C.J. McCollum on Role, New Challenges and Expanding His Game

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by 42N8Bounce, Jan 5, 2016.

  1. Tunchi

    Tunchi Well-Known Member

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    Honestly I think anybody with a decent basketball mind can coach the Warriors. That team is staaaaacked. If anything their gm is more impressive than the coach. Shit Terry Stotts would have a field day with that roster..

    So I don't see what the fascination with Walton is. I can be swayed though I just don't see what the hype is about..
     
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  2. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    If CJ wanted a real challenge he should expand his height.
     
  3. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Keep Plums where he is and get someone at the PF position that actually plays in the paint. Maybe Vonleh can turn into this in another year or two? Probably not. Blake Griffin maybe? He plays more mid range though... Not sure, but I dont think Plums is a negative. I think he will play even better with a solid PF next to him in the interior. It will allow Plums to play at the top of the key for screens and passing alot more. Spread our wins out, etc. Its the PF I think we should focus on, not the C.
     
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  4. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    Honestly, I don't know enough about him - but I've jumped on the hype train.

    In the NBA nobody will say a bad thing about anyone, and everyone - especially coaches - are quick to give credit to their assistants, rather than taking credit themselves. Usually when these platitudes are handed out I roll my eyes. Yet somehow I feel like all the comments I've read about Luke's coaching attributes are genuine. I'm not one that thinks Phil was the best coach of the modern NBA - better than most, but he pales in comparison to Pops, Sloan, and DET-era Brown. However, the fact that he saw something in Luke while Luke was a player, and took him under his wing says a lot to me. He also grew up as the son of an incredibly smart player. And while many think that it's just GSW's incredible roster that has gotten them their current W/L record, I think that at least a portion of the credit has to go to Luke - coaching is still a very important ingredient to winning, even with all the talent in the world.
     
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  5. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    An interior PF playing alongside Plumlee would clog the middle - it's why we rarely play Plumlee/Davis at the same time.

    Give me a Udonis Haslem, Buck Williams, Brian Grant, Horace Grant, David West, or last-5-years Tim Duncan at PF - a hardhat guy who does the little things that help a team win, and who can chip in just enough 10' jumpers with a few post moves to keep the defense honest. Vonleh may actually be perfect in that role once he starts developing some offense. Spend the money on wings and a C.
     
  6. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Two things. When we DID play plums and Davis together they kicked ass if I recall. Second. An interior guy would put Plums at the top of the key or Free throw line to run the ball through as a passer. Maybe you missed that part? :)

    I dont think we take enough advantage of his clear above average passing ability. Put a paint dweller in there. If he has an outside shot great, but focus would be rebounding, lobs and put backs. Let plums be a go through. Let people run around around him and set screen and plums will find the open man.
    I think a buck Williams would work great next to Plums. Duckworth was never an outside guy, so why wouldnt Plums work with a Paint oriented PF?
     
  7. blue9

    blue9 Well-Known Member

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    Duckworth could hit a 10' jumper. Neither Ed nor Mason can. Playing them together worked for one short stint - if we did it regularly it'd be scouted and wouldn't work. Dame and CJ would rarely get to the rim with Ed/Mason's defenders being able to sag all the way in.
    It seems like you're thinking Plumlee can play the high/low game that we last saw with Camby/LMA, but that only worked because Camby could hit a jumper.
     
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  8. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    Fair enough. That makes sense.
     
  9. BBert

    BBert Weasels Ripped My Flesh

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    Same here. Walton took over an established CHAMPIONSHIP team with an established system and established leadership/pecking order and made ZERO changes.

    Brilliant.

    Heck, I bet even Phil Jackson could win with this team. Provided he didn't change anything, that is. So on second thought, never mind.

    :cheers:
     

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