Why is Stotts overworking Dame and CJ?

[Draco]

They are exhausted any time we have back to backs or road trips. Dame's playing 40 minutes in blowouts. The rest of the team outside these two look fresh and energetic. Not coincidentally the rest of the team all average under 30 minutes. Dame and CJ's minutes are tougher than an average player because their always working so hard to carry the offense, and chase opposing guards behind picks with our defense. Roberts has been solid; he could easily play 10 minutes in a back to back to reduce our starting backcourt fatigue.

If Dame and CJ were fresh they wouldn't brick 31 shots with 9 turnovers as they did today. Those grueling extra minutes they play hurt our chances to win games. We still have a 4 games in 5 nights stretch coming up.

Why is Stotts overworking Dame and CJ?

 

[handiman]

Didn't Dame just go three straight games without playing in the 4th quarter?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I liked that he played them big minutes tonight. this was a big game and we needed this win, Plus they have two days off. They were fine .......until OT.

 

[Draco]

I liked that he played them big minutes tonight. this was a big game and we needed this win, Plus they have two days off. They were fine .......until OT.

That's the problem; Dame was only just 'fine'. He can be much better than fine if rested. He missed 18 shots with 5 turnovers today. He didn't have his normal explosiveness, quick reactions, or ability to finish. He, and all players, are noticeably more effective with a few less minutes. The best coach in the league doesn't play his stars this many minutes and for good reason.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Stotts is playing his starters less minutes than two years ago when he was REALLY overworking the lineup. I think we had 4 players in the top 15 of minutes played that year. Right now Dame is 11th and CJ is 23rd.

 

[BigGameDamian]

How else are we going to win the fucking games?

 

[BlayZa]

How else are we going to win the fucking games?

pretty much this.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Because they are the only players on the roster that can create their own shot.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

How else are we going to win the fucking games?

People always say a stopped clock is right twice a day. I say a stopped clock is right just before it stops and then just makes a lucky guess every so often until you fix it.

Would be awesome if this isn't luck.

 

[julius]

We're tanking correctly now

 

[Strenuus]

How else are we going to win the fucking games?

This might be the best post you have ever done. WEll done, BGD.

 

[ThugginPaulyGAllen]

How else are we going to win the fucking games?

This guy might have the lowest BBIQ I've ever read and he gets it.

Bench CJ and Dame for Brian Roberts = miss playoffs or CJ and Dame have to dig us out of a bigger hole.

The Mavs should rest Dirk and Wes, they are running them into the ground, dirk is old and wes is recovering!!

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I think this is bullshit. They are professional athletes, playing a normal amount of games shouldn't make them so tired that they can't be effective. Blaming Stotts playing them too much for their poor play is just stupid.

 

[KingSpeed]

They are exhausted any time we have back to backs or road trips. Dame's playing 40 minutes in blowouts. The rest of the team outside these two look fresh and energetic. Not coincidentally the rest of the team all average under 30 minutes. Dame and CJ's minutes are tougher than an average player because their always working so hard to carry the offense, and chase opposing guards behind picks with our defense. Roberts has been solid; he could easily play 10 minutes in a back to back to reduce our starting backcourt fatigue.

If Dame and CJ were fresh they wouldn't brick 31 shots with 9 turnovers as they did today. Those grueling extra minutes they play hurt our chances to win games. We still have a 4 games in 5 nights stretch coming up.

Why is Stotts overworking Dame and CJ?

After that 4 of 5 with have 10 days with only 2 games (at home) until playoffs. Rest is coming. Stotts knows what he's doing. He got us here with a roster people said would struggle to score but has consistently put up big points on the board (including 110 at San Antonio!) Relax. CJ and Dame are being paid millions. They can handle it and like I said, rest is coming.

 

[blue32]

Well.... when I saw Lillard play o'lay defense on Felton which resulted in an uncontested shot (That he made..) .... I knew something was up.

Fucking letting fatty-cakes-Felton blow by you? Dafuq?

 

[Sinobas]

Because they are the only players on the roster that can create their own shot.

I'd go further and say they are the only starting quality players on a team that wants to be a legit power. Portland really needs a 3rd wheel.

 

[Blazer4ever]

If they're never on the bench together, they can play 36 minutes each and still be on the floor together only for 24 minutes.
I told you Tim Frazier should play, I even think Brian Roberts should get a chance, maybe with Montero at SG.
If we ride only CJ and Dame they would give us less than maximum value. We'd have just one of them on the floor for most of the game, if it's CJ than he's usualy out of position as a PG and isn't able to be nearly as efficient as a scorer.
They are one of the best backcourt duos in the league but the coaching staff is using them in the least efficient way possible

 

[riverman]

These guys are young, paid huge money to play less than an hour long game in most cases every other day or so with some back to backs...there are so many less well paid athletes in the world who put in more time for less. The other point is, they want to be on the court. Stotts has played the 3rd string more in the 4th qtr when he is able to. I think a pattern of rotations is starting to narrow down a bit going into the playoffs. He wants to play a 9 man rotation but now that Leonard is out, Harkless will fill that spot more than likely.

 

[Strenuus]

If they're never on the bench together, they can play 36 minutes each and still be on the floor together only for 24 minutes.
I told you Tim Frazier should play, I even think Brian Roberts should get a chance, maybe with Montero at SG.
If we ride only CJ and Dame they would give us less than maximum value. We'd have just one of them on the floor for most of the game, if it's CJ than he's usualy out of position as a PG and isn't able to be nearly as efficient as a scorer.
They are one of the best backcourt duos in the league but the coaching staff is using them in the least efficient way possible

You did, and it was dumb. Still is.

