Pick your starters

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Rastapopoulos, Aug 1, 2025.

?

Choose five starters

  1. Clingan

    87.5%
  2. Timelord

    4.2%
  3. Yang

    8.3%
  4. Deni

    97.9%
  5. Jerami

    12.5%
  6. Camara

    93.8%
  7. Matisse

    2.1%
  8. Shaedon

    87.5%
  9. Jrue

    50.0%
  10. Scoot

    56.3%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    I agree, but remember, in this scenario you're in charge. If you want them on the bench, nut up and bench them.
     
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  2. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    So I have 1 game?

    Scoot
    Sharpe
    Deni
    Toumani
    Young Handsome

    48 minutes
     
  3. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    Guards: The two players who play the best in camp. I would be happy with any two of the three: Scoot, Jrue, and Shae if they earn it.
    Forwards: Same as above, whichever 2 of the 3 between Deni, Grant, and Tou
    Center: Clingan. They need to ease Yang into it, and Williams needs limited minutes to last the whole season. (or at least until the trade deadline)

    Ideally, I would love to see the young players all start, but they need to take it from the veterans. Which, frankly, I think is a real possibility. Either way, the 6 guards/forwards will all end up getting around 30 minutes because of inevitable injuries.
     
  4. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    I can't agree, at all, with Deni being the primary decision maker. Way too many turnovers and not nearly enough throttle on his turbo mode. He had a 1.44 assist/turnover ratio last season. And 1.52 his final year with the Wizards. He's a secondary ball-handler and facilitator, at best

    by comparison, Jrue's assist/turnover ratio last season was 3.25; the year before it was 2.67

    is Scoot and Deni start with Jrue coming off the bench, the Blazer starters may lead the league in turnovers
     
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  5. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    He's the only dribbling forward, the only passing forward & clearly the team's best player. If we had 6 Denies, I'd be for starting 5 and have the 6th one be the first guy off the bench

    STOMP
     
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  6. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

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    It seems like our only interesting controversy is Scoot vs. Jrue. (Why not both?)

    There's no way that Jrue doesn't start (and no way that he shouldn't start). You don't go from starting on a championship favorite to the bench on a team that will be lucky to make the play in. That sends a bad message and makes no basketball sense. (I know "play the young guys to develop them" but on the other hand "don't teach the young guys entitlement by giving them something they don't deserve".)
     
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  7. CJ_is_Gone

    CJ_is_Gone Well-Known Member

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    We saw that last season... it didn't look good
     
  8. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

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    I am not sure what happened early last year matters unless the other 4 players are exactly the same. And even if they were the same players, that doesn't mean they haven't gotten better.

    Having said that, I think they need to start him and bring him back in with the 2nd team.
     
  9. GoZers

    GoZers Well-Known Member

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    Only correct answer
     
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  10. GoZers

    GoZers Well-Known Member

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    If Deni comes off the bench they should move the team to Seattle
     
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  11. BigGameDamian

    BigGameDamian Well-Known Member

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  12. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    I want a bench that dominates.
     
  13. Boomchakalaka2

    Boomchakalaka2 Active Member

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    2026/27 brings much to ponder

    Dame has to start….
     
  14. SharpeScooterShooter

    SharpeScooterShooter SharpeShooter

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    Yeah but with a broken, injured and inconsistent lineup. Id like to see it when healthy, running on all cylinders, I think the movie might end differently. :)
     
  15. Mediocre Man

    Mediocre Man Mr. SportsTwo

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    Why?
     
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  16. STOMP

    STOMP mere fan

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    could they be any more bored/boring?

    STOMP
     
  17. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    I'll be one of the few who'd start Timelord. Unlike Jrue (old, dropping off) vs Scoot, I think RW3 is unquestionably better than his competition. Plus, he'd only start like 5 games before getting injured, so it wouldn't impact Clingan's development at all.
     
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  18. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Thing is….Dame isn’t going to want to come back to a super young team. That’s what started all this right? I believe if anything we are headed to WIN NOW time. Just a feeling I got.
     
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  19. HoopsFanAZ

    HoopsFanAZ Well-Known Member

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    Jrue, Sharpe, Toumani, Deni, Clingan
    Start the year with Jrue organizing and enhancing the D to then get out and run
    Scoot and Sharpe get 30+ minutes each, so plenty of development

    Scoot, Matisse, Grant, Yang fill out the rotation — TimeLord (and Reath) help with any Yang struggles, back to backs, etc.
    Sharpe HAS to D up and play with aggression from the jump … or look for a trade; my favorite is doubling down on D, a 2ndary-offense-initiator, and multi-position SG/SF — Dyson Daniels. Atlanta gets uptempo excitement on O to pair with Trae.

    Murray hits 3’s or is deeper bench — a Sacramento trade if it’s not working. Rupert gets some run whenever possible to see what he’s up for.
     
  20. Phatguysrule

    Phatguysrule Well-Known Member

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    We're not going to win much with now with Jrue and Dame...
     

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