effort. Teams are fast breaking on the Blazers by playing the passing lanes and picking off predictable passes, then finishing their fast breaks..(pts in the paint). Trying to recover from turnovers throws the defense out of its flow and tires out players back pedaling and trying to recover. Tired players then start missing shots. Teams have also taken advantage of Lillard's blatant lack of foul calls in the paint so Dame isn't getting to the line when he drives the lane and his dishes from the paint too often get picked off...same with Mo. I thought the last offensive play against the Pelicans was a blown play..Nico should have shot it or Dame. LaMarcus did not have a clean look. TURNOVERS are losing us games. 7 losses at the end of December is no reason to worry and both the last two were by buckets in clutch time. It's not like we're getting blown out.

 

[craigehlo]

Teams are fast breaking on the Blazers by playing the passing lanes and picking off predictable passes, then finishing their fast breaks..(pts in the paint).

Missed 3's/long jumpers are leading to more opposing fast break points. This offense built around 3 point shooting will constantly have the team on their heels defensively unless they decide to mix it up a bit.

 

[riverman]

Missed 3's/long jumpers are leading to more opposing fast break points. This offense built around 3 point shooting will constantly have the team on their heels defensively unless they decide to mix it up a bit.

We're missing TRob cleaning up those missed long 3s and getting put backs. He's got great instincts for the boards. I still think it's the passing that's killing us more than the rebounds though but you make a good point.

 

[TBpup]

Missed 3's/long jumpers are leading to more opposing fast break points. This offense built around 3 point shooting will constantly have the team on their heels defensively unless they decide to mix it up a bit.

Absolutely. Meanwhile, the Blazers defend the '3' well so not as many long rebound leading to fast break points of which they are around last.

Near the bottom in:

• fast break points scored
• fast points given up
• defense
• bench production
• turnovers forced
• points in the paint
• point differential in the paint

They needed to play a ton of games against the weak East, get the tough games at home and shoot lights out to cover so many of those deficient areas. I'm glad they did and thrilled with how they started out but those things eventually come back to bite you sooner or later. To not address some of those in one manner or another will likely lead to the cooling of such a fast start. I still think they should be able to hold on to a HCA spot and injuries to Westbrook could keep OKC from getting to far out front.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

That doesn't make sense, unless the bucks have a shit ton if cap space to take the hit of returned salary.

Yeh, i don't understand it exactly. I do know that the trade machine only likes it if I include Ridnour, so I think the poison pill is factored in somehow.

 

[HailBlazers]

After the last two losses, my two cents on the defensive holes in those games is that turnovers cause the chaos more than lack of defensive effort. Teams are fast breaking on the Blazers by playing the passing lanes and picking off predictable passes, then finishing their fast breaks..(pts in the paint). Trying to recover from turnovers throws the defense out of its flow and tires out players back pedaling and trying to recover. Tired players then start missing shots. Teams have also taken advantage of Lillard's blatant lack of foul calls in the paint so Dame isn't getting to the line when he drives the lane and his dishes from the paint too often get picked off...same with Mo. I thought the last offensive play against the Pelicans was a blown play..Nico should have shot it or Dame. LaMarcus did not have a clean look. TURNOVERS are losing us games. 7 losses at the end of December is no reason to worry and both the last two were by buckets in clutch time. It's not like we're getting blown out.

Good take riverman, Blazers need to sharpen up asap.

 

[TBpup]

If Sanders' PPP value is around $9.4MM and you add in Ridnour's $4.4MM, that is $13.8MM in salary. At 150%, Portland would need to send back around $9MM to make it work but then you have the cap issue. For that, I think you have to revert back to this years salary numbers and in that case, with Portland being over the cap (Bucks are just a bit under) $9MM out and $7.4MM in should work.

So it seems Portland would have to include more salary. Freeland/Leonard/Williams/Barton or Crabbe is around $8.5MM

Someone else knows the specifics much better and hopefully can weigh in with the correct numbers.

 

[e_blazer]

I agree that it's mainly turnovers that are costing the Blazers in these recent losses. There's been a whole lot of sloppy passing going on. Also, as a general rule I think that the notion that the Blazers need to become a defensive juggernaut if they want to contend is way overblown. This team is built to score and they've been very good at imposing their will on even the best defenses in the league. Indiana is the top defense in the NBA, with opponents only averaging 89.4 ppg against them. The Blazers racked up 106 on them. The Bulls hold their opponents to 93.1, but the Blazers scored 98 on them. San Antonio allows 96.6, but the Blazers put up 115 on them. Boston allows 97, but only managed to "hold" Portland to 109. The Heat allow 97.6, but the Blazers scored 107 on them. These are the best five defensive teams the Blazers have played and they allow an average of 94.7 ppg. The Blazers have scored an average of 107 on these teams and have won 4 out of the 5 games against them.

