I kind of feel the opposite. As Noah's offensive game keeps developing, he will give us the inside scoring we need to balance our offensive attack. There's only one basketball and we already have two 20+ ppg scorers in the starting line up. If Noah can be that reliable 3rd scorer, I think it makes sense to pair him with an elite rim protector at center. The guy who would be perfect, if he could stay healthy, would be the other PHI big man that may become expendable thanks to Joel Embiid - Nerlens Noel. We could kind of have that with Noah and Festus, but Festus is injured even more than Noel, and he's 5 years older. Yeah, the injuries scare me (WTF is an inflamed plica anyway?), but Noel, even as a 20-year old rookie was already an elite defender. In spite of missing 15 games last season and 7 the season before, he is the only player in the entire NBA to record >100 BLKs and >100 STLs for each of the past two seasons. And he did that at 20 and 21 years of age. He was also top 8 in DBPM for each of his first two seasons. He is a difference maker on the defensive end. Offensively, he's raw and limited, but opportunistic and runs the floor well. I'd make sure to get multiple medical opinions before I gave up anything of value for him, but with Joel Embiid looking like the real deal, Noel is likely available. BNM
^^^Didn't they try and fail to get a draft pick for Noel? That could mean that the price for him wouldn't be TOO high.
Too bad we can't trade some of our guys until December 15. Now would be the time to act. PHI is absolutely euphoric over Embiid right now, which means they think Noel is redundant and expendable. And, he's recovering from minor surgery, but only expected to be out 3 - 5 weeks. PHI desperately needs guards/wing players and outside shooting to go with their surplus of low post bigs. It would be interesting to see what kind of package Neal could put together. PHI is currently about $16 million under the salary floor, so they can take back a lot of salary, essentially for free. That creates lots of possible trade scenarios that would work under the current CBA. BNM
I get that. As they should be. But I'd def be more excited if he was flourishing with his back to the basket, beating his man with his first quick step and then dunking it or hooking it in for the two points. Or if he was showing any kind of movement going to the basket and scoring. This is not to take anything away. He's doing a nice job.
After losing by 50 to GS in the preseason and other struggles, Clips could blow it up instead of letting Griffin and Paul walk. Aminu and the Ivory Towers for DJ would be amazing.
If CP says "I'm walkin'" before the all-star break, he does blow it up - it would be foolish not to. CP is 31, Redick is 32.
He actually did show that with the hook shot. He got denied going to the basket so he improvised and did a hook shot. It was nice.
I really think Stotts needs to take a look at this. Vonleh's jumper looks nice this year, much better than Aminu's. And he's a tougher inside presense than Aminu.
Aminu has largely been our best defender to start this season. Need that among the starters. I'd wait to see if he can get his shot back. Hell, Klay is shooting 3/28 from 3 this season. Guys go in slumps. Especially ones with weird, inconsistent shooting strokes like Aminu.
That's the thing. Aminu's stroke is weird and inconsistent so expecting him to have the type of repeatable stroke like Layman has is doomed from the start. Since no one in the front court can shoot, the Blazers are getting pounded on the glass and on points in the paint. One reason to start Vonleh would simply be to have a little more size. Going small only works if you have an offensive advantage because you are going to get beat up on the defensive end. Vonleh is one of the Blazers most versatile defenders in that he has the bulk to battle bigger guys and the footwork to stay with a smaller player out on the perimeter. If not for Utah missing 2 starters and a monumental meltdown by the Nuggets, Portland could be looking at an 0-4 start. Yes it's early but that is not the way to start the season. They just aren't playing very well yet.
I think it is situational. Against certain teams Aminu is the best option. Technically our starting lineup last night was the right call. We started off fine. But GS is different from most teams. So maybe Terry mixes it up with Vonleh at PF and Crabbe at SF.
