Really?? They actually have players who play defense this year. Roco sucked. Powell was woefully out of position. their bench was a non factor past Simons and Little. I'd take this year's starting 5 over last years starting 5 every day of the week. And I'd take this year's bench over last year's bench too. A bench of Hart, Little, Payton, Eubanks and Winslow (and throw in Sharpe as an unknown) is much better than Little, Simons, McLemore, Elleby, Injury Nance Jr and Zeller.
Yep. If the Blazers are done, this is a little depressing. They can probably make the playoffs, but this is not a title-contending team.
On the plus side: centers are obsolete anyway, so if your backup center is better than Eubanks, you're living in the past
He's a developing player who got better with the Blazers coaching staff. This is a good move. One of the prettiest hook shots in the game, and he finishes with the best of them. Dunk baby dunk.
What are the max minutes Nurk can play without getting in foul trouble or hurt? I don't see him being able to consistently play over 25-30 mpg, so there might be 18-23 backup minutes available at C. I don't want Eubanks playing that much. Watford is fine, but he's short as hell.
Unless another trade to balance the roster happens, the Blazers are going to play a lot of small ball, so Grant might also see some time there.
Lol if you think Powell was woefully out of position, wait until you get a load of GP2 playing SF! Josh Hart is also in the ballpark of Norman Powell that we will be asking to play SF. Josh Hart 6'4 height, 8'3.5 standing reach Norman Powell 6'3 height 8'6.5 standing reach If Hart and Little are on your bench, who starts at the 3?
i agree with you, but payton did play next to Curry and Poole quite a bit in the finals. he managed it somewhat, but i just hate being severely undersized again. we saw how big of a disadvantage it is when done for a prolonged period of time. insanity to hope for different results.
I don’t give as much of a shit about standing reach because Hart and GP2 can actually get through a screen. Tired of CJ and Norm dying on every screen.
Hart has played PF at times. (although I would not want to see that) But I am sure he can handle the 3. Little at 220 and a 7'2" wing span has the size. Winslow can also play the 3
Saying someone can play out of position is different than it being their most efficient spot or winning basketball. We don't have an all star team like the Warriors to get past these things.
Well, you usually play small ball to clear the space for your slashers and because you have good 3 point shooters, so offensive rebounding is less of an issue. On defense, you play small ball with the idea that you can get in the passing lanes / put pressure on the ball and hope that your guys, even when they play small, can box out for rebounds. So, offensively, if the Blazers play small ball, I am not too worried. Defensively, they certainly addressed some of the defense with Hart / GP2 - it will be interesting to see if their size is an issue for defensive rebounding or not, but I do not expect the Blazers to do it for more than 10-12 minutes a game, so not that worried about it, honestly. I suspect Nurk will play somewhere around 30 minutes a game, you will get Eubanks for another 10-12 - so the rest will be small ball and some of it will be with Grant at the 5, especially if they need mostly offense, we might see Grant + Watford in a small ball scenario if we need more defense.
I am not convinced that SF isn't Hart's best position. Yes I would prefer him at guard just because of his size, but is that really what he is best suited for? It all depends on who else is on the court with him and who the opponent is.
