Skal to the Blazers!!

Like Simon's I'm tempering expectations until they prove themselves capable defenders.

 

I like what Skal showed in the preseason. He averaged almost three and a half offensive boards in only 18 mpg. He can score in a variety of ways. He can block shots. I don’t like him at center unless the other team is super small, his pick and roll defense is not where it needs to be (although if the guards did their jobs better it wouldn’t be such an issue) but he’s pretty solid in one on ones and as a help defender.

He should play over Tolliver, and I’m not even necessarily anti Tolliver.

 

I think it's a situational thing. If there's an opportunity for a big to score in the middle off the bench, Skal makes more sense. If you want more spacing, Tolliver. Neither are going to blow you away with defense, but at this point Tolliver is the better of the two.

TBH, I'd rather let Mario play some 4 and use Zach or Gasol at the 5. Our starters plus Baze, Mario, Ant and Gasol is already 9 guys. Leave both Skal and Tolliver on the bench for insurance. Neither is good enough to make you want a 10 man rotation.

 

It’s not like Skal can’t shoot though. His career 3pt % is actually higher than Tollivers, albeit a much smaller sample. But it at least shows he’s capable.

I just don’t see what Tolliver brings to the table that Skal doesn’t.

 

Veteran smarts. Ability to guard SF's.

 

No way is he guarding a small forward. He’s a four who sometimes can play the five.

 

According to basketball reference almost all of his minutes have been at 3 or 4...
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tollian01.html

last years breakdown for him :
20% SF 75%PF and 5%C.

 

Well here’s skal tracking a guard. Think Tolliver does this?

 

No I think Tolliver is much better at guarding the perimeter, limiting drives in the first place.

 

I’ve seen him get beat numerous times on the perimeter this preseason but ok we’ll see.

 

Dame says if they had to pick a training camp MVP it’d be Skal.



“I know he’s ready to play,” Lillard said. “If we had to pick an MVP from camp, it’s him, 100 percent, in my mind... I think that’s how good he was in camp on both ends. I think we’ve always known Skal is a really talented player, but you can tell he came into this camp with a purpose, trying to prove himself.”
http://bit.ly/2JfmR89

 

Lol it’s almost like Olshey uses his scouting reports from high school when targeting players.

 

Meanwhile, here’s what Biggie looks like as he’s got one foot out of the league

 

Didn’t Dame say Biggie was the MVP of training camp a couple years back? Hopefully this isn’t a curse of some kind.

 

Nah, he just said Biggie could play. But I bet that was draft process Biggie, when he was still in shape. Dame was talking up Skal last year too.

 

He said Swanigan could win ROY lol

 

Wasn’t Lillard a vegan back then? He wasn’t in the proper headspace, I forgive him.

 

Oh I forgot about that. It died quickly.

 

Hmm Dame was pretty emphatic on that. Sounds like at the very least he will contribute.

 

I don't need dame to tell me he's talented.
His talent was showing when he got chances with the Kings.