I agree mostly, but I would say that it seems like in preseason the Blazers were basically in "Cruise control" and controlled most games til the 4th quarter which then went garbage time. Last night they played more legitimate regular season and were at a totally different level.
How many times did we play the Suns in the preseason? Twice? Then Maccabi? I'm just saying, it's too early to tell anything about this team IMO.
We learned that there are only two guys on the roster that we absolutely can’t afford to lose to injury for any significant time: Dame and Nurkic.
With CJ back either Napier or Patty will be riding the bench. Probably napier. Though he played well last night, pat was better. With Pat at the back up 2, Turner will likely play at the 3 behind Harkless, though patty could play the 3. Turner did the best I have seem him do last night at the 2 which is where he belongs. Its going to be interesting to see what Terry does. Dame\CJ CJ\Pat Harkless\Turner Aminu/Biggie Nurkic\Davis When Vonleh comes back he will not be immediately put back in the rotation. Collins wont be in the rotation. Vonleh will eventually make it back into the rotation, but at first like Collins, Layman, Napier, and Meyers it will be insurance and garbage time. Though Stotts may use different lineups depending on situation/ against different teams.
I think the lineups will be situational. Like we run out to blowout leads and then it's garbage time! But seriously, I think it's more likely that Pat is SOL. It's been one game and it's nice be excited about a player. I'd love to see him blossom into a guy we have a hard time keeping out of the lineup. I think that's a potential. Layman had one great game early last year and expectations for him turned out to be completely unrealistic. I would think getting ET on the court at SG might be what Stotts will do.
Really good point. Of course, Layman's explosion was in garbage time, but some might argue that any game involving the Suns qualifies as the same.
Pat had good games against the Spurs and the Pelis last year as well. It is clear that he is a useful NBA player. Layman never had this (out of garbage time) yet, but we have not seen this from Pat until his 2nd year in the league - Layman is just now entering his 2nd year. I suspect that like Pat, he will become a rotation player at some point. He has too smooth of a handle, athletic ability and shooting form not to. I would suspect he might become a better player than either Crabbe and Patty actually - simply by the way he moves on the court - but I believe that both these guys are good NBA caliber bench role players, maybe more if they put the work and fall in the right place.
I feel like I owe Turner an apology. When he has the right place in the roation he's like a swiss army knife.... just so effective in so many ways. An outside shot is the ONLY thing he doesn't have.
