Yes or No? Right now would you play Batum over Outlaw?

[Minstrel]

In the pre-season, I'd love to see Batum get a lot of play. See what the team has right now, let him develop a bit.

In the regular season, I would definitely play Outlaw many more minutes. For me, this is the make-or-break year with Outlaw in terms of whether he's a core player or trade bait. Give him a lot of minutes and see if he takes the fabled "big step forward" in his game. Plays decent defense, becomes a more efficient scorer who can function in the flow of the offense, rebounds more in proportion with his size. If he makes big gains, great. If not, we still want him playing, producing and keeping his trade value high to maximize a return for him.

I think Batum has the right type of game and potential to be a good prospect as a future core player. But right now, I'd make evaluating Outlaw (and building his value) priority one. Batum isn't currently a better player than Outlaw anyway, so there's no urgency to play him over Outlaw.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Perhaps in a year, but to bench Outlaw right now if your plan is to trade him doesn't make a lot of sense. So, in other words, that statistics mean nothing, yet personal opinions carry more weight.

Solid.

One bad game and the wolves come out, and I called it 100% in that Outlaw would be the scapegoat.

Another good point about Outlaw's minutes. If you really do want to trade him (which I don't think the Blazers do), you don't bench the guy. You play him with Martell out to build up his trade value and trade him. If you play Batum more than Outlaw, that isn't going to give other GMs a lot of confidence in Outalw or at the very least know the Blazers aren't looking for much in the trade.

 

[SodaPopinski]

If Travis plays well the rest of the preseason, then maybe I'll change my tune. But I'm seeing a pattern developing where he's falling in love with that jumpshot and if that's not going down, he's useless. He doesn't rebound well for his position given his athleticism, he's a nightmare in the open court, he couldn't defend a chair, and when he drives to the basket he gets tunnel vision at the hoop and usually gets an offensive foul or otherwise turns the ball over.

Last night was close to the final straw for me. Guy was handed the starting spot and was probably the most experienced NBA player on the floor for either team outside of Jackson and Maggette and he totally disappeared.

I've been frustrated with Travis for a while, but the overwhelming failure with which he took hold of his opportunity last night was extremely disappointing for a guy who chirped in the offseason about wanting to be an All-Star.

I say bench the guy and reduce his minutes significantly until he proves he can be an asset to this team outside of taking one dribble and shooting a 20 footer or having us run iso's for him.

-Pop

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Perhaps in a year, but to bench Outlaw right now if your plan is to trade him doesn't make a lot of sense. So, in other words, that statistics mean nothing, yet personal opinions carry more weight.

Solid.

One bad game and the wolves come out, and I called it 100% in that Outlaw would be the scapegoat.

Makes perfect sense to me. If he continues to start at the 3 and get major minutes he and the team will suffer. His trade value rocketed when he was coming off the bench. Let him start again tomorrow night to give him a chance to redeem and prove most everyone wrong. If he hits a few shots, great, let him finish off the quarter. Build up his confidence. Either way, while Frye's down, give Outlaw the primary back up role at the 4 and go small at the 1, 2, and 3.

We're not going to tank the flippin season because we want Outlaw's value to increase even more. It's already high.

And by the way, go back and read my post. I didn't say stats mean nothing, only that they can't be used in a vacuum.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not talking about starting, I'm just talking about which guy you would opt to play more.

Batum has shown me more than Outlaw thus far. When Outlaw is in the game, he isn't playing strong defense, he isn't going to the basket in a smart way. He seriously sucks the life out of the offensive and defensive execution.

Batum may not be the playmaker and shot-maker that Travis is, but in terms of net impact on the game, I'm much more comfortable right now with Batum.

-Pop

How has Batum shown you more? He's played in two games. You know nothing about him. Outlaw has played several seasons against big teams and in pressure situations. You know nothing about Batum.

 

[noknobs]

My answer to the orginal question is 'No', if it's done because you think Batum is better than Outlaw. It's okay if you're just experimenting and playing around with lineups, like you usually do in the preseason.

Outlaw has struggled for two preseason games, that hardly takes away everything he did for us last year. His conditioning will get better and that will help his game. But if he wants more of a role when players start getting healthy, he really needs to expand his offensive game and be more of a contributor in other ways.

But I'm hardly ready to say Batum is a better player at this point.

 

[Natebishop3]

Outlaw has played several seasons against big teams and in pressure situations. You know nothing about Batum.

That was a different team Eric. This is a new Blazers team.

 

[mook]

Not meaning to make excuses for the guy, but nobody has brought it up. This is pre-season, and he's a 5 year veteran. Guys like Kobe are dogging it right now because the games just don't matter. Maybe Outlaw just doesn't have much of a sense of urgency about him for the same reason.

I mean, he's not like Rudy or even Aldridge, where preseason games still have an element of newness about them. He's been doing these for half a decade now, and maybe he's just come to conclude they don't matter much.

 

[Minstrel]

Not meaning to make excuses for the guy, but nobody has brought it up. This is pre-season, and he's a 5 year veteran. Guys like Kobe are dogging it right now because the games just don't matter. Maybe Outlaw just doesn't have much of a sense of urgency about him for the same reason.

I mean, he's not like Rudy or even Aldridge, where preseason games still have an element of newness about them. He's been doing these for half a decade now, and maybe he's just come to conclude they don't matter much.

Well, the difference is that guys like Kobe Bryant are established. Outlaw isn't. Or, at least, he shouldn't be. If this is his established peak, he's not going to be much more than a bench player for any good team. Either way, it seems like a worrying thing. Either he's going half-speed when he should still be developing his game, or else he's topped out at "mediocre."

 

[mook]

Well, as hardcore fans we always hope our players (except for the stars during preseason) will always go full-speed. But maybe it's just not realistic. Maybe even the rising talent sometimes decides to coast a little. We're all human.

Maybe he just doesn't have that sense of urgency about him because he's just kind of dumb. Rodriguez went through about a year and a half where he refused to adapt his game, and it seems like him not getting invited to the Spanish olympic team was finally the kick in the pants that told him he had to put in some work.

Or maybe Outlaw's just had a bad couple of games as he gets adjusted to a whole new role. I dunno.

 

[tlongII]

Nah. Travis needs the work.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

mook - If that's the case then Outlaw really is an idiot. He has an opportunity to see that he can fit a role with this team. For him not to feel it's necessary to compete for this role, shows a level of cockiness that he hasn't earned yet.

But still, Outlaw was trying. He just was trying to do the things that are necessary of a 3rd or 4th offensive option.