Start Rambo.

he has to be in every starting lineup combination?

using surnames only (sorry, Martell)…. that said, I think that a second unit featuring four shooters (Outlaw, Martell, Rudy and Blake) together will suffer for playmaking ability. Blake plays the point well enough, but suffers a bit in the creativity department—with Roy on the floor it doesn’t really matter.

But Miller is so much better than Blake overall, and the team looked so awesome with #24, that you gotta start Miller.

Maybe what we need is a second Miller. I smell a trade coming.

I also like Nate’s current reasoning, which appears to be there is nothing wrong with a starting 5 that led Portland to 54 wins, and still leaves you with a second unit that matches up well with every other starting unit in the league.

In the end, it should not matter who starts, but who plays the best together while at the same time giving Portland the greatest number of matchup advantages.

This is Roy’s team. He is most comfortable with Blake and Przzy…for now.

Enough said:

Between “how a team/its fans view a player” and “how the rest of the league values the player” than Travis Outlaw. He is widely considered our team’s best SF by the rest of the league yet when given eight options for our starting 5, not one of them includes Travis Outlaw? I’m not saying that I disagree with it (I personally feel that Batum should remain the starter) but if our value is so different from the leagues value, then the guy should be traded.

Love Andre’s presence, and vision. Batum seems like he will play a similar role as last season, starter and 20 min a night. Oden is looking like a #1 pick. I’m kinda salivating for the season to start.

Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden

That leaves Blake, Rudy, Webster, Outlaw & Pryzbilla as the back-ups. That’s too many backups! Should KP be looking to trade players to consolidate our rotation? I’d hate to see any of them go, but if we can get a stronger player and a 7-8 man core rotation, then the team would be better overall. How do we get there? These guys are too good to all be left on the bench.

No doubt in my mind that’s the Blazers best lineup. I’m okay with any starting lineup, as long as those guys play the most minutes at their respective positions.

However, for many games, my closing lineup would be Miller/Rudy/Roy/Aldridge/Oden. That’s our best lineup in my opinion, except against the biggest and strongest 3s in the league.

My lineup for a final possession on O (with time for an O-Reb): Roy/Rudy/Outlaw/Aldridge/Oden
My lineup for a final possession (no time for an O-reb): Roy/Rudy/Webster/Outlaw/Aldridge
My lineup for a final defensive stop: Miller/Roy/Batum/Aldridge/Przybilla (Joel was a lot better on D than Oden last year— that may change)

What a great dilemma have, this team is AWESOME!

Starters: Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden

I like Steve Blake, and I have been saying for years now that he is one of the best, if not THE best BACKUP PGs in the NBA. He had a nice year for us last year, but his inability to defend and penetrate leaves something to be desired. Plus you can’t underestimate the pressure that Andre Miller takes off of Brandon Roy with his ability to handle and get to the hoop. You won’t see the results right away, but at the end of the regular season Roy will be more fresh and ready for the playoffs if Andre Miller starts…and you can quote me on that

Batum is an easy start over Webster. That may change down the road, but as of right now, after a summer playing international ball for France, Batum is ready to go, and his offensive game looks sharper and more confident. Perfect guy to haver in the lineup with Roy and Aldridge because he doesn’t need the ball to be effective, whereas Martell is more of a shooter and scorer.

Oden has to start. You know what Joel can do and he has been solid for us, but Greg is only 21 and just starting to tap his potential. You start him becasue of what he brings defensively. He may not be the smoothest guy on offense (although he looks MUHC better so far this year), but neither is Pryzbilla. Put him out there and let him run with Roy and Aldridge, that’s the future of the team and that lineup has to come together.

Bench: Blake, Fernandez, Webster, Outlaw, Pryzbilla

The 2nd unit won’t be the best defensive team, but they have an interior presence with Joel and a perimeter guy that can defend a bit in Webster. What this team will be able to do is spread the floor with Outlaw at the 4, and with Rudy and Martell, and Blake shooting from the perimeter, with Joel cleaning up boards. This unit does give up some size inside, but that will be negated by their open floor ability. Plus, as a second unit, this group will either be able to tire out other starting units, or totally overwhelm opposing 2nd units….

