I wanted us to cut Patty C in the beginning of his 3rd year after seeing him be trash in summer league and preseason. And he carved out a role for himself. Given Olshey's track record with 2nd round picks, I'd be more patient.
Dame is the same guy I've always thought he was...hopefully this buries all this ring chasing super team gossip
If memory serves (and I have not checked the game logs) - it was about 20 games when they were force feeding him before they went away from it. FWIW, his TS% that year was .528, next year when he was not force fed on the block, it went up to .570 (which is still not great for a big man) - so it is pretty clear that Nurk being force fed on the block is not an efficient scoring option. He is better scoring on the move as a pick and roll target which is what the Blazers used him. He just does not have the iso post moves that you would expect from a big man. So, the only option that is out there, realistically, is to use him more in the roll situations as the target - but then you have to ask yourself what is the more efficient shot - a sub-par big man rolling or an elite jump shot maker like Dame, CJ? Unless something obvious changes in Nurk, I honestly do not think anything is going to change and Billups will come to the exact same conclusion Stotts and his team got to. Changing the system is great if you have the tools to use it. If there is anything we have learned about Terry Stotts is that at least offensively, he seems to be able to maximize his roster. Would be amazing if it Billups can advance on it, I have low expectations that he can, at least in regards to Nurk.
NBATV - Blazers on defense issue. It’s a roster problem and NOT a coaching problem. Blazers are good but not great. They’re not winning anything.
Connaughton was good in the preseason of his third year, and I remember he was expected to have a role from the beginning too since Crabbe left and they didn’t sign anyone else. I also never saw him struggle as much as Elleby with the NBA game. He at least always had NBA athleticism to fall back on. Elleby has a steeper hill to climb if he wants to stick.
I can’t think of a worse indictment of the Stotts regime. TBD on whether Billups and his staff actually stay true to their word, but zero doubt that moving on from Stotts was the right move, and long overdue.
Playing Debbie Downer here, but this could be interpreted as the little steps are going to happen because of the changes they already made.
Any particular reason? Not saying you are wrong. He is injury prone and IMHO a bit of an underachiever. If the choice is deal him at the deadline, over-pay on his next deal, or let him walk for nothing - then by all means trade him.
not denying that, but the cost of keeping Elleby on is minimal. This is one instance where I let Olshey's track record supersede my thoughts how much he CJ2 sucks.
