Desperately need a back up point.

We desperately need a starting point

I’d be willing to give up some of our young talent (not currently being developed with adequate playing time) for Farmar, if NJ were willing. He also has a player option, so may push RF a bit in anticipation of an opt-out/new contract next year.

In a small sample size Crawford has provided both the best and worse of his potential. It makes me wonder about the long term planning of the team and whether it is wise to include Crawford in the future.

For this season, I don’t see the management moving away from the guy. The coach loves him and players like him (see Roy, Outlaw) and it was one of the major successes of the (current) GM to sign him.

It would be nice to see if Nolan or Williams could handle a larger role…and don’t give me this stuff about they have to prove it…If Nate has shown anything it’s that he is stubborn and will hold fast to his veteran first mentality (almost every time).

Nolan and Williams have shown small flashes this season…let ’em run coach!

What kills me is that with the shortened season you would think Nate would be playing a deeper rotation and actually giving our inexperienced players some run, not only to keep the rest of the teams minutes down but to also keep them from being gassed as we have seen over the last 3 game losing streak. We have point guards on the roster, put one of them out there instead of having Jamal Crawford play the point, he is a scorer, use him for his strengths—scoring!! Put out Nolan Smith or Armon Johnson, for the last 3-4 games Nate has said he was going to play Nolan Smith alongside Crawford, that has yet to happen.

i’m not totally sold on Felton though. Miller is a hard-nosed lunchpail hardhat kinda guy. I loved him. My favorite Blazer during his tenure. But, he had obvious limitations that Felton is supposed to erase. Felton’s outside shot, UGGGHH!! What is he, 6/40?

I wanna see more Elliot Williams!! Not just for oohs and ahhs at his leaping prowess.. More so because he has shown passion(arrogance), talent(fearlessness) to do what it takes to be a standout. I think the kid could really be some1. He’s made the most of his time and shows real chops to get it done. Much more so than Babbitt “theWhiteRabbit”, and arguably more than AJ and CJ.

My point was Crawford shouldn’t play the point when he is on the court with the second unit. I have a theory that you have to have players that play with a ego. The bench is an unlikely source for that, but probably our best source in Crawford. However now he is playing conservatively out of a responsibility to the team as the back up point. We need that ego.
Would love to see Batum or Aldridge play with that ego. Though last night I saw Aldridge get the ball against Jarret Jack down the stretch and he waited for the double to come then passed it out. A star thinks of himself as a star and takes that shot and the team wants him to as well.
Batum blew by a guy on the perimeter on the base line only to see his shot get swatted at the rim. I don’t know how that happens but it shouldn’t and Batums confidence going to the rim is still limited. He has been trying more which is good.
Crawford brings that confidence when he comes in shooting and the rest of the team feeds off of it. I just think that since he has played the back up point that confidence has been flushed down the toilet.
Really how hard could it be to fill the role of back up point. Wallace did it just fine for a couple of plays. Smith plays to fast and isn’t feeling the game, but what would he be like if he knew he was getting consistent minutes. Elliot Williams maybe isn’t a traditional point, but he can blow by pressure and apply it on the other end. Plus he’s a stand out in development. He needs some minutes.
Crawford at the back up point is damaging.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2012/1/7/2690527/3-takeaways-from-phoenix-including-why-jamal-isnt-the-microwave

but for a different reason. I get your point about ego and how it screws up Jamal trying to decide what to do, but I don’t think that’s the main problem with him playing the point. He is essentially an iso player who will drop the ball off on occasion. We need someone like that on the second team, and occasionally on the first team, but not as the point, because everyone else ends up standing around, and Crawford’s always going to have cold stretches. We need someone other than him having some control over how often Jamal shoots.