Portland Trail Blazers: Should Skal Labissiere start at center?

Skal Labissiere had his best game in a Portland Trail Blazers uniform against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Hassan Whiteside injured and Portland deciding to go small in the starting line-up, Skal wrecked havoc against the Bucks second unit. On a night where the Blazers were short handed, he showed that this team has a promising future.

Hassan Whiteside is struggling. Be it injuries, defense, rebounding or finishing, he has struggled to impact the game consistently for this Portland Trail Blazers team. His lack of an outside game coupled with an inability to even move his feet on the perimeter, means his minutes will be limited if there are better options at center.

After Skal’s impressive game against the Bucks, is it time to take a chance and bring him into the starting line-up?

Even though he’s been in the league for four years, Skal is only 23. Drafted originally by the Kings, he was traded last year for Caleb Swanigan in a straight swap at the trade deadline. Originally used as a power forward, his size and length combined with the need for scoring at the four in today’s NBA, means he has been used exclusively at back up centre for this team.

His big 6’10 frame combined with a massive 7’6 wingspan also means he has the physical tools to be a center in today’s NBA. He is raw defensively but in limited minutes this year he has shown flashes of what’s required on that end.

Skal may not rebound on the defensive end like Whiteside does, but Whiteside’s rebounding numbers are on the way down. Whiteside’s limited skill set means rebounding has to be a massive part of his game, and with a $27 million dollar salary, any down tick in production will be noticed.

Skal has shown though, that his offensive rebounding numbers can be similar to or better than Whiteside’s. He has a massive body and carves out a ton of space under the rim.

His energy on defense has also been a calling card this year. His ability to move his feet on the perimeter and not be an open door like Whiteside gives him a distinct advantage. Skal has been engaged on that end and has blocked more shots per 36 minutes than his max contract teammate.

On offense, Skal has shown a lot more than Whiteside. He has thrown some nice passes out of the high post and the elbow. Even though these are infrequent due to the high usage of teammates like Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, he can hit teammates for back door cuts with some nice reads.

His three pointer is the main reason on offense that he adds more value than Whiteside. With an improved stroke and the confidence to shoot them if he’s wide open, it would mean a Blazers center would have to be guarded on the three-point line.

Extra spacing is a premium in this league. Not all teams have stretch fives, but if they do it makes a massive difference to a teams offense. This is the first game that Skal played more than 24 minutes. With a substantial role in the offense,  he attempted four threes, hitting two of them.

We shouldn’t get too carried away with just two made three pointers, but if Skal is shooting and making them, he can potentially make more.

Against one of the best teams in the league in the Bucks, Skal brought it on both ends. There aren’t too many centers in the league who can block five shots and hit two three-pointers.

Skal does need to tidy up his game in terms of fouls and the odd ill-advised turnover. But with the Blazers in a midst of massive slump that sees them languishing in 14th in the west, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to bench Whiteside and give him a crack.

The youth is the future of this team, and the energy provided by the guys on rookie contracts can give this team the spark it needs to get going again. Whiteside may be on the trade block anyway, so no better time than now to play Skal!