I'm on board with the notion that Mo isn't the best at running the offense. I made the same comment after the LA game. I think Watson runs the offense better as the backup PG and that Mo is best suited to minutes at the 2 spot. My comment that he got the offense clicking was not because he was running the team well, but rather that him hitting some shots got the team's confidence up so that other guys started making some of their own. Nothing like seeing some shots go down to put confidence in your shooting stroke.
I think the record is a clear indication that the bench has improved. Would I like to see it improved more? Absolutely. Will that happen? Unlikely. Olshey has sold off every 2nd round pick for FIVE years. In addition we've used our salary cap space and have to 1st rounder next year. That leaves the current roster. Whoever is traded will be half of the board's pet player and draw some serious ire. If we start losing after a trade...
Was just being VERY hypothetical. It would be silly to only go after ex-blazers, just thought those guys might fit. I'm happy with our current team, but I do think (on paper), that team would be a little more balanced.
I'm happy with Freeland, and I think Robinson is doing fine for where I expected him to be. I was hoping for more out of Wright though.
Yes, over the last 5 games he's shot 33% from the field. And over the 5 games prior to that he shot 50% from the field. For the season he's averaging 42.6% which is so far better than Lillard, so I'm scratching my head trying to figure out what your point is. Mo's role is scoring off the bench. If you've followed his career you shouldn't be surprised that he's streaky, but having a guy like that coming off the bench is important and something we completely lacked last year. He's always a threat and defenses can't ignore him. A few weeks ago after the Boston game, you were loving Mo. You even wanted Damian to develop his mid-range game after Mo's, and you weren't sure how CJ would get minutes because Mo was playing so well. I'm not blind, some shots he takes I find myself yelling at the screen, but the same can be said for other guys as well, like Lillard. But those quick shots are part of the game plan, strike quick, up the tempo. And some go in. Some of his passes are indefensible though, but we gotta take the bad with the good.
Yeah, the bench is pretty weird. I can't really say what my overall opinion of it is. It's hard to see it for what it is after last season's debacle. I will say I'm surprised at how I rank our bench players: Freeland > Mo > Robinson > Wright I thought Wright would offer far more than he has. I'm quite disappointed with him. He doesn't really fuck up like last year's players, but he also doesn't seem to do much that has any impact on the game. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Freeland. Wow, did that guy improve! His defense is beautiful and I like that he's not afraid to take the occasional mid-range shot. Both Mo and Robinson are doing what I expected them to do. Mo will win you games and lose you games with his shooting. He doesn't get others involved, but when he's hitting he can carry us through dry spells. Robinson - despite his rawness I still LOVE this pickup! I think he'll develop into a very nice player. Yeah - if we're creating better balance, and not selling the future, I'd be on-board with a CJ trade. Ideally in some sort of package to a tanking team (CHI?) for another C. Even more ideally, a C that would push Lopez to the bench. I like what Lopez is doing on the court, but imagine if he was our back-up C! Of course I guess that'd cause issues with Freeland/Robinson. So maybe Lopez + CJ for someone like Noah/Boogie/Sanders/Drummond (ha!) [/dreams].
My point was that he isn't a point guard, but he's playing one on our team. He dribbles a ton, and more often than not it ends up with him taking a shot. This would be fine if we had Watson playing, but he's not currently logging many minutes. Having Mo in the backcourt with Dame doesn't seem effective to me. Last year Dame played some of his best ball when we had Maynor come in off the bench. Mo struggles to find the open man and spends too much of the clock pounding the ball. A few weeks ago I was loving Mo because I didn't realize how the offense essentially shuts down when he comes in, but it didn't matter because he was hitting his shots. Now he isn't hitting those shots and his glaring weaknesses have become crystal clear. I would like to see Dame develop more of a mid-range game, which is clearly Williams' strength. Those little pull-ups and occasionally a floater. I would like to see more of that from Dame, but I'm not clear on how that has any bearing on how Williams is currently playing? We need consistent scoring off the bench, and right now we're not getting it. CJ can't come back soon enough.
He's just the same risk/reward proposition as Mo, but x30. let's talk someone steady to assist us when Mo is shooting blanks.
I feel like our bench is built fairly similar to other decent bench units in the past. Seems like most teams, or good teams, I dunno, have one good scorer off the bench. The guy who is going to egt the majority of minutes from you, who will play heavy minutes with the starting unit. That's Mo. Have a 2/3 on the wing who isn't a liability on defense, and can knock down open shots. Have a few role playing bigs. One more hustle(Robinson) one a little smarter(Freeland). Neither a great offensive option, but both who can hit a shot for you on occasion. And then sprinkle in young players who'll never see the floor and an old guy to play very limited time. It's not the ideal 2nd unit, and could still use upgrading, but I'm ok with it. I agree with MM about wanting another 4/5. I'd actually really like to land Channing back from Phoenix. Another shooter to have on the floor, can play well alongside Aldridge, Robin, Freeland and Robinson, so isn't a guy who you're stuck unable to play with certain guys out there. I dunno what pieces I'd really want to give up for him, though. And would have to get to match salary.
Same could be said for Lillard? Sure, he plays PG better than Mo, but he dribbles and shoots more than anything.
My biggest complaint was when he and Aldridge would play together, Nate would usually have Channing on the block, and LA outside. Reversing that would have made a world of difference, since LA is much better on the block than Channing, and Channing more an outside threat.
