thoughts on Detroit game

by JPop on Mar 14, 2007 11:33 PM PDT

First and foremost, I loved LMA's game tonight. Thats two nights in a row of double digit rebounds and he is murdering teams on the off. glass.

The matchup with Sheed was intriguing if for no other reason than the similarity of styles. But LaMarcus has a long ways to go yet. He scores off of

Turnaround J's
rebound and putback
freethrow line J's

He doesn't face up and take people of the dribble, ala Bosh. And he doesn't have a polished back to the basket game, ala Duncan and Brand.

Another thing I noticed is that Nate ran a high screen and roll with Fred E. Jones and Outlaw that worked well two consecutive plays in a row. Outlaw has developed a somewhat consistent J and Jones has just enough handle and athletic ability to keep teams honest on this play. Anything that allows the second unit another viable option in the halfcourt is a good thing, because they struggle when a team has good transition d.

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Great Observations!

--Dave

by Dave on Mar 15, 2007 1:26 AM PDT reply actions

good thoughts

you're right on with smoothie. he has a ways to go with his back to the basket game. But I think he has the skillset to develop a very good one. With Portland, he hasn't had much opportunity to work on it in the games. Zbo takes up that position and smoothie works off the high post.

I like the dynamic and chemistry that is developing with this new starting 5. I felt the 2nd unit didn't do their part last night to give the team a boost towards staying competitive and winning.

by mcmillion on Mar 15, 2007 7:41 AM PDT reply actions

My two cents...

I actually got to watch two quarters of the game last night, which is about how much Blazer basketball I've seen all season (time tough in Corvallis when you don't have cable, and your local NBC affilliate is out of Eugene). Anyway, just wanted to throw something out there.
Jpop, you are right on with LMA. He had a couple of great putbacks and his turnaround jumper took me back to the mid-90s watching Hakeem. He seemed a little sloppy with the ball at times, but after all, he's a rookie.
The little of Sergio I saw was not really good... JJ seemed more in control of the game and in my mind he looked like he needs to be our starter. Watching Dickau come in and immediately get abused by Chauncey was painful.
Our defense was pretty porous at times, watching McDyess cleaning the offensive glass pretty much every time is a problem we need to deal with.
Finally... how about Nate's shirt and tie? That was the best part of the game.

Bingo, bango, bongo!

by Babyshoes on Mar 15, 2007 8:28 AM PDT reply actions

bottom line is

this franchise has a long,long,long ways to go. like j,jack said in today's paper if we're just a little bit better than last year that's not saying much,and as i predicted yesterday detroit taught these young guys a lesson in how to play like champions*men if our leaders is a rookie who's a nice player but not a star player and a garbage man type player and compiler like zbo,like nate said in today's paper,WE NEED MORE TALENTED PLAYERS thank-you coach mcmillian for saying this let these people know this more talented players =more victories down the road...

by fatty on Mar 15, 2007 9:52 AM PDT reply actions

Men vs. boys

was the overwhelming impression last night. More than any other game this year I felt like I was watching a veteran, mature, and very professional team of men toy with an energetic group of kids. Seemed unfair. The end of the Spurs game also had that feel. As teams have jelled , are jockeying for playoff positions, and are taking things more seriously, I think we are going to see more of this. Our kids have a long ways to go. I do get joy from watching their development (especially Roy, Lamarcus, and Zach), and dreaming of a better draft pick.

by crakarjack on Mar 15, 2007 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah

One of the things I forgot to mention in the recap. The minute 'Sheed stepped out on the floor he looked BIG to me, like bulky. But that was just compared to most of our guys. 'Sheed actually never, ever works out and is hardly an imposing physical specimen compared to most of the NBA. We're boys to their men not just in terms of experience, but in body as well.

Hopefully a couple years will take care of that...

--Dave

by Dave on Mar 15, 2007 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

thank-you dave,crackerjack

you guys echoed my thoughts and points exactly.

by fatty on Mar 15, 2007 12:07 PM PDT reply actions

crakarjack i could'nt

have said it better myself these kids have a very very long ways to go..

by fatty on Mar 15, 2007 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

BN

Stop baiting fatty.

