Hood is good

I'm really torn on that. I think part of the reason I was disappointed yesterday was that I was hoping for a player that made it more obvious the starting lineup needed an adjustment. It was also weird to have Nurk out there at the beginning of the 4th. If you read my post in the game thread, it really looked like Layman wasn't supposed to be in the game because Hood was coming in and ran back to the locker room. By the time he got back there was no way Stotts could take him out and chose to sit Collins instead. Who knows what would've happened if Hood was ready to go in the game right away? It worked out pretty good though.

I think I would like at least one if not both of Hood and Layman coming off the bench to provide offense with the 2nd unit rather than starting. In the 4th quarter though, especially against smaller teams I like the idea of that being our finishing lineup.

 

Hood within his self last night he didn't force anything he took what the defense gave him. He back down a smaller guy down in the post he hit a wide open 3 and hit a 3 when brought the ball down. Another good thing he another ball handler. He can get rebound and come and lead the break like seen him do last night. Now is going have a bad game here there sure but who doesn't. Last night was more like the Utah Hood then the Cleveland Hood.

 

He was s starting 2/3 on a pretty decent Jazz team for a couple years. He should be ready to come in and contribute.

 

Actually it was a good thing that happened it showed how good that Layman and Hood play together and maybe that's why Stotts went with in 4th because they did so good in the 2nd. I give credit for Stotts for observed that in the game.

 

I agree that Stotts deserves credit for going to that lineup but I think the rotation got messed up and then he was almost forced to keep Hood and Layman out there because they were playing so well.

This is the other reason that no consolidation trade happening is going to become a problem. Meyers hits two shots right away and then barely plays again. Collins doesn't play at all in the 1st half. Did Curry play in the 2nd half? I don't remember him being out there. It's going to be very difficult to keep everyone happy.

 

This isn't saying much, but Hood's defense is also better. On the down side, Nik was a good and willing distributor. I don't think we'll see that from Hood.

 

Yeah, I really liked having both Hood and Layman on the court at the same time.

 

Well we know Hood will not keep shooting 85% from the field. But what he provides is a better option for Terry when he wants to play "small ball" .
Last year when he felt he needed more shooting and more ball handlers he went with Napier next to Dame and CJ. This year he has used Curry and ET in that role. Now he has a taller option in Hood.

At 6'8" Hood puts the ball on the floor better than Hark and Aminu and he shoots better than ET, and he is bigger than Curry. Not saying those 3 do not do things better than Hood, but I think that if we weighed out all the strengths and weakness of those guys in crunch time, Hood is the best option against many teams. Then you add Jake at PF and we suddenly have 4 scorers on the floor who can do multiple things offensively. (shoot the 3, shoot the pull up mid-range, and put the ball on the floor and score around the basket.)

Now of course there are many teams where we will need Hark or Aminu in there during crunch time to cover certain players but Hood (and Jake) at least give Terry another option to use.

 

1) I am excited about Hood's play. I want him to do well, and he killed.
2) Of course, Sauce did the same.
3) I think it's easier for a scorer to come in and make plays. The reason? If you don't know the offense, just shoot!
I'm sure Stotts gave him the "if you don't shoot when you're open, you're a detriment to the team" speech, and RH took it to heart.
4) He's not going to continue his 85% shooting
5) The rotation is nowhere near figured out. Collins will get more than 7 mpg.
6) Hood got more minutes last night than anyone outside of Layman and the Big 3. People were worried about Layman's minutes being
cut - they weren't. It's fun that the whole team seems to be looking for Layman alley-oops.

 

I disagree. As long as we're winning the guys will be happy. Personally I think a consolidation trade would have been disastrous.

 

Sure there will butt hurt due to how minutes are distributed in the game. But if there good team members they will support who ever out there and I believe we got those types of players.

 

Such is life. If you want floor time then you need to show that you deserve it. It also allows much more flexibility than we had in the past. Last night Stotts went with those that were producing and helping the team win. Next game it might be Leonard and Curry. I don't see that as a problem but instead a luxury.

 

Right now Collins is in a slump. He is struggling with his shot. But Terry needs to keep playing him. I am not sure alternating he and Meyers per half is the right solution though. I would prefer every other other game, or by match up.

 

I think Stott's methodology on that is to give them all some time in the first half and then by their play determines how much they play in the second half and then time will determine a tighter rotation as we move closer to the end of the season. Match ups will also help determine rotations on a game by game basis.

 

I think what @hoopsjock said about a need for consolidation couldn't be truer. When we just jammed a player that should play into the roster, what gets dislodged is another player. Whether it be Moe or Jake (you know it won't be ET), it's not a stable environment. This would be a reason for a free agent not to sign in Portland. For example, Jake was playing his ass off, then Moe came back and Jake didn't see the floor. That is crazy crazy. You can point the blame here or there, but it is not a good problem to have.

Besides, everyone is ALWAYS touting this continuity thing in a macro, seasonal sense. But I'd argue game to game is where you want your continuity and stability. Let guys get comfortable and get a rhythm, build chemistry. Otherwise, the are looking over their shoulders the whole time. Moe is susceptible to crumpling under such pressure, Sauce did, Zach is all fucked up. Also asking players to navigate a jumbled mass ends up being just another word for depending heavily on Dame and CJ, which we know (see 2017-2018 playoffs for example) isn't a winning formula in the postseason...

 

For the most part, but last night Zach only played in the 2nd half. And Meyers only played in the 1st (Until late in garbage time)

With the emergence of Jake, Zach and Meyers are pretty much limited to playing center.
Both can't play in the first half.

 

Rotations will usually work themselves out as players compete for those minutes. If Moe crumbles, then it's next man up and we easily have players that can fill that spot or Moe steps up and earns his time. You say it won't be Turner but last night he only played 18 minutes which is 6 minutes below his average. I don't understand you posters that think having more talent is a burden. Makes no sense as the competition for minutes is a good thing and the cream will rise to the top. The only players that are and should be locked in are Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic.

 

Zach might need a little mid-season reset anyhow, and could use less minutes, focussing on shifts rather than games. Most everyone who has ever developed a skill knows about the wall; and Zach seems to be at the wall; or the plateau, depending on your metaphor. All-Star Break is right in time for him to recenter himself.

 

I don't read a whole lot into just one game especially considering this was Hoods first game as there will be a feeling out period as expected. Time will tell how it all pans out.