When ROLO and Freeland are back

[EGame]

What becomes of Leonard? Does he backup Aldridge while Kaman backs up Rolo and Freeland gets spot minutes? It seems (and I will eat my crow as well) that Leonard is starting to gain confidence and put it together and while he will never be a force on defense, he seems to always take great shots and is starting to fight for rebounds like a man. Should he get playtime when we are fully healthy? Should he just start for Batum at SF?

 

[B-Roy]

Honestly, I feel he brings more to the table than Freeland. I suspect who plays between the two will be on a per game/matchup basis.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Lol we all know that he isn't starting at SF even if some want him to. What a throwaway sentence.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Honestly, I feel he brings more to the table than Freeland. I suspect who plays between the two will be on a per game/matchup basis.

By metrics Freeland has been our best defender. I would cut Kaman's minutes.

 

[EGame]

Lol we all know that he isn't starting at SF even if some want him to. What a throwaway sentence.

You're right or in other words I was just joking. But Batum needs to figure it out or just rest until he is healthy.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

nards has been pretty great the last handful of games, but i still think he is a 0-10 mpg guy with everyone healthy...but thats just a testament to the big man depth.

its kinda scary to think about how good the big man rotation could be next year if nards and freeland continue to get better

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Freeland is not guaranteed back next year although I think he would like to be and I think he would work with us on a decent deal.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I think Meyers has earned the time. He's getting better and he seems to back up the 4 best.

 

[tester551]

By metrics Freeland has been our best defender. I would cut Kaman's minutes.

I was going to suggest that, but you beat me to it.

The thing about Kaman though is, he potentially could be a ticking time bomb. All this chemistry stuff we hear from the Blazers..... well I think Kaman has the potential to derail that is a hurry.

So, the question becomes "If you do cut Kaman's minutes - do you trade him?" and sign O'Neil?

 

[Blazersfan161]

going to miss them on this next back to back.

 

[blue32]

I can't believe I am saying this, but Biebs hasn't been a liability in a game in a while.... I am fucking impressed!

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Any update on when Rolo will be back?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I was going to suggest that, but you beat me to it.

The thing about Kaman though is, he potentially could be a ticking time bomb. All this chemistry stuff we hear from the Blazers..... well I think Kaman has the potential to derail that is a hurry.

So, the question becomes "If you do cut Kaman's minutes - do you trade him?" and sign O'Neil?

I don't think you can risk trading him because he is handy (we don't have much scoring on the bench) and it sends the wrong message to future free agents.

I think you sell it to him as just keeping his body healthy and his legs fresh though. I wouldn't cut his minutes all the way out just down.

I also would have no problem cutting LMA and Rolo's minutes 2 or so each.

I think Freeland and Leonard need to play though. Not heavy minutes but consistent ones.

 

[illmatic99]

Any update on when Rolo will be back?

Read last night on twitter that his cast is off, but he is not coming back earlier than scheduled. Initial estimate was 6 weeks. He got hurt on 12/15, so he's still at least 2 weeks away if we stick to that schedule.

 

[blue9]

If Leonard goes back to DNPCD that'll be a travesty and a monumental failure on our part. Cut 3 minutes out from LMA's court time, and 5 minutes from Kaman's.

 

[illmatic99]

Leonard in his last 5 games:

22.1 mins, 9.6 pts, 8.2 rebs, 58% FG, 45% 3pt, 100% FT. No blocks or steals, whatever but only 3 fouls a game.

Ballin. Really liking the 8rebs in 22 mins.

 

[dviss1]

You guys are trippin' taking about cutting Kaman's minutes. Really...

 

[blue32]

You guys are trippin' taking about cutting Kaman's minutes. Really...

Well, he is a turnover machine.... but does score more than most. It's a love hate thing I suppose.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Minutes have to be cut from somewhere or one guy isn't playing. So who's minutes do you cut to play them all or who are you leaving out the rotation entirely?

 

[Scalma]

Easy. Cut Kamans minutes. You could maybe even rest LA a little bit more. Can't sit Leonard now. He's a weapon on offense. Use it. Against the real tough front courts (there aren't that many) you can use freeland but I prefer Leonard against everyone else.

 

[blue9]

You guys are trippin' taking about cutting Kaman's minutes. Really...

Are you interpreting "cutting" as "benching"? If so, I agree with you. But cutting some of Kaman's/LMA's minutes is entirely reasonable, and even necessary, IMO.

 

[Scalma]

Also another thing to keep in mind: Leonard is going to look even better playing next to a defensive minded guy like Lopez

 

[magnifier661]

This would be my priority line-ups...

Starter: Aldridge and Lopez
First replacement for Aldridge: Leonard
Second replacement for Aldridge: Freeland
First replacement for Lopez: Kaman
Second replacement for Lopez: Freeland

 

[riverman]

I'll say this much...this is a good problem to have. Lopez and Freeland are the choices when you need defense and stops, Leonard and Kaman when you need points off the bench. Meyers improvement basically says after next season we let Kaman walk. He's a rental. Freeland and Leonard are keepers and Rolo will be starting as many years as he wants to be here.

 

[Draco]

Considering all of our 5 big men have missed games this year I'd say odds are one of them will usually be out.

If Meyers continues to play well he could get a few minutes as a backup 4. Rolo was only playing 27 minutes a game when starting and might do better being eased into the rotation at 20-25. Kaman is older and best in the 18 minute range. That leaves room for both Freeland and Meyers to get 10 minutes a game. On some back to back's maybe Aldridge gets a bit of extra rest. We'll probably see some offense/defense lineups with Meyers or Freeland alternating roles depending on who we have on the court to score, who is our defensive center and what big men we have to defend.

 

[Schilly]

Remember when we used to complain about how little front court depth we had?

 

[MarAzul]

The more minutes the coach gives Leonard, the better this team will get.
Trade Joel for a guard that can run the pick n roll and dish and assist. We need one that knows how to get the ball to the 7' people in scoring position.
Coach! Listen up!

 

[blue9]

Trade Joel for a guard that can run the pick n roll and dish and assist. We need one that knows how to get the ball to the 7' people in scoring position.

While I don't know that I agree about trading Joel, I would at least consider it depending on who we're getting in return. It would certainly be nice to have someone (other than the Nic/Rolo connection) who can set up easy scoring opportunities in the paint.
There were a few different times where we could have had Kendall Marshall for nothing other than several hundred thousand dollars. Sure would be nice to have him on the roster rather than CJ!

 

[Strenuus]

Although its great to see beibs doing well... That Chicago game still sticks out to me... I'm fearful of the regression.

 

[dviss1]

Are you interpreting "cutting" as "benching"? If so, I agree with you. But cutting some of Kaman's/LMA's minutes is entirely reasonable, and even necessary, IMO.

Kaman is only getting 19 mins a game. He is our 6th man and that's the role we hired him for. Cut Freeland's minutes.