My way too early 2025-26 Blazers Rotation

Cronin doesn't appear to be hesitant to make changes. My guess is that we see 2 or 3 more changes before the end of the summer. Will they be end-of-the-bench moves, or will the future moves involve changing the projected starting 5?

 

We need a shooter off the bench. Not a Duncan Robinson fan at all but I wonder.

As of today would we be the worst
3 pt shooting team in the league?

 

I don't think so, but maybe I'm a homer. Most of us are used to "Lillard or Simons or somebody, save us in the 4th quarter". Our new team is based on "player movement, ball movement" in order to get better shots. This is remarkably similar to the '77 Blazers who played a brand of basketball some of us have really missed.

 

Luke Kennard, NAW

 

Walker not a RFA - Blazers declined his QO

 

I think this is a prove-it season for the young guys. I suspect not much else will be done this summer.

 

I'd be shocked if our offensive numbers were better this year than the supposed ".... somebody, save us in the 4th quarter" teams.

 

True, unless Grant was not traded and came off the bench. When I look at the available FAs, I don't see many better than Grant. Out of the three, he is the one I wanted traded most because of his long contract. I still do, but he would fit in with Deni and Tou

 

Maybe, we'll see. However, it's not a fair comparison, because those teams gave up horrible perimeter defense with the likes of Dame, CJ, Ant. Even if our offense is worse, which I'm not conceding without more data, we could still net come out ahead, perhaps even way ahead.

 

I'd expect the defense to be better than those Dame/CJ (or Ant) backcourt teams. I'd be shocked if the offense was better, no matter the amount of player movement.

 

Assuming no other changes:

Guards (96 possible minutes)
Scoot 32
Shae 34
Jrue 30

Forwards (96 possible minutes)
Toumani 32
Deni 34
Grant 30

Centers (96 possible minutes)
Clingan 28
Yang 20

Doesn’t leave a lot of time for Thybulle, Murray, Reath or Rob.

 

That is a pretty good base to start with. But it is an eight man lineup so there's going to be available minutes throughout the season for a couple of them.

 

People get in foul trouble. People get hurt. I’m sure it will shift but that’s the 8 man rotation that I think all it will be built on.

 

If it was my choice I'd probably go with

Jrue 30 Scoot 18
Shae 32 Scoot 14 Thybulle 2
Camara 32 Grant 12 Thybulle 4
Deni 32 Grant 16
Clingan 24 TRob 24 (Yang on B2B)

I'd actually prefer we keep everyone under 30mpg and hustle more on both ends of the floor - just doesn't seem like teams do that.

 

I'm good with a 9 man rotation. Especially if we really try to have more defense and hustle. On B2B might be able to do some 10 man rotations.

 

It remains to be seen if Yang can go 20 min a night. He might be unplayable. We just dont know.

 

I think the wear and tear on players is going to necessitate lower minutes. Analytics has pushed the pace so drastically and teams are running more and more. The Pacers ran the most miles ever during this post season run. 444 miles over 23 games. That's insane. These seasons are putting a lot of miles... literally.... on players and that's why we're seeing drastically more achilles injuries.

 

I'd start with the assumption he is 3rd string - then let him beat out Timelord/Reath for backup spots. If he does great, but if it takes a lot of the season thats fine too. He has a more difficult learning curve than most NBA rookies both with language/culture as well as much lower level of play.

 

Rob and Reath can very well fill in Jerami's minutes. That's why he's expendable

But this is gunna be the rotation
Rob and Reath can backup at both big forward and center

 

Agreed. Yeah you have a bunch of old timers around here who romanticize the 80s/90s NBA but they don't realize how MUCH more intense, fast, and exhausting the game is today.

On defense there used to be half the court with nothing going on and guys could just rest. Now there are 3pt shooters all the way across.

Teams used to get an offensive rebound and stand around pounding the ball for most of a new 24 second clock. Now the clock only sets at 14.