Nate on Joel

by TwoDeep on Feb 22, 2008 11:53 AM PST

This quote from Mike Barrett's blog:

"Afterwards(referencing last night's game), Nate McMillan said that having Joel on the floor more is what this team needs, and said he plans on moving in that direction."

Did I read that correctly?!! For the life of me, I can't understand why it's taken Nate so long to come to this realization?! This concept has seemed so obvious and many Blazer Edgers have been screaming for it all season long. It's about time.

Still, seeing is believing (although Joel did get 31 minutes last night.)

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That's right

we were not scoring much down the stretch, but neither were they.

I think Nate's dilemna is that he wants both Aldridge & Outlaw on the floor in the 4th. We need Outlaw's clutchness and LMA's development... that has left Pryz out.

by tweener on Feb 22, 2008 11:58 AM PST reply actions

solution

Pryz at center, LMA at PF, Trout at SF, Martell at SG. Isn't this just practice for when Oden comes back. Nate played this lineup at the end of the Seattle disaster, and I thought it was pretty effective.

by blazernerd on Feb 23, 2008 8:21 AM PST up reply actions

Nate was reading Blazers Edge the whole

time, he just doesn't want to say it in public. The whole Blazers community looks to BlazersEdge for feedback, support, encouragement, criticism, analysis, and most importantly, strategy.

Thanks for reading Nate!!!

by hotstuffdb22 on Feb 22, 2008 12:27 PM PST reply actions

More Proof

That we are all smarter than a NBA Lifer Like Nate Mcmillan.

by Jack Burton on Feb 22, 2008 12:28 PM PST reply actions

Hmm

He must be getting my text message. I'm happy for the team with this new development. I expect fewer layups by the opponents.

"Register all of your pre-, in-, and post-game thoughts right here." from Dave on a game day thread.

by tominhawaii on Feb 22, 2008 1:06 PM PST reply actions

Frye

This also gives less playing time to Frye as well, which in turn allows Frye to continue writing the most mundane sports blog ever.

by Scorcho on Feb 22, 2008 1:13 PM PST reply actions

Frye is a good player though.

I would like to see him be able to play to his strengths of passing and shooting. I would like to see if he could be the initiator on the high pick and roll. Frye and Joel...Frye and Roy...it would lead to some interesting matchups.

"I was in the neighborhood, feeling a little daffy, so I thought I would stop in for an aperitif." Tom in Miller's Crossing.

by Kampeska on Feb 22, 2008 1:49 PM PST up reply actions

Gee

What are all the Blazer Edgers who kept saying, "Who are you to question Nate? Do you know more about basketball than he does?" going to do now?

Nate, I'm glad to see that you have seen the light! There is hope that you aren't to proud to admit an occasional mistake.

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Feb 22, 2008 1:16 PM PST reply actions

It's not the

"hey we should do this"
It's the negative and personal attacks and calls to fire.

I don't think we should fire nate. I DO think he makes mistakes and I'm surprised it's taken him this long to figure it out. I also have to assume that he knows more than I do and there are reasons. Maybe his goal was to see what frye could do so that the blazers could make moves in the summer based on how people fit. We don't know and that's not something Nate would tell us. This season was not about the play-offs. This season is about figuring out what holes we need to fill in the next few years, and those holes are pretty dang clear now.

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on Feb 22, 2008 3:57 PM PST up reply actions

I'm one of those BE'ers and I'll stand by

my assertion that Nate has a far better understanding of what is going on with the Blazers and what is needed than anyone here.

So some people have said Nate needs to be using Joel more, particularly late in games. (I'm actually someone who thought that.) Now, he's saying that yes, I need to get Joel more minutes. That falls more under the category of the acorn and the blind squirrel than it does prove of our basketball knowledge superiority over McMillan.

by timg56 on Feb 22, 2008 2:50 PM PST reply actions

I agree Tim.

by TwoDeep on Feb 22, 2008 6:47 PM PST up reply actions

ditto

I don't think there is any chance in hell Nate has not considered any of the alternatives the BE'ers have been suggesting. I'd be surprised if any of the couch coaches have 10% of the basketball IQ of Taurean Green, muchless Nate. Not that BE'ers aren't knowledgeable and passionate about the game, they just haven't spent their entire life devoted to playing the game at the highest level and been successful at it.

But at the time the Blazers were doing exceptionally well, so why would he mess with what's working. LMA/Trout in 4th qtr, Pryz on the bench. Nate has definitely been trying some different things, like playing Pryz in the 4th, since our recent tailspin.

by blazernerd on Feb 23, 2008 8:32 AM PST up reply actions

perhaps

Perhaps Nate was told to try to develop Frye, Aldridge, Outlaw, etc. just to see everyone's potential. Now that it is crunch time, with still a small window to maybe make the playoffs, Nate is doing what he has wanted to do all along...for one last push. I bet if we drop completely out of the playoff race, we will see less of Joel again.

by clonigro on Feb 22, 2008 3:55 PM PST reply actions

NIce

I just posted pretty much the same thing.

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on Feb 22, 2008 3:57 PM PST up reply actions

This is not

the first time Nate has said he wanted to get Joel more playing time. He has said it before but has not done it. I hope he follows through this time.

by sleeves on Feb 22, 2008 4:25 PM PST reply actions

You all have to remember

that Nate does tend to say things that don't end up happening, like playing Travis exclusively at the 4 and getting Sergio more minutes. I don't tend to listen to what Nate says to the media as much as I listen to how Nate votes with his substitutions.

--Dave

by Dave on Feb 22, 2008 10:57 PM PST up reply actions