The benefit as Nate said in some interviews is that both units would have penetrators, defenders, outside shooters, and a top big man as well as a facilitator who can run picks. He basically has to evaluate what is more valuable: Having two strong “units” (not as strict of course) with the second one stronger than the one for most any team in the league, or preventing to fall back so often early in the game.

i think andre will open up the court for webster more, and batum will get more minutes off the bench.

On the two bases of BPA and most-ready-player available (MRPA) our starting unit should be Miller Roy Batum Aldridge Oden. I think that is what the caveats in the poll wwere meant to circumscribe.

BAB raises an interesting point above. He points out that if Miller starts then Webster should also start because Webster’s outside shooting will be needed to stretch the defense and keep opposing guards honest with Miller.

Fair enough. But once we get into combinations then the whole poll gets jiggered. So I’ll just stick with BPA and MRPA. And that leads me to my starting lineup.

White Unit against Sacramento:

Miller PG +9

Fernandez Wing +8

Webster Wing +17

Outlaw Big (sic.) +5

Oden Big +15

If last year’s starters can return to form (and there is no reason they should not be able to do that), death awaits the NBA with nasty, pointed teeth!!!

Too early. Give us the rest of preseason to consider. That is what it is for, right? Too bad we can only conjecture with the amount we can see.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/blazers_poll_pick_your_startin.html

if this will be at least broadcast on the radio?? 95.5?

I do NOT like a 2nd team lineup of Blake, Rudy, Martell, Outlaw, and Joel

There’s no penetration and no inside game at all. Well, Blake or Rudy may occasionally find Webster for a dunk, but you can’t base a consistent offense on that. If the outside bombers (Blake, Rudy, Martell, Outlaw) are hitting, you’re amazing. But more often you are apt to go down shooting a steady stream of outside jump shots, and its easier to guard these guys without an inside threat or guard penetration.

I also love the idea of keeping Roy or Miller on the floor at all times.

So I would avoid any kind of platooning (seldom works at NBA level anyway) that produces that 2nd team lineup in order to play 10 guys.

It could work something like this:

1st/3rd Qtr

0:00 Blake, Roy, Batum, LMA, Oden
6:00 Miller, Roy, Webster, LMA, Oden
10:00 Miller, Rudy, Webster, LMA, Joel

2nd/4th

0:00 Miller, Rudy, Webster, Outlaw, Joel
4:00 Rudy (or Blake), Roy, Batum, Outlaw, Joel
7:00 Miller, Roy, Rudy (or Webster/Outlaw/Batum in 4th), LMA, Oden

Roy – 36
Miller – 30
Blake – 12 (could expand to 15-18 at expense of Rudy getting PG minutes)

Rudy – 28
Batum – 20
Webster – 16

LMA – 36
Outlaw – 12

Oden – 32
Joel – 16

But lets get real. He can’t push the ball, he can’t get past his man, he cant find bigs in scoring position. He can hit the three, and he can hand the ball to Brandon.

Miller starts. Miller destroys. Miller…and Greg, feast on orphans.

But I feel like I have to start Batum for his defense. I want my best defender on the opponent’s top guy, and that guy will be starting.

Batum over Webster: Batum for me is obvious. He doesn’t need the ball in his hands and plays defense and everything I’ve heard says he’s made the typical growth you expect after their rookie year. Unless Webster plays defense at a level way above him I’d go with Batum.

Oden over Joel: Oden was the starter last year before he got injured and all signs seem to point to him being miles ahead of where he was at this time last year. I also think it’d important for his confidence. Plus, the ultimate plan is for him to be our starter and a major force in the middle, so we should get him used to starting and playing with Roy and LMA as much as possible. Unless he gets into foul trouble I’d start him and even then it may be something we just have to let him play through. Joel is also more consistent and with all those scorers on our bench we need a defensive rock we can rely on.

Blake over Miller: I’ll probably change my mind on this until opening tip since I haven’t seen Miller play with the team, but on paper I think he’d be better with our backups. He can run with Rudy and Outlaw and get shots for Rudy like Sergio used to. If we started Miller we wouldn’t have enough shooting and our second unit wouldn’t have anybody who can penetrate, draw defenders and get other guys shots. In the first quarter Nate likes to establish LMA early and this year I’m sure he’ll do that with Oden too, so they need shooters. More than the shooting though I feel the difference is that Miller can get into the paint and draw defenders. If Rudy shows he can do that or Outlaw gets better at passing they could take over that role, but for now we need Miller for it.

to be on the radio tonight?

