Portland Trail Blazers Bench: Turning A Weakness Into A Strength
The Portland Trail Blazers were battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference for a large portion of the 2012-13 season. While the Trail Blazers started strong, they eventually showed signs of wearing down a few weeks before the All-Star break.
The Trail Blazers lost ground on the rest of the Western Conference and never climbed back into playoff contention. Portland lost its final 13 games and finished the season with a 33-49 record. The Trail Blazers had a glaring weakness that had to be addressed in the offseason if they wanted to make the playoffs in 2013-14.
Don’t point your finger at the Trail Blazers starters from 2012-13. Portland’s starting five was one of the most efficient groups in the NBA. The problem with the Trail Blazers happened when they had to count on their bench for long stretches during games. The Trail Blazers bench averaged only 10.5 points per game, the lowest per-game scoring average in the NBA. By contrast the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks Mavericks all received at least 40 points per game from their bench.
Opposing teams and coaches knew if they played Portland close throughout the game that the Blazers would eventually have to count on their ineffective bench. Coach Terry Stotts’ other option was to play his starters so many minutes that their effectiveness would be compromised in the second half. Neither option would be enough for the Blazers in the highly competitive Western Conference.
The Trail Blazers wisely addressed this in the offseason with a series of moves that addressed the weakest part of their roster. Let’s take a look at the Trail Blazers’ new and improved depth heading into the 2013-14 season.
C.J. McCollum
The Trail Blazers have reasons to be optimistic that they have addressed their need for a scoring option off the bench in first-round pick C.J. McCollum. McCollum was the No. 10 pick in the NBA draft out of Lehigh. The 6’4”, 200-pound guard averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.05 steals per game.
The Trail Blazers found eventual Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard in last year’s draft and Portland sees a lot of the same traits in McCollum that led them to draft Lillard last year.
Robin Lopez gives Portland another solid option in the paint. (Photo Credit/Mark Allison/Flickr.com)
The Trail Blazers landed Robin Lopez in a three-team trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. General manager Neil Olshey had to part with center Jeff Withey, a future second-round pick and cash considerations. Lopez is only 25 years old and immediately upgrades the Trail Blazers’ rebounding and interior defense. Lopez is coming off a season in which he averaged 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds, both career highs. In an offseason full of deft moves by general manager Neil Olshey, the trade for Robin Lopez stands out as an incredible value.
Mo Williams will add instant offense to the Portland bench. (Photo Credit/Keith Allison/Flickr.com)
The Trail Blazers had already drastically improved their bench when they struck a two-year deal with free agent guard Mo Williams. Williams brings the Trail Blazers another versatile, dangerous weapon off the bench. The 10-year veteran brings career averages of 13.8 points and 5.0 assists. Williams is also a dangerous 3-point shooter, having hit 856 in his career.
The Trail Blazers signed veteran free agent point guard Earl Watson to add a measure of experience and leadership to their bench. Watson is now 34 years old, but the veteran had multiple suitors in free agency. Watson is a solid perimeter defender and a smart player who will help lead a number of talented young Portland players on and off the court.
The Trail Blazers acquired forward Thomas Robinson from the Houston Rockets in a deal for the NBA rights to Kostas Papanikolaou and Marko Todorovic, along with two future second-round picks. This was a small price to pay for a player that was the No.5 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The Rockets were anxious to clear salary cap space and Portland wisely took advantage of the situation.
Robinson is highly motivated to prove that he still worthy of a lottery pick. The Trail Blazers will work to speed up Robinson’s development in hopes he will be able to contribute this season.
Allen Crabbe
The Trail Blazers also acquired rookie guard Allen Crabbe. Crabbe left the University of California as the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year. Portland acquired Crabbe, who was selected with the No. 31 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers, on draft day in exchange for two future second-round picks.
Crabbe averaged 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in three seasons at California. His 209 3-pointers rank third in school history.
The Trail Blazers continued to make over their bench with the addition of Dorell Wright. Wright is a versatile guard-forward who will stretch the court out with his 3-point range. Wright has made 434 3-pointers over the past three seasons, fourth-best in the NBA over that time period.
Wright has career averages of 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in nine seasons with Miami, Golden State and Philadelphia. Wright’s best season came in 2010-11 when he averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game with Golden State.
The Trail Blazers may not have made national news like the free-spending Brooklyn Nets or Houston Rockets but they quietly had a great offseason. It does not always take signing a superstar to drastically improve a team. LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Nicolas Batum provide Portland with a strong core and they now have the surrounding talent and depth to make them a legitimate playoff contender in the Western Conference.