What’s with Covington?

[Bingo Bango]

I’ve never seen such a low-scoring starting forward in my life. Is he afraid to shoot? Is he a horrible shooter? We’re losing by 30 tonight and he hasn’t scored a single point.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

He’s not “starter” material! Time to be honest about this team.

Olshey must go!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He went from a 3/D big to Chuck Hayes.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

He went from a 3/D big to Chuck Hayes.

RoCo is a “complimentary” piece…and quite frankly, there’s nobody to compliment

 

[SharpesTriumph]

His back to back turnovers in the second quarter had me wishing for Aminu to lead a fast break.

I've wondered what player will be most important to resign in free agency, Roco or Nurk.

At this rate it'd be better to have Nas and Zeller get their starting spots.

 

[Driew]

Covington started off really slow last year too. I think he'll get it together.

 

[Buffalo Custard]

RoCo playing like a guy who wants out.

For all the talk about trading CJ, there are others on this team who need to go first. I can't believe I actually applauded the trade that brought RoCo here. Hell, I actually though Nurk was going to be really good.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Covington started off really slow last year too. I think he'll get it together.

Even peak Blazer RoCo has been mediocre.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Tolliver > RoCo

 

[Natebishop3]

What’s with Dame?

 

[Tince]

Like the majority of forwards Olshey has brought it, Cov is not a play-maker. When we simplify their role and use them as floor spacers, they won't be amazing, but can't hurt us to a great degree. This everyone gets the ball equally offense only exposes his weaknesses. Same goes for Nurk.

 

[MickZagger]

RoCo is a “complimentary” piece…and quite frankly, there’s nobody to compliment

Exactly my thoughts. He plays well when the team plays well.

 

[wizenheimer]

he'll be 31 in 2 months. Gerald Wallace was fading at 29. I don't think RoCo is fading but he also doesn't have any broad base of skills on offense. He's best as a kick-out target, assuming he's hitting shots. He's a decent rebounder for 6'7, but not for a PF

IMO, he was not worth 2 first round picks, but it was not a major overpay

Olshey just doesn't seem to place much value on the forward positions

 

[riverman]

I would hate to be at tomorrow mornings film session....it's going to be ugly

 

[illmatic99]

this dude forgot how to play basketball it seems.

CJ is the only player who is engaged right now in our starting lineup. Not a good look.

 

[Natebishop3]

I never thought I would say this but is Dame trying to get traded?

 

[Tince]

I never thought I would say this but is Dame trying to get traded?

No... If he wanted to get traded, he'd be traded.

 

[bobf]

he'll be 31 in 2 months. Gerald Wallace was fading at 29. I don't think RoCo is fading but he also doesn't have any broad base of skills on offense. He's best as a kick-out target, assuming he's hitting shots. He's a decent rebounder for 6'7, but not for a PF

IMO, he was not worth 2 first round picks, but it was not a major overpay

Olshey just doesn't seem to place much value on the forward positions

Looks like Dame had peaked and RoCo is probably fading.
https://apanalytics.shinyapps.io/DARKO/
Click Historical Career Trajectory and put in your choice of players.

 

[Zach Collins Enthusiast]

Roco was terrible but Nurkic got absolutely schooled by both Zubac and Hartenstein, it was painful to watch

 

[Mr. Robot]

Like the majority of forwards Olshey has brought it, Cov is not a play-maker. When we simplify their role and use them as floor spacers, they won't be amazing, but can't hurt us to a great degree. This everyone gets the ball equally offense only exposes his weaknesses. Same goes for Nurk.

both nurk & roco average less shots per game than last season

chauncey said nurk is gonna have bigger role on offense, but i havent seen it these past three games

 

[Orion Bailey]

both nurk & roco average less shots per game than last season

chauncey said nurk is gonna have bigger role on offense, but i havent seen it these past three games

bigger role doesn't always mean score more. Im thinking more assists.

 

[James lamphear]

His back to back turnovers in the second quarter had me wishing for Aminu to lead a fast break.

I've wondered what player will be most important to resign in free agency, Roco or Nurk.

At this rate it'd be better to have Nas and Zeller get their starting spots.

Right now I would trade both of them at deadline. I wouldn't offer either them contract next season. One Nurk is not the right center for the type defense there trying to play. Roco is not a lock down defender he pretty good off ball defender but he commits to much off ball and loosing his man.

 

[Mr. Robot]

bigger role doesn't always mean score more. Im thinking more assists.

in his introductory press, chauncey said he wants nurk to score more or that he can score more, whatever

he promissed him bigger role, even if he meant hes gonna use him more as a passer, im not seeing it so far, its no different to how stotts used him and the usage itself doesnt seem bigger

chauncey made a lot of promises to nurk & powell, but if dame and (especially) cj keep shooting as much as they used to, im not sure how its going to work

 

[Orion Bailey]

in his introductory press, chauncey said he wants nurk to score more or that he can score more, whatever

he promissed him bigger role, even if he meant hes gonna use him more as a passer, im not seeing it so far, its no different to how stotts used him and the usage itself doesnt seem bigger

chauncey made a lot of promises to nurk & powell, but if dame and (especially) cj keep shooting as much as they used to, im not sure how its going to work

powell has an injury so lets hold out on him, but i cant say i disagree with Nurk.
I think the thing is Coach is realizing how uncoordinated Nurk is. He is okay when going downhill but anytime he needs to sidestep, change direction, etc it looks like a big oof of a move and he is dizzy or drunk or something.

Im also not sold on him with this style on either end of the court.

