Who should be our starting frontcourt?

[riverman]

I think Vonleh is the future of the 4 position (well, he's the guy with the highest chance currently on the roster at least) so maybe he doesn't start now, but at some point in the year I suspect Vonleh/Davis will be our best front-court duo.

I'd actually like to see that sooner than later

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am all for them developing this slowly. Vonleh can learn things from almost every forward on this team. He has shown to be productive in limited minutes so continue to ease him in.

I really like Leonard/Vonleh because of the dual inside out game, but the quickness of a Davis/Vonleh lineup is very effective and fun to watch too.

Offensively that would probably work, but defense seems like it would be lacking. Vonleh still has untapped growth (hopefully) but I'm not sure I see him ever being a guy anybody would call "hard-nosed" and Myers . . . well, just look at him.

 

[blue9]

Offensively that would probably work, but defense seems like it would be lacking. Vonleh still has untapped growth (hopefully) but I'm not sure I see him ever being a guy anybody would call "hard-nosed" and Myers . . . well, just look at him.

I think Meyers can be just fine defensively as a C - I think he's much more suited to defending Cs than PFs. And Vonleh won't be any worse than LMA defensively - he's already shown willingness to leave his man to help protect the basket (even if he was a little late on that LAL game-winning dunk...but that was entirely Johnson's fault).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I think Meyers can be just fine defensively as a C - I think he's much more suited to defending Cs than PFs. And Vonleh won't be any worse than LMA defensively - he's already shown willingness to leave his man to help protect the basket (even if he was a little late on that LAL game-winning dunk...but that was entirely Johnson's fault).

We should cut that guy!

 

[42N8Bounce]

Where's the option for Vonleh/Alexander? Oh wait, it's currently only 2015. Vonleh doesn't blossom until 2016 and become an all-star until 2018. Alexander hasn't won his 6th man of the year award yet. Traveling back in time like this sometime gets confusing for me.



#DepthOfYoungBigs

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Where's the option for Vonleh/Alexander? Oh, wait, it's currently only 2015. Vonleh doesn't blossom until 2016 and become an all-star until 2018. Alexander hasn't won his 6th man of the year award yet. Traveling back in time like this sometime gets confusing for me.

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#DepthOfYoungBigs

Oh don't worry, that pairing will most likely be on next year's preseason poll.

 

[Draco]

I think Meyers can be just fine defensively as a C - I think he's much more suited to defending Cs than PFs. And Vonleh won't be any worse than LMA defensively - he's already shown willingness to leave his man to help protect the basket (even if he was a little late on that LAL game-winning dunk...but that was entirely Johnson's fault).

LaMarcus was good at guarding stretch 4's and even guards on the perimeter he got switched on. Hey believe me I have plenty of things to bitch about with LaMarcus but after watching Meyers try to "guard" Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers at the 3pt line last night I have some more respect for LMA. Can Vonleh be as good as LMA on stretch 4's? Perhaps, but he hasn't shown me that yet and I suspect it'll take him awhile. He might never be as good as LMA in that specific area.

 

[Draco]

Where's the option for Vonleh/Alexander? Oh wait, it's currently only 2015. Vonleh doesn't blossom until 2016 and become an all-star until 2018. Alexander hasn't won his 6th man of the year award yet. Traveling back in time like this sometime gets confusing for me.

View attachment 6409 View attachment 6413

#DepthOfYoungBigs

Cliff can rebound, and get put backs, but how is his help defense? His rim protection? Those are very important for a center and from the tiny I've seen or heard real major concerns with his game. He basically sounds like a similar but tiny bit less athletic Thomas Robinson. Hope he becomes more but sounds like a major project right now.

 

[Reep]

Cliff can rebound, and get put backs, but how is his help defense? His rim protection? Those are very important for a center and from the tiny I've seen or heard real major concerns with his game. He basically sounds like a similar but tiny bit less athletic Thomas Robinson. Hope he becomes more but sounds like a major project right now.

Agreed it is way too early to early to put Alexander in the mix, but I'm glad we have him. IF he stays a Blazer he may always come off the bench behind Leonard and Vonleh, but he did average 3.0 blocks/40 in college with an offensive rating of 118 and defensive rating of 95 (I know those are team dependent, but it is the best we have at this point).

Even though Robinson was 0.5" taller, Alexander has a 3.5" standing reach advantage.

My hope for Alexander is that will be a rougher, smarter version of Robinson. I don't think Alexander will be trying to pull of spin moves and the like. He seems to know where his bread will be buttered and loves to rebound and provide weak side D. Could be all the Robinson wasn't.