--Dave

by Dave on Mar 15, 2007 12:29 PM PDT reply actions

nation

dave said he would'nt trade martell*jack for d.williams.that is my d.williams is on my post.and i said except for the great s.nash nobody is playing better point guard in the nba right now acroos the board.some people just don't get it,i know you do but you just don't like utah which is understandable.but to say that martell*jack are better keeps is crazy,crazy,one's a bust and the other is ok while d.williams is great period.and it's just not my opinion it's the majority opinion around the country,it's a fact do anyone know who jack and webster is around the league i don't think so that's all...

by fatty on Mar 15, 2007 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Actually

I didn't say I wouldn't trade them, I said that right now it obviously looks like taking those two over D. Williams was a mistake. I hope someday that changes.

--Dave

by Dave on Mar 15, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

You might want to rethink that, Dave

As I showed last night how Jack is just a valuable as Chris Paul. Now I'm going to show how Jack is just as valuable as Deron Williams too.

......FG%...3P%...FT%...Ast..TOs..A/T
Jack..45.8..34.8..75.7..5.1..2.3..2.21
Deron 46.6..32.4..87.2..9.2..3.1..2.96

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3929
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3948

Defense: Pts allowed per 100 Poss.
Deron on 108.7 off 104.3 +4.4
Jack on 111.4 off 108.0 +3.4

http://www.82games.com/0607/06UTA2D.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0607/06POR3D.HTM

-Deron has a points scored advantage because of a coaching decision. Deron is the Jazz 2nd option on offense. Jack is the Blazers 3rd option on offense. As far as FG percentages go, Deron and Jack have less than a % point separating them. Jack is a slightly better shooter from 3, and a significantly better FT shooter.

Overall shooting: very slight advantage to Jack

-Ball-handling: Sloan runs one of the most PG friendly offenses in the league. If you don't believe my opinion, ask John Stockton. Deron's stats are amplified in Sloan's offense. On the other hand, Jacks stats are reduced by the amount of time Brandon Roy handles the ball for the Blazers. Assists to turnover ratio is the best way to compare Jack and Deron. Deron has a solid edge on Jack in this stat, but not an overwhelming one.

Ball Handling: solid edge to Deron

Defense: Deron gives up a point per 100 possessions more than Jack.

Defense: edge to Jack

Overall, when you look at what Jack and Deron are doing on the floor that they can actually control, Jack and Deron are pretty much a wash as far as overall value to their teams.

by Blazers Nation on Mar 15, 2007 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Why are you posting this in several spots?

Is it really necessary?

I understand your point. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. It is so worthwhile. Can we please move on?

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Mar 15, 2007 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes. It was.

It is good analysis. The subject was brought up on multiple threads. It was different people discussing the subject on the different threads.

by Blazers Nation on Mar 15, 2007 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions

assists

Deron is passing to guys who are moving, setting or coming off of picks, and can put it in the basket. Jarrett is passing to guys who miss, or in Zach's case, dribble for awhile before he shoots. Definately affects the assists. That being said, I would trade JJ in a heartbeat for Deron, and so would any GM in the league.

by crakarjack on Mar 15, 2007 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

dave for our shake

i really believe with more talent jack will be a good nba player 18-8-2.2,as for little man god help us !!!!

by fatty on Mar 15, 2007 2:45 PM PDT reply actions

Jack should shoot more

One of the few PGs in the league I say that about--but he should.

One other thing--if LA is to be a starter, he needs to learn to set mean picks. Would benefit Z-bo, too--both guys have the range to drain jumpers over guards should the defense switch on the pick.

But all in time...

by EngineerScotty on Mar 15, 2007 2:48 PM PDT reply actions

I think that Lamarcus is getting there

He laid the answer to the ground in the Nugget game, he is not strong enough yet I think to do that on a regular basis, but I think he is aware of the impact that could have on a game. All in good time indeed.

Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate??

by shenanigans on Mar 15, 2007 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

There's also the fouls issue.

As a rookie, LMA doesn't yet have a firm handle
on what's a legal pick, and what gets called.
He's in the process of learning the difference, and when he's sure of what he knows on that
(as well as being physically stronger, like you said), then he'll be setting a lot more picks.
If he went for it now, he'd be on foul trouble every night.
Juts going out setting picks in a trial-and-error way of finding out what's OK wouldn't be good.

Between here and there is better than either here or there.

by QualityPie on Mar 15, 2007 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions