The biggest need for this team isn't a big. It isn't a true superstar. It's shooters. We have a player we can build around. Aldridge is good enough. But this team as constructed, makes life incredibly difficult for our best player. Feeding our most consistent player can bog down the offense when the rest of the team isn't making shots. Teams double up on Aldridge and force him to pass out. Felton is shooting 15% from three, Crawford is at 30%, and Wallace is at 28%. We currently have two players who have something resembling a three point shot: Batum and Matthews; who by all accounts, aren't even on the floor together most of the time. So the Blazers usually field a lineup with only one real three point threat. Matthews is usually feast or famine, so if he's ice cold, you have even less to work with. That's why when they aren't running, the offense slows to a halt. Driving lanes are nonexistent because teams pack the paint, and of course, Aldridge has a hard time working in the post. Almost all the successful teams in recent memory were loaded with role players that could hit the three. Prime example: 10-11 Dallas Mavericks. They had 7 rotation players that shot the 3 better than 34%. (Shooting 33% from three is the equivalent of shooting 50% from 2) Kidd 34% Barea 35% Terry 36% Stevenson 38% Dirk 39% Peja 40% Cardinal 48% Heck they signed Peja who was basically done just because he could hit the three. Freaking Brian Cardinal got rotation minutes because he could hit threes. It paid off too. Peja and Kidd killed us with the three point shot during the playoffs, and their shooting even improved as they went on to win the title. Another example is the San Antonio Spurs. They're constantly rotating shooters on their roster. Danny Green, Richard Jefferson, Matt Bonner, Manu Ginobili, Gary Neal. etc. etc. They're still a great team, even with Tim Duncan declining. So what do we need to do? I think the easiest solution is messing with Gerald Wallace. He doesn't compliment Aldridge. They don't work well together, they score their points separately, and they get by on talent alone. One option is to bench Wallace in favor of Batum, so we have two shooters in the starting lineup to go along with Aldridge. Another option is to trade Wallace. I like trading him to the nets for Anthony Morrow+Jordan Farmar+Houston or New Jersey's own 2012 lotto protected 1st round pick. Both guys are shooting over 40% from three and don't need a ton of minutes to be effective. Farmar gives us an actual backup point, while Morrow can backup Batum or start for either Batum or Matthews for injuries. The first rounder gives us options for the future. I'd also look at bringing over Jon Diebler next year. He's playing in Europe right now and while he can't play a lick of defense, he's shooting 50% from 2, 53% from three and 93% from the free throw line. Perfect role player material.
Guys I'd target: -Nash -Ryan Anderson (better than Amare this year)- a big who can shoot. Perfect fit alongside Aldridge. -George Hill (has a bit of that Kyle Lowry feel where he's on the verge of breaking out, but doesn't get enough PT) -DJ Augustin- again on the verge of breaking out -Gortat- perfect solution @ C for us for the foreseeable future -2012 draft picks Trade Gerald and Felton for any of the above mentioned. -
The offense has been ultra stagnant the last few games (at least the roadies) ball movement and player movement has really tapered off; I'm not so sure this gets solved just by adding some shooters. This might be lack of practices in a condensed schedule or maybe the struggles at the point or it could just be old habits die hard as the team supposedly tries to adopt a new up tempo style. But frankly, this problem has been cropping up for years -- I just don't think this offense gets guys great looks.
This team doesn't need Ryan Anderson (although he would be nice) It's need a PG. That simple. A guy that can make plays in the half-court.
I'm not sure I agree with that. We were a great 3PT shooting team in 08-09, and subsequently had the 2nd most efficient offense in the league (or was it the first, I don't remember). Anyways, we had great shooters, but they played off a different star, an undoubtedly better passer and arguably better player overall.
If that's efficiency per possesion, sure, but it required slowdown basketball. That was when Rudy set the rookie record. We didn't have great shooters, but I agree with your point about playing off a better player.
3 PT shooting was definitely great that year, but that's not exactly what I'm talking about. I don't know who or what to blame exactly, but it just seems like the ball moves so little at times on this year's team; it leaves guys doing a lot of one-on-one which raises the difficulty level of the shots ... occasionally I see nice cuts and or screens and guys getting the ball with more space to shoot, but it just feels sporadic.
Lack of effort? IDK, save for the Orlando game, they've looked perfectly fine at home. It's when they get on the road that they suddenly become sluggish.
I have to disagree. Last night I saw lots of wide open looks that happened because of ball movement and player movement, they just aren't making the shots. I'm ready to start Batum over Wallace or Matthews just to get someone who can shoot a three and make a jump shot on the floor with LA.
i would assume that these guys will have to eventually start shooting at least close to their career norms, and when they do, voila! shooters!
I'm not one to bang on McMillan like others have. But since he's been the coach we've said we need more shooters to spread the floor. Raymond Felton has never been a good shooter. But he made 36% of his 3s the last 2 years, compared to 15% this season. Jamal Crawford has always been streaky, but for his career he makes 41% of his 3s, compared to 34% this season. These guys aren't just in slumps - they aren't getting the same looks they normally get. Nate has always gotten guys to play hard, you can't question that. But we have struggled offensively for a long time. An "in his prime" Brandon Roy hid a lot of that, but now it's just ugly. Meanwhile you watch teams like Denver and Utah running efficient offenses w/o a guy who can consistently get his own shot. Maybe we overrated this team, but there is some offensive talent on this roster. We've seen it in spurts. But there are too many nights when it looks completely chaotic and disorganized. It's actually tough to watch. And we thought this was going to be a fun, uptempo team? Gross.
