Exclusive Anthony Tolliver to Portland

I think you're seeing why Olshey hasn't had any of these "vets" on the team the last couple years. Like Scalma says in theory he should be getting open looks and knocking them down. I'm guessing he shoots great in practice drills.

 

I hope he has a big shooting game off the bench soon....Skal made some really dumb mistakes on defense first half or Tolliver probably wouldn't have had more burn than Skal. I hope Tolliver can gel and find his stroke ...when the young guys get up to speed I'm sure he'll be riding the pine.

 

I think the fans are being too tough on Tolliver. Look at the improvement we've seen from him since the last time he was a Blazer:

2009-10:
- Games: 2
- Minutes: 4
- Points: 0
- Rebounds: 1
- Assists: 0
- TOV: 0

2019-20:
- Games: 2
- Minutes: 24
- Points: 0
- Rebounds: 2
- Assists: 1
- TOV: 1

I'd say that's definitely an uptick in production!
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-8.4 PER

 

Have you told him

 

Right after telling CJ he sucks at playmaking.

 

I’ll tell CJ.

 

If Tolliver isnt hitting shots he provides nothing out there. Id give him a couple more games but if there's no improvement then we need to cut back to a 9 man rotation. We shouldn't be spending weeks on the court developing 34 year old vets.

 

The thing with 34 year old vets is they have a tendency to get into game shape as the season progresses. I'm an old guy. Yes i work out but i am only in "Work Shape when i work". Andre Miller was the same way. He felt letting his body heal during the summer was better than working hard all year long. Lebron James does this also. Difference is Tolliver is not as talented as LeBron James. Or about 3/4 of the league for that matter.
My thinking is we will not see Tolliver play well for 10 games or so. Maybe not until the first home stand?

 

Yep, this forum is about as fickle as they come as I remember during the off season majority saying that it will take about 20-25 games to make any kind of judgement considering how many new players have been added and now after 1 and then 2 games, people are demanding instant gratification. It's boarding on insanity. lol.

 

You selling tickets? Or are you and sly on the same team?

Oh yeah on topic, bench Tolliver.

 

Honestly i think "This Board" is actually calling it pretty well. Most know the team is gonna have to get things together and they also all know the first two months are insane as far as schedule. a bunch have said they are hoping for .500 after 20 games. But i can tell you there are two other boards that are approaching full meltdown and if the Blazers drop the next three (Which could easily happen) i'm thinking we will have to send out search parties for the missing.

 

Personally I'm cutting Tolliver some slack and going with the positive affirmation approach. If I compare Tolliver and ET...Tolliver can shoot the 3 and makes 2 mil and change...ET made 18 mil and couldn't shoot the 3......let it bake....get a good jump start..around Xmas start to see how things play out roster wise.

 

Well if he can hit 3s with that ugly form maybe he should try to up his 0% eFG% and -8.6 PER. And it's not like he's doing the little thing that don't show in the boxscore either. It's hard to cut him some slack when we have Skal sitting on the bench who just seems way better

 

I addressed this....first half of the last game Skal was ridiculously out of position on back to back to back defensive positions..didn't get out to the 3 pt shooters...not even close...that's why Tolliver took his minutes...plus I'm sure Stotts wants to see Anthony see the ball go through the net and break a mini slump he's started with. This could be a championship year and the first 20 games are going to be awkward at times....CJ sure didn't start off shooting well.....it's a team game...whoever is on the court I'm cheering for. Personally don't like seeing angst early on but that's just how I roll.

 

per36 points: then 0....now 0

per36 rebounds: then 9....now 3

per36 assists: then 0....now 1.3

proof that's he's a poorer rebounder now but a much better playmaker. Blazers have found their backup PG!

 

First two games of the season in a new system with new teammates I'd say it's a stretch to start looking at per and stat lines....20 games in, I think you have something to look at...chemistry will change everything....Gerald Henderson got the same treatment first 2o games with the team and he was a floor leader and great going into the break. Why boo anybody at this point? I don't see the value in that at all.

 

Because some fans want their team to be better and don’t blindly support every decision they make? Just a guess tho.

 

I also support the blind Blazer fans....and used the qualifier that it's my opinion and just personally how I feel about what I think is way too premature pessimism. Same happened to Gerald Henderson, Jake Layman and lots of other Blazer players....two seasons ago folks were saying Layman didn't belong in the NBA.....Skal said Tolliver was his mentor and Hassan said Tolliver knows how to find him....teammates say he's vocal on the floor like Henderson was.....I'm sure Tolliver is trying to gel....hasn't had a good game yet...my point is, that is going to happen...we had a bunch of guys having bad games our first loss...CJ had a long brick fest...we have to hide Simmons on defense and he didn't shoot well first game...had a good second game shooting. It's never going to be immediate gratification this early part of the season...teams we play are going to have rosters nobody has faced before...it's going to be a dogfight in the west

 

I can appreciate what he brings in the locker room, but I still don’t see what he brings to the court that Skal doesn’t. If you want to microanalyze Skals defense, fine, but then don’t look at any of Tollivers, because you’re not going to like what you see. Won’t even get into the rebounding.