Nice article! "The bench is coming together!"

I would have agreed with you, but some of the national media has taken notice that we actually have depth this year.

I wouldn't be surprised if we were fighting for HCA area next year. But at the same time, I think that is best case scenario. I think Lillard is going to be very, very good. I'm excited to see what we have in store for McCollum. Eventual starting SG, or elite 6th man (hopefully). Can't wait.

 

RASTA MONSTA

 

Nice pic, I stole it for my avatar.

 

I liked your last avatar a lot better.

 

Varejao is the one and only Side Show Bob.

I suppose Robin Lopez could be Side Show Rob.

 

You can setup an appointment with me and I'll show you how we can make this a little better

 

All right, I went back to the one you like. You must be a fan of cats.

 

The more that I think about it the more I am beginning to wonder if a lot of our success will hinge on how well CJ handles the rookie wall. To expect him to just blow through it like Lillard did is not going to be realistic. If he is a major player for us, likely off of our bench, then that could effect a lot of things. It will be interesting to see how that works out.

 

love that pic! he was one of my favorite Blazers; love how he played.

 

And, we also now have a LOT more flexibility in late game situations. I look forward to seeing how Stotts manages his lineups at the end of close games. Even without a bench, he was better at it last season than Nate (predictable, one-dimensional all ISO all the time) ever was. Now, he can run offensive/defensive substitutions - and I just don't mean Lopez on defense and Meyers on offense. In spite of the general consensus that Aldridge HATES to play center, he actually said he only wanted a big body, a true center, who can come in and bang down low for 20 - 25 minutes a night. So, in late game situations, bring Lopez in for defense and then surround Aldridge and Lillard with our 3 best shooters on offense. Double either of our stars and they kick it to the open shooter. Plus, because Lopez is a good FT shooter, he doesn't become a liability if you get caught in transition and can't sub him out. In addition to not losing leads every time we rest the starters, this new, deeper bench gives Stotts a lot more flexibility in late game situations.

I think a lot of people are going to be surprised just how many more games this team will win this season because our bench went from a huge minus (worst in league history) to a positive. Imagine how good we will be if our bench can actually increase a lead rather than giving it away every time we rest more than one starter. Imagine the luxury of giving Lillard, Aldridge, Batum and Matthews an extra 3 or 4 minutes of rest every night knowing it's not going to cost you a win.

BNM

 

100% agreed. Repped

I think this team will become as deadly a shooting team as any in the league with that flexibility.

 

that last paragraph was exactly my point when i wrote this. if our starters can get a few more minutes rest it won't just help us win games, but it'll help us later on in the season when we're making our playoff run.

 

The purpose of both nicknames is to ridicule his hair.

 

i like to think of is as complimentary rather than ridicule.

 

I hope someone holds him down and shaves his head before the first game of the season.

 

that would be mean! though, it could make him more aerodynamic!