Maybe a Reggie Evans meets Kenyon Martin guy

 

[blue9]

LaMarcus was good at guarding stretch 4's and even guards on the perimeter he got switched on. Hey believe me I have plenty of things to bitch about with LaMarcus but after watching Meyers try to "guard" Paul Pierce and Austin Rivers at the 3pt line last night I have some more respect for LMA. Can Vonleh be as good as LMA on stretch 4's? Perhaps, but he hasn't shown me that yet and I suspect it'll take him awhile. He might never be as good as LMA in that specific area.

We'll have to disagree on LMA being good at guarding guards on the perimeter. I think LMA was an above-average defender when defending HIS man, and I don't expect Vonleh to be even half that good this season. But Vonleh has already shown willingness to play team-defense, which is more than LMA ever did - so in that one aspect he's already ahead of LMA. But I don't want him or Meyers guarding anyone out on the perimeter - it's why I've been beating the '"Meyers is our C" drum since the beginning of summer.

Those cases where Meyers/Davis were guarding Pierce are issues for the coach. And in at least one of those scenarios Meyers was the only guy to make an attempt at getting a hand in Pierce's face, even though he got caught up in a good pick - I gotta give him an A for effort!

 

[Reep]

But Vonleh has already shown willingness to play team-defense, which is more than LMA ever did - so in that one aspect he's already ahead of LMA.

I'm intrigued by Vonleh on D in the future. He has so much to learn, but he is surprisingly laterally quick, has those tree-trunk legs, and long reach with big hands. And, for now, he seems to care more. Vonleh will likely never be that "get that shot out of here" guy like Davis, but I can totally see players passing back out of the post when they can't move his base and can't see around his arms and hands.

 

[Draco]

We'll have to disagree on LMA being good at guarding guards on the perimeter. I think LMA was an above-average defender when defending HIS man, and I don't expect Vonleh to be even half that good this season. But Vonleh has already shown willingness to play team-defense, which is more than LMA ever did - so in that one aspect he's already ahead of LMA. But I don't want him or Meyers guarding anyone out on the perimeter - it's why I've been beating the '"Meyers is our C" drum since the beginning of summer.

Those cases where Meyers/Davis were guarding Pierce are issues for the coach. And in at least one of those scenarios Meyers was the only guy to make an attempt at getting a hand in Pierce's face, even though he got caught up in a good pick - I gotta give him an A for effort!

Yeah I have a lot of concern of Meyers at PF long term. Especially with the way the league is moving toward small ball I just don't know if he has the defensive foot speed. But does he have the defensive ability to anchor a defense as a center? I don't know. He might just be a Matt Bonner role player. That has value but not what you want as a starter. Ed Davis is the most sure thing in my mind of our potential center candidates. He doesn't have the upside of the others though.

So glad we got Ed Davis. How did we steal the Lakers best player? Nobody has taken their cap space for years and they can't even keep role players.

 

[blue9]

Yeah I have a lot of concern of Meyers at PF long term. Especially with the way the league is moving toward small ball I just don't know if he has the defensive foot speed. But does he have the defensive ability to anchor a defense as a center? I don't know. He might just be a Matt Bonner role player. That has value but not what you want as a starter. Ed Davis is the most sure thing in my mind of our potential center candidates.

What I saw from Meyers in the POs last season was enough to prove to me that he's a more-than-capable defensive C - he didn't just accidentally play great defense on Gasol. But he and the team need to commit to him playing that position. He'll make mistakes throughout the year, but if he plays C consistently during the course of the season I expect him to be better than Rolo was by the end of the year.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah I have a lot of concern of Meyers at PF long term. Especially with the way the league is moving toward small ball I just don't know if he has the defensive foot speed. But does he have the defensive ability to anchor a defense as a center? I don't know. He might just be a Matt Bonner role player. That has value but not what you want as a starter. Ed Davis is the most sure thing in my mind of our potential center candidates. He doesn't have the upside of the others though.

So glad we got Ed Davis. How did we steal the Lakers best player? Nobody has taken their cap space for years and they can't even keep role players.

I mean..... freakin Paul George is playing power forward right now. The league has lost its mind.

 

[Draco]

Out of 42 votes 0% of us had the correct answer.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Out of 42 votes 0% of us had the correct answer.

Crazy! But at one point people did. Leonard/Plumlee started the first 9? games.

 

[dviss1]

Out of 42 votes 0% of us had the correct answer.

Meyers and Plumlee started the season.

 

[Eastoff]

Out of 42 votes 0% of us had the correct answer.

Hey I got it completely wrong!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Interestingly, though the poll question was "who should start", my OP also referenced "get the majority of frontcourt minutes". Although Vonleh has started 49 games, he's 4th amongst the bigs in actual playing time. Davis is 2nd in total minutes played, and Leonard is 2nd in minutes per game. I guess technically any combination that involved Plumlee could be considered correct in one respect or another.

