You got a taste of it last night: Roy Miller Camby Aldridge Batum Howard Bayless Fernandez The rest will get spot minutes (more if they're playing way over their heads)
I don't get that impression. Cunningham has played more recently, and I think Nate is prepared to bench Rudy if the matchups aren't favorable. But I do agree that Mills and Pendergraph are out of the rotation.
Poor Martell. I was his biggest fan, since he has such a wealth of god-given talent, but dammit, there's something in that head of his that just won't click. I hate to see him go, because I think he's got All-Star ability and when his mind is right, he's a top 10 SG/SF, but perhaps a change of scenery will do his career the most good.
Without having seen this Travis D. kid play (and if we sign him), if he were to be stable, like Blake was, then I think he will have to fit into the 8-9 man rotation somehow. Rudy is just not getting it done lately. I see Travis playing to stabilize for either Jerryd or Rudy. Nate may very well sub depending on the specialty of the player at the given time, even with Cunningham.
You know I don't buy that attitude. You don't commit to playing some guys to get them experience then jack them around like that. The whole purpose of making the moves we made, was to find out if Bayless and Rudy can play. Believe me, there is a distinct possibility neither one of them can play at the NBA level for what we need. But you don't make this move, and then jerk them around by bringing in another guy to play those minutes. No Diener is brought in to be a practice body that won't threaten their playing time. No more no less. The rest of this season is trying to get a few young players to gel with the rest of the team, and if they don't, it gives our GM clearer direction in the off season.
I realize this whole line of thought is rooted in a fairly long standing debate about Martell's ceiling and his being drafted sixth overall, but in what way could he 'easily' be better than Batum? Splain.
What are you basing this on, ABM? I just don't see that happening, and really hope it doesn't, 'cause this team goes nowhere in the playoffs without Howard's experience, Martell's big game capabilities, and Jeff and Dante's enthusiasm.
Howard is part of the rotation. Martell, Dante, and/or Jeff can/will be used situationally. This is based upon last night's game, coupled with a few things I heard that Nate had said. It may, or may not, happen, but this appears to be the way Nate wants to utilize the rotation heading towards the end of the regular season.
I hope not as our biggest strength is our depth, and we got killed by Houston last year because Nate went completely away from that.
I'm not sure the rotations are set in stone yet, but your list would seem to be the most likely. It makes sense that Nate would want the team to start getting used to playing in the shorter playoff rotation. Go Blazers
...I sure hope so, otherwise I'm going to be ready for some of that Nate's Head on a Platter Double Entree soon enough!!!
My thought is that PA is not in very good health and may be thinking about making a push toward at least the second round. If so, we need to get as much out of what we have now even it that means not playing guys that are not producing. I hope I am wrong but health does make one think a little differently about the future and lessened opportunities. Lets hope we are using this year to evaluate these players and looking toward our best window of opportunity in a couple of years.
