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cmeese47
Posts: 2301

Posted 11/05/2012 11:50 AM
Personally, I think our bench is terrible. I like Ronnie Price as a defender but do not feel he has the overall game to take over the team if Lillard god forbid gets injured.
Nolan Smith never been his biggest fan and now that he pretty much showed the spark in Summer League was a fluke he has little value to this team.
Babbit can shoot and that will one day help him average 20 a game in the D-league.
Will Barton has some skills but he is raw and a long way from deserving big minutes off the bench.
EW can't stay out of the trainers room he is right now mini Greg Oden
Pavlovic has some skills but if we want to win consistently he cannot be the best player off our bench.
Claver looks lost so far and needs lots of seasoning before he could add much to this unit.
Jeffries has been fine and is a nice bench piece cannot complain too much about him.
Freeland I am not seeing the same player we saw light it up in the Olympics he has plenty of skill just need to see him put it together.
Leonard I like his toughness but he looks every bit like a rookie big man out there.

Our bench is a combination of too young and too under skilled to hold up over the course of the season. If we are going to compete for a playoff spot the rookies will need to improve fast or we need to make some moves.

Target Tyreke Evans
Portland struggles playing in the paint and getting the offense started with the starters off the floor. Evans could easily run the point for the second unit and his willingness to attack the rim would offset the teams lack of a post presence without LA or Hickson on the floor.

I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.

DHawes22
Posts: 6481

Posted 11/05/2012 1:00 PM
We definitely need bench help. The problem is, we don't really have any assets to go out and trade for help. Is there an unsigned free agent out there, specifically at the backup point guard position to help spell Dame? But let's not act surprised over this. We all knew the bench was going to be our bug-a-boo going into this season.

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Blazer247
Posts: 503

Posted 11/05/2012 1:39 PM
Like DHawes said, we knew long ago that our problem this year would be the bench players, and on top of that, it's only been 3 games!!! I think some of our guys are definite problems that would be easier for us to get rid of instead of trying to solve, but other players (Price, Pav, Jeffries, Freeland, Claver, Leonard, and maybe even Barton) I feel confident will be fair options (read as: better than they are now) further into the season.

This will show us their real value not only to see who is really worth a bench spot, but also will give us a MUCH better idea as to what we have when it comes to trade assets and going after replacements.

I'm not convinced Evans is a good fit for us, especially outside the stat sheet. Sorry, it's just not the only factor for making the Blazers roster (after our jailblazers era). I hear what you're saying about looking for guys who willingly attack the rim (another one of our current weakest links, but getting better), but might it be a better idea to go after a free agent who "moves the needle"? I think if we look at a bigger FA (or trade) than a 6th-man-idea, we can move certain starters to the bench who seem to get criticized for not quite bein at the "starter" level of consistent play.

I am a fan of BLAZER BASKETBALL. Not drafts, not business, not trades, not David Stern. Just BLAZER BASKETBALL.

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/05/2012 2:10 PM
I think the bench will be better as the season progresses but Stotts wants to win now and our starters need to build 20 pt leads so the bench can get some burn and chemistry as a 2nd unit. I also think we're sometimes playing two guys off the bench who I would have as 14-15 in the rotation.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/05/2012 6:17 PM
Price, Sasha, Leonard, are ok pieces to the bench. I like them on the defensive end. They are also getting some offensive boards in this Dallas game. But offensively, they are looking lost. I would consider bringing in Reke. I think a solid wing would help our bench a lot.

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Austin Martin
Posts: 92

Posted 11/06/2012 9:56 AM
As of right now our bench is full of defensive stoppers and young guys. They need to get some confidence on the offensive end.
This is where the wait and see approach has to be taken. We are young, and very unproven. We need to give our young guys run and the chance to make or break it sometimes. Vs Dallas they broke. Tis the growing pains of a young team who has yet to play much together. Over time you will likely not be so critical.
bringing in a new guy now would only take minutes away from the potential our youth offers. Lets not pull a Macmillan again.