 

[BBert]

Should/would/could/will and does Not the same thing.

 

[Draco]

Interestingly, though the poll question was "who should start", my OP also referenced "get the majority of frontcourt minutes". Although Vonleh has started 49 games, he's 4th amongst the bigs in actual playing time. Davis is 2nd in total minutes played, and Leonard is 2nd in minutes per game. I guess technically any combination that involved Plumlee could be considered correct in one respect or another.

A- Ed Davis; excellent defense, high efficiency, one of leagues best backup bigs

B+ Plumlee; Still defensive shortcomings but much improved, great passing, more accurate shooting. Concerns about him as a long term starter but clearly belongs in a NBA rotation

C+ Vonleh defense has been great, quick feet gets in good position. Needs to improve offensively to contribute to a winner.

D Meyers Leonard. Dodged a bullet not extending him. Unlikely to ever be a rotational NBA player. Too slow to defend 90% of opponents. Inability to get up shots makes him average offensively despite skills.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Out of 42 votes 0% of us had the correct answer.

I thought the fans always have the answers.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I thought the fans always have the answers.

Heck no! Just one certain fan, man.

 

[Schilly]

The Leonard hate in here is fucking retarded.

 

[Draco]

The Leonard hate in here is fucking retarded.

Not sure why but I have a lot of fun ripping on the guy. It's interesting because he brings intrigue with his offensive skills to many fans but disgust for his bonehead plays from so many others. His defensive shortcomings and botched shot attempts are ridiculously bad to the point its comical. It can be very frustrating to watch as a fan. But he has enough positives plays to give that glimmer of potential hope. Andrea Bargnani is a good comparison in that both tease you with Dirk skills but have horrible limitations in other areas of their game.

He sounds like a good guy and I wish him the best as a person.

But in what I want my team to do? I'd only resign him as a third string center in a Matt Bonner role. I don't view him ever being an every game beneficial rotational piece on a winning team.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Ok, the guys defending Meyers seriously need to explain to me what his upside is.
He's useless on the defensive end so let's rule that out.
He's also useless on offense inside the paint (perfect for a center !)
He's a horrible rebounder. Can't box out, gives up tons of offensive rebounds.
His BBall IQ is so low it's ridiculous. He has no feel for the game. He's lost, it feels like he's still a rookie to me.
Sometimes he makes his 3s so it kind of breaks even. But even with this beeing literally the only thing he can contribute on the court, he still passes shot that everybody from the coaching staff, to the players to even the fans in the building are screaming at him to take.
And when the 3 doesn't fall, his play is so bad it's as we're playing 4v6.

 

[chzbrgr]

The Leonard hate in here is fucking retarded.

Why? The guy is Steve Novak without confidence in his shot and wants to get paid like he's Ryan Anderson. Plus all that nonsense at the beginning of the year how he wants to be a leader with dame and cj. He has been god awful for 80-90% of the season (he got benched for Vonleh...VONLEH!). So whats really "fucking retarded" is watching him play and thinking he is somehow the long term answer at either front-court position.

 

[Draco]

Meyers defenders will point to his percentages (on very few attempts) and man defense in 10 games while ignoring the other 211 mediocre to horrible defensive games.

I like the Novak without the confidence comparison. He's got to be the softest 7'1" player I can remember. Lowry got switched onto him in the post when Meyers had the ball deep in the key and he immediately passed out to the 3 point line. Never seen a 7'1" player with good offensive touch so fearful of putting the ball in the hoop. Maybe he's just the softest basketball player, period.

Then he commits dumb fouls to pretend he's tough.

In a way I'm almost starting to love hating on Meyers. It's entertaining how bad he can play and how some fans see one thing and others see something totally different. Do I want the Blazers to keep Meyers just to hate on him?

 

[Jon]

Ok, the guys defending Meyers seriously need to explain to me what his upside is.
He's useless on the defensive end so let's rule that out.
He's also useless on offense inside the paint (perfect for a center !)
He's a horrible rebounder. Can't box out, gives up tons of offensive rebounds.
His BBall IQ is so low it's ridiculous. He has no feel for the game. He's lost, it feels like he's still a rookie to me.
Sometimes he makes his 3s so it kind of breaks even. But even with this beeing literally the only thing he can contribute on the court, he still passes shot that everybody from the coaching staff, to the players to even the fans in the building are screaming at him to take.
And when the 3 doesn't fall, his play is so bad it's as we're playing 4v6.

THIS....

 

[SIeepwalker]

I'm at the point where every time he throws up a shot, I hope it misses so he looses playing time.