Game Thread GAME# 31: SPURS @ BLAZERS - DECEMBER 20, 2017 - WEDNESDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBCSNW

If you’re going to include Patty you may as well include Aminu because he’s been getting minutes at SF the last couple of games with Collins in the rotation. And our offense flowed just fine with him at SF full time. It’s not like he just forgot how to dribble.

 

I guess you're right about that. I hadn't really noticed, but he has been staying on the floor the last couple of games when Ed and Collins are playing C & PF.

I know he does a lot of good things, especially defensively, but I am not a fan of him handling the ball. He just seems to get out of control too often. I like him better as a spot up shooter.

 

Yeah I think everyone can agree they do as well. I just don’t see why he couldn’t do that at SF? The reason he’s at PF has more to do with his spacing ability than anything else.

 

Oh, it's definitely NOT his ball handling that makes me think he should play SF. It's mostly the fact that we don't have any* talent at that position, making him the de facto best option.

He's also playing FAR BETTER than his career average, so we might as well ride him while he's playing relatively well.

*Turner shouldn't be in the Western Conference. Harkless is pouting because his good buddy Dame stabbed him in the back over the summer. Pat C can play, but probably shouldn't start. But of all the players on the team only Aminu/Pat should see minutes at SF.

 

Turner is overpaid as hell, but he’s also at least twice the player Connaughton is, just for his defense alone.

Connaughton probably doesn’t belong in any playoff squads rotation.

 

I do agree that Aminu is better as a PF than as a SF.
BUT.
We actually have other players who are better (or could quickly become better) PFs than Aminu. Couple that with the fact that we don't have ANYBODY good at SF (and Aminu can kinda play the position sorta decently) and it's painfully obvious to nearly everybody that Aminu is the ONLY RATIONAL OPTION to start at SF.

 

Yes and Stotts has started to experiment with it recently but he needs to hurry the hell up and make the change in the actual starting lineup. A Collins/Aminu/Nurk front court is the best we got.

 

I would say the same about Turner, Aminu, and Ed. If you're relying on any of these guys to give you more than 10-15mpg in the POs you're not gonna go very far.

 

Aminu and Ed definitely do. Aminu and Ed would be playing 20 minutes a piece for CLE and would make them better. Aminu would likely start at PF for Boston, and Ed would play there too. They're both underrated.

 

Defense matters. They would and should all play. Not their fault they’re on an imbalanced roster.

 

Yeah I'm at a loss. I say we need to experiment with CJ Wilcox or Wade Baldwin playing spot minutes at SF.

 

he solidifies the rotation every season after the allstar break...this is the time he looks at different rotations and why he's known as a development coach..Stotts plays his rookies early every season...then goes to 9-10 man rotation second half of the season..I like it...Nate would never do that with his bench back in the day

 

He may be the best option that we have at SF given the current roster. The only rational option is to trade for someone who would actually be good in the SF role.

 

Damn your paranoid by me lol

 

Aminu getting minutes at the SF spot would likely drop his shooting %, and raise his turnover rate.
Simply because the guy guarding him would be another SF.
Personally with Aminu being Portland's best forward. You don't sacrifice his minutes anywhere imo.

 

That would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

I don't think the other team would necessarily guard him just because we change one of his front-court teammates. Teams will continue leaving him open regardless of whether he's playing with Zach or Turner.

 

It's not about guarding or leaving him open.
Using the Minn game as an example.
Minn had Gibson on Aminu and Wiggins on Turner.
Wiggins being not a big therefore is more comfortable guarding the perimeter.
Meaning Wiggins is much better at closing out on shooters than Gibson is.
Where we saw Gibson close out and then get took off the dribble, it's unlikely that Wiggins put in that same situation wouldn't be able to keep Aminu in front of him.

I don't think it's a coincidence Aminu's three point % went up when he got the majority of his minutes at the 4, rather than the 3.

 

Someone want to get me the San Antonio Press Kit so I can out find just how fucking groundbreaking and first class they are. How they are everything the Blazers aren't and how wonderful Pops is.