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cmeese47
Posts: 2301

Posted 11/06/2012 10:05 AM
I agree that we have some okay players on our bench but there is virtually no offensive production from that unit. I am also not seeing the high energy you should from bench players I really think we need to be aggressive before it ruins our whole season. Unless of course we are trying to stay in the lottery.

I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.

The Unholy
Posts: 320

Posted 11/07/2012 10:28 AM
i think the bench would benefit from assigning roles to who does what in the second unit. i've seen babbitt look lost out there. he's a bit more aggressive with his shot but i want to see more of that. i dont want him being afraid to shoot just because a starter is on the floor. freeland tries to score, he's got good post moves and wont hurt you on defense, at least against the other teams bench, but as of yet it's just not coming together. i really think we need a new back up point because nolan...'nough said. also i wanna see some bench players come in earlier than normal to get some chemistry with some of the starters. with so many players at interchangable positions i dont see much of a problem with doing that. maybe sasha or claver? in for matthews or batum early just to try it out. stotts is smart for not just throwing in the whole second unit at once like nate did.
im also impressed with barton in the sense that he didn't look uncomfortable out there and he was efficient. i wish i could say the same for leonard. i see the potential, but i also see where he has alot to learn.
and to address the question i do think the bench is bad but there's no reason it should be terrible. that's where xs and os come in.

I am a fan of high octane motion offense

The Unholy
Posts: 320

Posted 11/07/2012 10:31 AM
reading that over again i realize i didn't organize my thoughts very well, my bad.

I am a fan of high octane motion offense

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/07/2012 5:53 PM
Bench scoring is definitely a plus but until the rookies like Barton and Freeland adapt to the pace of the NBA game, we need them to be defensive minded first..hold the lead if we have one and get the opposition in foul trouble as much as possible. Get points at the free throw line, stopping the clock and giving even more rest to the starters. Also not turn the ball over. Nolan Smith has thrown the ball away on his first touch in too many games so far. Our bench bigs, particularly Leonard need to follow those missed jumpers in and get the and 1. It's not all on the bench though, Ronnie and Will are still rusty without preseason warmups. Our starters need to build leads in the first half that allows the bench to come in with a cushion and get comfortable with each other rather than scrambling to get back into games. We knew we had a young, new roster and new coach and system so it's a work in progress

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

kenny c.
Posts: 412

Posted 11/08/2012 7:03 AM
start M.L. and have J.J. come off the bench.

I am a fan of Winning

cmeese47
Posts: 2301

Posted 11/08/2012 7:16 PM
That would hopefully allow JJ to be more aggressive and demand the ball more. Also would create some post offense on the second unit.

I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.

Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/08/2012 10:33 PM
Leonard has been looking good past couple games. Hopefully we can start him soon

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knorton181
Posts: 251

Posted 11/09/2012 12:35 PM
I like our bench, no love though yet. I haven't seen enough. Garbage minutes at the end of the game don't count, I haven't really seen Stotts put in Barton or Claver or Joel in for much. It's more move this starter over to another position and sub out on or two starters at a time for price & Leonard only.

Also, this is why elliot getting injured late in the offseason hurt us, there's not much out there to come in & help out so late in the offseason so we kept him (and this means we'll be able to extend him next year for much less money than if he hadn't been injured, yeah not a great positive but it is still one).

To me, what could help is putting Meyers in the starting lineup. JJ off the bench would help out the second lineup. The whole rotation would be different, since meyers isn't great on offense other than lobs, he'll be out there with Batum & Lillard mostly plus the starters. And rotate in JJ Price & Claver/Barton. Obviously that not beng the only rotation, but I think it would help a lot and run much smoother when someone gets subbed in/out.

Not to mention early in the games JJ hasn't been playing great & a lot of the points are in the paint, Leonard's size gives an advantage. Keep him from fouling out too early and I think that would work perfect. And even if leonard has a learning curve to overcome, I'd be much less upset with them scoring on him because he's a rook than continue to see no change.

