The numbers tell what’s happening in Portland.
It took Coronavirus and injuries to get Terry Stott’s to do what has been said here starting years ago—PLAY THE TALENT! The numerical suggestion before the start of the season was to do just that. There’s more, too! Try starting Trent Jr. alongside Dame with CJ coming in as a rotation player. This gives Portland more diversity and less predictability with the first team and offers additional talent with the rotation.
The Blazers team numbers and Stotts’ personal numbers encourage the distribution of talent and a rich mixture of combinations to create a winning team.
But a big question remains: Will Stotts continue to mix it up? Or will he go back to the predictable 8/9 man rotation?
Terry Stotts (photo, SI.com)
As mentioned before the season, a winning combination might be Dame, Trent, Jones, Covington, and Nurk with CJ, Ant, Hood, Carmelo, and Kanter as a second unit (slight variations considered). The current starters are doing well, so why not leave Dame, Trent, Jones, Covington, and Kanter on the floor as starters? Then bring in CJ, Ant, Hood (or Little), Carmelo, and Nurk as a second unit.
That approach would give Nurk a chance to get his timing and stamina back against second-unit players. Similar to CJ, it would also give him a chance to get his footing back (so to say) against lesser opponents. Stotts could then mix and match according to need.
Does Stotts have the imagination and nerve to try it? Probably not. And would CJ be willing to adjust? Probably so.
This is a crucial season for Stotts (numerically speaking) to establish himself as a contending championship coach. What fans don’t want to see is this team go something like 45-37 again (as they always seem to do) and, then, end up looking in from the outside at playoff time.
