The super Melo to Portland thread + The Big Blockbuster

To me Crabbe played better defense subbing for Nico when there was no offense run through him at all....at the 2 guard 6 man position he's expected to score and his defense lags...he needs to balance that out for sure

 

Well, is it really impossible?

The Lillard/McCollum/Nurkic core is in its infancy. I'm not about to put a ceiling on it yet. I realize the odds are not in their favor, but who knows.

 

WE SHOULD NEVER CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE TEAM EVARRRRRR!

 

Calling it a myth was just a kind way of saying it's flat out wrong. Look at his shooting percentages as a starter. They are just plain awful. Yes, the sample size is small, but it's all we have to go by and it's the exact same sample size you base your opinion on that Crabbe plays better as a starter.

Some players play better with starters, but 1-dimensional players like Crabbe usually don't fair well against the tougher competition he would be going up against on a nightly basis. He's better coming off the bench where he is guarding, and guarded by, other bench players. Do you really think he can guard other starting small forwards as well as Harkless? Can he get his shot off against other starters? Beat them off the dribble?

BNM

 

I can name about half a dozen forum members that claim to, but that's about it.....I'm not one of them

 

You know damn well I never said that so save this drivel.

 

I think his rookie defense was better when he was the 5th option on offense....now as a 6 man he's struggling to play defense..Harkless is a lot bigger and stronger than Crabbe but I want Crabbe shooting the shot clock ending shot from deep, not Mo...I think Aminu is the best defender of the 3 and Mo can be when engaged but isn't consistent.....Mo disappointed me in the post season big time...

 

The team could look for a defensive wing (2/3) player to form a 3 guard rotation rather than trading CJ.

I was hoping our team would draft a player like Donovan Mitchell giving us a solid 3 guard rotation where they could play a defensive guard with Dame and/or CJ depending upon match-ups in the games.

 

I think that's true to a point. But I wonder if there is an opportunity cost when those two are taking turns jacking up 20 shots a game? I get the impression that the rest of the guys do a lot of standing around, which seems to result in a lot of isolation basketball, which has proved to be much less effective against playoff defenses, than a more balanced attack -- because the other guys aren't expected to produce much offense (admittedly in part because of limitations to their game) when it comes time for them to step up, when one or the other of Damian or CJ is neutralized, they definitely haven't risen to the occasion, because there's maybe not enough reps to be ready?

This isn't to suggest I want bad offensive players like Aminu or Vonleh taking a lot more shots, but I do wonder if lack of "engagement" on offense for some of these guys leads to less effort on defense?

 

Oh hell no. Clyde Frazier was a GREAT defender. He made 1st Team All Defense 7 times.

Ditto for the Thomas/Dumars duo in DET. Joe D was a lock down defender.

But, the game has changed. The three pointer and hand checking rules have changed that. No one ever won a title playing small ball until someone did. Championships used to be won with a dominant center. These days, the role of center is completely different.

So, just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't or won't happen. It all depends on who you put around those two guards.

BNM

 

And Crabbe didn't????

BNM

 

I buy into this theory. I think we'll get a lot more ball movement from Nurkic from the high post. He's actually a threat to make that shot. Should open up some more open opportunities for the other guys. It's on Aminu and Harkless and Turner to make them though

 

This is why all comparisons to that era are kind of skewed......even the scoring titles are not fair for guys like Jerry West who shot lights out from deep before the 3 pt shot....

 

I'm not a huge fan of Crabbe's....I'm not defending his deficiencies as much as questioning his role....I even watched all Crabbe's D league games...I was a huge Batum fan...same Batum that said rookie Allen Crabbe reminded him of Brandon Roy......Crabbe plays lethargic often...I've said in the past he plays like he speaks.....low key...if he's to make a leap this season it will be by improving his defense and handles....I think he's a poor 6 man choice which is where I was going with this anyway...Crabbe also needed surgery immediately following the playoffs....Mo started and was healthy...bricked wide open layups too much

 

There's some cause/effect questions around this. Are they passive and unable to step up because they're not being passed to consistently enough, or are they not being passed to consistently enough because they're passive and not great shooters? Is passing even a problem? I feel like Stotts' offense definitely encourages moving the ball and Lillard and McCollum do pass plenty--that they jack so many of the shots seems to me to mostly be other guys (rightly or wrongly) passing them up. With a couple of capable and enthusiastic gunners on the wing and at power forward, you might see the shots balance out more.

The problem is finding those gunners without compromising the defense further.

 

Well there you go..... but why hang your hat on being pioneers?

 

Neil....hey, I was about to tell you about Mey......click......dial tone....again

 

@Natebishop3 You have a huge amount of basketball knowledge, experience, and wisdom, and outside a few wacky trade proposals, you're usually spot on. But here, you're just wrong, and you should change your tune. Trading CJ or Dame would be a historic mistake. Why? Lamarcus Aldridge, Paul George, and especially Gordon Hayward for starters...

There are 3 mechanisms to improve your team: draft, trades, and free agency. For the most part, 2nd tier small market teams are shut out of big time free agency. Many here have criticized Neil when they have no clue of what has actually happened, but even I admit that overpaying ET was his greatest mistake. So, even though we attempted to get into Free Agency, it was a mistake. Thus, for us and other teams, there's only 2 avenues to improvement: draft and trades. Building through the draft, especially under the current CBA, is not only appropriate, but essential for us and other small market teams. Sprinkle in a few good trades and some patience, and if you're a bit lucky, you can contend.

HOWEVER, this whole line of team building is dependent on your best players not leaving. When LMA left, it fucked our whole plan. With Gordon Hayward leaving, the jazz team that they've been patiently building is screwed - years of work somewhat down the drain (though they may be able to mitigate their problems if they can agree to a sign-and-trade). So, if you're going to be building through the draft, you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want your star players to commit to the organization. Dame has committed - even to the point of forgoing a player option in the last year of his contract for zero benefit to himself. CJ has just written an article professing his love for Portland on the Player's Tribune. Trading either of these players for a player, NO MATTER HOW GOOD, who might leave would be foolish.

Dame and CJ were on ESPN's "2nd West all-star team." They're both VERY good, but yes, they have their warts. They're not perfect, but they're OURS. We need to get complementary pieces. We filled our gaping hole with Nurkic. We just need to keep improving our team, but not by trading CJ or Dame.