Seems that the Blazers got some form of a shooting guard/SF who can shoot 3 pointers. Well, we hope that's true. Last season, Kent Bazemore had a WORSE effective field goal percentage (by a micron) than Evan Turner (.472 vs . 473). Two seasons prior, Bazemore had the same effective field goal percentage as Evan Turner did last season. So , we can say he sucked at shooting the basketball 2 of the 3 previous seasons. You can point to his career 35 percent 3-point shooting all you want. All it is good for is an effective field goal percentage of .489 for his career. For the newbies, that's not good for someone known for their 3-point shooting. Kyle Korver has an eFG% of 57 percent for his career. Bazemore is pretty much the same as Al Farouq Aminu at .482 eFG% for his career. Kent Bazemore. Assists are not his wheelhouse. Last season his assist/turnover ratio was 1.28, and he had 3.3 assists per 36 minutes. (Evan Turner had an assist/turnover ratio of 2.4 and 6.3 assists per 36 minutes last season). What we have is a mediocre at best scorer, who has a turnover almost as often as an assist. He ain't making Jake Layman a high percentage scorer (like Turner did). What would you call that? I'd call that a "chucker". We got a veteran chucker.
That's fantastic! i much rather swing the ball to Aminu instead of Turner for an open shot! Something is better than nothing.
This team needs chuckers. Cause all we got is dame and CJ. So i dont know how thats a bad thing. We just need people to keep teams honest. Aminu fucking sucks at that and harmless half the time doesnt even know hes in the game, so.
Systems and who surrounds chuckers lmakes all the difference. Almost every player shoots better when 1)are in a free flowing offense 2) when playing with other incredible shooting threats (Dame,CJ), 3) where shooting is encouraged, and 4) aren’t ET. We aren’t looking for Baze to shoot lights out. Just be someone who plan be a positive on both ends.
Bazemore was not good last year, but RPM valued him at nearly 6 wins (if he had played close to a full season) in 17-18. Evan turner that same year? -0.03 New bubble blown? Haha
Stats are misleading. It's how people who don't know talent compare players to say who is better. We're talking about 2 completely different players in completely different situations. I actually like ET but he was in the wrong system here. Baz will fit in here very nicely and teams will not be able to leave him like they do to AFA, ET and Mo. Plus, I think a change of scenery might reinvigorate him. Nothing is for sure, but I would pick Baz every day of the week in a shooting contest against ET.
I think he's the superior shooter in contrast to ET. He'll get a lot more open looks now playing with Dame and CJ. What I'm excited about is Bazemore's defense... you can't rain on that parade.
So there's stats that don't make Bazemore look great. That doesn't burst anyones bubble. Bazemore has many other stats where he looks good. Overall he looks much better than ET. It's no guarantee, but there is basically no risk so many are rightfully exited.
This is kind of an interesting look at what players do. Many people say Turner sucked. I would have to agree that his numbers while in Portland were not good at all and there was little room for him as a Point Forward that he fits the mold for. Then there are numbers for Bazemore. They also have their deficiencies. But of course Baze was a much bigger part of the offense and he took a bunch more shots and looks. Much of his recent numbers were under Mike Budenholzer who was fired at the head coach in Atlanta but of course did much better in Milwaukie. Maybe having the Freak had something to do with that? The MVP does usually create opportunities for coaches to look good. But my opinion is it is indeed the type of offense Mike ran. Mike evolved his Motion Offense to allow Giannis to be the main cog and at times ran the offense through him. That Motion offense was not a great fit for Baze and the Hawks didn't have the players to move in and out of the perimeter to make Bazemore an effective threat. Stotts runs a Flex Flow offense and will key on the guards giving Bazemore much better open looks like we all see Aminu and Harkless get and miss. Not sure it will gel the same way without a center to run PnR through like Nurk? The Blazers might need a better passing big man than the likes of Kanter or whomever they might pick up. Leonard does pass well and also is a threat to shoot so Bazemore might work well with Meyers on the floor? Really a bunch of questions about bashing a players numbers. Turner had moments when he played well but this offense was not built for him and the players around him did not convert when he did get them a ball. They also didn't seem to be able to catch passes that were aimed at the fourth row??? Here is to hoping Bazemore can pass better than Turner and catch passes he gets?
Part of the non flow is the inability of a wing to hit a shot. Yes i agree Bazemore should be better here and because of that you will see better flow and less high PnR because teams will have to guard the arc better against this team now.
Thumb series Zipper Delay Chin Early offense: step ups, single and double drags, wide pins, pistol action... That's the main stuff Terry runs. Flex? Nope. Bones would have a wet dream though. GIVE ME ALL THE CROSS SCREENS!!!
Heres something to think about. Bazemore was not brought in to replace ET. Simons or someone brought in via trade / FA will be the Blazers “other” Ball Handler. Bazemore is a shooter, and solid defender, but Bazemore is also a guy who needs others to create for him, I guarantee you teams will not leave him as open as they do to Aminu, ET or even Harkless, because they know he’s a more capable shooter. ET never fit in Portand his style didnt mesh, he couldnt space the floor for the Blazers guards, and yes Bazemore is a better fit. Im not expecting Bazemore to average 20 a game, I am expecting him to be more of the Seth Curry / Rodney hood type a guy who’s a good shooter and can get respect, its a good maybe even great move if they believe Simons can take ET’s role and / or they think they cant retain hood / curry. Heck maybe Bazemore doesn't pan out, but the move flat out makes sense.
I dont believe that at all. Those wings can: - Move - Cut - Screen on ball - Screen off ball (multiple variations) All those things would help the offense flow but instead, they stand at the 3pt line. Even with Hood out there, the offense didnt really "flow". Even the year Harkless shot 40% and Aminu shot 36%, the offense didnt really flow...