Yeah a point or two per game from a starter is a big deal. If we had such a difference over the whole starting 5 that's 5-10 points and the difference between an average team and title contender.
Obviously we want two way players at every position. But that does not always happen. If you have 4 offensive players on the court then you can get away with one bad one. But not 2-3 bad offensive players. if I had to choose an offense guy vs a defensive guy.... I will lean towards the offense. IMO if a player can't score or pass , he better be on the all NBA defensive team. Bad scorers can't score on anyone, but great scorers can score on great defenders.
I agree you can't have a totally inept offensive player. Harkless isn't bad offensively, outside his jump shot he's great. Often that improves over time. Aminu has provided valuable outside shooting all season. Dame and CJ allow us great flexibility with frontcourt players who are primarily defensive guys. They need to have some sort of skill on offense but they can be very one dimensional. I think ultimately the goal should be to have a top10 offense and defense; one of which is top5. We're already top6 offensively with this incomplete young roster. Long term we need defensive improvement.
Were like sixth in the league in scoring doing just that tho. Outside of passing plums is LIMITED on offense and IMO the effect of his passing is overblown. it does not matter, ed davis is better defensively worse offensively and we see no drop off in production. Give us a true rim protector who can run the floor and dunk and the only change is we go from like 16-18th in the league on defense to maybe the top ten. Then were talking top 4 in the west probably battling with OKC for third.
Maybe with a really good offensive bench. My post was in reference to a front line of Sanders, Aminu, and Harkless which can work in stretches, but my guess is we would all be bitching about not having a 3rd scorer after teams had time to prepare for it. Either Harkless or Aminu would have to improve their outside shot quite a bit for us to compete for 3rd.
Another great game by Harkless last night. He's so much fun to watch on both ends. Can defend, hit put backs, slash to the hoop, get steals, rebound, run in transition. I'd take his faults and missed three's over an older stiff lumbering slow footed better shooting big any day. Way to go Moe!
The current starting lineup has played the third most minutes of any 5 man Blazers group this season. It's out scoring opponents by 18.0 points per 100 possessions. We've found something special here.
Hark's shot technique IMO is okay and with work I think his 3 pt shooting can improve like Aminu's has, I think it's part confidence and part repetitions, if he could get his 3pt shot to 35% area like Aminu has he'd be golden IMO and remember he is only 22
That's what I've been advocating for. As much as I like Plums, I'd rather see Davis in that rotation. Plumlee would be my odd man out. I traded him on 2K. LOL.
I think we need to waive goodbye to Leonard...not sure how viable if at all signing and trading him would be his injury not withstanding. I'm not sure we good get a pick for him and some cash money...maybe it's best to let him walk into the sunset and become an all-star onbthe spurs
Harkless again with an awesome game last night. Our second best player. Yeah I now want to resign him more than Crabbe, Hendo or Meyers. We have a great chance of keeping him on an affordable deal too; teams are so enamores with 3 point shooting they'll overlook a guy who does everything else.
Man, this guy is just an animal when he's engaged into the game. His move to the starting lineup came about 15 games late by my estimation. Love his game. As a starter, hes averaging 12.5 pts, 6.7 rebs, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl on 54% FG. Needs to improve that 28% 3pt and he's gonna be our full time starter. 10 game sample size here, and we're 7-3 in those games if I'm looking at it correctly.