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knorton181
Posts: 251

Posted 11/09/2012 12:37 PM
*A lot of the opposing team's points are in the paint**

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Curvychloe
Posts: 520

Posted 11/10/2012 2:46 PM
The Blazers have a Bench? Thats news to me? When did they get one of those? Seriously though,whats up with this guy babbit,I've heard of being scared but this is getting ridiculous,Nobody expects blazers to do anything this season,there's no pressure,so whats he looking so lost out there for? I mean its his 3RD season for crying out loud,if it were me(and thank god it isn't) I'd just go out there and let it fly.

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

knorton181
Posts: 251

Posted 11/11/2012 7:07 AM
And this is what I'm talking about, our second line up last night was meyers, aldridge, ronnie price, pavlo, & barton. Can't put everything on the shoulders of one player. That's a terrible line up I hope we never do again.

Like I said b4 tho, making leonard the starter would help that bench production a lot.

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Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/11/2012 11:19 AM
Sign Redd or Pietrus then bring Hickson to the bench. Price, Sasha, Pietrus/Redd, Hickson then Freeland if we would play him!! Whats the point of bringing him and not play him. Trade him if your not going to use him.

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riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/11/2012 4:59 PM
My biggest fear with bringing Hickson off the bench is that he will play with a scorer's mentality and slack off defensively. The guy is our rebounder and banger in the post. He's stepped into the role and is doing all the dirty work that we need there. I think Leonard can become a bench scorer when he gets his confidence and isn't overthinking. Freeland too. We need JJ banging and getting the boards until Meyers has shown more growth in the rotations in the paint. As a starter now, he'll foul out quickly and get a ton of 3 second violations.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

postedbailblazers
Posts: 165

Posted 11/11/2012 11:37 PM
That is what I was thinking exactly riverman. We will be in the penalty in the first five minutes of each half with Myers starting. It's a process. We need to live with it. It's a result of flushing most of our hand last season. It will be better by the end of this season, but not solved. Also, love the props you're giving JJ. He's been a monster on the boards for us and has potential to be a double double machine before the year is out.

I am a fan of rhubarb pie.

cmeese47
Posts: 2301

Posted 11/12/2012 9:57 PM
The bench is looking worse every game I am wondering when our first major injury will occur from playing our starters 38 minutes every night

I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.

schwabbii
Posts: 178

Posted 11/13/2012 6:29 PM
We need to just cut Babbitt and sign someone that is a veteran type who can shoot. This whole bench situation is crazy. How do we have a bunch of young players who can't do squat?! Sign someone! At the end of the season last year I was even sticking up for Babbitt but how are you a shooter and don't shoot?!

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MasterChef
Posts: 3

Posted 11/13/2012 6:37 PM
i dont like our bench
complete lack of scoring option
our starting lineup is great though

I am a fan of Neil Olshey

knorton181
Posts: 251

Posted 11/15/2012 2:55 AM
JJ's production wouldn't go down if he came off the bench. He's not that kind of guy.. Look at what he did last year when he came over, off the bench he was AWESOME. And this isn't to say he's a bad player at all, he's potentially a good starting caliber PF. But he isn't a Center. And look at Lamar Odom, he was an all star, who came off the bench!!

But this is also what to me causes our lack of rotation on defense. Opposing teams are having their way in the paint early (we're ranked 27th in Points in the Paint), and our perimeter players are having those doubts in their rotations (which I previously stated in some other post weeks ago, that our true measure of this season will have a big dependence on how we rotate on D, do we have trust in our teammates to be there? etc). Which causes teams to just have their way. It's by no fluke that teams are shooting 50% against us.

And like I said earlier, Meyers, at some point if he is going to become our future starting C (near-future in my eyes lol), is going to have growing pains in fouling. But that's something he can get over and learn from. JJ could even still play more minutes than him.

