Blazers 1st Team vs 2nd Team
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 24, 2009 2:48 AM PDT
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PrintNate confirmed the starting lineup for training camp again today. Link
The starting lineup will almost certainly change by opening night. But imagine the first scrimmage at training camp ... Blake vs Miller, GO vs Joel, Webster vs Batum ... starting spots at stake.
This will very likely also be the lineup for at least one half of the Wells Fargo FanFest, which could be better than the first pre-season game - Portland vs Sacramento.
1st team: 2nd team:
Blake Miller
Roy Rudy
Joel Oden
LMA Outlaw
Batum Webster
If you are the coach of the 2nd team -- what's your strategy? What would you do to beat Nate and the 1st team?
I like the 2nd team's chances on offense. I'd post up Miller, swing the ball around the perimeter to Rudy and Webster, have GO and Rudy play some inside-outside, ally-oop and pick & roll between Miller and Oden (hey, there's 4 days to teach Greg to actually set a pick before rolling), let Rudy run Roy around in circles until he's too tired to drive to the hoop at the other end, and when all else fails have Trout shoot jump shots over whoever is close to him. Oh, and most importantly, RUN RUN RUN.
What's the defensive assignments? How do we contain Roy and LMA? Looks like plenty of zone to me. Make them beat us from outside? Trap Brandon whenever possible and give Batum shots? Slide Greg over on LMA if he drops deep into the paint? Or ... maybe we will just have to outscore them ...
How would you beat Nate and the 1st team?
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I love it
If Roy were not a superstar and just a very good player like Rudy is this would be a total wash. Last time i remeber someone talking about haveing two team other than recently was the Drexler hay-day Blazers.
91-92
Team 1: Porter, Drexler, Kersey, Williams, Duck
Team 2: Danny Young/ Robert Pack, Ainge, Robinson, Bryant, Cooper.
Striking similarities, PG backlog, good backup two guard, good back up SF, servicable backup pf, and rugged backup center. I have to say…..i think i would rather have this set of dual teams personally…..i THINK.
To the strategy question: wow, who knows how to play em…..i say play balanced and agressive and hope LMA or Roy doesnt go off and destroy you.
by blazerbeliever97504 on Sep 24, 2009 4:53 AM PDT reply actions
It's kind of funny
The 2nd team is clearly better at two positions, maybe 3 if Webster has recovered well.
Miller over blake is the only clear position where the 2nd team is better than the first.
And Webster over Batum? Hah!
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
Nope.
He meant Rudy.
(Outlaw & Webster being better is obvious.)
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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Yup.
What people need to realize is that Webster is just as good as Roy. Give him some time and trade away Batum as quickly as possible and hopefully he’ll sign another cheap contract with us when the time comes.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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by staylost on Sep 24, 2009 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions 5 recs
Tom, you're just plain evil.
But it’s still fun to watch you suck people in! : )
I stay cool by h8ing Roy.
Its so easy because he is always bringing the team down.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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Defense
Can Webster stop Batum heads-up? NOT!
Can Webster get his offense going against Batum? NOT!
by spencerbutte on Sep 26, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Webster is better than any player on the Blazers in every way except for Oden & Aldridge.
That is final.
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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Than this season will be a learning experience for you.
by spencerbutte on Sep 26, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I like learning!
*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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Oden is better than Pryzbilla
Especially in a head-to-head matchup. At least in my opinion, if Greg is healthy he’s a better center even as raw as he is.
And Webster was better than Batum is now when he got injured. I like Batum, but his current abilities seem to me to be vastly overrated by large numbers of bedgers, to the point there was an actual disagreement over which Frenchman we would prefer: Tony Parker or Nic Batum. He has a lot of potential and is a long, gifted defender; but let’s keep in mind for all Travis Outlaw’s limits as a player that is who the Blazers played both for the majority of minutes, and almost always when the game was on the line. And considering we had Roy, Rudy, LaMarcus, and Steve Blake its not like offense was really difficult to come by. Despite Batum being a better defender on a team of gifted offensive players, it still wasn’t enough to let him beat out everyone’s favorite one-dimensional gunner for minutes. That is my opinion anyway, though Nic may be better eventually. I’d take a healthy Webster over Batum right now, though it remains to be seen how well Webster rebounds from missing a year.
by matthewcc on Sep 24, 2009 9:32 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Totally agree
People tend to only remember the times Nic was quite good. But there were entire stretches of games when he was completely 100% ineffective. It’s really remarkable that the team won 54 games last year starting two guys who had VERY limited offensive capabilities.
