Opening Night Starting Lineup

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by 42N8Bounce, Sep 11, 2021.

?

What should the opening night starting lineup be?

  1. Nurk, Dame, RoCo, McCollum, Powell

    22 vote(s)
    59.5%
  2. Nurk, Dame, RoCo, Powell, Nance Jr

    11 vote(s)
    29.7%
  3. Nurk, Dame, RoCo, McCollum, Nance Jr

    1 vote(s)
    2.7%
  4. Other

    3 vote(s)
    8.1%
  1. 42N8Bounce

    42N8Bounce Red Hot And Rebuilding

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    Given that the current roster is what we have to work with on opening night, what should the starting lineup be? Will Billups agree with your choices?

    upload_2021-9-11_23-11-40.png

    Should Snell start at small forward? Is Nas ready for primetime?

    So many options....
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2021
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  2. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    I'm hoping we've moved CJ for a legit starting forward by opening day but I've been hoping for that for a long time.

    Maybe coach Billups will be so dedicated to defense and the offense will be so good anyways that we forget about the absurd three guard lineup. So I voted for Dame, Norm, RoCo, Nance and Nurk to start opening night. If Nance, RoCo, Snell and Nas can cover the minutes at the 3 and 4... you could still give Dame, Norm and CJ 30+ minutes at the 1 and 2. This doesn't give Ant enough time but it's what I'd like to see done.

    Let's give CJ a chance at winning sixth man of the year.
     
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  3. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    Tempted to vote "Other" because I think Ben Simmons should start...
     
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  4. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

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    dame/cj mccollum/powell/roco/zeller

    trade nurk for deande jordan or blake griffin
     
  5. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    [​IMG]
     
  6. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    This has been posted elsewhere.
    You seem to keep thinking they will not start Powell?
     
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  7. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Actually, if you read his post, he's saying they won't start CJ.
     
  8. Fairly-Hard

    Fairly-Hard Former Member Gone New!

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    I did read his post.
    It says this-
    And this.

    Then he proceeds to put Powell in the SG spot instead in the SF spot.

    Powell will start in the SF spot unless there is some kind of trade which is looking less and less likely.

    My statement stands.
    Snell or Nas will not start over Powell.
     
  9. Chris Craig

    Chris Craig (Blazersland) I'm Your Huckleberry Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    CJ is not coming off the bench. Neither is Powell.

    It's going to be Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk

    Nor only is not coming off the bench, Billups won't have him lead the 2nd unit like Stotts did. He said he wants a real 2nd unit.

    So it will be

    Dame, CJ, Powell, Roco, Nurk starting

    With

    Simons, Snell, Little, Nance, Zeller probably in the 2nd unit.
     
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  10. 42N8Bounce

    42N8Bounce Red Hot And Rebuilding

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    The other thread was asking what we should do with the 14th roster spot. At some point we need to consider that NO is done dealing and will just be filling out the roster with a few vet mins or young potential players that will spend most of their time at the end of the bench.

    I for one am a fan of CJ. But as the roster is constructed now, I think Powell is a better fit next to Dame starting games. CJ would be best used as firepower coming off the bench.

    We have a new coach. I have no idea what Billups will do. Starting 3 guys 6’3 and shorter brings challenges. If this is the hand we’re dealt, how should we play it?
     
  11. 42N8Bounce

    42N8Bounce Red Hot And Rebuilding

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    Keep in mind, I’m not asking what you think the starting lineup will be. I’m asking what you think the starting lineup should be.
     
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  12. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

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    If CJ were to come off the bench, the press would make it a huge distraction all season - not worth it.
    #Starthimortradehim
     
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  13. Mr. Robot

    Mr. Robot Well-Known Member

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    nurk needs to win that chip
     
  14. blazerkor

    blazerkor Well-Known Member

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    When did coach Billups say that he wanted a "real second unit"? I just want to know because in the NBA a second unit is a myth. There are rotations not line changes. So it would be radical (not in a good way) for our new coach to have two "units".
     
  15. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    hmmm what I voted for as should be, likely wont be though.
     
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  16. Zach Collins Enthusiast

    Zach Collins Enthusiast Bored

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    There is no way Powell is ahead of CJ in the depth chart. You want to use CJ as a 6th man? That's a possibility. But he's a better player than Powell
     
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  17. Orion Bailey

    Orion Bailey Forum Troll

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    i think we are a better team coming out of the gate with powell on the court and let cj get his buckets without worrying about defending.
    But we all know Billups will start out with what NO believes will work… the three guard line up. So the starters wil be dame, cj, powell, roco, nurk.
    If its not hot to start, i hope Billups pulls the plug quick.
     
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  18. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    So we fuck our team over by starting

    *checks notes*

    Zeller.
     
  19. Strenuus

    Strenuus Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

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    In this specific instance, fit is more important.

    And cj is WAAAAAAAAY too one dimensional. At least Powell gives us other things. If cjs shot doesn't go down he's fucking worthless.
     
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  20. SharpesTriumph

    SharpesTriumph Well-Known Member

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    I'm eager to see the starting lineup with Norm at SF, everyone healthy, and a full training camp.

    Having a player of Nance effectiveness off the bench is a huge addition. If we can get someone else to become a legit 6th man/starter quality player and make one other decent addition all the sudden we would be a deep balanced team.

    Also I want to see what happens on the court with Billups talk of prioritizing defense and sharing the offense. Can he get much more out of this team than Stotts?

    If a bunch of those things happen this team is right there with the Phoenix/Milwaukee level contenders.
     
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