I would be more interested in that lineup if Turner was the de facto point guard. Personally I'm hoping Harkless comes back better and takes the SF position by force.
I disagree completely. One word (and it really is the only word that matters. All others pale in comparison): Nurkić
I get your point, but I don't mean come back and sit in the spot that he was at the end of last season. I mean I want him to come back so strong that nobody even questions his spot as the starting SF.
I like ET, but the description de facto PG makes me a little nervous. Turner, like Batum before him, might be a good ball handler for their position but they are still not better than Dame. So if the offense is based on ball movement where there really isn't a PG running the offense for the majority of the shot clock, then great, Turner would fit in well as a starter with CJ, Dame, Nurk and another rebounder. I would love to see quick outlet passes from Nurk to ET, and watching him push the ball down court with Dame and CJ running wide on the wings for wide open 3's. (or layups if available) Harkless and Aminu will not give us that.
I'm rooting for him to be great, and for you to be right. I'm just concerned about the overall strength of the West.
Assuming that we make no other roster moves.....I think our roster looks like this: Starters: Lillard - McCollum - Harkless - Vonleh - Nurkic Daily Rotation guys: Napier - Turner - Layman - Aminu - Swanigan - Leonard I think we'll only occasionally see Davis, Collins (he needs strength and practice court time for a half season at least), & Connaughton. I'd like to see Swanigan get some starters time next to Nurk. I'd also like to see Layman play well enough to think about him as a starter. Lillard - McCollum - Layman - Collins - Nurkic as a starters unit in 2-3 seasons would be really really nice!!!
As the roster currently stands, I'm expecting: Starters Dame CJ Hark Vonleh Nurk Reserves Napier ET Aminu Ed Biggie Collins Of course, lineup changes will occur throughout the season depending upon match-ups, back-to-back games, illness, and injuries. All that coach discretion type of stuff. Stotts will probably integrate Biggie and Collins into the regular rotation more and more as the season progresses. I'm excited to see what a full year of Nurk and our newest additions will bring to Rip City. Go Blazers!
I know its popular to not give any respect to Leonard because of his terrible play - but to think that they won't play him is a leap IMO. He's still in the rotation until beaten out by someone.
It just feeeeels like people might be overly optimistic about that roster. In the west, this group will have to battle to be .500. Three really good players and then the drop off is significant. Combined with more improved teams in the conference vs teams who got worse. Just my two cents. PS: if Jake Layman ever starts for the Blazers they're in trouble.
I expect Vonleh, Davis, Chief, ET and Mo to all be better this season playing with Nurk....Stotts will sprinkle in Swanigan, Layman and Collins along with Leonard but I'd say they'll be third stringers until at least half a season is over
Very possible we're overly optimistic. The national media thinks we're between 8th and 10th seed. However, 14-6 with Nurk. Was it an aberration? Of course, as a Blazer fan I think it wasn't. Nurk wasn't in shape, either, so there's room for EVEN MORE optimism. There's also the fact that even though he played "like a shell of himself" (CJ's words) against GS in the playoffs, he had double digit rebounds in short minutes. Other teams have improved themselves on paper, but questions remain: Minny's defense is a concern even with Butler, Houston's "double ballhog" starters could be a serious issue, can WestBrick coexist with anyone?
I think Westbrook does fine with Paul George MN is clearly better than they were. SAC will be better. Houston added an elite PG, I think that makes them better. Clearly Nurk is good. But 14-6 to me feels a little bit like the honeymoon period that teams often experience. I hope not.
Clippers the 4th seed lost an elite PG, makes them worse. Jazz lost their best player, makes them worse.(also iso joe is a year older) Minn will be better, but how much better? If they get to 51 wins that's a +20 game improvement. I've put money on Minn not getting to 50 wins. Memphis lost Carter, Z-bo and looking like they could lose Allen. They're worse. People talking like all Western teams outside of Portland got better, and it's true some teams did add talent. But it doesn't fit their narrative when you bring up Western playoff teams also lost talent.
I don't really understand this statement. If Layman starts for Portland two things have happened. 1. Harkless/Aminu/Turner have all gone done with injuries. 2. Layman shocks the world and beats those players out.
I just don't see him as a "regular rotation" guy at this time based on what we've seen. Perhaps he can take a step forward this yr, I hope he does, but for now I can't put him on a reg rotation list