I disagree that Batum is VERY limited.
His role on this team keeps him limited. McMillan parks him in the corner for spot up threes. In watching his performances with the French National Team, I think he can provide more than Portland’s offensive system allowed him to provide last year.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
by Arby on Sep 24, 2009 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is true
webster has been stuck in the same roll and he can def do more
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
wow
parker of course!
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
The second team is comprable to Philly's line-up last year
Miller, Green, Iguodala, Young, Dalembert
Miller, Rudy, Webster, Outlaw, Oden
Iguodala is a lot better than Webster, but otherwise…
It's our bench
That should be sufficient…
"HA HA HA HA HA
I'm not laughing, I'm just listing the five ugliest Blazers ever."
- rockingharder
Great lineups, now goals!
Set the goal to be 20 points in the first 8 min. while only alowing 12 on defense. If both teams set that as their goals, then the teams could be interchanged at the 8 min. mark be up 40 or so to 25 or so in the first quarter and have.
defensively for the first team
i’d put blake on rudy, roy on webster, and batum on miller.
"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.
Defensively for the second team
I’d put Miller on Blake, Webster on Roy, and Rudy on Batum. And I would pray that they didn’t pass the ball to LMA in the low post against Travis.
"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue
you could cheat off pryz pretty well though
by 50backflips on Sep 25, 2009 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions
How do we contain Roy
The same way Philly did last spring. Have Martell guard Brandon, but Andre will be ready (again) to double and “pinch-off” Roy’s penetration, when he reverse-spins.
Rudy can check Batum
Travis can’t guard LMA, but Greg can leave Joel to help
I suspect team 2 would beat team 1 most of the time (even though team 1 has Nic, who’s teams won the majority of the preseason scrimmages last fall…) It will be interesting to see all these matchups at the fanfest
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
If we go into the regular season with those lineups
Nate will effectively be saying to the other team, “You’d better get a lead on our starters, because the guys coming behind them might be even better.”
"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue
And against their second team as well
I can see the 2nd team building larger margins than the 1st team against many opponents.
Miller over Blake??? Not so fast!
Once again we are falling into the “grass is always greener” trap. How quickly we forget the multitude of timely 3’s and other daggers that Blake delivered last season when the Blazers were teetering on the edge. And don’t discount the value of a PG that compliments your star, Brandon Roy, perfectly as Blake does.
And don’t talk to me about statistics or past head-to-head battles between Miller and Blake. The two players, while both PGs, have always played very different roles for their teams resulting in greater stats for Miller and lesser for Blake.
I do like what I hear about Miller’s ability to run the break and throw alleyoop passes, but running the break is a TEAM trait and no single player can make it happen. I truly hope the team follows his lead and gets out in the lanes, but until it happens, I cannot add that to the list of Miller’s perceived benefits to our team.
Finally, I am concerned about replacing a legitimate 3pt threat with an average to poor 3pt shooter. The paint does not need another player clogging it up. Floor spacing is as critical when you are trying to establish a low post game through GO or LMA, as it is for Brandon to operate and get himself to the hoop.
We KNOW what Blake brings to the first team. I think what Miller may bring to our team might be best suited to running the second unit. To your post…I would use Miller to run the floor with Outlaw, Rudy, and Webster filling the lanes and GO thundering down the middle. When the break isn’t on, just as you suggest, have Miller run the pick and roll with GO and spot up the shooters, Rudy, Webster and Outlaw.
by mlsinpdx on Sep 24, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
you make some good points, but over the course of his career Andre Miller's been a better player than Steve Blake...
