Future of the Blazers 2ND UNIT?

by RepTHEpinwheel on Jan 27, 2011 2:13 PM PST

In listening to Brandon Roy on the radio yesterday (1/26), he was asked if when he returned he'd take on the 6th man role and Roy answered in a way like, "if that's what the team needs, then yes." Now with this thought, we could have a VERY good team. Your starting 5, would be: Dre, Matthews, Batum, Aldridge, Camby. Where you have a unit that can run and play at a faster pace. Even with Rudy coming in first to run the 1.

That leaves your second unit with: Patty, Rudy, Roy, Cunningham and Pryz. Now bear with me, this second unit will be a COMPLETE change of pace. It takes me back a few years for two reasons; when you had Roy kicking it to James Jones and Steve Blake who both were deadly from deep. Except now you have patty/Rudy making it rain from deep. DC can hit that mid range jumper and Pryz has been setting beastly screens for Roy for years now, they're comfortable running together.

I don't see a single, 2nd unit in the NBA that could keep up with this. You have a 3 year all-star coming off the bench to smash on the opponents back up 2. It'd be unbelievably hard to coach against the Blazers because both units offer such different ways to attack as well as different paces. It would add efficiency that is greatly needed to our 2nd unit.

The only argument against this is how Roy feels when he comes back. He's admitted to never being 100%, but I think an 80% Roy going against back up 2's will usually win out and when it breaks down, you have patty and rudy that can run off Pryz screens to get open.

I haven't heard anyone really bring this up, everyone keeps making comments on how to incorporate Roy into the starting line up but they've been running fluidly now for months and I'd hate to throw a kink into the gears if you will. Roy's incorporation of the second unit would earn him 6th man, and is almost cheating considering he'd be the highest paid "bench" player. It ultimately comes down to him humbly taking the role as the 6th man for the good of the team. I think he's wise enough to see where he's most efficient.

Come playoff time, when the team is at its healthiest (knock, knock) and they make the playoffs they will have the flexibility to switch the tempo completely when the bench comes in. It's difficult to game-plan when a team can run two different tempos in one half, keeps the defense honest. Couple that as well as Roy coming off the bench to keep the momentum rolling. What are your thoughts of the success of the Blazers come the end of the season if Roy can take the 6th man role? How healthy will the team look come playoffs?

-DC

Poll

Is Roy better suited as a starter or coming off the bench?

Starting 2

17 votes

Back up 2

70 votes

Who cares, just hurry back!

34 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I don't know that Roy suits up for the Blazers again

Unless he suits up this season he will be bought out by the Blazers as part of the new CBA

by Biph on Jan 27, 2011 2:32 PM PST reply actions

If that's your mentality, then humor me.

Consider this hypothetical.Roy should be back within 4-6 weeks since his surgery,same with Canby. This year isn’t over yet, it still has nearly 3 months left! Open up your thinking a bit, that or do what most do impulsively and concoct a lopsided trade

by RepTHEpinwheel on Jan 27, 2011 2:41 PM PST reply actions

the blazers could use the bodies

Roy can play with 2nd unit even at 80% Roy it significantly improves the 2nd unit and the Blazers are only a Melo trade and Chris Paul knee away from the #6 seed in the playoffs. The real future of the Blazers bench is Oden, Pendegraph, Freeland, and Williams those are guys whose value is unknown to the point that other than Williams none of those guys are guaranteed to be on the roster next year. If 2 of those 4 can be solid NBA players for the Blazers then the bench woes will decrease significantly.

by Biph on Jan 27, 2011 6:15 PM PST up reply actions

D?

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jan 27, 2011 2:53 PM PST reply actions

yeah, no one to guard big 3's or 4's...Roy and Przy hobbled...and Patty guarding the PG

this linuep could be nice offensively, but would get abused on D

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Jan 27, 2011 3:48 PM PST up reply actions

The best offense is a good de... er, uh what?

by blazinagain on Jan 27, 2011 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

The best defense can be a good offense

but that’s more applicable to football/soccer where time of possession is a key stat

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Feb 1, 2011 10:29 AM PST up reply actions

as coach Bickerstaff once told rookie McMillian about Sonic's sharpshooter Dale Ellis

“his offense is his defense”

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jan 27, 2011 10:57 PM PST up reply actions

2nd unit?

Can we stop talking about 2nd units? I’d never heard about a “2nd” unit until Nate started mentioning it a few years ago. You’ve got starters and bench players. Unless you plan on 0 injuries in a season, you can’t expect to have 2 complete units of 5 players that can play at the NBA level. Most teams are 8-9 deep, and that is the talent that is out there. Be happy with a couple of studs off of the bench and a few guys that don’t suck so bad.

As far as Roy. Unless he can play night in, night out with consistent minutes and production, he is a bench players. You can’t have a starter show up every now and then or not be able to put in the minutes.

Ruudster

by Ruudster on Jan 28, 2011 7:45 PM PST reply actions

there's NEVER been a 2nd unit.

you talking about the bench players?

Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.

by Net Ranger on Jan 29, 2011 7:44 AM PST reply actions

to Nate's way of thinking

everything is black and white

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jan 30, 2011 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

Well I haven't seen us do a full line change this season

so whatever his designations for practice/media purposes…clearly the lines get blurred during games (as they should)

"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'

by sammymohawk on Feb 1, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

The flexibility would be amazing

I think we’d be very difficult to game plan against if our “bench” players kept the momentum going allowing us to keep the throttle down. You’d have Pryz setting screens and all else fails play good zone defense long enough for starters to get rest and then back to the starters. With that said, it’s amazing our Blazers are still competing with the injuries, makes me very proud. It’d be an interesting match up if come playoffs it’s SA with the #1 seed and Portland at the 8th seed and we have a healthy(ish) team going into the playoffs.
It’d sure be nice to see what Nate’s Offense/Defense system would look like if he had a healthy team running the system, I don’t think we’ve seen a truly oiled complete machine of a team in years.

by RepTHEpinwheel on Jan 31, 2011 2:08 PM PST reply actions