Round one goes to Briscoe. Another thing that helps Briscoe is CJ Wilcox. Wilcox is another one dimensional player like Morrow but we don't have to carry him on the roster. If Morrow isn't in the rotation and is just insurance, well, Wilcox could serve the same role without taking up a roster spot. I still think the best course is a trade, or the release of Connaughton. Let's see what happens tomorrow in round two.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/video/te...48355-coach-stotts-post-practice-10-4-1656456 Stotts on Briscoe at the end "Very quick, can get into the paint. Probably a better shooter than his statistics would say. Has shot the ball well in practice. Very good defender. Don't know where he ranked in steals last year but from what I've been told it was pretty high. Biggest adjustment right now is learning to be a true point guard." And evidently Dame has taken him under his wing. Not surprising. Dame gets along with everyone, but those two are cut from the same cloth. If he's really shooting well in practice, I can't see how or why they wouldn't keep him.
Another interesting part about that clip was when Stotts was asked how they're going to replace Crabbe. He said by committee then rattled off Turner, Moe, Shabazz, Chief, and Connaughton's(FUCK) names. No mention of Layman or Morrow.
Interesting in a "oh god, how does this clown have a job coaching an NBA team?" sort of way! He's going to replace Crabbe - a league-leader in 3-point FG% - with TURNER and AMINU (among others who also aren't all that great)!
I'm sorry, but as a coach who gets paid millions of dollars, I'd expect him to KNOW things. Like, especially know the strengths (and weaknesses) of his players so that he can maximize those strengths by adjusting the schemes. Fuckin' A, this guy...
Guys, Crabbe made 1.7 3 pointers a game.... Let that shit sink in... You don't think OUR team can replace 1.7 3 pointers a game??? C'mon now...
There's a difference between knowing their strengths and knowing their college statistical rankings. Sounds to me like Stotts knows the former (as he should) but not the latter (which he shouldn't).
Those are just the makes. He attempted about 4 a game. Who on our bench do you want to see attempting that many threes a game? But it's really not about replacing the threes. There are other ways to replace his 10 points a game. Just not sure what that is with this group yet. Our best scorer off the bench is our starting shooting guard. We could use another shooter/scorer. Really could use one.
I have a feeling Biggie alone will replace AC's scoring and part of his 3P attempts. I know that PatC is a pariah on this board now - but he is a good 3P shooter (51% from 3 last year), Bazz is not bad either.
I get that. I'm not the biggest Crabbe-fan, and I'm not upset he traded him for less than nothing. But despite not making many 3PG, he was a threat to make 3s whenever he was on the court, and just being a threat gave Dame/CJ more space in which to operate. Aminu and Turner are not threats, and will not create space for Dame/CJ/Nurk.
Did Morrow just seal the deal? I was really liking Briscoe in this spot, but Morrow's itchy trigger finger and quick release seems like the guy I always wished Crabbe would become. The biggest downside I could see with Morrow is he doesn't seem to do anything else. He can't handle, he isn't interested in passing, and is a minus defender. But, when he is open . . .
It's all we need for 8-10 minutes a game with the 2nd unit. He will not get the minutes in crunch time like AC did, but he is our best option right now off the bench to spread the floor. He has been doing it for 9 years so we know what we have.
Morrow and Briscoe should both be on the roster but the team is in love with Connaughton and his 1/2 tool skill set so I guess best hope is a two way contract for Briscoe.
Y'all keep clamoring for Briscoe... He is NOT better than Shabazz. Pat should make the team. Not Briscoe.
