I watched the halftime TNT and Charles said it again in this close context. "Blazers don't have a very good bench" and was then also asked, "Will Portland stay 1st place in the West?" and Chuck said "No". He still was condoning Portland as a "Jump Shooting" team.
He's not that far from the truth though. The bench isn't that great (and because last years was sooo bad, almost anything this year would've been an improvement) and the team IS a jump shooting team. And it's doubtful they'll remain in 1st all year.
Charles is consistent. He says that about every jump shooting team. The problem is almost all teams are jump shooting teams. So somebody has to win. If Lillard would get the phantom calls that Harden gets our points at the basket would increase.
He's been wrong many times. The team just needs to make him wrong again. I think he is wrong about them. Jump shooting teams that are more finesse on the court are doomed to fail. This team is a lil more than that. They are a gritty, scrapping, hard working team. There is a reason why they are the best in the west right now. I do agree I think they need a lil more from the bench. But maybe CJ is exactly what the doc ordered.
I love Barkley, he's wrong a ton but I'm ok with that, he is amusing and speaks his mind fully, not hedging his words like everyone else. At least his thoughts are fun to discuss.
To be fair in that stretch we beat the Lakers, Thunder, and Clippers... I was all on our nuts too at that point.
Calling us a jumpshooting team is just lazy. He's forgetting that these shots are WIDE OPEN most of the time and come as a result of great ball movement out of double teams in the post and penetration. It's not like we're just chucking contested shots and getting lucky. Our offense is a lot more like the Spurs' than the Knicks of last year
Ironically, Aldridge is taking more shots in the paint than ever this year, something I've wanted him to do for a long time.
Kenny and CWebb also said the Blazers wouldn't stay in the #1 place. In fact Kenny Smith said it also on NBA TV a few weeks ago. Chuck said he didn't like Jump shooting teams in the playoffs. I don't think he aimed that at the Blazers as he has always said this so I have to respect his opinion.
The stats back his position, but does that mean we're a bad points-in-the-paint team? Statistically, it suggests it, but Aldridge was doing all sorts of damage near the paint. Lopez had like 5 dunks/rim makes. Wes attacks the paint. Batum and Lillard are more than capable of penetrating. The same goes with transition points, where we are near the bottom in the league. I haven't seen us botch too many fastbreak opportunities this year. Missed shots, yes. But not wrong decision type things. First in the league in offense efficiency. Didn't hear any of the "analysts" mention that, which is more telling I think.