But with JJ in our second lineup we immediately get a boost in offensive production & rebounding which will lead to fast breaks and second chance opportunites (which to me will have even MORE of an impact in our second lineup since they often need fast break or second chance points to get boosted). Plus he will be looked at more in the second line up so if anything I think his production will go up, since he's the last option on offence in the first line up.

Anyways, just my opinion! I do think it'll help tho

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Curvychloe
Posts: 520

Posted 11/15/2012 10:07 AM
Why does everyone want Hickson coming off the Bench.Hickson is a BEAST! I've known that since I seen him play in cleveland,he owns,he sooo underated,he grabbed 18 boards the other nite.Just Imagine how good we'll be when Oden comes back. Ohhh....wait....what...He's not coming back? WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/15/2012 3:48 PM
Yeah, never thought I'd say it but we should've resigned Crawford this summer. Problem he had here last season was he was used as a pt guard most of the time instead of a six man. He's lighting it up for the Clippers this season.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

schwabbii
Posts: 178

Posted 11/15/2012 5:10 PM
I don't want Crawford back ever. The guy basically said he wanted out mid game! Yes he can put up points but he also can be extremely cold a lot of times.

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Curvychloe
Posts: 520

Posted 11/15/2012 8:33 PM
Crawford has a Vagina

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

cmeese47
Posts: 2301

Posted 11/15/2012 10:03 PM
I love vaginas though

I am a fan of Getting Defensive Players This Summer.

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/15/2012 10:51 PM
I knew that even mentioning Crawford would get folks riled, but as of now he's leading the league as a sixth man off the bench and well....nobody's doing that off our bench. He also just basically schooled us in our own building recently. Say what you will but the guy can shoot! He's leading the NBA in 3 catagories this season with the Clips. I think under Stotts system he would have helped our team. He's not a starting pt guard which we used him as last season.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/15/2012 11:36 PM
We should have resigned him bt..no point talking about that now.
We should talk about why we are not signing Pieturs lolol

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Curvychloe
Posts: 520

Posted 11/16/2012 9:07 AM
To me crawford is whats wrong with the NBA,just a complete asshole,all he does is blow on his hands all day

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

ClydeFrog
Posts: 975

Posted 11/16/2012 3:43 PM
If only Elliot Williams was healthy, I think our bench issues would be solved.

I am a fan of Watching Elliot Williams Take Flight!

Siccolo
Posts: 858

Posted 11/16/2012 4:17 PM
Do yall really think Elliot could have helped a lot?? I think Sasha is better than EWill.....I dont think we will ever see EWill hit the floor

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Katastroph1k
Posts: 3

Posted 11/25/2012 2:30 AM

Our bench is a mess, with most of our starters averaging around 40 minutes a game. Picking up Price and Pavlovic would not have been my first choice, its as simple as our team is too young and inexperienced, we need a Jamal Crawford, or Jason Terry type of player like last season. I say we make a trade using this years draft picks because the upcoming draft is garbage and with our starting five and two or three good players on the bench i think we have a real chance to do something this year.

riverman
Posts: 1098

Posted 11/25/2012 9:49 AM
We can bring Elliot back next year and hopefully another scorer without gutting the roster. Our first choice last summer was Hibbert, 2nd was Asik..Neil tried but they got paid elsewhere. We're in good shape to sign 2-3 guys for the bench. I am a fan of keeping Price and Pavlovic next year as well.

I am a fan of A team that plays like Tower of Power on a big stage on a good night

Curvychloe
Posts: 520

Posted 11/26/2012 12:34 PM
I don't love our bench,i really,really don't love it,in fact i'm kinda starting to hate it,but to be honest there is nothing I hate more in life then Jamal Crawford,I can't stand that guy,I really really hate him,almost as much as my Partners jealous Ex,actually I hate him more then that,If the 2012 apocolypse happens jamal crawford will probably be the only one that lives cause he's like a cockroach,a filthy filthy cockroach.He has no morals, No ethics,no regard for mankind,he has no feelings for no one and I can't stand that kinda person

I am a fan of Sexy Blondes at courtside

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