First off, team is doing great, so this is not to say the team needs fixing, just a tweak here and there could be beneficial. Personally, I think Wright is not helping much and Mo has good games, but some crappy ones where he needs to be pulled earlier. I'm happy with Leonard, so I know some might want TRob more, but I'm fine with the big rotation. I'd like to have some mix of Barton, Crabbe and CJ pick up Wrights minutes and a third of Mo's minutes. Barton last night reminded me he can really contribute, in 9 minutes putting up 10/3/1 on excellent shooting. Obviously, he has nights where he shits the bed, but he is certainly capable and at the end of last season was averaging I think around 17ppg for a stretch. All I know is we build leads with our starters and then stagnate sometimes when the bench comes in. It seems to me that Barton could really help this. What are your thoughts on rotation changes?
I would put CJ in for half of Mo's and put TRob back in the rotation (although I would like to see Leonard stay as well). Perhaps lighten LMA and/or Lopez's minutes? Not sure. This isn't likely to happen we have learned though. I not worried about Barton and Crabbe. They are young (I know CJ is as well). Perhaps they should go to Boise to get some court burn though.
Earl " the no pearl" Watson. I would give him some minutes to disrupt the other team. He is one of those annoying Pg's that pressures every minute he is in. Don't bring in Mo quite as early as they do now, and start Earl at the beginning of the 2nd qtr while moving Mo to SG at that time.
I don't really enjoy watching Mo and Dame on the court at the same time. I'd rather see Dame play the entire first quarter and bring in Mo as his backup. I'm hoping once CJ comes back we go to a more traditional second unit rotation. Play the starters for most of the first quarter and then start filtering in the second unit. Mo, CJ, Wright, Freeland, and then either TRob or Leonard. I think the Blazers need to make a decision though. Either they're going to develop Leonard or Robinson, but there isn't enough playing time for both. They need minutes to develop, so it's unfair to keep one of them sitting on the bench. I get the feeling that Stotts is leaning towards Leonard because he likes big men who can shoot. Robinson has an inconsistent outside shot. We need to thin our reserve wings as well. I'd like to see what a trade of Barton, Robinson/Leonard, and Freeland could net us. Either Robinson or Leonard need to go. I'd like to see more minutes go to Crabbe and either TRob or Meyers.
There isn't much for tweaking for me. I would like to see if Barton and Claver get more burn, but I understand why they aren't. Sometimes a good offense requires good defense. I think Claver and Barton could really pressure the other team's second unit. That pressure could create more turn overs, which leads to fast break buckets. If we used this a few minutes a game, applying a different philosophy (trapping and doubles).
Barton I could see, but Claver simply isn't good enough to make the rotation. There isn't enough minutes for Robinson to get burn, so there certainly isn't enough for Vic.
If you are going to pressure the 2nd unit then you need to pressure the guy with the ball. No one on this team can do that better than Watson. I am all for doing that 4 minutes a half.
I think Barton has something to add on both ends of the court, but what he has offensively is a different set of abilities than how the team plays currently. But I agree that there is no reason the second unit couldn't play a little different. Pressure more on D (no need to worry about tiring them out) and have Barton and Mo slash and kick non-stop. I actually think that Meyers plays best with other starters but TRob plays better with other bench players. I don't think we need to get rid of one of Meyers or TRob. Bigs go down often and we need to have backups. Both are young and at least for this year don't have to play that much, they still have guaranteed years and time to hone their skills and prove their worth. We don't need to be fair to their potential by giving them time, we need to pay them millions and give them chances to demonstrate growth. As they get closer to the end of their contracts, that could change.
- Either bump up Wright's minutes or keep him at the same production, but if the latter, don't expect him to set the world on fire if you keep him at his current minute-level. He's used to playing a bit more than this. - Add CJ to the rotation. Start him off by taking a few of Matthews, Williams and Lillard's minutes, then adjust accordingly. - Give Leonard another 5-10 games or so at his current spot. Swap in T-Rob if he isn't making additional progress.
Leonard has been playing really well, so we can't bench him now. I just think Robinson needs minutes to develop and we simply don't have the minutes to play both Leonard and Robinson.
Games like last night and potentially the next few games are the games that the starters need to step on the other teams throat quicker so the other guys can get some more playing time.
Do you think a stint in Idaho would help? I personally don't think NBDL is what the guy needs at this point. If there are 'effort' issues, the only way to enforce that is in practice with the coaching staff around.
No, I don't think the NBDL will help either of them. Bigs need to play against NBA competition. Playing at the pro level is probably most difficult for big men because it's the only place where they will face competition that is just as big, or bigger, than they are. There's a reason why it's so hard to predict success for big guys. In high school and in college they're playing against guys that are so much smaller and less talented, but when they get to the pros, they're suddenly facing guys that are just as big, strong, and athletic. It's a learning adjustment and the only way to learn is to play against the best.
Assuming no roster changes, I wouldn't change much. The only major move has probably already been hit on: Replace Wright with Crabbe. Other minor changes would be to let Lillard play deeper into the 1st quarter. I don't like how he's taken out after playing just 6 minutes. At that point you've barely generated a rhythm, and then you're taken out. And since there isn't anyone behind Lillard who deserves "starter minutes" there's no reason to rush a bench player in for him. What else? Hmmm. Maybe start the 4th quarter with Watson at PG. Fresh legs, able to D up the opposing PG and stymie any attempted run. Give him 3m and evaluate how things are going - if they're going great keep him in for a couple more minutes, if not bring in Mo or bring Lillard in early to finish the game.
I also wouldn't mind bringing in Barton instead of Crabbe at times. I like what he brings. The guy disrupts things. He has long arms, he's athletic, he attacks the rim, and he is high energy. I think our second unit could really use someone like that at times, but at this point I'd rather play CJ over Crabbe or Barton.
Yeah, I hear what you're saying. For whatever reason when thinking about Barton I never like him. But then when I see him play he actually provides us with some things we typically lack. I guess I still have visions of his out-of-control drives from the previous season - but he's really dialed that back. Eh - I'm still more hopeful for Crabbe over Barton, but it's not really rooted in anything. But yes, at this point I'd even be fine with Barton taking Wright's minutes. Crabbe just seems bigger, and therefore a better replacement at SF. I don't know whether that's true or not though.
Crabbe is a pure shooter, which is why he's a logical replacement for Wright in the rotation. Barton is most definitely not a pure shooter.
I think the thing I like about Barton, is his rebounding and defense. His mid-range game looked good last night; which is what I would want from the wing. But I doubt Barton will get any significant burn.