Sometimes promises are made based on ideas that are proven to not work so then the pose has to be shifted.
I would not be surprised if Billups ask for a trade to acquire a more mobile center that will fit his ideas better.
Nurk has an ego head case. Must feed off the crowd. Pouts. Complains to refs… more and more not happy with him.
Makes a good play and puts his hand to his ear instead of run back on defense. Sick of that shit. You arent jordan and your not hulk hogan!

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Covington had 6 straight seasons averaging 12-13 ppg on solid percentages and good threes when we acquired him. Last year that dropped to 8ppg, now he is at 4.

The 13ppg great help defender was well worth the two late first round picks. It seemed like we finally got the good wing Olshey has been trying to get since we lost Batum/Wes.

This version we are seeing now of Roco is possibly worse than either Aminu or Harkless and doesn't deserve to start.

Either Roco improves or the door is open for Nance/Nas to push him out of the starting lineup.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Covington had 6 straight seasons averaging 12-13 ppg on solid percentages and good threes when we acquired him. Last year that dropped to 8ppg, now he is at 4.

The 13ppg great help defender was well worth the two late first round picks. It seemed like we finally got the good wing Olshey has been trying to get since we lost Batum/Wes.

This version we are seeing now of Roco is possibly worse than either Aminu or Harkless and doesn't deserve to start.

Either Roco improves or the door is open for Nance/Nas to push him out of the starting lineup.

Fully on board with Nas starting.

 

[wizenheimer]

in his introductory press, chauncey said he wants nurk to score more or that he can score more, whatever

he promissed him bigger role, even if he meant hes gonna use him more as a passer, im not seeing it so far

chauncey made a lot of promises to nurk & powell, but if dame and (especially) cj keep shooting as much as they used to, im not sure how its going to work

Dame's shooting 3.2 less FGA's a game than last season; CJ is still MeJ and is shooting 1 more FGA a game, with a much higher usage rate and much lower assist rate...and much higher turnover rate

the problem with going to Nurk is that he's a turnover machine so far. His career turnover rate is 15.7%, and his highest mark in Portland has been 18%, but he's at 25% right now (Nance has been even worse; his career turnover rate is 12.7%, but like Nurk, his mark this year is 25%). Now, these are all tiny sample sizes so one ot two turnovers can dramatically change percentages.

I think we'll have to make lots of allowances for what Billups says he wants to do vs what he does. His first coaching job, anywhere, was in LA only 11 months ago. And he's only 3 games into his first head coaching job. He had lots of theories about what a team should do, on both ends of the floor. But those theories are butting up against the realities of the roster. And one of the main realities of the roster are players with years of experience who have established their games. Changing styles for veterans will be a ragged process, at best; and success is not guaranteed at all. Billups is apparently already re-thinking his Dame-off-the-ball plan. Necessity may cause him to modify his 'involve-Nurkic' plan

Dame has developed kind of a balance between shoot-first and pass-first. He will at least attempt to get other people going. But the other two ball-handlers, CJ & Simons, are shoot-first guards all the way. That combination is going to make it difficult to consistently involve Nurkic

 

[Orion Bailey]

Dame's shooting 3.2 less FGA's a game than last season; CJ is still MeJ and is shooting 1 more FGA a game, with a much higher usage rate and much lower assist rate...and much higher turnover rate

the problem with going to Nurk is that he's a turnover machine so far. His career turnover rate is 15.7%, and his highest mark in Portland has been 18%, but he's at 25% right now (Nance has been even worse; his career turnover rate is 12.7%, but like Nurk, his mark this year is 25%). Now, these are all tiny sample sizes so one ot two turnovers can dramatically change percentages.

I think we'll have to make lots of allowances for what Billups says he wants to do vs what he does. His first coaching job, anywhere, was in LA only 11 months ago. And he's only 3 games into his first head coaching job. He had lots of theories about what a team should do, on both ends of the floor. But those theories are butting up against the realities of the roster. And one of the main realities of the roster are players with years of experience who have established their games. Changing styles for veterans will be a ragged process, at best; and success is not guaranteed at all. Billups is apparently already re-thinking his Dame-off-the-ball plan. Necessity may cause him to modify his 'involve-Nurkic' plan

Dame has developed kind of a balance between shoot-first and pass-first. He will at least attempt to get other people going. But the other two ball-handlers, CJ & Simons, are shoot-first guards all the way. That combination is going to make it difficult to consistently involve Nurkic

im sure you ignore my post in spite, but don't ignore the possible facts.

Cj shooting more is probably in direct correlation with our best player having the worst start of his career.

Im fine with it. If his shoot cools off, then address the mej concern. Until then his is our only steady bucket st the moment.
Ride with it until someone else steps up.

 

[wizenheimer]

im sure you ignore my post in spite, but don't ignore the possible facts.

Cj shooting more is probably in direct correlation with our best player having the worst start of his career.

Im fine with it. If his shoot cools off, then address the mej concern. Until then his is our only steady bucket st the moment.
Ride with it until someone else steps up.

could be...but Dame's best shooting game was the Phoenix game and in that game (Dame actually had a better TS% that game), CJ shot 8 more times than Dame did; played 4 more minutes though. Still it was Dame at 2.3 minutes between shots, and CJ at 1.6 minutes between shots

apparently, Chauncey is already talking about getting Dame more touches and more looks, so it isn't just going with the hot man

by the way, lol...be thankful I only spite you rather than smite you

 

[Mr. Robot]

in his press on media day, nurk said dame & cj will take less shots, but it will help involve other players more (im guessing him and powell the most)

but i wonder if thats what chauncey billups said or just nurks wishful thinking