Game 53 Trail Blazers (23-29) @ Wolves (29-23)

[winforlose]

Is Minott officially in doghouse?

Maybe a few weeks ago. At this point Minott and Miller have graduated to Finch’s outhouse.

[Guest84]

Only saw the highlights and my goodness, what got into Naz? Guard play and point Naz action…Finch really just said go do whatever you want Naz.

Also, Jaden with a 30-10-4 night?? Nice…let him loose too coach!

Clark is a solid addition as well.

[TimberKat]

Is Minott officially in doghouse?

Maybe a few weeks ago. At this point Minott and Miller have graduated to Finch’s outhouse.

The big difference is Clark stayed in front of his man and Minott is always running behind his man. Clark can hit the open 3 and Minott can't do it during the game.

[shrink]

We could possibly get hot at the end of the year... particularly if julius buys in as the 6th man off the bench, (which he wont)..

We can't go anywhere though without a backup c. Freaking west is up for grabs and we COULD potentially try, yet can't.

Julius might not have a choice. He has an option but he is also trying to keep his reputation. If he becomes a malcontent, then it might prevent him from signing a longer term deal or getting sign a traded to a team he wants to go to. Best for Julius to play ball and show he can be part of winning. Though I do agree it will be tough with his ego.

Randle could lose tens of millions on his next deal if he’s a malcontent OR if he’s not a starter.

It’s a tricky situation. I think we are paying Naz for next year whether he starts or comes off the bench, so it’s a bigger deal for Randle who may have to have another team interested in him. Moreover, if we don’t provide that opportunity, he won’t get big offers from other teams and will sign his player option and stay here, which many of you dislike.

It’s also tricky because we need all three bigs playing at their best, because we don’t have a fourth big. Jaden can help a little, but he’s too light to overload him banging inside.

I think when Randle is back, he starts again. His All NBA awards earn him that respect. But that doesn’t mean Naz won’t play more minutes, or likely be in the closing line up. Randle may start, get the early hook, then we get the good Rudy-Naz minutes, then smallball Randle-Naz when Rudy sits.

[cmoss84]

FWIW Julius looked genuinely happy for the first time last night. Maybe he will be a nice surprise when he is healthy. Trade deadline gone and our team is starting to gel. Go wolves

[BlacJacMac]

We could possibly get hot at the end of the year... particularly if julius buys in as the 6th man off the bench, (which he wont)..

We can't go anywhere though without a backup c. Freaking west is up for grabs and we COULD potentially try, yet can't.

Julius might not have a choice. He has an option but he is also trying to keep his reputation. If he becomes a malcontent, then it might prevent him from signing a longer term deal or getting sign a traded to a team he wants to go to. Best for Julius to play ball and show he can be part of winning. Though I do agree it will be tough with his ego.

Randle could lose tens of millions on his next deal if he’s a malcontent OR if he’s not a starter.

It’s a tricky situation. I think we are paying Naz for next year whether he starts or comes off the bench, so it’s a bigger deal for Randle who may have to have another team interested in him. Moreover, if we don’t provide that opportunity, he won’t get big offers from other teams and will sign his player option and stay here, which many of you dislike.

It’s also tricky because we need all three bigs playing at their best, because we don’t have a fourth big. Jaden can help a little, but he’s too light to overload him banging inside.

I think when Randle is back, he starts again. His All NBA awards earn him that respect. But that doesn’t mean Naz won’t play more minutes, or likely be in the closing line up. Randle may start, get the early hook, then we get the good Rudy-Naz minutes, then smallball Randle-Naz when Rudy sits.

I think the smartest thing we could do is tell Randle he's going to come off the bench at the beginning to ease him back into the game while he builds up his conditioning.

And if we're lucky, he thrives in a better role for him - that also features him more than if he was starting and he agrees its best for both him and the team to keep doing it.

[winforlose]

Julius might not have a choice. He has an option but he is also trying to keep his reputation. If he becomes a malcontent, then it might prevent him from signing a longer term deal or getting sign a traded to a team he wants to go to. Best for Julius to play ball and show he can be part of winning. Though I do agree it will be tough with his ego.

Randle could lose tens of millions on his next deal if he’s a malcontent OR if he’s not a starter.

It’s a tricky situation. I think we are paying Naz for next year whether he starts or comes off the bench, so it’s a bigger deal for Randle who may have to have another team interested in him. Moreover, if we don’t provide that opportunity, he won’t get big offers from other teams and will sign his player option and stay here, which many of you dislike.

It’s also tricky because we need all three bigs playing at their best, because we don’t have a fourth big. Jaden can help a little, but he’s too light to overload him banging inside.

I think when Randle is back, he starts again. His All NBA awards earn him that respect. But that doesn’t mean Naz won’t play more minutes, or likely be in the closing line up. Randle may start, get the early hook, then we get the good Rudy-Naz minutes, then smallball Randle-Naz when Rudy sits.

I think the smartest thing we could do is tell Randle he's going to come off the bench at the beginning to ease him back into the game while he builds up his conditioning.

And if we're lucky, he thrives in a better role for him - that also features him more than if he was starting and he agrees its best for both him and the team to keep doing it.

Shrink said it above, he is fighting for a new contract. It is like with Beal, if the guy is coming off the bench, then he isn’t the best at the team at the position, OR he is not the best fit. In our case Naz excels in different areas, (3 point shooting, quick decision making, fewer turnovers,) but Randle is better at other things (more assists/better playmaker, better overall rebounder, and better at defending without fouling.) It is complicated, and some of the answer is actually playing BIG BALL. Ant/Jaden/Naz/Julius/Rudy is a real thing. I could see us start to bring it out more in March. Or Julius/DDV/Jaden/Naz/Rudy when Ant needs to rest.