Webster could play an important role on this team. Batum has a shoulder issue and didn't average typical starting minutes last year (won't even get into the sophmore jinx). Outlaw is the current back up PF. If Batum (and that wirey frame) can't hack an increase in minutes from last year (either physically or jsut not there yet as a player) . . . Blazers could actually be counting on Webster to produce this year. I won't go so far yet as to call Webter's role a big part of if the Blazers suceed or not (last year I said Blake would be the x-factor for the year, i think that was true) . . . but if the young kid from France doesn't play on a consistent level or gets hurt, Webster becomes important to this team.
Martell has averaged 22.9 minutes, 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, for an overall rating (points+rebounds+assists) of 11.9. If you look at http://www.82games.com/nbadraftpicks.htm, to date he has played most like a 12th pick: 18.8 minutes, 6.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists, overall rating 11.6. If he were to play like the average 6th pick in the upcoming season, he'd go 25.4 minutes, 10.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, overall rating 16.5. If Martell got that number of minutes and played like he has before, his rating would be 13.2. So he'd have to increase his rating by 25% on a per minute basis to get to the 6th pick level. Martell has two challenges: getting minutes in competition with other Blazers, and increasing his productivity per minute.
Poppycock. If some manager out there wants to hire a guy unqualified for the job, it's his ass if the guy turns out not to be able to hack it. The guy who replaces said manager once he's fired has a choice then: find a place where the hired guy is useful, or fire him too. But you can't (a) pretend Webster was even allowed to say no to the Blazers drafting him or (b) blame him for being drafted sixth.
Good news. I think he can help us stretch the floor even more and give LA and Greg room to work. He's a great team player and won't bitch about playing time.
by the scale you relayed, 11.6 is on the low end of their role player rating. I have him penciled in for 10 minutes a night or so too. STOMP
Even 10 minutes is going to be hard to come by on a nightly basis. He may average that over the season if there are injuries to Roy, Fernandez or Batum. But even then, Nate's shown a willingness to go with a two PG lineup for stretches. He may just use Blake more if our 2/3 positions get dinged up. My guess is that we see a lot of DNP's next to Webster's name except in games where there are garbage minutes.
I remember Webster in his last game before the injury, it was preseason against the Kings and the entire team had a great game with Webster and Rudy leading the offense. I think what we're having here is czarot-tovot in hebrew, like when there are too many good players. Right now we have a 2nd unit of Miller, Rudy, Webster, Outlaw and Oden - that's an amazing team, perhaps as good as the first team. Even though they wouldn't play as much as the first team, there'll be a place for 1-2 of them in the closing-unit and in blowouts, all of them together would make it a fun ending. Position-by-position: PG - Blake will get more minutes, Miller will close most tight games. In a few years, Blake becomes Bayless' backup. SG - Roy vs. Rudy... one day it'll be a battle between the two best 2-guards from each side of the Atlantic, can they co-exist and push each-other for better results? I think they will. SF - Batum will start and play about 50-50 with Webster. who is playing in the final minutes will be decided according to match-ups/whoever's having a better game. PF - Lemarcus brings both offense and defense and Outlaw brings offense but would have to trust Greg a lot causing him foul-trouble. C - Joel is starting, Greg plays as much as his fouls decide.
yeah, it probably shakes out that way. If history holds, he'll come out with a bang in the preseason and earn a rotation role. But once the regular season starts up, he'll fade under pressure/responsibility. The team has several other options to turn to and they were all decidedly more effective last season then MW has ever been... DNP-CD's definitely loom as a strong possibility and I doubt I'm the only one who thinks he could have confidence issues dealing with a lessor role which would sink him further. But between the role he should start the season with, blowouts, and the likelyhood of injuries to guys who do play, 10 MPG seems my best over/under guess. STOMP
I think if Webster stays healthy he's going to surprise a lot of people. I can't wait until the start of the season!!
I've already called shotgun on the Webster Wagon of Wonder. I understand that puts me in the huge minority. I understand there are statistics that, if extrapolated, show he probably won't be that good. My hope is that between Miller and Webster, Blake doesn't play another minute. I don't think Nate's that forward-thinking, but that's ok. Baby steps.
