Exclusive Hezonja to the Blazers

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Blazer509, Jun 30, 2019.

  1. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

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    I think if Harkless still here he will start at either position it really depends on who starts at center. Hezonja will be point forward on offensive and strong enough play PF on defense. Bazemore will back up Cj and Hood will either start at SF or back up Harkless. The whole key is who start at center. Right now I think it's Leonard and Zach at PF.
     
  2. Reep

    Reep Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn’t shocked if they ran Skal at PF. You have Skal and Collins who can play the 4/5.

    Unless a trade happens, I still expect Collins at the 4 and Leonard at the 5 until Nurkic is back. Skal can backup either or you can go small if needed. I still don’t believe they will run Collins at 5 for half a season then switch him to 4 when Nurkic comes back.
     
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  3. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Don't get me wrong, he is no Draymond in any way shape or form, but if you added a stretch 4 to the bench who could handle the ball like Draymond does for GS, it makes the 2nd unit that much better. Yes I know he can not cover or rebound like Green, but he is a better outside shooter. I read an article somewhere (can't find it right now) but it suggested that he is getting bigger/stronger and could be growing in that role based on the size of other stretch 4s around the league. Once Nurk gets back I would love to see a Collins, Hark, Hood, Mario and Simons
    2nd unit.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2019
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  4. Reep

    Reep Well-Known Member

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    At some point, I would love to see this lineup:
    Dame
    Hood or Bazemore
    Hezonja
    Collins
    Skal

    I think that would generate some highlight offense.

    What am I missing on the downside for this guy, defense? Can’t see why at his age Knicks let him go. Seems like a bigger/better Turner at a fraction of the cost. Very crafty with the ball and reads passing lanes well.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2019
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  5. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    The Knicks do some weird stuff?
     
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  6. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    But out of those 3, isn't Collins the best center? Zach has indicated that he prefers to play center and know he needs to continue to get bigger.
    My hope is they start Collins at center and have Meyers back him up.

    As for PF I think athletically Collins and Skal are similar (Although I am guessing until we see Skal more this weekend) But I think Skal is a better 3 put shooter. (Again guessing/hoping) That being said I think until Nurk is back, Skal and Hark and Mario are the PFs
     
  7. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Hezonja 16/16/11 against the Rockets.



    30/6/5 against the Wizards. Some poor tenancies in jumping into the air before making a pass. (That got Dame in trouble in the Playoffs) Has a nice change of pace burst when attacking the basket.

     
  8. Reep

    Reep Well-Known Member

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    If we didn’t have Nurkic, I would agree. My thinking is that Nurkic is a fixture at starting center. Zach is the second best big, and I think is a good fit next to Nurk and can easily defend most 4s. I know he likes center, but that is taken.

    I also think teams run best when everyone knows their roles and position. That is why I think Collins will start at 4 and they will bring someone else in at 5. Kind of like when Layman started when Harkless was out instead of Turner.
     
  9. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

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    People, including Jason Quick, are assuming we are going to trade a wing. I was just on a walk and got to thinking how this might not be the case, that this might be more a matter of being able to play -- and, more so, defend -- in the non-positional basketball.

    The Blazers right now have a plethora of players who can play the 2 and 3, the 3 and 4, or even all three of those positions. A couple of those guys can defend the point. A couple of those guys can defend the 5 on occasion.

    Defending positionless basketball requires guys who are agile, lengthy, who can swarm and close out and recover on the dribble drive and kick. Look at our roster now. Look how many long, agile guys we have.

    Defending the pick and roll requires bigs that can move their feet. I mean, maybe our 5s aren't super at that, but you have guys who can play the 5 like Zach and Skal who aren't dead meat if they have to switch on a tough scorer off the dribble. And then guys like Nurk (and Enes) and even Meyers at least try. And Nurk and Enes made up for it on the other end because they were such good pick-and-roll scorers ... if you play a team who runs the pick and roll with a 5 who isn't a threat, well, your 5 isn't going to have to be a great defender.

    This might just be a matter of building superior depth and versatility to our opponents, and taking advantage of market inefficiency.
     
  10. kjironman1

    kjironman1 Well-Known Member

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    This is the same idea the Warriors used to remake the way the game is played. Having 5 good players on the court is better for today’s game rather than having 5 positions covered. Many call it playing small. But I call it playing your best players and to your advantage. Make other teams defend you. Be a nightmare for them to match!
    This game is about scoring buckets. If you score them consistently you win games. If you can score with guys who play hard on the defensive side you will win more than you lose.
     
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  11. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

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    The other thing I mentioned in another thread ... you can get offensive rebounds just by making the other team chase and close out so much that they are out of position. You've got their bigs 20 feet from the basket, the halfcourt is wide open. They you just outhustle them to the loose balls.
     
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  12. Lukee

    Lukee Well-Known Member

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    Croatian finally. Last one was Drazen.

    Let's gooo!!!!!!!
     
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  13. TBpup

    TBpup Writing Team

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    Jason was right. :cheers:
     
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  14. PCmor7

    PCmor7 Generational Poster

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    But now we have an open spot on the roster for another wing!!!!!!
     
  15. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    Yes. His name is Hassan Whiteside.
     
  16. Sarni

    Sarni Well-Known Member

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    He has played games as a stretch 4 and is still young enough to develop. He showed glimpses of his talent at Orlando towards the end of his spell there and he has a point to prove. It’s a very low risk move. I like it.
     
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  17. Labinot41

    Labinot41 Well-Known Member

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  18. RipCityDSCPL

    RipCityDSCPL Could be worse, at least it's not Lonzo.

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    So they passed on the horse did they?
     
  19. blazerfan11

    blazerfan11 Well-Known Member

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    Hezonja could be murder in the starting lineup with Whiteside and Lillard and McCollum and someone else who can shoot threes. Hezonja looks like he is passing to the post any chance he gets, and that could be a great help to making Whiteside as valuable as possible. It would also be nice to have Lillard and McCollum play off the ball more with while still getting the same number of shots.

    I see Hezonja listed as a SF, so if he can can play that position it could be him along with Whiteside, Collins, Lillard and McCollum.

    If he's playable, because we're talking about Whiteside and not Nurkic, I think he'd be more valuable in the starting unit as a facilitator who can see the floor well getting the ball to top-rate finishers, with the hope of making it easier on them to get good looks and boosting their field goal percentages.

    With Mario's skill passing to the post, I could see Whiteside attracting a lot of attention on one side of the court, then Hezonja passing to a cutting Collins for a dunk or foul.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2019
  20. tlongII

    tlongII Legendary Poster

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    He’s a depth piece. Unlikely to get much PT but you never know.
     

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