It feels like we're one PF away from being really good

If AMinu would stop thinking about Offense, he might be the best SF we could put next to Dame and CJ. A versatile lockdown defender who cna cover several positions. What is killing us is the PF position not providing offense. Our centers are doing what they need to be doing.

All this talk is fruitless. Its the PF position holding us back, not the guards....

 

Aminu is not a versatile OR lockdown defender. At best he can guard two positions - SF and PF. And even then he's nothing special. He can be an above average defender - but he even falls short in that regard more often than not.

I'd love to find a sucker to trade him to in a "Gerald Wallace" type trade. If Wallace got us the #6 pick, maybe Aminu can get us the #10 pick?

 

Im not sure if he is long term, but I think your way off about not being a good defender. Just look at who he has defended and their stats for the game. He has shut just about every superstar down we have faced so far.

 

Lost me on that one.

 

I'm just dubious about your claim that "he has shut just about every superstar down we have faced so far." To that I say: ORLY?
I also say, "and just how many superstars have we faced so far?".
Basically: not swayed. He's basically a blend of Outlaw and Blazers-era G.Wallace - not as dumb as Outlaw and not as good as Wallace (and Wallace wasn't very good).

Speaking of Outlaw - watching Crabbe lately reminds me of what Outlaw could have been if he wasn't the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. He has a similar offensive game, but he's actually smart so he isn't lost on the floor. Obviously he doesn't have the ridiculously high jump, but their ability to shoot off screens, the pull-up, or the set shot is remarkably similar.

 

-Aminu is a good (not 1st team all-defense) defender, he is very tall,athletic and can make open jumpers.
-Aminu is a legitimate starter in today's NBA and we got him relatively cheap.
-Aminu shows signs of improvement on fast breaks.

=We can appreciate him a bit more.

 

Paul George and LeBron James played awful at the Moda Center. Did he play some D on RW too? He didn't play well against us either.

 

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I mean, Kap over on the 49ers broke records in passing and rushing, but I wouldn't call him the next Steve Young.

I do, however, feel that we are one piece away from being a real contending team. But what that one piece is, I have no idea. I wouldn't mind seeing a bullish Big in the paint though; someone who can muscle is way around PFs and Centers. And play defense as well as offense.

But would Stotts know how to play him? That's the big question too. Right now, I'm not that high on Stotts.

 

What's wrong with Stotts? You gotta blame the personnel he's working with..

 

Right below... LBJ, PG, etc....

Thanks King. That's exactly who I was thinking of too. Aminu was our primary defender on both of these guys who had their worst games of their season so far against us. Aminu is a solid defender and compliments Dame and CJ at the SF spot.

 

So two games? That's your proof that Aminu is a lockdown defender? Two games?
I don't have the time (or care enough) to dig deep, but on a shallow surface look through our schedule the following players lit us up:

Batum - 33
Harden - 45
LBJ - 33
Melo - 37
Gallinari - 29
Z-Bo - 26

And that's merely looking at game high scorers - not full box scores: http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por

Comparing him to Bad Nic, he has a worse DRTG, DWS, and DPM (and comes out worse on the offensive versions of those, too). He's nothing special as a defender - or as a player.
http://www.basketball-reference.com...minual01&y2=2015&p2=batumni01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

Aminu is the new Travis Outlaw - people love him even though he really isn't very good.

 

I don't see Aminu as our SFotF. Given the current roster, I think Crabbe and Harkless have better probability of becoming that.

 

Lebron James? Check the stats then. That one isnt right....

Listen, Im not saying he is an allstar or anything, but he is absolutely our best defender outside of the paint and is a great fit at SF to go with Dame and CJ.
All great defenders will still get scored on if the opponent plays team ball and has a good coach that can adjust...
Your also naming guys I dont think AMinu was covering... Zbo? Gallinari? Harden? Those arent his guys....

 

Tuesday, December 8th - LBJ w/ 33 pts - it's all in the link I provided.
If Aminu was a lock down, versatile defender those would be his guys. (And I do recall him guarding Z-Bo last night.)
Just because he's out best perimeter defender doesn't mean he's a great defender or that he's a great fit next to Dame/CJ.
Both the eye test and the stats say that he's not a particularly good defender.

 

Ahh, I forgot about that game. all I remmeber is the Cleveland game that I was at that he scored like 8 pts.

So Aminu let him score 33 but then held him to 8? Not gonna have the best game every single night. Aminu is still only 22. Learning this system. He has the length, the speed and the persistence to be a 1st-2nd team all defense. Just like the rest of the guys... give him some time. Numbers arent everything either. What I see from him is enough to be our defensive stopper.... when he is ready to be consistent.
I think your eyes need a check. lol.
WHen he WANTs to, he can lock down REALLY well. But my eye test says he dissappears at times... ala Batum.

 

Guys, Aminu is not as good as Kawai Leonard on defense, we must trade him!

If we get Paul George and Durant scores 35 on him then we should trade his ass as well.

 

What it comes down to, for me, is that Aminu does not appear to have good BBIQ. For that reason I don't think he'll ever be a lock down defender. He has good defensive moments, but overall hovers somewhere around average (and isn't any better on offense to make up for it). He relies on his length, rather than his brain and sound defensive principles. Noah and Crabbe both appear to have a better understanding of defensive principles than Aminu, and because of that will probably both end up being better defenders - and I doubt either of them makes 1st/2nd defensive team.

 

#6 most efficient Small Forward in the NBA right now is Will Barton.

Ain't that a bitch.

 

Trying to figure out future rosters, I really think we're gonna be shit for only this year. We have so many options to improve this summer and get back to the playoffs and beyond.

A lotto pick, 30+ mil to absorb salary an/or go after a FA, CJ emerging as an all star, Crabbe coming up, Plums as a contributor, guys with reasonable contracts that can be moved in Aminu and Davis. Even if Meyers busts, we have Hark and Vonleh as guys to work on for the future.

I'm really intrigued at how Neil builds this team. Do we try to match up with GS and SA? Or do we try to break the molds out there and go a different way? Having Dame and CJ as the foundation is huge. Not many teams can matchup with TWO elite players with handle and are threats from 3pt land.

Excited for more development this year and the trade deadline. Could give us more insight into Neil's plan.