Who do you start? Who do you work in?

by Blazer on Mar 17, 2009 8:28 PM PDT

So as we get closer to the time when both Webster and Oden are "healthy" again and can play. Who would you put at your starting 5? I personally dont think I would change the starting 5 we have now. They have been playing togetther the longest and know each others play style the best.

However, what if Webster comes back and within 5-10 games is back to where he was pre injury? (I know this is a strech, but hey, we can dream big around here!) Would you start him in front of Batum or bring him in off the bench? What happens to Outlaw at the 3? Do you slide him down to the 4 and let him cover the floor while Aldridge is taking a breather, or do you push Batum deeper down the rotation?

I think Nate has done a pretty decent job so far with the team he has had this year. In a way, I think the injuries have helped the team out more then hurt them . I know its a bit sadistic to think that way, but would we have seen Batum get to where he is now if he was just a sub behind Outlaw and Web? With Oden starting an entire year, would we have seen Joel anchor this team even more so this year then he has in the past? And how about seeing some early highlights of Bayless while Blake was out? Even Sergio was starting to show signs of exciting playmaking with extended time on the floor.

So my picks for the starting 5:

Blake
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Pryz

My top 5 bench:

Bayless
Rudy
Webster
Outlaw
Oden

Whats yours?

Oh, I almost forgot... RIP CITY!!!

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I'd switch Oden and Przybilla

But I think you’ve got it right.

by rmcdougall on Mar 17, 2009 8:34 PM PDT reply actions

Joel is working so well with the starters

It’ll really depend on how Oden looks.

Next season, he’d be starting, so a bench role wouldn’t be the end of the world this season.

by Timmay! on Mar 17, 2009 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Fun topic.

Here’s the concept I considered…

Starting:

C: Joel
PF: LMA
SF: Martell
SG: Roy
PG: Blake

Bench:

C: Oden
PF: Outlaw
SF: Batum
SG: Rudy
PG: Sergio

For the playoffs, shorten the rotation. Sergio’s time is heavily reduced, with a three-guard rotation (Rudy/Blake/Roy). Batum’s minutes are reduced, but he gets time at the end of the 1st and start of the second… if he’s a difference-maker, his minutes increase that game. Outlaw primarily plays in the 4th, and other ends of quarters as needed. Do what’s necessary to keep Outlaw in short, focused stretches.

Oden and Pryz works itself out, 28 for one, 20 for the other, depending on how they’re doing in each game.

If Portland is really struggling, bring in Bayless and Batum for some scrappiness, but keep Roy and LMA in to score points.

by Timmay! on Mar 17, 2009 8:37 PM PDT reply actions

I think there's not enough shots for the starters and not enough scoring in the bench

Switching martell and batum makes more sense for the start of the halves.

Sorry, too tired to be clear about my reasoning.

by rmcdougall on Mar 17, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd be open to that change.

Though I think Outlaw, Oden and Rudy would have more scoring than you expect. Especially when it’s made clear that Oden gets 10-12 shots a game inside against the other team’s bench.

by Timmay! on Mar 17, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Made clear by the coach I mean.

by Timmay! on Mar 17, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I like Martel, Rudy, and Outlaw with Oden

because of the tremendous outside threat. Those are three deadly 3 point shooters around our low post big man. That would be like our version of Orlando’s starting unit.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Mar 17, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

I say we go with a 5-guard combination

PG: Sergio
SG: Blake
SF: Bayless
PF: Rudy
C: Roy

Easy discrete elbow below the belt against the opponent’s taller players.

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 17, 2009 8:54 PM PDT reply actions

we follow that with our 5-forward/center combination

PG: Batum
SG: Outlaw
SF: Aldridge
PF: Oden
C: Przybilla

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 17, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll one up that: All players who play center for the Blazers lineup

C: Oden
PF : Ruffin
SF: Pryz
SG: Frye
PG: Aldridge

Aldridge has an extremely low turnover rate so he is pretty much Blake but taller.

".. is gumby an alien?"

by staylost on Mar 17, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Sucks to be Webster

in all these lineups.

by Royster on Mar 17, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Sucks to be Webster

Cuz he only played 5 mins …

Positive Vibes For Oden

by Air Norv on Mar 17, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions

The all youth and inexperience team

We could have 4 rookies and a 22 year old and still make a game of it.

Bayless
Rudy
Webster
Batum
Oden

by undutchable on Mar 17, 2009 9:24 PM PDT reply actions

If we are talking our current roster

Blake/Bayless/Sergio
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Outlaw
Aldridge/Frye/Outlaw/Ruffin/Shav/Freeland(haha)
Przybilla/Oden/Aldridge

Who do you want to be the best in the future?

Oden:

Conley/Bayless
Roy/Redd
Batum/Outlaw
Aldridge/Lauderdale
Oden/Przy

Roy:

Robinson/Bayless
Roy/T.Williams
Batum/Outlaw
Aldridge/Outlaw/Hawes
Oden/Hawes(American Nowitzki?)

