Sharpshooters in position: POR are up to .500

With a disappointing 2-5 start, the Portland TrailBlazers are not where they want to be so far this season. The schedule is tough, but this is a no excuse team with the staff that demand and expect performance at a high level at all times. The pairing of Avery Bradley and Damian Lillard in the backcourt did not deliver the expected results. We tried all kinds of strategy changes that did not deliver much.

Enter Ray Allen and Kyle Korver. Two sharpshooting veterans that were inserted into the starting lineup to spread the floor and allow Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge to attack the basket. Portland are on a 4 game winning streak and have now reached .500 for the first time this season (6-6).

Allen and Korver are quietly filling out the statsheet in the background. Allen is shooting 5-8 (62%) from down town since being inserted into the starting lineup. He is averaging 7.3 points and brings a steady veteran presence. Korver is at 10-16 (62%) and the two veterans combine to make 5 threes a game at an amazingly high percentage. Perhaps more importantly, each are playing around 25 mins a game with an amazingly low USG% (below 11 for both). Korver is having the best times as his PER is 20.6, eFG% and TS% at 89.5%. He only turned the ball over once in the last three games. The presence of Lillard and Aldridge offensively obviously helps, but it seems that these guys are a perfect fit as Portland are looking to bounce back from a tough start.

ABSOLUTELY GREAT to see you sign these guys and they be effective for you!

It puzzled me and continues to puzzle me how other teams (that shall remain nameless) didn't even give these guys a sniff during FA, Ray likely due to age and Korver... who knows why but the "go young or die trying" trend in the League is what holds a few teams back so great to see you have the foresight to see what your team needed and get them, regardless of age or hype surrounding the players.

Great signings!

Was confused why it took so long until somebody signed korver after we cut him. Wouldnt have made sense for us to keep. So we cleared a roster spot to develope a young gun. Really good signings man!

Two great signings. Almost not fair having both on the roster.

I thought about signing Kyle, really did, but went other ways and it's also getting better for me now
Nicely done signing both of them, really spreading the floor to your stars. Let's see what kind of tactic is necessary to beat you in our next game

Marcos_Beck (OKC) wrote:Let's see what kind of tactic is necessary to beat you in our next game

I highly recommend zone   

andrei (POR) wrote:

Marcos_Beck (OKC) wrote:Let's see what kind of tactic is necessary to beat you in our next game

I highly recommend zone   

LOL
I'm gonna play 3-2 zone just to make sure your guys are getting no 3pointers.
Better rest Allen and Korver because they're both a little bit old to run around screens all night long with 25yo George and 28yo Brewer going after them.. Specially with both being 6'9 and very athletic.