It will set up our team nicely to lull the other team into a false sense of security, and then when their second unit is in we put in Roy and BAM! Instant domination!!

Andre vs Steve
Batum vs Webster (vs Outlaw vs Rudy, this probably shouldn’t be an option)
Oden vs Przybilla

That would actually be more straight forward. you could even make a week of it, position by position followed by 1st and 2nd off the bench

If he is going to draw fouls at anywhere near the rate he did last night, then I would much rather have those fouls pile up on starting centers and power forwards than second and third string ones.

We did draft him, right?

as others have stated. Start RAMBO and you have a second unit short on handles and with no inside offense. Good thing Nate’s smarter than that.

Then when Martell is back in the flow he’ll take over for batum. Miller proved what myself and others, who can seperate our love and unbiased assessment of Blake’s ability, have said all along. Miller beats Blake for the starting job hands down. This argument that the second unit needs him is just plain stupid. This isn’t hockey, we’re not talking about line changes here. Roy plays over 40 per game and miller should be in for 35 to 40. Both will play with parts of the second unit as will the rest of the starting Rambo unit.

I would also like to say, as I have been Since SL, trade Bayless now! His stock continues to fall and will be at rock bottom by next summer. There are no minutes for him here.

I would vote we go with Miller, Roy, Rudy,LMA, Oden. Or maybe Miller, Roy, Rudy, Travis, and LMA. or…man thats tough.

It’s a no brainer.

I like Miller and how he can bring out the best in our bigs more than Blake can, but I am fine starting Blake as long as Miller doesn’t take too long to get off the bench. And then you keep him in while ya bring in the rest of the athletic “running” subs, and have consistent-Joel in for interior defense.

But Oden starts.

No question. No need to throw him at backups.

Mortimer

1. Miller needs to be on the court every minute Roy isn’t on the court.
2. Miller needs to be on the court every minute Oden is on the court.

Absent some frenetic substitution, this means Miller and Oden come off the bench.

~ Munky

Miller over Blake – Blake is looking strong right now (not so much last night but roy was playing down so bad it was not really fair to knock blake for some of the clunkiness). In the end though I go with Miller for two reasons. 1. he has rebounding in him and we are weak there. Teams use 2 guys to clear out Oden and Pryz every time, none of our small forwards crash well, Andre gets em, we need em. 2. His game fits with everybody better, it will just take some time to get the chemistry together. He can break opponents down at the top of the key easier, he is just fun to watch and good.

Webster over Batum – this one is the toughest for me. I agree with an assessment either ben or Dave gave made about Webster’s game stronger from a starting perspective while Batum’s is good to bring off the bench, particularly after idenitfying who is hot that night on the other team. Bring batum to blanket the hot guy. It is tough though, I would be happy with either one starting.

Oden over Pryz I got the double homer thing going here, but if you were lucky enough to be in the building last night you know Oden is the starter. I love Pryz, I loved watching him play in the Big Ten, but oden’s offensive presence is to big to ignore.

I think this will be the starting lineup by christmas or so (barring injury situations). I think it will start with Blake, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden then transform to Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden by turkey day and then Miller, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, Oden. Oden is the man now, Miller needs to learn his team mates a little better, Webster needs a little time to get into game shape.

those are my thoughts on this.

Every other team puts its best players on the floor to start except San Antonio. The best thing you can do for Roy and LMA’s scoring opportunities is to put the best talent around them so other teams can’t do anything other than man on man or weak zone on defense. If you have five legitimate options on the floor, Blazers are an unstoppable first unit. They are going to kill you with whoever you forget about.

All of this talk about units makes me ill too. The most minutes are played with either starters as a unit or several bench players and several starters in various configurations. The full second unit will rarely show its head and we should be grateful for that. No matter what the final second unit looks like, I’d always have one or two top talented people on the floor at all times.

Answering the question, if I am going with best talent as I argue, I have to go Miller, Roy, Webster, Aldridge and Oden and start working in rotations with Blake, Rudy, Batum, Outlaw and Pryz scenarios that are actually going to happen in a game.

