What the Blazers need now is better offense based on getting favorite shots with the leading talent on the team. Here is what I would do. Start Myers Leonard, play him for at least 36 min, and designate him to take at least 12 shots from 3-point range. Myers is a major 3-point talent that needs to come to the forefront. The half-court offense would swing the ball around the outer perimeter to open a shot while drawing the defense out of the lane. Either an open periphery shot or a drive of the open lane gives multiple scoring options. The passing, combined with the constant threat of driving the lane, allows for at least 6 scoring threats. The open periphery shot Pass to the center and shot in the paint Drive around a pick and kick out for an open shot Drive down the lane, with or without a pick, and layup Drive down the lane with pass to cutter for dunk or layup Drive down the lane to collapse defense with kick out for open shot What should be minimized is the quick shot by the guards before the passing game allows softening the defense, which along with turnovers, has frustrated an otherwise promising offense. I particularly enjoy having Myers, Mason, Ed, CJ, and Dame together as the strongest offense. With Blazers taking better shots, and continuing to remain alert on defense, the needed 110 points per game appears to be in reach now.
The fact that you suggested having Nards, Plums, and Davis all on the floor simultaneously completely negated the value of anything else you posted.
Not sure if I agree with you about Meyers. He focuses too much on the 3pt shot and it takes away from the rest of his game. He needs to learn on to set better picks and rebound. If he sets better picks the 3pt and mid range shot will open up for him on the pick and roll.
Fine. A few questions regarding your suggestions: If Leonard is starting and playing 36 mpg, who's starting alongside him, and how would you divvy up the frontcourt minutes? How are you going to convince Leonard to actually be more aggressive, considering he hasn't shown a willingness to shoot consistently in the minutes he has been given to date? Aside from Dame and CJ, who on the roster would you actually trust to drive the ball into the paint, if it does in fact open up the way you suggest? Considering our guys' tendency to make lazy passes, aren't you just asking for more turnovers this way?
We complain about our big setting scream yes there not strong screen but our guards don't use the screen neither they always going to wide going around the screen that allows the defense get over screen. It has to work both ways.
Thanks for the reply! Yes, the key point is to have Myers look for and take the shot, changing from the reluctance to shoot that he has shown. The front court should utilize strength, energy, defensive energy by having Myers and Mason in particular in high gear. Ed and Maurice both can add offensive threats when they have open shots. Without the movement of the ball around the periphery, Dame and CJ and being too well covered and too often allow the defense to swamp them. Allen also adds a threat from driving as well as the 3-point shot. The problems with lazy or errant passes must be faced head-on with coaching and improved fundamentals. To create winning offense, there must be a multiple threat offense, and open shots created by ball movement seems to be essential. Getting the forwards to each average 18 points per game would be a key to more wins. Shouldn't we expect that 12 points from the center and perhaps 16 points from the bench could be likely?
Ed and Maurice? I'm confused. Ed Davis? An offensive threat? Who the heck is Maurice? EDIT: <facepalm> Mo Harkless, never mind, lol. Not sure how that got past me. But my question about Ed Davis stands, how is he a shooting threat? I see him more as a pound-the-boards-and-put-it-back-up kind of player?
Yes! That's the point. Ed does pound the glass, rebound, and is unpredictable whether to drive or shoot the jumper. He can add the intensity to keep the defense off guard. And I love to see his steals. When Ed, Myers, and Mason are playing with intensity, there is a strong offense. Maurice also adds driving and jumpshot threats. If we have these tall guys playing with energy and defensively focusing on changing the trajectory of the opponent's shot, more wins are more likely.
I get the sentiment in the OP, but without a credible inside threat, they can pass around the horn until the team is blue in the face and they'll still be nowhere nearer to having a broken down down defense and open up the three point shot. Their best bet might be to pick and roll teams to death, but our bigs still set shitty screens and because none of them are really a threat to 'pick and pop' opposing forwards and centers are more likely to sag into the lane and cut off any driving lanes for our guards. This team has personnel problems far larger than their schematic deficiencies . . . which isn't to say that there aren't some problems with Stotts' scheme, but it's wishful thinking to say that this team's issues can be fixed with a simple change in style. My advice is just be happy (or at least surprised) the team appears to have played slightly over their heads so far.
Good first post although the next time Meyers, Plumlee and Davis are all on the court at the same time other than practice, it will be the first time. I like that there is a lot of movement but it all seems oriented towards the guards. Often times, the 'Bigs' are left wide open and they are missed time and time again.
Agreed! The bigs are too often open and ignored which could lead to improved percentage shooting, particularly at key stages of the game. The improvement would be in the mix of scoring options that make the drive and the perimeter shooting harder to defend. The idea of Myers, Mason, and Ed on the court at the same time is the new wrinkle here. The scenario with all of them moving along with Dame and CJ to create the open shot is worth a try. With Myers keeping the ball moving and using different options (shoot 3s, pass if not open to outside or center, kick out to guards, or draw a foul), there appears to be more scoring possible. There does need to be a credible inside threat, and Myers, Mason, and Ed might be a new way to add it.
I like the Meyers concept generally (getting him to shoot more), but the key to Stotts' offense is that the open guy takes the shot. I would encourage Meyers to shoot more, but still want him to whip the ball around when he is covered. He does defer too much and keeps the ball moving when he has an open three. He is getting better though. It would be great to see Meyers, Crabbe and Aminu continue to develop their ability to either take the 3, keep the ball moving, or drive and score or dish. Plums has the right instincts on the drive, but doesn't have the outside shot. Meyers isn't far off though. Aminu just needs to work on his handle more. All these guys are relatively young still. I am down for keeping the offense as is and just allowing them to get better and decision-making.