 

[Draco]

Dame and CJ's poor performance is hurting our team. Tonight against the Clippers and in the Dallas games their no longer our best players. Rice and Barrett just mentioned how they look very fatigued in warmups and can't make jump shots they normally make. The damage is mostly done at this point in the season and they will struggle to regain peak form.

But we can at least reduce their minutes on the upcoming 4 in 5 nights. They should be playing around 30 minutes or less on back to backs. In a back to back in San Antonio we had no chance of winning Stotts played Dame 40 minutes. Now we're losing games as a result.

 

[Draco]

These guys are young, paid huge money to play less than an hour long game in most cases every other day or so with some back to backs...there are so many less well paid athletes in the world who put in more time for less. The other point is, they want to be on the court. Stotts has played the 3rd string more in the 4th qtr when he is able to. I think a pattern of rotations is starting to narrow down a bit going into the playoffs. He wants to play a 9 man rotation but now that Leonard is out, Harkless will fill that spot more than likely.

There isn't any professional athletes in the world overworked to the point of lowered performance as NBA athletes are. This is a proven fact many doctors and specialist acknowledge. The players perform with the same effects as a person who is intoxicated.

 

[BonesJones]

If they're never on the bench together, they can play 36 minutes each and still be on the floor together only for 24 minutes.
I told you Tim Frazier should play, I even think Brian Roberts should get a chance, maybe with Montero at SG.
If we ride only CJ and Dame they would give us less than maximum value. We'd have just one of them on the floor for most of the game, if it's CJ than he's usualy out of position as a PG and isn't able to be nearly as efficient as a scorer.
They are one of the best backcourt duos in the league but the coaching staff is using them in the least efficient way possible

10% of Dame and CJ is better than Roberts and Montero combined

 

[blue9]

I would sit them out entirely against GSW and OKC. Both are the 2nd night of a B2B, and would probably be losses anyway. Furthermore, if we match up against OKC, sitting them means OKC can't use the game to further scheme us (not that they need to, as we're a very predictable team with little in the way of counter-moves).

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I would sit them out entirely against GSW and OKC. Both are the 2nd night of a B2B, and would probably be losses anyway. Furthermore, if we match up against OKC, sitting them means OKC can't use the game to further scheme us (not that they need to, as we're a very predictable team with little in the way of counter-moves).

GSW hell yes; there's no way they lose at home. OKC? Ehn, maybe maybe not.

 

[blue9]

GSW hell yes; there's no way they lose at home. OKC? Ehn, maybe maybe not.

I suppose if we let some of the other games slip and our PO position is tenuous then obviously I wouldn't sit them. But if we're taking care of business and we have a pretty secure hold on a position I'd sit them. Sure, we might beat OKC at home - but I think we have more to lose than gain with that game, regardless of the outcome.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I suppose if we let some of the other games slip and our PO position is tenuous then obviously I wouldn't sit them. But if we're taking care of business and we have a pretty secure hold on a position I'd sit them. Sure, we might beat OKC at home - but I think we have more to lose than gain with that game, regardless of the outcome.

It really depends on Memphis; if they've dropped a bunch of games and 5th place is in reach, I say go for it against OKC.

 

[blue9]

It really depends on Memphis; if they've dropped a bunch of games and 5th place is in reach, I say go for it against OKC.

Holy crap - I just looked at their schedule and it's brutal. I thought they had a big enough lead on us that it didn't really matter, but if we take care of business on all our remaining "easy" games and MEM drops a few of their easy games, then yeah - it could be up for grabs.

 

[Draco]

I would sit them out entirely against GSW and OKC. Both are the 2nd night of a B2B, and would probably be losses anyway. Furthermore, if we match up against OKC, sitting them means OKC can't use the game to further scheme us (not that they need to, as we're a very predictable team with little in the way of counter-moves).

Yes against GS, sit them. Golden State doesn't play the day before and will want to keep the win streaks going. I wouldn't even have DameCJ fly down there; let them rest in Portland then join the team in Sacramento.

OKC will be on 2nd of back to back and 3rd game in 4 nights while locked into the 3rd seed with nothing to play for. They may sit their starters or heavily limit their minutes. That game is very winnable.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Yes against GS, sit them. Golden State doesn't play the day before and will want to keep the win streaks going. I wouldn't even have DameCJ fly down there; let them rest in Portland then join the team in Sacramento.

OKC will be on 2nd of back to back and 3rd game in 4 nights while locked into the 3rd seed with nothing to play for. They may sit their starters or heavily limit their minutes. That game is very winnable so I would wait until we're in the game to consider limiting minutes.

Cant you get fined for that though? I thought I recall many years ago POP or someone getting fined for leaving players at home? I'm not sure, but I think the league is okay with pulling players early or giving extremely limited minutes, but I think you can get fined for leaving players out of the game altogether? I think the league deemed it a slight on the fans who paid to see the stars?

 

[Draco]

Holy crap - I just looked at their schedule and it's brutal. I thought they had a big enough lead on us that it didn't really matter, but if we take care of business on all our remaining "easy" games and MEM drops a few of their easy games, then yeah - it could be up for grabs.

Yeah the loss to the Clips really sucks but I'll be shocked if Memphis finishes 5-5 the rest of the way. 4-6 is the best I imagine while 3-7 or 2-8 are possible. We can jump them for the 5 seed if they go 4-6 (we go 8-1), 3-7 (we go 7-2), 2-8 (we go 6-3)

We need to beat all the lottery opponents on our schedule, a loss in Golden State is a lock.

Then we need to win most likely two of Boston, Miami (who plays B2B), OKC (who plays B2B). Maybe we only have to win one or we have to win all 3 depending on what Memphis does.