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Mailbag: Portland Trail Blazers small ball lineups

By David MacKay

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I like elements of this design, but I am not entirely sold on it. As you suggested, the pick-and-roll defense would be interesting since Gerald Henderson, Moe Harkless, and Al-Farouq Aminu are all of similar size and athleticism. The somewhat interchangeable nature of their individual defenses within the collective would make switching a breeze. However, the idea behind conceding size on defense is typically to gain a speed/shooting advantage on offense, and I am not sure that this particular small ball lineup accomplishes that.

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The issue arises between Harkless and Aminu. Neither of them are particularly gifted 3-point shooters, though I suppose Harkless has shown flashes of potential. In order for small ball to work offensively, spacing has to be optimized. Usually the small forward that slides down to power forward is a 3-point threat that can draw out the defense and open up lanes for slashing; otherwise, the speed advantage goes to waste. Aminu would pull defenders in, if anything, so Harkless’ ability to slash (his greatest strength) would be actively impeded in a pairing. Since Harkless is only a questionable threat from deep, this leaves the Trail Blazers stuck between not having enough firepower to shoot and not having enough room to run, detracting from the purpose of fielding a smaller lineup.

With Aminu at power forward, Allen Crabbe would be a more palatable option at small forward. He is still very quick, like Harkless, but can shoot the lights out from deep, giving the Trail Blazers a better chance to space the floor and be more productive. He is also capable of defending multiple positions at a reasonably high level, so there is little to no loss on the defensive end. Probably gain, actually. The combination of Crabbe, Aminu, and Mason Plumlee is one of Portland’s best defensive frountcourts on paper, right after the Aminu, Ed Davis, Plumlee combo.

Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts and center Meyers Leonard (11) against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Really though, the Trail Blazers ought to have a 3-point shooter at power forward if they are going to go small. Meyers Leonard and Noah Vonleh are both excellent choices, but that wouldn’t really be going small, now would it? Curiously enough, Leonard’s skills as a shooter and sufficiency as an athlete would give the Trail Blazers some traditional small ball benefits, and he’s the tallest player on the team at 7’1”. In which case, there is little reason for Portland to shy away from plugging him in unless his defense is bad enough that losing four inches to bring in Aminu becomes worth it.

If the Trail Blazers truly want to go small while playing Aminu at power forward, there is another intriguing option. Playing Vonleh as a sort of stretch-5 would salvage some spacing and give the guards room to work. Vonleh is slightly bigger than Plumlee anyway, so I can see this as a possibility if Terry Stotts decides to play mad scientist. Heck, throw in C.J. McCollum at shooting guard and suddenly Aminu is the only player on the floor that can’t knock down threes. Something like Lillard-McCollum-Crabbe-Aminu-Vonleh could be exciting; especially in a late-game comeback scenario.

The point is that the Trail Blazers must look hard at both ends of the floor when going small. Having quick defenders that are versatile enough to choke the pick-and-roll is great, but not if the cost is both size in the post and offensive fluidity. Still, your proposition is only minor tweaks away from something special, and Stotts will be making minor tweaks all year. We are going to see a lot of combinations, and yours may be among them as the Trail Blazers find out how the new roster fits together. Like the team itself, it has potential if the right players develop the right skills.

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