I'll do the easy part Dame Wes Nic LA Lopez I'd like your expert opinion on the rest and who will be on the inactive list?
Lillard plays 38 - 40 minutes a night. He's young and won't want to come out, anyway. Earl Watson picks up the rest. Matthews plays more like 35 minutes a night with McCollum taking the balance of the backup minutes, unless Crabbe or Barton beats him out in training camp. Doubt the Blazers are going to want to leave a lottery pick on the bench or IR, though, so I'm betting on McCollum playing. Batum is likewise around 35 minutes a night with Dorrell Wright playing the other 13. Aldridge can take it easy with just 38 minutes a night, with Thomas Robinson taking virtually everything that's left. Lopez plays 30 minutes a night, and Meyers gets to showcase his talents for almost 20 a night. That leaves two active players - I'd bet Claver (as an emergency 3/4) and Will Barton (as a 2/3), but wouldn't be surprised to see the Blazers sign a 7-footer out of summer league to be available in case both Lopez and Leonard get in foul trouble (so that Aldridge doesn't have to break a sweat playing center). IR: Crabbe, and if there are any holdovers from last year (Babbitt? Freeland?).
I see it breaking down something like this Lillard (30)/CJ (18) Wes (30)/Lillard (6)/CJ(12) Nic (34)/Wright (14) LMA (30)/TRob(18) Lopez (26)/Leonard (15)/LMA(5) Of course there will be injuries so minutes will fluctuate.
Watson rides the pine unless CJ cannot backup PG decently, Watson rarely get minutes unless injury occurs
Yep, teams got too much invested in CJ to have Watson taking his minutes. Watson is insurance for injury/beginning of the season while CJ gets acclimated.
They drafted him as a SG, not a PG. He may develop into a PG but I doubt they will be concerned if Watson gets his minutes next year. CJ should be seen as a a long term investment.
Did Olshey say that anywhere? I certainly assumed he was drafted primarily as PG backup to Lillard and some SG to boot.
Pg - Lillard | McCollum | Watson Sg - McCollum | Mathews | Barton Sf - Batum | Wright | Crabbe PF - Aldridge | Robinson | Claver C - Lopez | Leonard | Freeland
I think the intent is to have a couple of combo guards so either can bring the ball up and take some of the pressure of Dame.
Why would he say it. McCollum has always been listed as a SG. He never played PG in college. (As far as I know) Every interview I have heard was about him playing with Liilard, not behind him.
14-man team. Who needs Jermaine? C Lopez Leonard Freeland PF Aldridge Robinson Claver/Freeland SF Batum Wright Matthews/Claver SG Matthews McCollum Barton/Crabbe PG Lillard Watson McCollum
None the less I still ask the question..."did he play much PG in college? Here is the typical story I read about him: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ccollum-to-thrive-with-portland-trail-blazers
This is something like what I'd expect: Lillard(36) ||| McCollum(6)/Watson(6) Matthews(30) ||| McCollum(16)/Batum(2) Batum(32) ||| Wright(16) Aldridge(30) ||| Robinson(18) Lopez(28) ||| Aldridge(6)/Vet?(14) with Crabbe/Barton/Claver/Leonard/Freeland rounding it out, filling in, etc. I don't know that much about Crabbe, so I chose to not really include him. I think the wing is a little too crowded for Barton and Claver to get meaningful minutes, but who knows? Barton could grab 5-10 minutes maybe. If we don't get a vet center (another one), those minutes go to Leonard/Aldridge (with Robinson getting a couple more at PF). Obviously there will be times where when Lillard/McCollum are out there and kinda interchangable as well. Here's the minutes breakdown (injuries not taken into account): Lillard: 36 Aldridge: 36 Batum: 34 Matthews: 30 Lopez: 28 McCollum: 22 Robinson: 18 Wright: 16 Vet Big: 14 Watson: 6
Shit, we are way deeper than last season FAMS! Looks like in spite of Barton's play last spring, he's likely headed back to Boise.