… and its not been particularly close.
Where's Bayless?
I thought that since we made a trade to get him that he’d be not only the next John Stockton or Gary Payton or Kevin Johnson, but that he’d take their best attributes, leave out their worst, and morph them together into one Jerryd Bayless body of PG awesomeness.
Since this didn’t happen, KP must be the worst GM in the history of civilization. Ancient GM’s of Persians and Medes before Alexander the Great were outright successful in comparison. Even Tim Chisholm can see that plain and obvious fact that the failures of the GMs that led to the fall of Rome were triumphs of the highest order when set beside Kevin Pritchard.
My expectations are completely shattered now. And if one cannot have even his wildest expectations fulfilled, then what’s the point of even bothering to try?
μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε.
Bayless should get his shot in pre-season.
But acquiring Miller would seem to have sealed his fate, at least for this year. I can’t imagine he gets any regular rotation minutes during the season unless there’s an injury to Miller or Blake. Hopefully he gets plenty of 3-4 minutes stints at the end of blowout wins.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 24, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Those traits have been all added to Bayless
But the mix is in the blender waiting for a burner to come open to make the omelet.
Have the lineups been announced...
for our special “six men on the floor” sets?
The cowards never started
The weak died along the way
Only the strong survived
They were the Trailblazers
by lukeyhere on Sep 24, 2009 12:22 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
Obviously the second team O should be run through Travis.
Travis needs 20 -30 shots a game for the Blazers to be successful.
"BEER IS LIVING PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US"
- Benjamin Franklin-
by We-B-Dunkin on Sep 24, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Nate says he will start with a 10-man rotation.
It’s pretty obvious those are the 10. So who are the other two players in uniform? I’d guess Bayless is one.
Will Cunningham or Howard get the 3rd string PF spot? That will probably be the other preseason “battle”.
That would leave Pendergraph and the 15th man in street clothes.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 24, 2009 1:20 PM PDT reply actions
here's what I'd do
defensively, matchup straight across the board, no switching
offensively, look to post up miller and run him in pick-n-rolls with Oden, and spread the floor with Rudy, Martell, and Travis..the 2nd unit has a PG that can push it, 3 very good outside shooters, and a big that can board and clean up, so thats what you do
the 1st unit has more size and played together all last year (and has 1 Brandon Roy), but I think the 2nd unit can hang tough if they use that game plan
by rip_city_swagger on Sep 24, 2009 1:58 PM PDT reply actions
The first unit can be shut down
I put webster to agressively cover roy, and have Rudy cover Batumn, and cheat off of him to help contain Roy. I’d have Miller shadow Blake, but don’t get him enough room for spot ups. I’d also have Oden cheat and help double of Aldridge when he posts up.
If they played hard enough D, this would cause the first units problems. Hopefully enough for Nate to reliaze that Blake,and Joel need to be moved to the 2nd unit.
Possibly that is indeed coache's plan....
“How they play will determine their roles”
We expect that is the way it SHOULD be (Miller & Oden starters).
So, that is their chance to demonstrate it. I’m hoping that is what happens.
Second unit is still dangerous. Too bad the scrimmages aren’t webcasted !
Yeah, can you say coachspeak.Miller WILL be starting over Our Lovable Steve Blake.GO will start and those two will be a tandem to be reckoned with.Miller has never been on a team where he hasn’t started.What he lacks in 3 point ability ,he will more than make up for in assists ,free throws and inside points.Steve should start watching Dexter.
hoo is dexter?
The counsels of impatience and hatred can always be supported by the crudest and cheapest symbols. For the counsels of moderation, the reasons are often intricate, rather than emotional, and difficult to explain. And so the chauvinists of all times and places go their appointed way: plucking the easy fruits, reaping the little triumphs of the day at the expense of someone else tomorrow, deluging in noise and filth anyone who gets in their way, dancing their reckless dance on the prospects for human progress, drawing the shadow of a great doubt over the validity of democratic institutions. And until peoples learn to spot the fanning of mass emotions and the sowing of bitterness, suspicion, and intolerance as crimes in themselves - as perhaps the greatest disservice that can be done to the cause of popular government - this sort of thing will continue to occur.
