We need bench scoring.... badly.

The Blazers already have 3 bigs that can score. Spencer Hawes? Why? To play Freeland's minutes?

 

this seems to be the thread to discuss the bench. First, I wonder if the problem with the bench is really scoring. According to 82games, http://www.82games.com/1314/1314POR2.HTM the 5 man unit that is used the most (other than our five starters) is Lillard, Williams, Wright, Robinson, Lopez. This unit actually has a higher efficiency on offense than the five starters, but they are horrible at defensive efficiency and rebounding % (both worst of all units). Another unit that includes Williams and Lillard is fairly bad at offense and still bad at defense efficiency (2nd worst of all units). I understand that these are limited samples, but it seems that the coach should start to wonder if Williams and Lillard should be on the court together. (It might also be questioned if Lillard's drop in offense this year is due to playing with Mo some of the time).

So, it would seem that they might want to consider cutting Mo's minutes. And either Crabbe or Barton would come in and play those minutes (although they of course would be playing with Mo in place of Lillard).

 

Spencer Hawes is a starting center in the NBA. The 76ers can get back a lot more in return then the Blazers are willing to offer.

 

The Blazers want to consider cutting Mo's minutes when they a red hot & rolling? Stotts loves what Mo brings. Mo Williams will be the Blazers 6th man like it or not all season long and he will not get his minutes cut while the Blazers are red hot & rolling especially by two rookies.

 

I really think some of you need to work on understanding correlation does not necessarily mean causation.

 

Mo is the Jason terry of the championship mavs. Their style of play always went from good ball movement surrounding Dirk to terry ball. It's just how it works, its too hard to just sub in 5 fresh guys and continue the same offense, there just isnt cap room for that. The similairities of this team to champ mavs is incredible, we have an attacking guard like barea, 6th man like terry, Dirk like pf, defensive center like Chandler. They only difference is we look better in every position with the exception of 6th man.

Bottom line, blazers are getting jewelry in June.

 

I really would like to see what our #1 draft pick does before we start hacking away at our bench. That and I don't believe Mr. Hawes would resign here if he is not getting starter minutes or pay.

 

This is good post. I think Stotts is doing a great job overall. I also think he is too obsessed with the Mavs model and offense at the expense of defense. Mo isn't half as good or consistent as Terry was on that team. It took Stotts an entire season to stop trying to make LaMarcus a carbon copy of Nabitchsky. Mo and Lillard on the court together is a waste of Lillard's energy. It does no good to have other shooters on the floor with Mo when Mo has the ball in his hands. Cut Mo's minutes for someone who can play defense and get other players involved in the game. I'd start with Watson.

 

Hawes and Amir Johnson are my two favorite guys to try to add. Amir might be had for Leonard and Trob as Toronto is also likely in blow it up tank mode. Amir is a PF/C who is an excellent defender and good locker room guy.

 

If Stotts isn't going to take the ball out of Mo's hands either by reducing his minutes or asking him to involve his teammates, then alternatively he should surround Mo with defenders and offensive rebounders to cover his deficiencies. Either way I don't like the Mo and Lillard backcourt.

 

Freeland has been a good surprise and TRob is the future. But if the Blazers are trying to contend now, I don't hate the idea of trading for Hawes and bringing up Howell. Any move needs to happen in time to integrate them into the team for the playoffs.

Too bad we don't have the pieces for Pao.

 

I don't get why everyone thinks the #1 team in west stands no chance at making playoff noise and needs to make a move ASAP

 

What Bert said. Mo effectively takes away any strengths his teammates might have because he seems determined to put a dent in the floor from over dribbling. I do like that he can create his own shot....that is a rare commodity on this team but in the name of Andre Miller, get your teammates involved and you'll have more open looks yourself.

I don't recall anyone suggesting something be done ASAP and that thay won't make noise. However, if this team really is going to contend, there are some things that need to be addressed. They are almost last in points in the paint, close to last in points in the paint differential, close to last in fast-break points, close to last in bench production....it seems like there are several areas to choose from.

Sure they have a great record but I'm not sure I would bet on getting too far in the playoffs with all those areas of concern. The idea is to contend for a title, not just to get out of the first round.

 

I think the Blazers have a chance to make playoff noise as-is. I also think the team isn't perfect and could be better. If we could get a better bench without blowing our chemistry and our rhythm, we have to do it. We probably can't, but questions should be asked. If Olshey isn't asking those same questions, he isn't doing his job. I have no reason to think he's simply resting on his laurels.

 

I would do that in a heartbeat!!

 

Mo has taken some flak in this thread but he gives us exactly what we were missing last year - scoring off the bench. More specifically a guy off the bench that can create his own shot. He has his shortcomings but there's been many games where he hit timely shots in the 2nd and early 4th that kept the team going. We had NONE of that last year. I would still like to add another scorer off the bench, preferably a veteran big, but Mo has been much more vital to our success than he's getting credit for by a few people here.

 

You take back Amir be prepared to take back Landry Fields though.

 

Exactly. Lots of idiots in here.

 

You guys obsessed with stats think we need to fill every stat. You can win with holes, its called team work and coaching.

 

No team is perfect, but teams that have real title aspirations tend to be average at worst in a few key categories - points in the paint, the ability to defend the paint, and at least average bench production are usually important. The Blazers as currently constructed are anything but a finished product and to declare them as such is the product of emotional thinking.