We managed to replace Hood without dipping into the MLE. Simons will replace Curry. I think we find a way to keep Kanter.
People always have that as the Simons game, but Skal had some legit stuff in that game, those step back 3 pointers, and jab steps, were like eye openers, had no idea he had those.
Aminu's not a bad fit. He plays good defense. He boards. He's gotten pretty consistent at making his open 3s. He doesn't embarrass the organization. It's not that he's a bad fit. It's that he is a spot on the roster that is upgradeable, and that upgrade could be the thing that lifts the Blazers to the next level. He's an average player. Not more. Not less.
Just playing Devil's Advocate (I'm no Aminu fan): Love is long in the tooth, but still a very good scorer, and a very good rebounder. Aminu's decision making on offense is the reason I'm going bald, but his defense is very good and he's a decent rebounder. But IMO, Love would not add all that much to our offense (other than perhaps getting Dame and CJ more open looks). What he would do is take shots away from Dame and CJ. And his defense is non existent. Based on the synergy that's needed to be a successful team, IMO Aminu is a better fit for a playoff push. That doesn't mean I want to devote much in the way of cap space to re-signing him though. But I definitely don't want to trade a bunch of assets for Love, his invisible defense, and his crazy contract.
Exactly. I'm all for upgrading from Aminu. He'd be fine coming off the bench on a reasonable (as in, really small) contract.
I don't really have a dog in this fight since I'm not in the anti-Stotts crowd (ambivalent but I do think it might be time for a change)... ...but, I don't think some made FG's by players other than Dame is the gauge that matters, rather what matters is wins. It's the playoffs and there are no moral victories, especially in a sweep. And over the last 4 seasons, in the series when Portland has been eliminated they are 1-16. Sure, 12 of those losses have come against the Warriors (and the single win 4 seasons ago), but Portland has not made any progress against them when it counts and have now lost 10 straight. And in all of those 17 games, the same template has been used to great success: stop-Dame-stop-the-Blazers. Opponents get a 2-for-1 with that strategy because at the same time they take out Portland's best scorer, they also shut down the only guy capable of consistently running the offense. Double bonus, and the Blazers have the same vulnerability now they had 4 years ago. and let's set the record straight...you mentioned other guys making shots: against the Warriors, CJ shot 39% on FG's and 35% on three's; Hood shot 40% on FG's and 29% on three's.; Curry shot 35% on FG's and 37% on three's; and Aminu shot 33% on FG's and 17% on three's. And those 4 guys combined for 38 shots a game....yikes! now, maybe this isn't so much the fault of Stotts. Maybe no coach could scheme his way out of a major roster weakness. In that case it's the fault of management, but then, there have been a whole bunch of people here celebrating the extensions for both Stotts and Olshey while telling critics to eat crow. (in this case I think the sentiment is crow = shit). So then, it's either the stop-Dame-stop-the-Blazers template is a case of don't believe your lying eyes, or one of Olshey/Stotts have dropped the ball big time. I know where I come down in that, but where do you?
I agree with that. In the playoffs, opposing coaches always give lip service to CJ but they never fear him enough to take their teams out of their dame-centric defense. It's almost like they are inviting CJ to go hero-ball...rope-a-dope strategy I also think it was Olshey's insistence that CJ could be the backup PG, rather then signing an actual competent backup PG (who would challenge CJ for minutes) that led to the Turner signing. Yeah, that's conjecture
Bingo. And Love is NOT the one to replace him IMO. Sure he'd give us spacing but he doesn't play D and doesn't rebound the way he used to. And his astronomical contract is NOT one that he's earning.
Right. And you can get away with having average defenders at a couple of positions if you have better than average defenders at all the others. But Love on the court with Dame and CJ? You better get elite defenders at the 3 and 5 if you want that to work. What the Blazers need is to get players at the 3 and 4 who do what Mo and Chief do, but more consistently than Mo and a little better than Aminu.
just start with the idea that 4 years of Aminu/Harkless being the starting forward is about 3.7 years too long at the minimum, one needs to be replaced. Best would be that one is replaced with a high-level player
I think folks need to understand why they are our forwards. Defensively we can switch. You cannot do that with Love at your PF spot. Defense matters, and Love's spacing and offense isn't worth: Almost everyone in here thought CLE made a stupid decision when they re-signed KLove let alone pay him that much.
Of course defense matters, but that also includes making the other defense pay for loading up on your best players. Moe / Aminu have been dared to beat teams for 3-4 years now and haven’t. Id be happy with either if they weren't both starting, it’s not like they’re elite defenders, they’re really just good defenders. Forward either spot is where the Blazers weakness is at, maybe Love isnt the answer but starting Moe / Aminu again isnt the answer either, at least thats my opinion.
You say this like I'm not advocating for replacements at the SF and PF position. I am. I am actually a proponent of just letting Aminu walk. Aminu and ET were like security blankets for Stotts. Off the roster means out of the rotation. Now, I'd MUCH rather have Collins start at the 4. If we didn't need help at the Center this might be the case OR... It still might be. Advocating for a grossly overpaid, oft injured, big who doesn't play defense isn't the solution to letting Aminu walk.
This is certainly true. But, I would rather see Bazemore and Collins replace them in the starting lineup (or other acquisitions) as their inability to make people fear leaving them open hurts the team as much as their defensive switching gains. We need a knockdown shooter in at least one of the forward positions to keep defenses honest.
Fair enough, I want Collins to start if we dont make a move. If they got Love for say Meyers / Moe and a pick though, Id definitely like to see how that work. He could really help them offensively. Yeah the contract is bad but there’s very few players as offensively gifted as love when he’s healthy. Also something that love has always done that would fit in well here is rebound. Love would not be my first choice but the chance of guys who would be on “first choice list” is basically 0...
