The Official Blazers vs Suns Game Thread 07/18/13....

Okay, then we had "few" injuries. The point is the same--we will probably have more injuries this season than last. We will have to improve just to stay the same. This SL crew plus Wright replaces the weakest bench in the league, which, due to more experience than this new bench, made nowhere near as many mistakes. The new bench, for this season, will incredibly--be worse.

 

Someone cited it recently on the board. I thought it was you. Apparently not. Okay, then you're back to knowing what year it is. Anyway, McCollum was a volume .366 shooter this week, and should not be confused with Lillard as a shooter.

 

Didn't you say a few days ago that Watson was a decent back up? You have to enter him in that equation too.

 

I said numerous times in the last few weeks that some people on this board would evaluate McCollum incorrectly if they made him play primarily as a PG. A position he has not played for a few years. You pretty much are proving me right. Of course his shooting was going to be off as he was learning to adapt. Especially playing so many minutes after not playing in a game for 7 months.

 

Sonic fans liked Watson a few years ago when McMillan couldn't decide whether to start him or Ridnour. Stats say he has declined, but is still levels above Ronnie Price.

After watching McCollum this week, I have switched them on my anticipated roster. Now I predict Watson will be 2nd-string PG and McCollum 3rd-string. (McCollum will also be 2nd-string SG, ahead of Barton and Crabbe, behind Matthews.)

 

This we are in agreement on. I have been saying it since draft day. I didn't know who we would get as a 2nd string PG, but I said from day one that cJ needed a year to learn the position. (On an NBA level)

 

a few years ago?

 

Olshey built up McCollum (and the media followed suit) as comparable to Lillard. I now think he's comparable to Elliot Williams. Elliot looked good (much better than Nolan) in the few preaseason games he played. He could shoot, drive, make moves, and leap. He was no PG. I saw similar play from McCollum this week and downgraded him from what the media and Olshey have been saying.

 

I did not get that sense. Other than the small school comparison, the work ethic, bbIQ etc. To me it always sounded like they were saying he would compliment Lillard. Not that he was as good as the rookie of the year.

 

There have been various posts suggesting we can trade Matthews now because McCollum must be as ready as Lillard was because they are so similar. Others envision the rookie McCollum as starting over Matthews. This week I learned, no way.

But my bigger point is that last year's whipping boys--Pavlovic, Jeffries, Babbitt, and Maynor--appear superior to their replacements. I grant that Robinson will accumulate high rebounds per 48, but he and the rest are inefficiently in hyperspeed compared to last year's supposed worst bench in the league, which is blamed for our record.

So I'm sad that I see this coming season as a repeat of the last.

 

Babbitt and the word "superior" should never go in the same sentence. Ever. Now go wash your mouth out with soap.

 

Now you feel my pain. Tonight the board. Tomorrow the world.

 

I will actually miss seeing him on the bench. I thought he provided smarts and didn't make a lot of mistakes.

 

Olshey still has time to rectify his sins. There is always time until the Judgment Day. Then there isn't.

 

Refresh my memory . . . when is that again?

 

Yes, I will miss seeing him on the bench, too.

On the court, not so much...

BNM

 

Burke, I was drafted 9th in the draft.

Rm 42

 

Sometime around Nov. 1. The schedule hasn't come out yet.

Get your things into order.

 

Olshey always said McCollum was going to be a back-up, while Lillard was handed the keys to the franchise from Day One.

Seems like a fairly big distinction to me.

 

Olshey has talked about McCollum as a very major player in his rookie year. Olshey hasn't explicitly talked about him taking Matthews' job, because that would obviously damage Matthews' morale. The media and posters have not been so shy.