Replace Clyde on the 90-92 Portland with any peak HOF SG except MJ how do they fare?

[tsherkin]

Not directly answering the OP’s question, but related to what you’re saying about this team in the ‘90-‘92 stretch: replace Duckworth with any decent defensive big and the Blazers likely win multiple titles.

During this stretch, the Blazers had a top 3-top 4 defense every year with a center who relatively speaking competing agisnt other 5s in the league could not a) defend the rim nor defend in space; b) was a trash rebounder c) low efficiency scorer.

I feel like this could describe Bill Cartwright as well. Two of the best teams in the league at the time, held back because they didn't realize how terrible their centers were.

Cartwright, at least, didn't meet C. He actually wasn't an inefficient scorer until Chicago's first title. In New York from 80-84, he was a 17.9 ppg scorer on 61.9% TS and had a pair of 20+ ppg seasons. His challenges were that he was a tepid rebounder, a weak passer and had turnover and foul issues. Besides not being a particularly strong candidate for defensive anchor. He could definitely score efficiently, though, heh.

[magicman1978]

Not directly answering the OP’s question, but related to what you’re saying about this team in the ‘90-‘92 stretch: replace Duckworth with any decent defensive big and the Blazers likely win multiple titles.

During this stretch, the Blazers had a top 3-top 4 defense every year with a center who relatively speaking competing agisnt other 5s in the league could not a) defend the rim nor defend in space; b) was a trash rebounder c) low efficiency scorer.

I feel like this could describe Bill Cartwright as well. Two of the best teams in the league at the time, held back because they didn't realize how terrible their centers were.

Cartwright, at least, didn't meet C. He actually wasn't an inefficient scorer until Chicago's first title. In New York from 80-84, he was a 17.9 ppg scorer on 61.9% TS and had a pair of 20+ ppg seasons. His challenges were that he was a tepid rebounder, a weak passer and had turnover and foul issues. Besides not being a particularly strong candidate for defensive anchor. He could definitely score efficiently, though, heh.

Yeah, I should have mentioned I was thinking about the same stretch being discussed for Duckworth and the Bulls championship seasons where Cartwright had completed dropped off - he had 52%, 50%, and 46% TS during the championship years. Duckworth was 52%, 53%, 50% for the years discussed here.

[tsherkin]

Yeah, I should have mentioned I was thinking about the same stretch being discussed for Duckworth and the Bulls championship seasons where Cartwright had completed dropped off - he had 52%, 50%, and 46% TS during the championship years. Duckworth was 52%, 53%, 50% for the years discussed here.

Yeah, his knees were shot by then, if memory serves, and he suddenly couldn't hit FTs any longer for some reason.