KP & Nate: Bench the Starters

by hotstuffdb22 on Mar 31, 2008 1:17 PM PDT

For the remaining games of the season, I think the Blazers BrainTrust should bench some of their current starters (Blake, Pryz, Aldridge) to both prevent injury and allow Sergio, Frye, Jack etc. to play and improve their games.

I mean, what do Blake, Pryz and Aldrige need for these last few games? Rest. That's the only thing. Why burn them out? Why not let Sergio and Frye play 35+ minutes and try to improve their games.

Wouldn't this motivate the players come summer-time, to continue to improve their games?

I think this is more important than a winning record.

In addition, if we do bench our good guys, it may improve our draft choices.

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As a fan who is going to at least one of these

games, I would rather see Roy & Aldridge if possible. This would go against everything we have heard from Nate about finishing strong.

I don't think Roy, Aldridge, Pryz or Blake really want to sit anyways.

Our draft position is very, very unlikely to change. We can't catch the 9th spot and Sactown probably won't catch us.

by tweener on Mar 31, 2008 1:23 PM PDT 0 recs

rest for what?

the offseason? That makes no sense.

I'd agree with resting anyone (Roy/Aldridge) who is battling injuries. Pryzbilla has been really working to complete his first 82 game season, why take that way from him? Plus we have no centers to groom anyway.

With Roy out, it would be easy enough to play Jack exclusively at the 2 spot, and bump Sergio up to about 15 minutes a night. Frye

by douglast on Mar 31, 2008 1:31 PM PDT 0 recs

You don't play hurt at this point.

But shutting the team down and playing our bench isn't really going to help, because it's our starters who need the experience. Battling through an eighty-two game schedule is difficult, but we need to learn how to do it, especially if we plan on having a ninety-eight game schedule next season (I say we sweep 'em all!).

"I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled." -P.G. Wodehouse

by T Darkstar on Mar 31, 2008 2:23 PM PDT 0 recs

How do 35 point blowouts...

................................................ improve anything?

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Mar 31, 2008 2:27 PM PDT 0 recs

NO

Play them, they need to learn to finish a season.......baggin' the games is sooooo Miami Heat.

by iDea on Mar 31, 2008 2:43 PM PDT 0 recs

Don't bench the starters

Don't bench the starters, that would be ridiculous. The team wants to finish positively and why would you want to sit the team, it would be pointless. The blazers have set the standard with the franchise, and why would you want our starters to suffer through watching blowouts, when they can feel good enough to play.

by BenMatlockTheLawyer on Mar 31, 2008 3:02 PM PDT 0 recs

Something similar was suggested the other day

And I'll replay basically the same way: we are NOT a veteran team in the slightest, and we don't have young phenoms-to-be playing behind our old boring vets, just dying for playing time. Everyone on our roster, starting lineup included, needs to learn how to be a real NBA player, and that includes playing a 82 game season to WIN... especially if we want any chance of being a good team soon.

Why sit LMA? The offseason is right around the corner, no reason to play scared like he was a delicate dandelion. Why sit Joel? He has never played a full 82 games, is playing his best ball in years, and is being a dominant defensive and rebounding force. Plus he has that bet with Jay Jenson (I think) that he'll play all 82 games, and we have NO OTHER CENTER on the roster. I don't even wanna watch the blowouts we'll suffer if we sit our starters... okay, I'll watch. But I won't be happy.

Why sit Blake? His solid play and relative veteran stability is needed on our young roster, and since I figure he'll be on our team for years to come even if we find our starting PG, he should play with our core pieces such as LMA. Chemistry doesn't just happen, and every play Blake gets with the other guys (and really, this applies to everyone on the team, but especially for a PG) will help for years to come. Familiarity breeds success, or something to that affect!

If we were an old team that underperformed or if we had younger guys who could maybe be a starter some day not getting playing time, then you go that route of sitting guys. But a winning season is much more important than seeing if McRoberts is a NBA power forward. It means a lot to a franchise at this stage, and means a lot to me as well. Aside from Sergio, there isn't much reason to play the scrubs more if it means we absorb a loss-- and even with Sergio I want his minutes to come in the proper flow of a game, and not force fed.

I want more wins, dammit! Playing the string out as competively as possible is the best thing our guys could do.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Mar 31, 2008 3:41 PM PDT 0 recs

So far I think we all agree

The team as a team is learning how to win. The individuals get playing time in practice. The team that doesn't take any games (or minutes) off at the end of the season will be a better prepared team to win at the beginning of next season.

by lee3022 on Mar 31, 2008 4:04 PM PDT 0 recs

Plus

We are playing a lot of potential playoff teams who are either on the edge of making the playoffs and/or jockeying for seed position. It's incumbent upon us to play to win. In a couple of years we will want the same effort from a non-playoff team.

by blazermaniac32 on Mar 31, 2008 4:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Surge Curiosity

I've got from Surge Man-Crush to merely Surge-Curious. That being said, I'd like to see him a game or two at 35min or more. I'd like to just see if he has the stamina to make it through a game.

Besides, his shot is flat as a Euclidean plane when he's fresh; I wonder if, once he gets a little tired, if he can even better the altitude of the rim with his jumper.

Seriously though... can he play D? I see him gamble for steals a lot, can he pick some up with some minutes? Will he foul out? Will the fans finally get tired of singing Ole Ole Ole?

by Fizbin on Mar 31, 2008 4:48 PM PDT 0 recs

As for me, I'm an Old Testament Surge guy...

................................................ that man is an A-BOM-I-NA-SHUN!!!

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Apr 1, 2008 8:42 AM PDT up 0 recs

Winners win

quitters quit.

We have 2nd year players that need playing time and we're developing them... not the guys behind them who have been unable to break the roster.

And that's all i have to say.

Team OK just has to say that we'll take the lead with no delay. We have the players to keep the pace and in the end we'll win the race.

by ratbastird on Mar 31, 2008 5:18 PM PDT 0 recs

Carpenters carpent.

And hammers ham.

Did you really put stuff on top of the eggs? Like, for real? He put . . . HE PUT THE LIGHT BULBS ON THE BOTTOM!

by QualityPie on Mar 31, 2008 5:59 PM PDT up 0 recs

I love this kind of stuff.

by annthefan on Mar 31, 2008 7:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Dictators dictate

just saying.

We need at least one more win because I predicted 39 before the season.

I'm frequently right, but always certain

by jscot on Apr 1, 2008 1:59 AM PDT up 0 recs

Revolutionaries revolt.

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Apr 1, 2008 8:43 AM PDT up 0 recs

............... or do they revolve?

....................................................................... I get confused...

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Apr 1, 2008 8:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

turn in their graves, perhaps

I'm frequently right, but always certain

by jscot on Apr 1, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up 0 recs

Sometimes they're just revolting ;)

by annthefan on Apr 2, 2008 3:10 PM PDT up 0 recs

Relish these last Eight Games

The PTB will not have the opportunity to play this level of competition, until this time next year. It will not be happenin' Summer League, Pre-Season or Early Season. The PTB want to play their best against the best. This is It. Enjoy it for what it is. Our last chance to face this kind of competition this year!

We'll most likely work on the rest on Our schedule.

My only wish is that BRoy can have a piece of it.

"The Team with Caricature!"

by Lizzy Lowblow on Mar 31, 2008 6:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Maybe we could use some of that relish to

put on QualityPie's ham.

by annthefan on Mar 31, 2008 7:31 PM PDT up 0 recs

QP

Let's make a meat pie.

Whadda ya stink?

"The Team with Caricature!"

by Lizzy Lowblow on Mar 31, 2008 7:46 PM PDT up 0 recs

I would like to see

Sergio's minutes go up at J Jack's expense. Really, I am fed up with Jack. If he works so hard, why does he keep making the same mistakes over and over? Why can't he get it into his head to NOT JUMP before making a pass? He has GOT to be part of a package in the off-season. Let Serg and LMA play pick-and-pop/roll at the elbow all game against the L*kers tomorrow, make them defend it.

Get Greg outta the burbs

by BigCelPhone on Mar 31, 2008 6:38 PM PDT 0 recs

Workin' on the J Jack fundamentals

We wants drive, this he does. I don't think what happens, is all his fault.

"The Team with Caricature!"

by Lizzy Lowblow on Mar 31, 2008 7:49 PM PDT 0 recs

Wait Now

We need 4 more wins and those aren't coming from the bench players starting. And honestly, I think we'll be lucky to get 2 more wins. The Blazers need to finish the season.

Blazer's Edge #1 Trusted Relationship Site, Move Beyond "Traditional" Online Dating and Blogging

by tominhawaii on Mar 31, 2008 9:36 PM PDT 0 recs

Don't bench the starters

I pretty much agree with everyone here, the team should still be trying it's best to win all of its remaining games. However, to that end, I do feel Nate should reduce Jack's minutes, especially his 4 qtr minutes. Play Sergio as the 1st guard off the bench and move Blake to SG, and let them play together. Give sergio some minutes in the 3rd as well, and in the 4th give Blake all of Jack's current minutes.

Too bad that will never happen.

I don't love Sergio or want him to start every game, and I see his many faults. However I am so tired of watching Jack's play, just about anything would be better. Normally when sergio does play, his mistakes or turnovers are ones that I can normally live with. But Jack's cause heart attacks, and I don't think the Blazers want to be responsible for that.

by usmcr3049 on Apr 2, 2008 9:50 AM PDT 0 recs