I think I'm probably alone here, but I'm just not sold CJ is going to be any kind of answer to our bench's efficiency. After being in a boot for months, what is his fitness level going to be like (and I'm talking about basketball shape, not general fitness)? How long is it going to take him to adapt to NBA defenses? Is he enough of a point guard to spell Lillard? I totally get the idea that this team needs more consistency and fire power than Mo provides, but counting on a late lotto pick in a weak draft class to be that guy isn't anything I think we should count on ... especially knowing how quick Stotts is with the hook.
Our team has played 18 games. We haven't gone from anything to anything. However, if the brass thinks we are actual contenders, then they should absolutely add veteran pieces that you can rely on to get you such and such every night. I do not agree with this policy as very few teams have ever added a piece mid season that pushed them over the top.
And…. All our starters are performing much better to boot. The amount of energy we used to have just to get back into the game because our bench was soooo dismal can really wear on you. I just want a bench that won't blow all the work our starters accomplished. Eventually, they will even get better as the season progresses. I think Wright will get into the groove, CJ will become a factor and T. Rob will perform more efficiently.
As a realist, you have every right to say what you say. As a homer, I have every right to say what I say. But if you truly believe we haven't done anything, then there is no point on grabbing anyone new. To further your point, let this season pan out, let the chips fall where they land, then make a decision on what to do this summer.
Repped. Thus why I'm not disappointed. If anybody is it's their own fault for having too high of expectations for a group that has never played together.
His point Mags, is the Blazers haven't done anything because tomorrow is promised to no one. Everything exists as potential until it comes to pass or fails to materialize. All we have right now is a trend. If Neil Olshey believes that the trend is more signal than noise, then he should probably make a move to reinforce their chances of "contending" (if he believes that have that kind of potential) and that usually means acquiring "proven" veteran help and sacrificing young players with "potential" to shore up areas of weakness. It's not always true, but youth is usually not served in the playoffs.
Could one of you stat gee.......errr......gurus compare last years bench numbers and this years for us and post it.
This year. Last year. Basically our bench scoring (22.8 ppg vs. 18.5 ppg), rebounding (11.9 rpg vs. 10.5 rpg), assisting (6.8 apg vs. 4.7 apg) and shooting (.429 FG% vs. .399 FG% and .344 3FG% vs. .298 3FG%) are all up from last year. The result is an improvement in offensive efficiency from 21.1 to 26.7. Of course, we are still getting outscored by our opponents' benches (on average), but our opponents play their benches more minutes than we do. We do have a slight improvement in defensive eff from 38.9 to 37.4. So, in terms of efficiency we've cut the gap between our bench and our opponents' from Deff = 17.8 to Deff = 10.7. BNM
Like I said previously, we still don't have a good bench, but we have an adequate bench (given the quality of our starters). BNM
So, in your opinion BNM, what is our biggest weakness on the bench? What position would you target for an upgrade?
Our bench is a good bench for a 41-41 team. That our starters look 72-10 good at the moment means it looks like we have a pretty bad bench in comparison.
We need one of those lights out bench players that can punish the other team. Someone like Nick Van Exel on the Mavs. Jamal Crawford on the Clips. JR Smith on the Knicks. It's too bad we didn't pick up Nate Robinson. The guy has been available again and again, but he's exactly the kind of crazy scorer that we need.
Since BNM and I share this opinion, I'd like to pipe in: I think we need: A more steady wing player who can slash. An offense-running point guard. A defensive-minded 3/4 (Dante Cunningham-style). You wouldn't play all of them together, but for situations where (a) Dorell is not hitting, (b) Mo is not hitting, or (c) Truck is getting abused, those three would be helpful.
The problem is that we have no big contracts to provide filler on a deal. All our guys are on reasonable contracts..... shocking, I know. The only guys on big contracts are LMA and Batum. We simply can't make a big trade without breaking up our core and that defeats the purpose.
Here's a list of players 6'9" or above who are playing fewer than 25 mpg but average at least 15pts/36min. IOW, bench post scorers. Whom do you like?
Good point. Unless you believe Robinson, Leonar_ or CJ is suddenly going to emerge as an impact player - WYSIWYG.
I think CJ could be an impact player. I was impressed with what I saw during Summer league. Robinson is a guy who can be big one night, and then disappear, so he's a crap shoot. Leonard is..... well..... Leonard.
I would take a flier on Morris, Jones, or Henson......but I doubt they are available at a price we could afford.
What happends if you take Mo Williams away from the bench as some had suggested a couple days ago? Would it be as good?
