Aaron Gray Our New Starting Center

[mcHAPPY]

Would you say he has more upside as an overall player, than J.Johnson with a consistent 15-foot jumper?

I'm not Balls, but I think yes, yes, yes.

JJ, and all fans, should embrace the notion of him being a 6-8th man on the team. He is instant energy off the bench when he focuses on defense and plays within himself on offense.

[Nilanka]

It's wishful thinking on my part. Oh and Nilanka, I have seen him play several times over the last two years. He's good. Played well in Europe too during the lockout. He can defend and shoot the three rock. He's young and fits the mold of what the raps need. He's in contract talks but Portland is low balling him. The GM has gone on record that he cannot afford to sign both him and Wallace to juicy deals. He's not happy with his bench role.

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/st...31384960197200

Would you say he has more upside as an overall player, than J.Johnson with a consistent 15-foot jumper?

[Balls of Steel]

is that being discussed? I know Batum is in a contract year though? link?

It's wishful thinking on my part. Oh and Nilanka, I have seen him play several times over the last two years. He's good. Played well in Europe too during the lockout. He can defend and shoot the three rock. He's young and fits the mold of what the raps need. He's in contract talks but Portland is low balling him. The GM has gone on record that he cannot afford to sign both him and Wallace to juicy deals. He's not happy with his bench role.

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/st...31384960197200

[Chr1s1anL]

Aaron Gray get the start

[SuperRaptor]

is that being discussed? I know Batum is in a contract year though? link?

Lol I think this has been discussed only on this forum on a thread called: "So we are flipping Ed Davis huh?" I'm pretty sure this is pure speculation, but so is 80% of what is discussed on these forums.

[SuperRaptor]

Aside from loosing streak ... this team is discussing Kleiza, Gray and Butler in the starting lineup it really tells you how bad it is.

No matter what the situation is, you have to always try and get better. I think a tweak in the starting lineup now that you have a healthy Aaron Gray is in order. Especially considering a less than 100% Amir Johnson at the moment. Casey apparently has been hinting at a lineup change with the bigs in interviews the last coupe of days. This was being commented on by "The Doug" :

http://www.thestar.com/sports/basket...hat-will-it-be

[charlz]

Aaron Gray since coming back has been making his presence as a big body felt in the middle, and in today's game against the clippers he was the only one who was able to...

Aside from loosing streak ... this team is discussing Kleiza, Gray and Butler in the starting lineup it really tells you how bad it is.

[charlz]

Ed Davis for Batum needs to happen soon so that Amir can slide back to backing up Bargs at 4

is that being discussed? I know Batum is in a contract year though? link?

[SuperRaptor]

I agree with SuperRaptor on this...we aren't making the playoffs why allow a player to play hurt?

Let him heal, throw Alabi some NBA minutes, lets see if Gray should stay long term. Let's see what Forbes can do in

greater minutes at his natural position.

+1

[thead]

I agree with SuperRaptor on this...we aren't making the playoffs why allow a player to play hurt?

Let him heal, throw Alabi some NBA minutes, lets see if Gray should stay long term. Let's see what Forbes can do in

greater minutes at his natural position.

[Nilanka]

Not sure I agree. Opposing C's cover the guy who play's closest to the basket, not the guy we want to call a C. Amir / Bargnani, Bargnani / Amir is the same thing when we have the ball. Covering C's can wear on you, but that's no excuse when the game is still as fresh as his legs are.

Shooting 28% in spot up chances this year, he has the look of a guy who was rehabbing injuries instead of improving upon last season. He was almost money in the bank from mid-range last year, and this year you are surprised when they go in. His shooting stroke looks completely broken right now. There is a weird hesitation between getting his legs into it and the release, and he's aiming it instead of following through.

Sorry, I was talking about production from a defensive/rebounding perspective, especially over the last few games.

But you're right, his wrist could definitely be affecting his shooting mechanics.

[big_chris]

I personally don't think Amir's slowed production is a result of his off-season surgery. I think it's 100% due to him playing out of position.

Not sure I agree. Opposing C's cover the guy who play's closest to the basket, not the guy we want to call a C. Amir / Bargnani, Bargnani / Amir is the same thing when we have the ball. Covering C's can wear on you, but that's no excuse when the game is still as fresh as his legs are.

Shooting 28% in spot up chances this year, he has the look of a guy who was rehabbing injuries instead of improving upon last season. He was almost money in the bank from mid-range last year, and this year you are surprised when they go in. His shooting stroke looks completely broken right now. There is a weird hesitation between getting his legs into it and the release, and he's aiming it instead of following through.

[SuperRaptor]

Amir having to get surgery instead of working on his game this summer has held him back. I wish we'd shut him down last March, and had him get surgery then. Having said that, Amir is a PF who can log some minutes at C, not a proper, C / PF.

I like Gray as starting C. Even if he only plays 5 minutes to start the 1st and 3rd quarters. We need his size on the floor.

He has shown flashes of brilliance this year, and has probably been our most consistent player (after bargnani that is) for the most part. But he has hand/wrist injury, is causing him problems, he even admitted that it hasn't been healing, cause he re-injuries it every game, and that he is considering getting an MRI. The kid is too young to take chances on, especially this season, better to have him get 100% and then come back.

[SuperRaptor]

I personally don't think Amir's slowed production is a result of his off-season surgery. I think it's 100% due to him playing out of position.

He definitely losses some productivity cause he is playing out of position. But I'm pretty sure he is not 100% right now, he has that brace on his hand, in the interview last night he said that he might be getting an MRI on it. What I'm saying is that if he is not 100%, then he shouldn't play, this is not the season where we need to be rushing any guys back from injury. We have a full roster, give play time to other guys to let them prove themselves, and if we don't have a great season whats the worst that will happen? (top 5 pick next year) I like what I have seen from Aaron Gray especially in the last game against the clippers, and I would like to see us play a real big, heavy, rebounding, back to the basket, bruiser for a C.

[Nilanka]

Amir having to get surgery instead of working on his game this summer has held him back. I wish we'd shut him down last March, and had him get surgery then. Having said that, Amir is a PF who can log some minutes at C, not a proper, C / PF.

I like Gray as starting C. Even if he only plays 5 minutes to start the 1st and 3rd quarters. We need his size on the floor.

I personally don't think Amir's slowed production is a result of his off-season surgery. I think it's 100% due to him playing out of position.