Stotts and Mgmt: This is really starting to bug me

The bench wasn't really in during crunch time, unless you count Pavlovic getting dunked on by James.

 

great, they kept us close enough with help from the starters minus Hickson. I don't need the bench in at the end. I said I want Lillard in crunch time situations. PLaying better players earlier in the game helped that be a reality. We don't know if Claver or Leonard would have had a negative impact, but we do know our bench played decent tonight, and helped us stay close throughout. I want Lillard playing in those type of games, personally.

 

sure did.

 

Has it ever occurred to any of you that Management TOLD Stotts to showcase Babbitt, Pavlovic, Jeffries, and Price? Notice the midseason trade deadline in a few days?

Obviously, Olshey wants to consolidate those 4 into a brand new spanking starting center, a present to the fans. This is great news.

 

Wouldn't that be brand spanking new center? Cause that seems more appealing than a brand new spanking center.

 

In opinion, I avoid the center to practice ass-ymmetric warfare. I alternate cheeks.

 

How can anything bug you after watching the most exciting rookie since Lebron James put up 33 and then get props from said Le-bron after the game

Go Blazers

 

Exactly this. Now it's up to Olshey to to either force Stott's hand by trading away some of his "crutch" players, or they have to have a sit-down at some point when Olshey decides that the playoffs are out of reach and it's time to go into development mode. Frankly though, aside from Leonard, I don't think Olshey much cares how guys like Claver, Freeland, Smith and Babbitt contribute, the latter two guys are almost definitely gone this summer and the former two aren't his picks, so there's no reason to be invested in them.

If Hickson gets moved by the deadline (which seems remote) you'll definitely see more Leonard, taking some of the decision making out of Stotts' hands. If Hickson stays and Leonard can't get on the court and the losses continue to mount then who knows what the hell is going on.

 

I think Stotts has done a good job of getting the young guys playing time, while also trying to win for the sake of LaMarcus, Matthews and Batum. Leonard played a lot early in the season. He has to see what guys can do, as well as get guys minutes that could potentially be used in a trade at the deadline.

If I were a GM I would have seen that Babbitt might be able to help me a bit, Claver has a high bball IQ, Freeland has a nose for the ball and Nolan Smith could be a decent guy at the end of the bench. Pavlovic, Jeffries, Price all shown something to help boost their value in case.

 

only disagreement is that Pav-Jeffries-Price and even babbit IMO realistically cannot do anything at his point to change there trade value, that is a pipe dream IMO. I'd prefer to keep this year's pick and try to add value to guys who will be here next yr like Leonard-Claver-Freeland-Barton by playing them. I see both sides, this route is my preference.

 

Mine as well, but to appease LA, I think he has done a great job of mixing both

 

I think we are talking about a difference of perhaps winning a handful of games, we still play to win as frankly the difference in bench performance, no matter who plays is minimal. IMO "appeasing LMA" will have the best results if we are a much more serious contender NEXT year.

 

Again, you are preaching to the choir. If it were me I would have started Leonard from day one and seen if Barton could start next to Lillard or give him significant minutes off the bench. That being said, I don't believe for a second that Olshey wants Hickson back, and because of his play this season, teams have reached out to his agent to gauge his interest in relocating to that team. Stotts has had to see if Babbitt could play on the team next year. I believe he can, but wouldn't natter either way.

 

You do realize we were in this game until 2 minutes left. What would you say if we won?

 

Fully agree except for babbitt, he's a shooter who is simply not shooting well and the rest of his game IMO is lousy, I think he is and should be gone

 

Ya, like I said, couldn't care less either way

 

I think Babbitt will be staying honestly. Unless he must be used in a deal before deadline. If Babbitt is still on the team before deadline; I suspect him to resign with the blazers for cheap.

 

Surprisingly, last year after ass clown was fired, Luke had PERs in Feb and Mar of 16.77 and 16.62 in 19 games. He is not great, I get that, but he might not be horrible either.

He has been down this season, but I'm not sure he wouldn't be a great guy to have on the end of a bench just in case. If nothing else he forces the other team to come out on him making it easier for LA to operate

 

the exact same thing Mags, does it really matter in the scheme of things whether we won or lost last night? IMO this is short thinking vs bigger picture and doing what's best for this team longer term - and setting us up to win the best we can the next several years for me is way more important than winning or losing a handful of games this year..

 

if he stays for Claver pay level (1 mil or so per) then ok, but I think we can do better