Game Thread GAME# 46: BLAZERS @ RAPTORS - MARCH 28, 2021 - SUNDAY, 4:00, NBCSNW

Jez. That's after all star defensive strategy. Normally, we should start DJJ on SF and Powell on SG, but it would hurt CJs ego.

 

Pretty sure CJ's ego is just fine.
Against this squad it looks to me like a good move as well. Three guard lineup might be just the way to go? If Nick Nurse adjusts to it and they need to change it up with more length Jones will be in there. I think it is a good move to play Jones with Melo, Kanter and Little.

 

How do my labels impact their playing time or performance? I'm confused.

 

powell can play at small forward, how well, it remains to be seen, but its not like were gonna play dame or cj mccollum there, which would be utter failure

also, only way we resign powell is if he does well at small forward, cause were not trading cj mccollum and were not giving powell a lot of money to be a backup, thats why trent jr got traded

 

Could we see a lineup once in a while like:
Dame, CJ, Powell, RoCo and Melo?

 

Powell starting today at sf.
Raps play a lot of three g line ups.

 

It doesn’t impact either of those. It impacts whether you would find it odd that people "hate" certain players in the line-up while loving certain bench players.

"People hate half our contributors and love the bench warmer. So odd."
Not sure which "contributors" you were referring to. I had in mind 1. Hood 2. Melo 3. maybe CJ 4. maybe even others. but maybe that was wrong.

 

Yes, Melo, CJ, sometimes Kanter/Nurk depending on the person.

This isn't a trend I've noticed just this season, it's year over year. Guys who didn't play here, were labeled by some as good, but didn't get the chance, only to go to other teams, and still can't earn playing time.

 

I think we’ll see it quite often, knowing Stotts

 

In terms of starting Powell, it’s definitely starting our 5 best players, but I do feel bad about Jones losing his starting spot based on something he couldn’t control. And while Powell is definitely a capable defender, I’m not sure what happens when he’s guarding LeBron, Kawhi, MPJ etc. on a nightly basis. His metrics defensively are worse at the 3 spot, for obvious reasons.

 

This game it's alright starting him due to Trent started at sf for them last game I don't know this perment or just for this game due to its a good match up. But due we are not good rebound team especially keeping people off the boards it might not good every night. Nurk a good Rico most nights is average and most nights out guards below average rebounders. We must rebound as team with a small lineup.

 

For me you can put Little vs Melo in that category. True, Little may not pan out - like many others he may be a bust. But there are enough signs, I say you play him a lot so you find out. Melo's minutes are stifling that progression. Yeah, Melo is a "go to" guy and Little is not, but do we really need that with our offense? Melo is 7 points per 100 possessions less efficient than the team as a whole. From mid-range he's 18 points less efficient. So why, pray tell, do we throw it in to him??? Nas is, or has been at least, 5 points more efficient than the team. If Nas doesn't already play better defense than Melo it's because he's young and raw and makes mistakes. He certainly has the tools and energy to be a very good defender which is something we sorely need. He also rebounds much better than Melo which is an aspect of defense that is easy to not notice. It's not that unlikely that he's (will become) a stud. I want to find out. Quickly. But alas that's not Stotts. He even played Hood ahead of Little which in my book is insane.

 

Dame. That's the reason.

 

Always good to see Blazers to play at least at 01 am, easier to watch than usually at 04 am my local time. Cant wait for the match. Nurk is back, Powell vs his former team, 3 guards to start...Hope for win tonight, nothing more or less, just win.

 

So most important reason for this decision is he is playing his former team. Very good reason since we are 8 year olds no?
I'm tired of this

 

Three guard line up and there guards are 6', except Gary who's 6'5.