The TV series?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_(TV_series)
No idea how that would be related though. Maybe we should all start watching Dexter?
I like the second team
On defense for the second team I am going to help off of Joel, Batum, and LMA (poor catch and shoot #’s). Miller will push, shove, and lean on Blake as much as possible. Greg, although supposedly guarding Joel, will patrol the middle, leaning on, double teaming, hip checking Lamarcus when ever he comes inside. (in an attempt to force LMA out of the interior, and encourage passes in Joel’s direction) (I want Joel to have to handle the ball and make decisions.) Martel on Roy and Travis on LMA playing physical. I want to see bridles, saddles, and spurs being used on those two. And last but not least, I want to see Rudy in the passing lanes, anticipating, and taking some chances off of Batum. Note: Daunte is looking to come in for Travis at a moments notice.
Our strategy will be to get into the first teams collective head, taking advantage of our strength, and attempting to encourage the long two point shot. We want to make shots in the paint, as well as the three pointer, less desirable and as difficult as possible. When the first team gets loose for a shot close to the basket, they need to be hit hard. Even when they get free throws, we want them to feel like they paid a price. Pain is their price for standing at the line. No cheap fouls.
To finish off the defense, anyone close to the basket, will go to the boards hard. Once the rebound is secured, whoever gets it, with the exception of Greg, immediately dribbles rapidly up court looking for an angle to get the ball to either Andre or Rudy. Everybody fills a lane. Greg’s outlet options are Andre, Rudy, or Martell, in that order.
There is more to an athlete than how fast they can run, they also better be able to see what they are doing and know why they are doing it.
Some variations on defense
How about Rudy on Blake? Rudy plays gambling defense, and Blake isn’t enough of a slasher to punish him for it. Blake isn’t too great with catch and shoot, if there is a hand in his face, and Rudy should be able recover fast enough to at least make catch and shoot difficult.
Also, keep Brandon guessing, by switching either Miller or Martell on Roy (and of course quite often both). Brandon has deceptive speed, but not blazing speed. Miller will often get burned by Roy (who wouldn’t), but he’s canny enough and strong enough to bother Brandon quite a bit.
LMA has a hard time with smaller, strong, grabbier defenders. Luis Scola at 6’9" 245, and David West at 6’9" 240, for example, seem to really bother LMA and push him away from the rim. Wonder how switching Martell (6’7" 235) on LMA would turn out? While Martell gives up 2 inches, he is almost 30 lbs heavier (stronger?) than Travis.
Finally, on occasion, why not put Travis on Joel, and have Greg cover LMA? Its not like Joel has a post up game, nor can he consistently shoot over Travis. Concern would be whether Travis could box out Joel for rebounds — maybe this becomes a learning experience to improve Travis’s rebounding. Greg on LMA would be interesting to watch. It’ll be a great assessment of Greg’s conditioning and foot speed, because LMA will try to draw Greg away from the basket.
… and even if this becomes a controversial statement, but maybe Howard subs in to the second unit for Travis for better defense on LMA…
I agree
I think Howard will play a lot of practice time to improve LMA
Blazers: RUN away with the title!
KP: Please don't trade the next decade's Scottie Pippen (Batum), Spanish Larry Bird (Rudy), Bill Russell (GO) or Captain BRoy - at least until they 3-peat..
keep Brandon guessing, by switching either Miller or Martell on Roy
Andre needs to play “off” of Roy so he can sneak over and trap when Brandon reverse-spins…like he did last spring with Philly
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Concern would be whether Travis could box out Joel for rebounds — maybe this becomes a learning experience to improve Travis’s rebounding.