Batum:

Parker/Bayless
Roy/Pietrus
Batum/Diaw
Aldridge/Diaw
Oden/Ajinca

Rudy:

Ricky Rubio
Brandon Roy
Rudy Fernandez
Pau Gasol
Marc Gasol

Hahahaha… Spanish national team !

Positive Vibes For Oden

by Air Norv on Mar 17, 2009 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

I think Webster will be as effective as Shav when he gets back this season.

Seriously it takes time for a guy to get back from an injury just look at how out of shape Oden was after missing last year. The nice thing is Webster will have all off season to get back in shape and ready for next season.

Oden should and will come off the bench. But he should be the starter on openning day next season, I think Oden will play better next year and I hope he and Webster both have a healthy and productive off season.

There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.

by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 17, 2009 11:06 PM PDT reply actions

This team has SOOO many GREAT players just thinking about the starters outside of Roy is just like sitting in a candy shop with no 1 watching or caring .. haha

my personal favorite starting rotation would be …

c – Joel
pf – Lemarcus
sf – Martell
sg – Brandon
pg – Steve .

I would sub in these players all at once .

c – Oden
sf – Outlaw
Pg – Rudy

for a line up that would look like this .

C – Oden
Pf- Aldridge
sf- Outlaw
sg- Roy
pg- Rudy

This would be I personally think 1 of the best scoring line ups we could put out there ,,

I would then sub in

PF – Frye
Sf – Batum
Sg- Bayless

for a line up of ..

C – Oden
pf – Frye
sf – Batum
sg – Bayless
pg – Rudy

This would be my defensive/ rebounding team

C – Oden 7’0
PF – Aldridge 6’11
Sf – Batum 6’8
sg – Webster 6’8
pg – Roy 6’6

That would be a nightmare for virtually any team , we would also be able to run with this line up as their all rookies or dang close to it .. haha

by Lenwen76 on Mar 18, 2009 5:54 AM PDT reply actions

I don't see Webster

making a big impact this year, but I do see him or Travis being traded this off-season. This team has 3 SF’s that they like, and Batum seems like the only untradeable after this years trade deadline, which means one of the other 2 will be gone. Webster just signed an extension so that leads one to believe that Outlaw will be traded, but I am not sure we can lose Outlaw’s scoring off the bench, as Webster is not as aggressive as Travis is. This is one of the many tough decisions KP and crew will have to make this offseason.

My guess is Outlaw will be traded because he has more value around the league, him along with Sergio or Bayless will hopefully help this team get a quality PG.

by usmcr3049 on Mar 18, 2009 9:42 AM PDT reply actions

I think we can live without Travis scoring

He’s the most inefficient cog in one of the league’s most efficient offenses.

by robrun2 on Mar 18, 2009 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

For the playoffs (if we make it knock on wood) this is how I would like to see the rotation

Starters
5-Oden
4-LA
3-Batum
2-Roy
1-Blake

Reserves
5-Przy
4-Outlaw
3-Web-slinger
2-Rudy
1-Sergio

From the back of Travis Outlaw's Franz card: Travis leads the team in monstrous thunder dunks, wins awards for post game interviews, and often gets extra points for degree of difficulty.

From the back of Greg Oden's Franz card: Nickname: Jaws. Has an insatiable desire to tear rims apart while cruising the open court, and was once interested in using head-gear for his profession.

by TheOdenator on Mar 18, 2009 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

I think webster should be on bench, to help with the scoring + i remember watching Rudy and Webster play together, and it was awesome

starters: Bench:

1. Blake 1.Sergio
2. Roy 2. Rudy
3. Batum 3. Webster
4. L-train 4. Outlaw
5. Oden 5. Thrilla

Momma.....der go dat man

by AllHailRoy on Mar 18, 2009 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

Once playoffs come around...

The bench players tend to not get as much burn. So choose your starting 5 wisely.

by JmarcL4 on Mar 18, 2009 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

I like

PG: Sergio
SG: Blake
SF: Rudy
PF: Shav
C: Przy

We could call it the “white unit”

by Escrote on Mar 18, 2009 1:51 PM PDT reply actions

RLEC

6th man of the year!

by Zaig on Mar 18, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

do they have a 15th man award yet?

I heart taxes.

by everett on Mar 18, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Seriously though:

Starting:
pg: Blake
sg: Roy
sf: Batum
pf: LA
c: Przy

closing unit:
pg: Roy
sg: Rudy
sf: Outlaw
pf: LA
c: Przy

by Escrote on Mar 18, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions

definitely bring the gimpsters off the bench

Martell won’t have much of an impact this year but maybe he’ll have a couple of games to find his feet with the bench unit. Oden seems MUCH more comfortable coming in off the bench for now, which makes a lot of sense. Give him a chance to get his mojo working off the bench and we’ll see where he’s at by the playoffs.
Bottom line is, we’ve been winning without both of them, so it makes sense to keep the core of our winning model intact (Blake/Roy/Batum/LMA/Przy) and bring Oden in slowly from the periphery.

by kickbrass on Mar 19, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions