To me the issue is defense. Can this Blazer team play good defense for a majority of the game? I get the idea of wanting points off the bench, but I would like to see a stud defender come off the bench . . . which would lead to offense. I was hoping T-Rob would be that energy guy who helps get the defense going, maybe not. I have been so up and down on T-Rob I don't know what to think of him now. A energy defensive oriented guard would also be nice. As a team, the defense is the problem. (Blazers shouldn't shoot lights out in the first and be losing by 1 at half). I don't know if the defense can be solved by the starters, the bench or either.
You know I really think the ESPN Trade Machine should be on top of a thread like this as a sticky thread. Just a fun idea. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine
Can we turn Wes to our Manu-lite? Bring him off the bench and let him finish the game? Start CJ/Vic in his place as token starters?
He has a higher FG and EFG% than Mo does. Mo has more assists, but a TOV% of over 17%. (CJ's is 8%). Then again, CJ doesn't handle the ball a lot, as evidenced by his 2 shots in 11 minutes. One of those shots was a good take to the rim where he got hit by 2 defenders and got a no-call, and the other was a contested 3. http://on.nba.com/1fpX9WZ
what's the worst that can happen by giving CJ 25 minutes and Mo 11? We lose to a middling Eastern Conference team on the road?
Wait, you're making a case for CJ McCollum playing over Mo Williams? At least Mo can score at times, and defend the opposing PG at times. CJ was lucky not to get a 3rd missed FG on a drive to the rim that was blocked, but that the scorer called a steal. CJ McCollum may be the worst player in the NBA right now in the regular rotation of an "elite" team. His PER is going to fall to around 6 after tonight, and his USG is still in the high teens. He may have potential, but he's garbage right now. A SG who can't shoot isn't going to last long in the NBA.
A higher eFG%. Whoopty fucking Doo. CJ is now a 30% shooter from 3pt, and he's afraid to go near the ball. He's rattled.
FG, and EFG. I'm not saying that CJ's great, but if you're calling him "fucking horrible" and "the worst player in the NBA right now in the regular rotation", while saying that Mo should keep his minutes, we'll have to agree to disagree. CJ's only shooting 31% on 3's (compared to Mo's 37%) but shooting so many poor 2pt shots that CJ has a (marginally) higher FG, eFG and TS%. More turnovers, worse shooting. Whoopty fucking doo.
Who is a worse rotation player for a 30-win team? I consider the Blazers 'elite' this year, considering they are 2nd in the West and have two All-Stars. Nobody on OKC is worse. Nobody on San Antonio is worse. Nobody on Indiana is worse. Maybe Udonis Haslem from Miami, except Spoelstra benched him a while ago because he was so bad?
I said the worst rotation player on an elite team. Bash Mo Williams all you want, I did in this thread, but he's miles ahead of CJ McCollum right now as an NBA player.
How do you possibly say that? What is Mo doing that's miles ahead of anyone? As I said, CJ's no better than Mo. But he's a rookie in his 12th game. Mo is in his 11th season, his 4th in a row of decline and not playing well at all. Even with the "Good Mo" games, he's still not shooting as well as CJ and turning the ball over twice as much (per possession). I said it in another post, what is the worst that can happen by giving CJ 25 minutes and Mo 11? Losing to the Wiz? Or Mem?
OK. We bench Mo, give his minutes to Barton, and continue with the "bring CJ along slowly plan". Compromise!
