Sometimes you have to bite the bullet

by Fund A Mental on Jul 1, 2009 2:18 PM PDT

Why are we bringing in Hedo? What are we going to do with all of that talent on the wing? Why did we get rid of Sergio if we aren't going after another point guard?

From the report today about Rudy wanting out, I would think that this isn't the direction the team is headed, but I would argue it should be. That being that as much as Roy argues against playing point guard, he would be the perfect point guard for our system. His concern about playing the position full time has been about it tiring him out. But with Hedo on board, this is not as much of a concern. They can alternate turns bringing the ball up the court, and if Rudy continues to improve his ball handling he can also help with this duty.

This gives us three wing players who collectively share the point guard load, and gives us a starting lineup of

Hedo Turkglu

That is a dangerous lineup by itself, but our depth chart is even more ridiculous

Roy/Blake/Bayless

Rudy/Martell/Outlaw

Hedo/Batum/Outlaw

LaMarcus/Outlaw/Pendergraph

Oden/Pryzbilla

This allows us to swing Martell back to his natural position, and play SF by committee, depending on what group of skills we need in that position against a particular team.

The main issue with this lineup would be defense. Would they be able to stop opposing teams pgs? This is debateable, but with the help defense and length of the whole unit we should be able to close down the interior and force bad shots.

This is all dependent upon Roy embracing the idea of running the "point." But he has stated that he wants to be in the hunt for a title, and I believe that this is the shortest route to that goal.

Poll

Is this scenario plausible?

Yes, sign me up

43 votes

Yes, but we can do better

51 votes

No

38 votes

Maybe

32 votes

I'd rather have (random PG)

22 votes

186 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

on paper

that starting 5 doesn’t look bad…i think we could fix it up a bit but that looks good..again, on paper

"be where you are when you're there"

by BLAZER_FAN_199 on Jul 1, 2009 2:28 PM PDT reply actions

Turk killed us last year, but below average v. the rest of the west.

By Opponent G PTS
vs. Dallas 2 15
vs. Denver 2 21
vs. Houston 1 12
vs. LA Lakers 2 13.5
vs. New Orleans 2 13.5
vs. San Antonio 2 16
vs. Portland 2 29.5
vs. Utah 2 16.5

Your line up would give LA and Greg tons of dunks, Rudy and Hedo room at the arch and really spread the court for Roy

wanderlust

by gatajohn on Jul 1, 2009 2:39 PM PDT reply actions

Sounds feasible

I want to keep Rudy and keep him happy, and I would love to somehow get him into the starting lineup. Maybe we don’t need a traditional point guard. Examples of this are many of the Phil Jackson coached championship teams, where guards such as Ron Harper or John Paxson played along a superstar guard who handled the ball a lot (MJ, Kobe). Maybe that is the best way to handle our situation.

I realize Rudy was a rookie last season and was adjusting to the NBA, but I did feel like the Blazers did not utilize him and all of his talents fully, usually using him as only a 3-point shooter. I certainly think he would be an upgrade to Blake as the other starting guard.

by socalblazer on Jul 1, 2009 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

We got rid of Sergio

So Bayless could play more, is my feeling. Also, he sucks.

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Jul 1, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

who's better?

Rudy or Bayless

"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams

"and if EVERYONE confronted with a tough, disgusting situation pulled out, I don't think I would have been born." Mortimer

by Fund A Mental on Jul 1, 2009 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

if we go by what they have done in there basketball lives

rudy by 10,000.

fire nate before its too late

by pipgras on Jul 1, 2009 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Bayless has more room to grow.

But Rudy by a mile, and i’m not saying Rudy doesn’t have the potential to get better. Because he could be scary.

I would like to see a buffed up Rudy. Just for fun.

* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...

by OdenFanBoy on Jul 2, 2009 3:34 AM PDT up reply actions

I would argue that Webster's natural position is the 3

and I wouldn’t play Outlaw there anymore. But essentially I’m okay with the starting 5 you suggest as I’ve been saying for over a year now that Roy ought to be the starting pg.

by LaughingJon on Jul 1, 2009 3:29 PM PDT reply actions

I agree.

Webs looked much better defending physically strong 3’s.

While Batum showed the ability to harass and throw the finesse wings offense completely off.

I hope we will be able to play them together, they both have so much room to grow still.

* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...

by OdenFanBoy on Jul 2, 2009 3:36 AM PDT up reply actions

That lineup would be fun

But we’d be top candidated for worst defense in the NBA

Nobody expects a Spanish Acquisition!

by DaniBCN on Jul 1, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

Portland would be "long"

Theres a debate going around re: it’s better to have a tall lineup now, because “you can’t put your hands on PGs when they’re penetrating” So, rather than have a short, stocky (or quick) player you play a lineup of 6’6-6’11 guys who make it difficult for the shorter opponents to pass or shoot over.

length > strength…this could’ve been a factor why DeJuan Blair was not on Portland’s draft board

Now, I don’t think the Blazers will shift Roy to PG. But if they did, the resulting defense would have to be a zone. The Blazers could sag into the paint, discourage penetration and dare the opponent to beat them with 3 point shooting

Its not a new strategy and it’s served some teams well, even NBA champions. I still think you need “bangers” to have playoff success. But to matchup with L*A the idea is to be “long” like they are

by two4larue on Jul 1, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions

The Turk

Turkoglu is good shooter but I’m really not sold on the dollars we are going to have to spend to make him a Blazer.

Should we really be paying for the big playoff run? I do like his 3 point ability but its not like anyone on the Blazers can’t drain the three ball.

I think this frees up a trade for a PG, so maybe KP has a master plan and we’ll all sitting around playing second fiddle till he makes his move.

"Oh yeah? You can Derelique my balls."

"I can Shavlick my own balls."

by Terry Gamble on Jul 1, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Gotta spend the dollars somewhere.

If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse, and no doubt Turk and the PG we trade for will make us better.

by BlazerBen on Jul 1, 2009 7:11 PM PDT reply actions

I say uneven trade is still the best option to use cap space.

But it is nice to aquire a player for next to nothing and add a better 3rd option to the team.

Argh, but we need defensive help. I would advocate signing Ariza if we had a deal on the table for Batum & Friends.

* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...

by OdenFanBoy on Jul 2, 2009 3:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I think I will hop on the Hedo wagon until we hear otherwise.

I am starting to jump on the Hedo wagon. He obviously is not the guy that everyone has been drooling over. But he has game, whether or not its “efficient”, it doesn’t really matter when you consider how much he will help spread the floor. Can you imagine a Roy, Rudy, Hedo, LMA and Oden starting line up? That is a ridiculously talented team.

People are beating this topic to death. I trust that KP knows what the right choice is, and we should all take that into consideration. Especially since all we have been hearing from everyone is “in KP we trust” for the last 2 months. Now all of a sudden, because he didn’t pick your ‘dream guy’. That this will be an epic failure??

I certainly hope this Rudy nonsense is all just hearsay. It would be very disappointing to have a young talent like Rudy get all big headed, throw a fit, and leave. But this is a team not Rudy vs NBA. If he does not want to be a team player, then send him packing to the Clips or something and wish him good luck, just like we did with Sergio.

I say, if Hedo becomes a Blazer, that we should all welcome him to this team and be ecstatic that we didn’t just sign a Z-BO’esque player (for example)(haha, Grizz!!). I hope everyone will welcome all players that put a Blazer jersey on.

Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Jul 1, 2009 8:22 PM PDT reply actions

ugh,

At least they got Z-Bo relitively cheap. He is still a 20-10 guy. And its not like the Grizz have a long way to fall.

I wish him, Damon, and Darius the best. Just stay away from revenge play against PDX in the future. The Griz should snatch up Sheed and Bonzi.

* Building a Greg Oden Fanboy Treehouse Clubhouse this summer...

by OdenFanBoy on Jul 2, 2009 3:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Roy isnt

going to play point and Rudy isnt starting. Roy is a scorer and you have to take advantage of that. If Hedo comes here one of the SF’s is outta here.

by BBG on Jul 1, 2009 8:31 PM PDT reply actions

Most definetely someone has to go. We know it's not Batum.

I was just living a dream with that statement about the starting line up.

Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Jul 1, 2009 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

"Roy isn't going to play point" . . .

and even if he did, we might not want him guarding the opposing point guard. This is a major reason why Batum is a better fit than Turkoglu — taking pressure off of Roy.

by Kaboomm on Jul 1, 2009 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

When I'm watching the games

I see the pressure on Roy to score points – not so much to be a lockdown defender. I’m sure he’d love to have turkey glue for some help at the offensive end as much as anything.

by levelhed on Jul 1, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Ariza

at 30-35 million he’s not worth the money.

"Oh yeah? You can Derelique my balls."

"I can Shavlick my own balls."

by Terry Gamble on Jul 2, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

Thats my 2k rotation!

the game does an, ok at best, job at, matching players with the real world counterparts., and it shows portlands hole at the point guard, I usually put roy at the 1, and either batum or rudy at 2-3 and turky at 3-4.

roy might not be able to guard points as well, but, on offense. no point guard can guard him.
In real world, this would work for a short period of time. I think it has been mentioned a few times. Orlando ran it for a little bit during the laker series, It didn’t work to well for them, JJ redick is not brandon roy. so we might have even more success.

Brandon didn’t like playing the 1, because of the energy it uses. With an extra ball handler you don’t have to run a Standard Point guard to PlayerX offense.

by afterian on Jul 2, 2009 11:40 PM PDT reply actions