I find the mental image of Travis trying to “box out” Przy to be sadly comical…so it would be better to leave Trout on LMA, because Aldridge isn’t nearly as likely to crash the O-boards as Joel
but if Greg comes over to help out, Przy will feast on the weakside rebounds
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
LMA crashes the boards a lot
I think putting Travis on Joel might be worth playing around with a little bit. Travis would have to focus on one thing and one thing only, box the big guy out. It isn’t as if he isn’t physically capable. I hope he ends up on Joel and Greg quite a bit in training camp. If we want him to rebound, have him really work on it.
"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue
did you hear Trout's comment about adding upper-body strength?
The Courtside guys said that Outlaw didn’t want to bulk up because he “wouldn’t be able to jump as high”
And this is your backup PF talking?
two words come to mind: major disconnect
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I doubt he is doing something other than what the coaching staff tells him what they want him to do
It’s not like he is some rogue player who goes home and does the exact opposite of what the coaching staff told him to work on.
no, not the "exact opposite"
but Outlaw will do what’s good for Travis, because…
(wait for it…)
he’s selfish!
We all saw his Starkville workout video. How much better would Trout’s game have been, over the past few offseasons, if he had taken a few weeks off from home cooking and bass fishing during the summer and attended Grg’s big man’s camp?
We’ll never know, but not all NBA players work on their “weaknesses” with the same degree of dedication. Travis has “gotten by” with great elevation on his jumper, but if you ask scouts and reporters to be honest, they’ll say he’s got a lot of untapped ability that no amount of “coaching” will draw out of him if he doesn’t want to make the transition from pull-up jump shooter to a complete “role player” on a contending team.
Sure, he’ll give you “instant offense” off the bench, when his jumper’s on. But how many possessions will the other team score easy baskets because Travis turns his head and gets beat to loose balls, or rotates “too late” ortothe wrong spot on defense? It’s a tradeoff that was “acceptable” when the Blazers were rebuilding, but not so much now, when they need to get everyone on the same page to win tough road games and playoff series.
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Travis isn't a PF and he knows it.
He doesn’t want to get into the trenches and bang for rebounds or body up on defense. Bulking up could affect his quickness and ability to jump above his defender to get his shot off, or least he thinks so. The only reason he was given minutes in Portland is because we needed scorers. His jump shot is his meal ticket in the NBA. Now we need toughness, defense, and a capable backup PF/C more than his scoring, but his jump shot will earn him a nice living with other teams.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 26, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Your analysis has merit
What your points show is that our second unit is not only good, but that they are also versatile. The matchups you suggest are definite possibilities, (especially for short periods of time) and may actually serve as a way to further take the first unit out of their comfort zone. I also wanted to see GO on Lamarcus, but did not want to pull Greg out of the lane.
For me, this exercise pointed out some of what Houston was able to expose in the playoffs last year, and that is a lack of toughness in our 1st unit. My attempt, just like Adleman, would be to muscle them. Our proposed second unit may be more physically tough? The problem could be addressed though by putting Oden, Miller, and Webster in the starting lineup along with LMA and BR.
There is more to an athlete than how fast they can run, they also better be able to see what they are doing and know why they are doing it.
Yes, that was the point. Thanks.
Short periods of time … Take the first unit out of their comfort zone… A dominating team imposes its will despite the defense. For us to become one of the elite, we cannot let the unconventional defenses stifle us.
The problem could be addressed though by putting Oden, Miller, and Webster in the starting lineup along with LMA and BR.
Wouldn’t be surprised at all if this was the eventual Blazer starting line-up. But, I can see where Nate is coming from. He’s got to show consistent management principles, so player morale is kept high. We were a 54 win team last year. So respect the starts of last year, and then let performance dictate the final line-ups.
Plus, my guess would be that he can feature Oden, Miller and Rudy on offense. Give them many reps on pick & roll; and inside, outside. This could show the entire team both how its played as well how to defend it.
wait,wait
True Blake isn’t a slasher but catch & shoot is why everyone says he is perfect with BRoy. His 3 pt % last year was nice & mostly catch & shoot.