Mortal Kombat!

since its always the same question: Who Starts?

How about:

Does the same group always have to start? CW= “You must always start the same group, otherwise they won’t be able to develop a rhythm.” Really? I think not knowing who you play against will cause more problems for the other team. These guys are pros, right? And don’t they eventually end up playing with all the different combinations anyway? They can manage to play together in the middle of the third, but that starting thing is so intimidating they can’t focus?

CW= “Your best players have to start” Best what? Best shooters / offense? Best defense? Best rebounders? Best passers? Best speed? Best BBIQ? Well, the other guys following the CW usually start their best offensive players. I like the concept of starting our best defensive players against their best offensive players, but the team you put on the floor is a match of a variety of “Bests”. Go to a restaurant and order their “Best” wine and their “Best” beer. Drink them together. I prefer to match a light red wine with duck, a heavy red wine with steak, and a beer with a bratwurst. {5 recs for anyone posting the Blazer players as food dishes and best accompanying drink.}

CW= “The starters always get the most minutes” Well, if you automatically start your “best” players, stands to reason they will end up with the most time. Unless, of course, you start players because of match-ups and line-up mix. The “best” players prove it on the court every night and get the most minutes because they are performing at a superior level.

CW= “You don’t substitute a whole second team at the same time”. Well, not if there is a severe drop-off in talent, you wouldn’t, but what if 10 deep is something unusual? I say total platoon sometimes; it will confuse the opposition.

I’m voting for keeping last years starters, well, since change is so hard and the Blazers are obviously incapable of dealing with any difference in the starting line-up, unless required by injury. Not really, but I don’t think Nate is comfortable enough to change starters on a daily basis. Actually, I like starting Nic and Joel so they can push hard on defense without caring about foul trouble. And I like Andre and Oden off the bench as a tandem and to keep either Roy or Andre on the floor for attack. Martell is a better fit too with Miller than Nic due to outside shooting, and he will probably need to work his way back to full bore strength and quickness. And bringing Greg off the bench lets Joel pick up the first couple of fouls against the opposite starting big. But that’s all be said before…

I say none of the old rules apply to this team, except John Wooden’s: pedal to the metal.

but clicked the wrong box. I like the idea of Rudy and Martell playing together, although Martell’s J could help the starting group since Miller isn’t a deep threat. I think the only significant debate is between Webster and Batum – Oden and Miller are starters

Oden, Rudy, Roy, Aldridge, Batum.
I think a point guard free lineup that features Batum as a ball handler is the way to go. Rudy and Batum push the pace with Roy and Aldridge filling lanes. Three shooters, two post players and our best defender and most creative offensive player all centered around Roy, who does everything well and can adapt as well as Miller. Miller first off the bench followed shortly by Pryz and Martell, occasionally using the twin towers and sometimes going small. I play Bayless over Blake whenever possible, getting threes from Webster, Roy, Rudy, and Nic.
I would like to see Blake play between 5-15 minutes a game this season. He is the toughest sob in the NBA, but its because he has to be. He is limited defensively, can’t consistently get his own shot and is never at a physical advantage in any matchup. He is a superior shooter and would fit a Steve Kerr type role well, but I don’t think he should be playing ahead of Bayless, who most nights is physically better than his match up. The addition of Miller and Webster make most of Blake’s strengths superflous and his weaknesses glaring. Whenever I saw Billups, Paul, Rose, Kidd, Parker match up against Blake, I couldn’t help but feel that if he just held his own he’d be huge. Sometimes he did, but in the NBA, talent always wins out. I have no fear of this with either Miller or in a pinch Roy at point.
Lastly, I think you always start your five best. The five above are as far as I am concerned, our best. Miller is sixth, Pryz seventh and Webster or Bayless eighth. Nate will likely want to trim the playoff rotation to 8 or 9. I think Blake ought to be the odd man out. I doesn’t mean I don’t love him and what he brings every night, but he isn’t a player I’d want my season to hinge on.

I don’t think it is going to matter who we start with all the talent on this team :)

This team reminds me of a younger version of the 99-00 team that had so many great players. The only difference is we don’t have as many egos with this group.

Rudy, Miller, Pryz, Outlaw, and Bayless could all start on other teams…