Projected NBA starting lineups

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Pinwheel1, Sep 25, 2025 at 10:16 AM.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    If Scoot isn't ready to move into the starting lineup, then drafting him was a mistake, and we need to move on.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
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  2. PtldPlatypus

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

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    I really wonder whether Jrue still has enough left (contract notwithstanding) to justify starting over either Scoot or Sharpe.

    I hope Thybulle gets decent 4th-guard minutes.

    I wonder whether Rupert or Murray will be higher on the depth chart

    Do we all assume that if healthy, RW3 will start over Clingan?
     
    PtldPlatypus, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
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  3. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    if all includes me, no we don't all assume that
     
    wizenheimer, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
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  4. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    People said the same about JJ Hickson and Hassan Whiteside.

    If rather give Jabari Walker the minutes at center of we want to bring back someone from last year. He only got a two way.
     
    SharpesTriumph, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:34 PM
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  5. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    Jrue is guaranteed a starting spot.

    Scoot might have a chance to start along side him but he needs to beat out both Grant and Sharpe.
     
    SharpesTriumph, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:36 PM
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  6. Everything Beagle

    Everything Beagle Local Trans Icon

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    I agree with this. Start the kids and see if they pleasantly surprise you.
     
    Everything Beagle, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
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  7. Everything Beagle

    Everything Beagle Local Trans Icon

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    Absolutely, for the three games he isn’t injured he should start.
     
    Everything Beagle, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
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  8. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    What was said about those 2 players?
     
    THE HCP, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
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  9. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Time to start winning
     
    THE HCP, Sep 25, 2025 at 9:55 PM
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  10. 42N8Bounce

    42N8Bounce Red Hot And Rebuilding

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    This is the lineup I think gives the Blazers the best chance to win -

    upload_2025-9-25_23-19-0.png

    If Scoot outplays Holiday for the starting spot, that's great. But in my opinion, the starting spot needs to be earned. No one should be given a starting spot because of their draft position or their salary. Development should not come at the sacrifice of wins this season. This is the season the Blazers start to build a winning culture.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2025 at 11:19 PM
    42N8Bounce, Sep 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
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  11. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    No, we wrap him in bubble wrap and sit him at the end of the bench, hoping a contending team gets a big injury and is willing to gamble on him.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 26, 2025 at 5:52 AM
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  12. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    Again, IMO, Scoot needs to start. Jrue is not our long-term answer at PG.

    Now, if it's a close game and we're trying to win, Jrue should be on the floor instead of Scoot in the 4th quarter.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 26, 2025 at 5:56 AM
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  13. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    Hes not even 22 ffs.
     
    julius, Sep 26, 2025 at 6:03 AM
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  14. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    And? This has been a bad team where young players have seized their opportunities and gained starting spots. See Camara and Sharpe for examples. Scoot was sold as one of, if not the most, NBA-ready players in his draft. Remember, at the time he was drafted, the one position the Blazers had covered was point guard. We had needs in 4 other positions. If he's not starting this year, IMO, there is a problem.

    The Blazers already have a difficult decision to make with Sharpe, do we offer him a contract based on production or potential? I'm fine with overpaying for potential, but again, IMO, you can't do that with both of your guard spots.

    I know it's not the same GM, but we've seen what happens when you pay big contracts based on potential. We saw that with Meyers Leonard, and I would argue we saw that with CJ and Evan Turner.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 26, 2025 at 6:25 AM
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  15. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    And so they should give up on him if he's not 100% the starter?
     
    julius, Sep 26, 2025 at 7:17 AM
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  16. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    If he can't make the starting lineup in a rebuilding non-playoff team, which is what I think the Blazers are this season, then we have to move in a different direction.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Sep 26, 2025 at 8:17 AM
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  17. julius

    julius Living on the air in Cincinnati... Staff Member Global Moderator

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    That is massively short sighted.
     
    julius, Sep 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
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  18. wizenheimer

    wizenheimer Well-Known Member

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    is it?

    I just went back to the 2018 draft (because that's as far back as the graphic went at BBREF) and looked at PG's drafted in the top half of the lottery, and what they did in their first 3 seasons in terms of games played/games started:

    Doncic - started 199 of 199 games
    Trae Young - started 204 of 204 games
    Collin Sexton (8th pick) - started 197 of 207 games (95%)

    Ja Morant - started 187 of 187 games
    Darius Garland - started 181 of 181 games

    Lamelo Ball - started 142 of 162 games (88%)
    Killian Hayes - started 114 of 168 games (68%)
    Haliburton (12th pick) - started 153 of 191 games (80%)

    Jalen Green (not a PG) - started all games he played
    Josh Giddey - started all games he played

    Scoot - started 42 of 128 games (33%)
    Anthony Black - started 43 of 147 games (29%)

    obviously, this is undoubtedly an arbitrary gauge. There is the Chauncey factor working for (or against) Scoot. There was the roster constipation due to the Simons obstruction. And you can go further down in draft slots and find lots of examples like Scoot. In this case, Scoot being drafted so high is working against him. For instance, Dyson Daniels, who was drafted 8th in the Sharpe draft, only started 27 of his 120 games in his first 2 seasons. But he started all 76 of his games in his 3rd seasons and made 1st team All-NBA on defense. Pretty unlikely Scoot will make any All-NBA teams this coming season

    Personally, I agree with you that it's too early to give up on Scoot. Maybe that will change as the season unfolds if he struggles. It's also true that Scoot has been a major disappointment when gauged against his pre-draft hype and his status as a 3rd pick. I remember people saying that if it had been a 'normal' draft without a Wemby, Scoot would have been a #1 pick. He was being compared to Derrick Rose and Westbrook. Yikes!

    being a 3rd pick, Scoot is getting paid: 10.7M - 13.6M -->24.3M. That's around MLE territory. It's not egregious, but it is a consideration

    but the Blazers did make two big moves in the off-season...they brought in two veteran PG's. Now, maybe that's the front office signalling that they have little confidence in Scoot; kind of looks like that. Or maybe, it was more circumstances that didn't have a lot to do with Scoot. An opportunity to upgrade from Simons to Jrue. And of course, the feel-good Dame signing. Probably a little of both scenarios.
     
    wizenheimer, Sep 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
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  19. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Anfernee Simons slowed down Scoot’s ability to grow as a player. He is now gone and they brought in Jrue. I feel for the kid. He has massive amounts of talent.
     
    THE HCP, Sep 26, 2025 at 10:38 AM
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  20. Everything Beagle

    Everything Beagle Local Trans Icon

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    I honestly don't think Jrue expects to start. That cannot be why he's here. If that is why he's here, then the team is being short-sighted.
     
    Everything Beagle, Sep 26, 2025 at 10:40 AM
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