Turner's return

What role do you see him taking? Back to the starting lineup? Or absorbing 'Bazz's minutes and some of Crabbe's?

I'm really excited to see him and Nurk work together, his defense will also be nice to have back.

 

Starting Center.

 

Teams can't sag off Crabbe, I expect him to not lose any minutes. he's the only consistent shooter outside of Lillard/CJ.
Napier isn't running the team all that effectively. I expect him to lose all of his minutes on Turners return.
I also expect Harkless to lose his minutes late in the game.
But I think Turner will come off the bench until Harkless proves he doesn't deserve to start.

 

Off the bench to start, but with the closing unit at the end of games.

 

He should be a towel waver. What does he bring to the court?

 

Passing, defense, post offense from a perimeter player. The PnR he and Nurk will run should be phenomenal.

 

Dude Turner has been doing well outside of that first month and half of the season.

Especially since he's been starting Turner has really turned it around.

Trust me I hated the signing and the way he started the season as well

 

Post offense is the main thing for me. Would love if Stotts featured him more heavily here. It's really the only play type he's been efficient at this year (ok iso scorer) and it's a spot you can put him on the floor where he draws enough attention from the defense to open things up for others with some sort of consistency.

It almost makes me think that we should stagger most of he and Nurkic's minutes, although Nurkic's screen setting and mid range touch would still make him valuable in these situations.

I do agree that the two of them could have good chemistry in the pnr as well. None of others have been able to gain that w/ Turner but Nurkic actually has the hands + coordination to be a good partner for him. And even if the pass isn't there, Nurkic's screen setting + roll man gravity should open up Turner's mid range game more than we've seen this year.

 

Napier had 5 assists in 14 minutes tonight. I would play them together if ET comes off the bench.

 

We didn't have many rowers in the "Stay patient with Turner" boat. I got lots of muscles, though.

 

Turner is fine as a 12 mil/yr player. It's his 18 mil/yr that really bugs everyone.

 

Has the team set a date yet?

 

True, glad to have u Atlas! I've been in here the whole time, I've just been dedicating my muscles to some 12 oz. curls!

 

Discussed this on this week's podcast. I'm very apprehensive about his return. Moe simply can not go back to the bench as he's proven to put up more consistent numbers when he starts. Also, this better not mean that Bazz goes out of the rotation. I don't think it's a coincidence that our post-All-Star break run started when he was inserted late in the Orlando game. Portland has been playing well with a shorter rotation, so I hope Stotts doesn't mess that up as we round out the season.

 

I trust Stotts to make the best decision.

 

The run started because of Nurkic. Napier barely plays and Turner is a much better facilitator and defender anyway. Napier can sit his ass down. Remember, the team was playing well after Turner got inserted into the lineup. Can't wait to see how he plays off of Nurkic.

 

Gotta give Bazz some credit, he has kept our offense's ball movement going and has played solid D. He has been sort of a 2015 Steve Blake for us, nothing spectacular but isn't hurting our second unit.

 

I am liking Napier as well, and the 5 assists last night in 14 minutes is not the reason. Bottom line is neither ET or CJ are really PG's. That extra ball handler with the 2nd unit helps. (and 3 pt shooter) And as it turns out he is a pesky defender as well.

But if you split the SF minutes between ET and Harkless then Crabbe loses minutes......unless you give some minutes to Harkless at PF?

I think it will vary with the matchups. In some games Napier plays less (ET plays in the backcourt) and some games maybe Noah plays less at PF but takes some center minutes from Meyers? Again it depends on the matchups and who has the hot hand.

But in 48 minutes I would go with:

Dame 33
CJ 33
Harkless 24
Vonleh 22
Nurk 28

Napier 10
ET 24
Meyers 18
Aminu 24
Crabbe 24

 

Napier has exceeded my expectations.