What skill set did Elliot show? How to rock a suit? Meh. As for Barton running the point....it was ugly as shit, but I think worth tossing out there. Especially with McCollum not being a true 1. It's likely not going to happen often, but finding him ANY sort of comfort level there can't be a bad thing.
I think a lot of Crabbe/Barton expected minutes can/will be eaten up by Wright. 144 minutes between the 1,2,3. I'd expect most of those to go to Lillard, CJ, Wes Nic and Wright.
These guys will be fine. They'll have good days and bad days. At the very least, McCollum has shown he's likely a better backup two than Barton was last year. Robinson has shown he's a better backup four than Freeland, and may even surpass Hickson as our garbage man. Claver will be pushed or surpassed by Wright. Finally, Lopez is going to be a better interior defender than Hickson was, helping us immensely. There's no question we're a better team this year than last.
For me, a way of looking at it is that there's 109 of those minutes that are going to someone not named Lillard. I wouldn't guarantee Batum or Wes get 30 mpg right now---not with CJ and Wright on board and not with the incumbents' injury history.
that's unfortunate. hopefully it was a one-game thing and he'll bounce back today against the Lakers.
And how long was he on this team for? What a joke! Should have done this a couple years ago, I knew it would turn out like this.
If Nic is healthy & producing I bet he still gets 35 most every night. I like the idea of letting him loose defensively for key stretches on the other team's main offensive player 1-3. Wright gives them another defensive option/3 pt threat when Nic is roaming on a PG or SG and he's a definite improvement over Babbit, but I'm thinking if he's cutting into someone's minutes it's Wes's not Nic's. my guess is those 144 minutes are doled out something like this... 37 Lillard 35 Nic 25-28 CJ, Wes 12 Wright 6 Claver <5 Watson Crabbe to the OP...like some others I wish we'd have been able to keep Elliot over Barton as Will (while healthy) hasn't given much reason to be optimistic about his future. No outside shot and so-so finishing ability = meh STOMP
Was this posted in another thread? Elliot Williams update: LAS VEGAS -- Former Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams, who tore his left Achilles before the 2012-13 season began, has recovered nicely and is very close to 100 percent, a source close to the two-guard told CSNNW.com. The 24-year-old athletic free agent is not on a Summer League roster and that was the plan, in order to give Williams the necessary time to fully rehabilitate, the source added. “He is waiting patiently for the right opportunity to showcase that he belongs in this league,” the source said. “He will be on an NBA roster next year.” Since being taken No. 22 in the 2010 NBA Draft, Williams has suffered a plethora of injuries. When activated, he has shown promise. Williams is not an option for the Trail Blazers. In 24 career games, Williams averages 3.7 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.3 assists in 6.2 minutes a game. Chris Haynes, Trail Blazer & NBA Insider
He showed good skills with us. He's better than Barton and Crabbe because he can dribble, shoot, and rebound. I don't know why, a year later, he hasn't recovered. Not playing in SL really hurts his ability to get a minimum contract. Now he either steals someone's job in preseason (fat chance after not playing for so long) or relearns his game in the D-League, followed by 10-day contracts (which he will get--he's good) and a permanent spot on an NBA team till his next injury.
There is one particular skill that both Barton and Crabbe have going for them over Williams. Staying on the floor
You're right that a ruptured achilles usually takes a year to recover from, but Elliot's injury happened 10 months ago on 9/11/2012 STOMP
a guy with rotation/starter upside vs a warm body who might be more likely to show up to practice is how I see it. Especially considering how the injury bug strikes every player eventually (see Barton last night), has me preferring to roll the dice on upside STOMP
I was really hoping to see Elliot Williams this year, I would definatly take him over Barton any day. Elliot was actually only injured 2x (shoulder, achillies). He underwent elective/preventative patella surgery his rookie year.
I'm pretty sure Williams stayed on the floor for quite a while right after trying to dunk on Chris Johnson...
I'm just glad it's over. It's one thing if he was a little injured, but this kid straight out was on crutches the entire career. It's best to just say "later brother, good luck!" Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Well, you need to get on the court to keep a job. I don't think he was ever going to learn to avoid injury..
I really wonder what that conversation entailed. If they thought other players had a higher ceiling or if they figured for all his promise, he just never could stay healthy.
