Welcome to Portland, Donovan Clingan!

"We are going to call out some of the things he does on offense better for Portland than Deandre Ayton ."

"I would prefer they go more often to Donovan Clingan than Deandre Ayton at this point."

"Clingan had a +15, which was at least 19 better than every other starter."

"He (already) knows exactly how to time his rolls, and he knows exactly how to give his guard that little bit of space."

(about one sequence)
"Is this a better screen than Deandre Ayton has set in his entire career in Portland? Honestly, it might be."

-Sam Vecenie-

 

at the end of the video:

"I can't imagine there being a market for Deandre Ayton." (the way he had played so far this sesaon.)

"I don't know what to do in terms of getting Clingan more minutes."

"If I'm Portland, I feel like I have to play this guy (Clingan). Because he has been really really good. "

 

Yeah Ayton on a max contract might not have any value. Next year he's an expiring so could see a team with an injury or such taking a flyer

Ayton has been great in his leadership and mentoring of Clingan. But if he starts losing minutes to him I'm not sure he'll be happy with that. He views himself as a dominating quality max player.

 

New Orleans had interest in Ayton. I don't know what kind of compensation that would look like.

Side note: Dyson Daniels has looked quite nice for ATL.

 

Clingan absolutely needs some sort of average post move to keep defenses honest

 

Clingan's post move is dunking the ball and getting put-backs.

I think you're discounting how long Clingan's arms are. They're freakishly long.

What's Rudy Gobert's post move? He's a rim runner. Maybe flip one in at most.

Gobert's hands aren't as good as Clingan either at catching the ball. His previous teammates, such as Donovan Mitchell, were often frustrated at Gobert's fumbling of a good pass.

I can't see that Gobert helps the offense more than Clingan, right now.

Gobert played 34 minutes per game last season. On a team that won 56 games.

Clingan, right now, isn't keeping the Blazers back.

It's other players, such as Scoot.

 

Clingan keeps defenses honest by having a standing reach of 9 foot 7 inches.

By keeping the defense honest, I believe you mean the defense can leave Clingan unguarded.

Also, being able to shoot 3-pointers is a lot more important than having a post move. I doubt Clingan will be intentionally left open near the hoop. That should be an easy bucket.

Where Clingan will be uncovered is out on the perimeter.

 

He nada a post move, moving forward

 

So naive

 

Let me fix that for people that don't speak MM:
He nada post move now, needa post move, going forward.

 

Clingan tonight - 20 +/-
Rob Will + 20 +/-

When he's not facing traditional bigs like Gobert/Randle he has troubles

Maybe it's also our style of play
When you have a big like Clingan you have to maximize his strengths

 

+/- is worthless to view on an individual game.

 

Clingan is signed for over 20,000 years!!!!

 

I’m going to sound dumb as hell to lump any kind of expectations onto the #7 pick in a historically weak draft, but I’m going to do it.

If Clingan doesn’t average even a quiet 16ppg in his prime, I will be disappointed.

That’s
3 buckets off lobs and dump-offs from Scoot (6)
2 buckets off hustle/putbacks (4)
1 3 (3)
3/4 FTs

And I’d expect him to average around 5ppg in his prime and being able to stay on the court for as long as his body allows.

 

One thing I really like in projecting Clingan’s game down the line is the fact that he’s beginning to at least shoot those 3’s but he is already showing his defensive impact.

Down the line when he can’t move as well, one of the things that will still keep him on the floor when he’s tired is his ability shoot. I always felt like Marc Gasol’s long 2s were automatic when he decided to toss one up, and he became even more dangerous for a short stretch at the end when he shot 3s.

Yes, Clingan’s game will be 75% near the basket. But his shot will be what prolongs his effectiveness.

 

Clingan can definitely shoot 3-pointers, and he is comfortable taking them. He looks like he could be one of the better 3-point shooters on the Blazer roster.
I wonder if he'll ever get the chance to take a bunch of them.
I think if you're the coach of the Trail Blazers, you have to give him the opportunity.
It's possible Chauncey is actually telling him to take them, but he's passing them up.

Before games he's drilling them one after another. He even took a sideline 3-pointer off of one foot Dirk-style and made that.

If you're a good 3-point shooter, and you're wide open, you kind of have to take them.

And a center who can shoot threes can be a huge bonus to have at the end of a game.

Clingan would likely have an easier time getting off his shot even if defended because of his size. I'm sure he'd be undefended at this point in his career.

 

PPG isn't some sort of ultimatum. Aytons averaged 18ppg and Draymond Green has never surpassed 14. Ones trash the other is All NBA.

Can Clingan play great defensively and provide a good role on offense? He could be a great starter if he can do that. It might only be 11 PPG or less and that's fine. Matters how he contributes to the Blazers being effective on both ends.

With the scoring from the other 4 teammates some years he might score more and others he score less, either contribution he provides could be fine.

 

If he can continue to improve his 3pt shooting yes that can be a huge asset as he ages. Look at Brook Lopez in Milwaukee.

 

do you also speak jive?