I first started following the Blazers in the Drexler-Porter-Kersey-Buck years, when they had an IDENTITY. One of the core features of that was being the best damn rebounding team in the league (despite usually having nobody in double figures). And that continued for years until basically we were starting Cliffy at PF. Well... WE'RE BACK, BABY!
There's no doubt that rebounding is the strength of this team. Vonleh is a good rebounder, but I want to see Biggie get more starts. I think we're better when he starts and Vonleh comes off the bench.
It's too bad that page also shows us at the bottom of the league in assists (technically 29th, just ahead of Phoenix). If we could ever fix that, we might be decent.
Our team FG% is bottom of the league too. I think our assists will go up if we could hit a few more shots. We're passing the ball pretty well (Dame's pocket passes are outstanding this year to nurk) from the eye test.
Looked better last night. Our role players weren't passing up as many open looks and if they did, they were better about making a quick decision. The current roster doesn't really lend itself to being a ball movement/execution team though. Not enough reliable ball handlers and decision makers.
So what's the rotation when Aminu comes back? I would prefer Dame-CJ-Aminu-Biggie-Nurk and Turner-Napier-Harkless-Vonleh-Davis in the 2nd Unit
Due to that we very good rebounding team I like to see us get out let passes and get out and run more.
The only trouble with that 2nd unit is that Turner and Napier can be doubled without really any recourse... just cover the passing lanes and have a man sag back and you got them under control. 3 of those people can't shoot, so it'd really hamper them.
I hope Olshey trades Harkless for a shooter like Belinelli or somebody else who can Score from the bench and hit the 3
Harkless is dissapointed this Season. Sometimes i Wonder if he's Playing because he looks invisible on the court. Yes he can play D but that's all. I don't think he is a starter
People in here only look at one side of the ball. It's frustrating. Belinelli is a SIEVE on Defense. A matador. A turnstile. That revolving door at PDX could play better D.
Rebounding has always been a mark of a good team for the Blazers. I agree Harkless has been totally nonexistent this year. However i think when Aminu does come back he will play more 3 and Harkless could then come off the bench. I think that would help the Blazers and Harkless.
We have enough good defenders, i think this Team needs a bit more shooting, that would everybody help, especially Nurkic in the paint and probably Dame and Cj as well so the opposing defense has to guard another shooter
Whoa whoa whoa.... Our offseason consisted of drafting two rookies and (including Nurk) getting a big man starter. Other than that our roster is the same as last year, but last year the constant running theme was we have plenty of offense but need better Defense. Are you saying we completely flipped the script to a 180 during the offseason with the aquisitions of the Rookies and Nurk? I completely disagree....
We are top 3 in defense Rating right now, it should definetly be top 10 till the end of the RS. But we are only 16th in offensive Rating, and we played against some shit teams. We are only 24th in 3pt FGA per game with 28.9 attempts per game and only 22nd in 3pfg%. So if we sacrifice a little bit of defense for shooting, i think it would made us better and would also help our big 3 to take the pressure from them
I understand you really didn't ask if i wanted it but who the fuck thinks that the Blazers have enough defenders?
