Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-12-20 11:42 AM
1. "One of the worst defenses in the NBA." In response to Reply # 0
Not too complicated. Outside of Whiteside, they don’t have a single net positive defender who plays real minutes.
I’m also not going to post about the players on the roster and their BPMs and VORPs, because it’ll end up spinning the post into a different, more specific topic... but the numbers are what they are. Outside of Dame and Whiteside, they’re aren’t really any players making a largely positive impact on the floor.
2. "They have severely underachieved this season. Part of it is injuries... " In response to Reply # 0 Wed Feb-12-20 12:27 PM by BlassFemur
but more than that, it's the same issue they've had for years. Their two best offensive players dominate the ball and shoot too many jumpers...many of them bad shots. I actually think they should have traded Dame or McCollum and think they still should especially if they don't make the playoffs or end up getting bounced in the first round.
Only guy who plays defense is Whiteside and I wonder what they will do with him once Nukic is back.
Terry Stotts needs to be fired too. He may be a good coach, but you can't keep giving this guy so many chances.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-12-20 01:42 PM
4. "Dame needs his Klay and Dray." In response to Reply # 2
If you played Steph in Dame’s place, you likely have the same results. You can’t have your best perimeter defender be a 35-year-old Ariza, surrounded by three bad defenders. Dame is easily a net positive player, but if he isn’t surrounded by guys who can defend, it won’t translate to serious winning.
10. "Yeah he definitely needs people surrounding him that play perimeter D..." In response to Reply # 4
but like Dstl1 said, they had Aminu and Harkless, and while I wouldn't have broken the bank to try and hold onto those guys, I would not have replaced them with the likes of Rodney Hood, Kent Bazemore, Melo or Ariza (since he's on his way out). They woulda been better off going after a guy like Marcus Morris instead.
And while Lillard and Steph's games are similar, I think the fact that Steph is a better % shooter than Dame makes a difference. I think Lillard needs to shoot less in general. I'm not sure you can win a chip with Lillard as your #1 player...especially if McCollum is your #2.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-12-20 05:30 PM
11. "While you're right re: the %s, I think Lillard *can* be the Guy..." In response to Reply # 10
... if the team is built correctly around him. They got to the WCF last year with an *average* defense. I think if they found pieces to make good defense on the perimeter beyond Lillard, they could make a real run. But that's asking a lot.
It's a similar problem for a lot of the other perimeter stars who are unstoppable offensively but who are shitty on defense. If they don't have good defenders around them, there's a pretty hard cap on their ceiling.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Wed Feb-12-20 02:34 PM
6. "eh, Portland takes a LOT of 2-point jump shots. " In response to Reply # 5
Houston's whole thing is take a 3, avoid 2 pointers like the plague unless it's wide open or you can draw a foul. That's why is Houston is 30th in 2-point attempts... but 3rd in 2-point percentage.
Meanwhile, Portland has a number of players who like taking mid-range jumpers. Several of their key minute contributors take as many or more mid-range Js than they do 3s. They're ninth in the NBA in 2-point attempts... and 25th in 2-point percentage. I don't think that's a coincidence. They also have a much lower FT rate (bottom third of the league), because they're taking so many jumpshots.
That's the biggest gripe I have with Portland's offense. Maybe if they were making a high percentage of mid-rangers, running more of that would make sense... if you play no defense, you take a lot of mid-range shots, and you miss a lot of mid-range shots, then it's going to be really hard for you to out-score teams in the modern NBA.
13. "2 small guards that need the ball, 2 starting forwards on the wrong..." In response to Reply # 0
side of 35, a center that is a great rebounder/shot blocker but gets ate up on pick & rolls and offensively his game his mostly putbacks & dunks. Outside of that young Simons kid the rest of that roster is trash.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Okay Sports