I'll take great "O" over good "D" any day of the week. It's a thin line between winning and losing for the Blazers. One stop, one less turnover, or one more made "3" in the last two games and we'd be talking about the Blazers' winning streak and how clutch they are. The defense could stand to be improved a bit and the turnovers definitely need to be cut down. That said, I don't think that we need to change the character of this team through a trade to add defensive players. They just need to do what they do well a bit better than they've done it the last two games.

 

[craigehlo]

One stop, one less turnover, or one more made "3" in the last two games and we'd be talking about the Blazers' winning streak and how clutch they are.

Great teams aren't winning by the skin of their teeth night after night. If you play competent D and have a solid offense, you will get some comfortable wins. This team isn't going anywhere in the playoffs if their execution doesn't improve on defense.

 

[OdenIsStillGod]

It's not turnovers, although that doesn't help. They usually give a half ass effort on rotating in the first half, there's no excuse for that. Number 2 they still don't have the first dam clue how to cover a pick and roll and they never make any adjustments. Number 3 Damian and Moe always get burned by there man which breaks down the defense and leaving guys wide open all over the floor because people have to help. Stotts seems insistent on making Damian and Moe and all the other guards guard there man 30 feet away from the basket, WHY? PACK IT IN!! They get blown by 50% of the time which leads to layups 50% of the time. This is not rocket science yet Stotts refuses to make the obvious adjustment.

 

[magnifier661]

It's not turnovers, although that doesn't help. They usually give a half ass effort on rotating in the first half, there's no excuse for that. Number 2 they still don't have the first dam clue how to cover a pick and roll and they never make any adjustments. Number 3 Damian and Moe always get burned by there man which breaks down the defense and leaving guys wide open all over the floor because people have to help. Stotts seems insistent on making Damian and Moe and all the other guards guard there man 30 feet away from the basket, WHY? PACK IT IN!! They get blown by 50% of the time which leads to layups 50% of the time. This is not rocket science yet Stotts refuses to make the obvious adjustment.

The pick and roll defense is the biggest problem, IMO. I would like for us to stop this immediately. If we need to trap or at least show zone for a few plays, we need to do something quickly. The mid range game is killing us.

 

[blue32]

It's not turnovers, although that doesn't help. They usually give a half ass effort on rotating in the first half, there's no excuse for that. Number 2 they still don't have the first dam clue how to cover a pick and roll and they never make any adjustments. Number 3 Damian and Moe always get burned by there man which breaks down the defense and leaving guys wide open all over the floor because people have to help. Stotts seems insistent on making Damian and Moe and all the other guards guard there man 30 feet away from the basket, WHY? PACK IT IN!! They get blown by 50% of the time which leads to layups 50% of the time. This is not rocket science yet Stotts refuses to make the obvious adjustment.

What adjustments would you make?

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

The pick and roll defense is the biggest problem, IMO. I would like for us to stop this immediately. If we need to trap or at least show zone for a few plays, we need to do something quickly. The mid range game is killing us.

But, but, but the mid range shot is the least efficient shot in basketball. Doncha know?

The team philosophy to funnel players into mid range shots falls apart when the opposing teams point guard can't miss. Hopefully Stotts will adjust soon.

 

[magnifier661]

But, but, but the mid range shot is the least efficient shot in basketball. Doncha know?

The team philosophy to funnel players into mid range shots falls apart when the opposing teams point guard can't miss. Hopefully Stotts will adjust soon.

The theory is good, but there needs to be adjustments made when the PG won't miss from mid range.


Go Blazers!

 

[Draco]

Bench Lillard and play Mo at PG with the starters more. Lillard is the weakest link of this teams defense. He's much better as a deadly scoring punch off the bench and at crunch time like a young Manu Ginobili.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

If no trades are made, Claver might be worth a look in place of Wright. He's pretty decent on defense, and his shooting form looks nice, so maybe, just maybe, he'll start hitting some open threes too. CJ might be better than Mo on D, but I don't think he'll solve any defensive problems when he comes in. Honestly I think we're stuck until the off-season to make any big improvements, 'cause I don't think Mo or Dorrell will be traded due in part to their long standing relationship with Olshey.

A defensive shot blocking 4/5, and a defensive swing man who can knock down threes off the bench would be great for this team.

We could probably land one of those guys with the mid level exception in the off-season, and maybe trade for the other?

 

[cmeese47]

I'm confused why teams score so easily. Our philosophy seems sound in theory (pack the paint and contest threes) and comes from the Indiana school. Their D is #1 BY FAR and ours is trending toward bottom-5. Is the personnel THAT much different? Hibbert and George are elite defenders, but like, we can't muster top-15 D? Everyone in our starting lineup should be capable. Is it an effort problem?

I think you nailed it, Hibbert and George are elite Hill, Stephenson are above average and West is a smart veteran. Portland has no elite defenders.