"BEER IS LIVING PROOF THAT GOD LOVES US"
- Benjamin Franklin-
Catch & Shoot, when he has plenty of time
For example, Blake is not good at coming off of a screen, and taking a quick catch and shoot. He is good at parking himself, and nailing the 3P when defense has collapsed too far, or ball has rotated around the perimeter and defense cannot rotate around fast enough. If you cheat off of him, and then recover back to put a hand in his face, he tends to defer and not take the shot.
Dont know if he just does not have the green light, or does not have the confidence — suspect that there is quite a bit of the latter. Oddly enough the only game I can recall where Blake had a hot hand, and asked for the ball; was during that in-between stint with the Denver Nuggets, and he took over the game in overtime against us. He was both slashing and shooting. Had some fire going that night.
But most nights, he seems content as an outlet.
Note: Daunte is looking to come in for Travis at a moments notice.
What if team 1 selected Dante for the pickup game and team 2 was “stuck” with Juwan?
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Juwan does not really fit the style of play I want on my second unit, so
The second unit would get the first pick in the PTB inter-team draft and would go for a more physical Travis replacement right away (DC). My hope is that DC is going to get into the rotation this year, just as McMillan has suggested. He is a keeper even if someone else has to move aside or go. I love his BBIQ and toughness.
Another note: How much fun is it to have reserves of the reserves likes of DC, JH, JB,JP,JC, amd IU? Maybe we should have a third unit team?
There is more to an athlete than how fast they can run, they also better be able to see what they are doing and know why they are doing it.
My hope is that DC is going to get into the rotation this year
That’s a stretch. Not because he isn’t worthy, but because the team is so deep and they’re going for it, so rookies getting regular PT is far less likely in year’s past. Maybe, if Travis is somehow traded and no veteran backup PF is acquired—but what are the odds of that? And as good as DC is and will be, I expect Nate will give Howard the nod when it comes to who is activated and who gets to wear the suit. We’ll see
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I'm not so sure DC is really a rookie in current NBA terms
I would agree that, as of now, it appears that DC is on the outside looking in. But, if he continues to impress, all it would take is an injury at either of the forward positions for him to get his opportunity. I can also see a possible opening if a center gets injured, and LMA puts in time at center.
As far as Juwan Howard is concerned, I will be surprised if he can consistently get playing time over DC at this stage of his career. JH is just too old for consistent minutes in the regular season. I see him as much more of a mentor and practice player at this stage of his career.
The other possibility that becomes more likely, if Daunte continues to develop over the course of the season, is a trade . His game is more balanced than TO’s—at both ends of the court. I know it is hard to believe we could be so deep, but if his overall contribution, particularly in more physical matchups, is more valuable then he has got to play, rookie or not.
Remember, he is about the same age as some of the other "more experienced" Blazers. During those extra years of college, he played in the Big East and the NCAA tourney, which likely carried a lot of experience value for him. He is far from a typical early entry rookie.
There is more to an athlete than how fast they can run, they also better be able to see what they are doing and know why they are doing it.
I can also see a possible opening if a center gets injured, and LMA puts in time at center.
this is why KP has to move Travis for a veteran PF/C, before the deadline. If LMA has to play “backup center” for 20+ mpg, well, Travis/DC are undersized PFs, and that’s going to a problem on defense and the boards against even average NBA front courts.
Dante is a good off-the-ball rebounder, but he’s not ready to start defending NBA PFs in the post, no matter how much zone he played at ‘Nova. As old as Juwan is, at least he has the experience of playing against the NBA’s big men; he already knows their moves and most of the tricks of the trade. To put it bluntly, Cunningham will get “schooled” and be in quick foul trouble. (The same thing with Pendergraph, whenever he returns)
I really hope KP is “all over”" this potential roster weakness and has a deal in place that’s just waiting for the Euro-holds to come off the cap, on Oct 28th. Canzano speculated that the reason Udoka signed with Portland was that he “knew something” about the Blazer’s depth at SF maybe not being so “permanent” We’ll see
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
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- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
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