Skal

[DaVoiceMaster]

Has there been any word about his injury since the first MRI results being inconclusive?

[GEE]

I don't know of any update... I just wanted to say that I think this kid is the perfect long-term backup to Collins at the 4. Hope he stays a Blazer for several years more. That is all.

[Wizenheimer]

there was a 2nd MRI last week, and the team announced he was going miss at least another month, maybe longer. I can't recall what the exact result was or if the team released that info

[Epicurus]

I don't know of any update... I just wanted to say that I think this kid is the perfect long-term backup to Collins at the 4. Hope he stays a Blazer for several years more. That is all.

I hope that Collins is just not given the 4, but an actual preseason competition between him and Skal is allowed to determine starter's minutes at that position. No matter the results, it would be a nice tandem at 4 and spillover to 5.

[zzaj]

The only thing that Collins has really shown over Skal is 3pt shooting and maybe BBIQ and perimeter quickness. He's not really the defender that posters here seem to make him out to be. Although, he seems to have a good defensive IQ for a 22 year old.

Right now, Skal and Collins are basically the same player except Skal is a MUCH better rebounder and post defender, while Collins has the ability to stretch the floor and is quicker overall as a defender. They are 23 and 22 respectively. This season's sample size of Collins is pretty small...so who knows.

If Zach can one day learn how to rebound and not foul everything that moves, he'd probably be a good starter.

[Matt800]

there was a 2nd MRI last week, and the team announced he was going miss at least another month, maybe longer. I can't recall what the exact result was or if the team released that info

https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/mri-confirms-skal-labissiere-left-knee-injury

Results of a second MRI confirm Trail Blazers forward/center Skal Labissiere has a left knee articular cartilage lesion

Labissiere will continue his rehabilitation protocol and be re-evaluated in four weeks.

[d-train]

I don't know of any update... I just wanted to say that I think this kid is the perfect long-term backup to Collins at the 4. Hope he stays a Blazer for several years more. That is all.

I hope that Collins is just not given the 4, but an actual preseason competition between him and Skal is allowed to determine starter's minutes at that position. No matter the results, it would be a nice tandem at 4 and spillover to 5.

If you ignored 100's of hours of competition between the players and put fresh eyes on Collins and Skal, it would take Collins about 10 minutes to win the starting job.

Skal has obviously worked very hard on developing a game with the ball. He has some very good scoring skills that Collins doesn't have yet. The reason Collins is a special player is because of his combination of quick feet and length. Whiteside gets so many blocked shots because he stays near the basket and the ball comes to him. Collins doesn't get the blocked shots because he can defend the whole floor and the basket. Collins can show hard on screens at the 3 point line and get back to the basket to disrupt shots in the paint.

[Epicurus]

In your listing of Collins perceived strengths, I fail to see anything the Skal has not shown in his court time this season. That's why an open competition this coming preseason is warranted. Plus who knows now which players has what in the tank from thier respective injuries.

[BlazersBroncos]

In your listing of Collins perceived strengths, I fail to see anything the Skal has not shown in his court time this season.

I don't know who you are watching if you think Skal can move his feet as well as Zach. That's pretty clearly something Collins is better at.

As I said in another thread, Zach is locked up and Skal is an impending FA. That really is the biggest difference.

They are quite similar, neither terribly good at rebounding, both quite mobile and able to play both big spots, young. Skal has a mid ranged shot, Zach has a 3PT shot. But, at the end of the day Skal has never shown what Zach did in the playoffs.

I just don't like the idea of paying a guy who isn't a good compliment to Zach. We can get away with a low usage big in the starting lineup if we compliment him with a scorer. Paying Skal to compete for the starting spot, then paying Zach a year later, just seems very redundant. Especially when Skal is extremely injury prone, despite never playing more than 20mpg.

Finally, Stotts only giving Skal 17mpg despite our horrid big man depth may say something about how he sees him as a fit on this team. Its clear that Stotts wants a PF that can shoot the 3. Its why we throw junk like Mario and Tolliver out there.

Skal may be resigned, but if so it should be cheap and it will be to play backup center. Or as a utility big that can be 3rd string at PF and C. Because its very clear that Stotts demands 3PT range from any PF that gets consistent minutes in his system, at least as of lately.

[Epicurus]

You know Stotts changed his mind regarding SKal prior to his injury. Plus one of the factors impacting his use as 4 was needing him as backup center (something no one would prefer Tolliver or Mario for, if possible). And again SKal's 3 pointer history is no worse than Collins'.