Blazersedge: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: The Boxing Bulletin for Boxing Fans!

Rant in Defense of Our Point Guards

In my mind, there is no way the point guards are to blame for our losses.

In reference to the earlier Steve Blake diary, I really cannot see any way in which Steve Blake, specifically, is hindering us.  I think the problem at point guard is due to a lack of both confidence and clarity.  And that is directly derived from Nate's failure to invest in one primary, go-to point guard.  As I see it, the reason Steve Blake is passing on some open shots is because he's trying to stay with the offense Nate is demanding (high pick and rolls and iso's for LMA, Roy, and Outlaw).  Both home games this week, far too often we saw repeated attempts at high pick and rolls in a single possession that went nowhere, ending with a player trapped beyond the three point line with no passing options.  Because that was the whole offensive plan.  Think about it: other than inbounds sets, how often do you see away-from-the-ball screens on this team?  If they're there, I think the players must just be running through them without really rubbing off their man.  The ones I've seen are few and far between.  (In general, we need a lot more attacking the basket, as well.)

Based on what I saw of Blake during the abysmal '05-'06 season, he can score and shoot quite competently when he knows that's part of the plan.  But Nate has not asked Steve to be a scorer in this offense.  So, as a result, Steve is shooting tentatively.  That's all there is to it.  I'm not a big Dwight Jaynes fan, but I have to agree with his article today regarding Nate's endless shuffle at point and the lack of an organized offense or defense.  I think that given the opportunity (by this I mean 30 mins/game every night and not being criticized for every mistake or pulled after 1 turnover) and green light to score, Blake, Rodriguez, and Green could all be very quality, capable starting point guards for us.  I'm convinced that Jack, on the other hand, is really a shooting guard/finisher.  

Another problem the point guards are experiencing is that we are nominally moving towards being a "running team" but none of the necessary infrastructure is there.  Here's what a running team does: designate two guys to crash the boards hard EVERY play (the 4 and 5), they get the ball immediately to the point guard, and the 2 and 3 should already be out running the sidelines and ready for the outlet.  And we're simply not doing this.  Even after made shots, the ball shouldn't touch the floor.  Pryz takes it from the net, gets it immediately in to the 1, who should make a forward pass before he crosses the half court line.  This almost never happens.

Despite the argument that Roy is not a run and gun finisher, I do believe we have the personnel to play this style.  But Nate has to instill/enforce it, instead of asking the team to jog it down and set up another high pick and roll, leading to an elbow isolation.  It's turning into the Rasheed/Z-Bo/isolation-ville fiasco all over again.

Poll
Is Nate to blame for our lack of running game?
Absolutely
7 votes
It's a mix of meciocre coaching and poor execution
23 votes
No. It's all on the players and their lack of defensive toughness (Nate's theory)
15 votes

45 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 1 comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

I like our guards
but something has been going on when we keep making everyone elses point guards look like all-stars. I thought that Jack and Blake were suposed to be defensive minded. Blake has been okay, but Jack has been driven on like Jr. High ball handling cone drills. Tinsley burned him on a face up jumper. Tinsley! (Man that guy can be a punk when he hits some shots).

by OCBlazerfan on Nov 30, 2007 12:23 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

A site by Blazer fans, for Blazer fans
Start posting about the Trail Blazers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Ego, Selfishness, Superstars, and Perspective
Screen_shot_2009-11-03_at_9
Junk Drawer 11/22/09 - Your Greatest Fear
Troll_stone_cropped_small
Who has the best hair in the NBA?
Blazers_small
Mr. McMillan, meet Reality.
Small
From Benefit of the Doubt to Just Plain Doubt.

Recent FanPosts

Original
Start Miller and Rudy
Batum_small
Blazers Revert to 2008 Team
Small
Style vs Substance
Small
The Steve Blake Paradox
300px-color_icon_gray_svg_small
Thanksgiving Week Trade Drawer: What To Do With Andre Miller?
Small
I hate the way roy is playing

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

A modest proposal: Fire Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey!
For Ann, and Travis.
FREE GREG ODEN
"It's been good for us," Oden said. "We're going to stick with it. We have...

Recent FanShots

Koponen!
Tossing Andre Miller Under the Bus
Blazers statistical scouting reports (2008-09 season)
Is this worth linking?
Buzz Cut, Mohawk or Afro? Which one is better?
Did we sign Juwanna man as our 14th guy or for 9M a year?
the key to a portland championship
Pendergraph is running at full speed and could be cleared to play by Christmas.
Bayless describes his situation on the team as "tough".
Think The Blazers Had A Bad Night? Check Out Nate Robinsons Night!

+ New FanShot All FanShots >


Editors

Kitten_small Dave

Ben_small Ben.

Moderators

Pict1126_small -ken

Polar_bear_small jorga

Terryporter_small prezofdeath

Small usmcr3049

Jesus_icon_i_small T Darkstar

Wallpaper_small geoffm