Outlaw's Role

by Powder on Jul 22, 2008 11:14 AM PDT Comment 19 comments

I know that this has been discussed to no end on this forum. I'm sure there are a fair amount of you who are tired of it.

However, I'm not, so I'm creating this post and poll:

Travis Outlaw proved exactly one thing TO ME last year, the kid can score. His defense is supremely mediocre, his passing is average (when he remembers how), and his dribbling skills are definitely below average. I'm not down on the guy, I know he's working on these, and is still very young. But I don't quite see him fitting into the starting role just yet. People talk about Bayless being too focused on scoring to fit into our offense with Roy/LMA/Oden already needing touches. However I don't quite see a difference with Travis.

In my opinion (actual value $.000001) I think Travis is a fantastic 6th man right now. The things he needs to work on don't necessitate a starting role. If he shows us that he can do a bit more with the second unit I'd be more than happy to let him get some burn, but with his current skillset I think it's the best spot for him.

Let me know what you think. Does he deserve a top 5 role? Or are his skills currently tailor made for the 6-spot (keep in mind, this is strictly for this season)? Or do you think we should trade him while his stock is high and let Rudy go for our 6th spot?

Poll

What should Travis Outlaw's role be this year?

Give him a starting spot

4 votes

He's doing great as our 6th man

108 votes

Trade him while he's worth something

10 votes

122 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Comments

travis is not a starter

I don’t believe Travis will ever become a starter on this team. Sure he will start on occasion, but not full time. His talents are awsome off the bench in short minutes, (under 30), but get exposed playing longer. He can improve, but I don’t think we will see alot more improvement out of Outlaw, he has been in the league for over 4 years now, he is what he is, which is pretty darn good.

by usmcr3049 on Jul 22, 2008 11:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I say trade him while he has some value

He’s light years behind Rudy, or Jarryd, or even Martell in basketball IQ and I don’t see that changing very fast. Trade him while some teams still think he has promise. Don’t pull a Sergio with him (keep him because we think he’ll be the next great player and then watch him fade into obscurity).

I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul. - Charles Wesley

by Earl on Jul 22, 2008 11:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

P.S.

Just waiting to get #25’d.

I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul. - Charles Wesley

by Earl on Jul 22, 2008 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Earl. #25

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 22, 2008 10:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

travis , 6th man for the next ten yrs.

as a season ticket holder i got to see Travis come into his own last yr. this guy was the most fun to watch on the team last yr. i feel he is still one of those guys that has a lot of upside left. His recent attention to working out in the offseason shows his maturity is now starting to develop along with his skill set.you havnt seen the best that Travis can be yet , but you will!!!!

by 2phattoplay on Jul 22, 2008 11:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

As much as I like Travis, I believed that he can be a starter but I think he fits best as the 6th man role. He has all the freedoms and lots of touches with the White unit. He is a team player, he doesn’t care of being a starter or not. He’ll do his best to contribute to the team.

Go Blazers.

by BlazersD00nie on Jul 22, 2008 4:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a good sixth man...

...although a couple of rookies could potentially erode his role as superscorer off the bench.

But still, Trout can do a few things that few else in the league can.

Of course, if the right offer comes our way, I wouldn’t hesitate to move him; he’s not untouchable. But I seen no reason to assume that Travis will regress, and that We Need To Move Him Now Before Other Teams Figure Out That Last Year Was A Fluke.

by EngineerScotty on Jul 22, 2008 11:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Travis is not a starter

He is our man off the bench. Yes we have beat this one to death. Redundance is fun however

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes. - Marcus Fabius Quintilian (35-95AD) Roman Rhetorician, Critic

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 22, 2008 11:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The main reason to keep Travis:

Fourth quarter, five seconds on the clock, Blazers down by 1. Roy drives, then kicks out to Outlaw.

The Whole World Is Watching. And holding its breath.

There’s no better moment in sports.

Asked his specialty in the kitchen, Oden paused and said, "Hamburger Helper and tuna fish."

by MiledAnimal on Jul 22, 2008 12:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Jul 22, 2008 12:06 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

hahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

That which prematurely arrives at perfection soon perishes. - Marcus Fabius Quintilian (35-95AD) Roman Rhetorician, Critic

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 22, 2008 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That looks more like llama to me

A Time For Heroes,
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And its all up the walls
Well the stale chips were up and the hopes stakes were down
Until Kp came into Town!
'Sing it Petey!

by Dheepan on Jul 22, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's a unicorn

you go to hell for beating dead unicorns, and for posting cheap animation of people beating dead unicorns.

Ball Don't Lie

by bothteamsplayedhard on Jul 22, 2008 3:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the guy

is just trying to revive that hornless unicorn

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Jul 22, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep that one handy

There are many, many places on BE where it is needed!

Asked his specialty in the kitchen, Oden paused and said, "Hamburger Helper and tuna fish."

by MiledAnimal on Jul 22, 2008 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I’m actually really surprised. Over the last year I’ve seen a lot of people call for Martell to go to the 2nd unit and Travis to jump into a starting role. I expected there to be some debate from some Trout lovers.

by Powder on Jul 22, 2008 1:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, basically my argument which has been repeated ad infinitum

1st unit needs
-3pt shooter
-Plays within offense
-Defense
-Ok with limited touches (aka Role player)

Martell
-3pt shooting (check)
-Plays within offense (check)
-Defense (eh well he’s much better than Travis, he’s at least average at this point)
-Ok Limited touches (well he plays better when more involved, but still has a lot more intangibles than Travis when he’s not shooting)

The other thing is with his confidence issues, he probably won’t take being benched as well as Travis.

Travis
-3pt shooting (nope, shoots a high % but only from the corner)
-Plays within offense (nope, he’s a volume shooter)
-Defense (nope, he’s pretty bad, decent weak-side shot blocker but that’s about it)
-Ok with limited touches (he was a pretty poor rebounder at PF last year, and besides his shooting he’s not effective in many other areas)

Also you have to consider his conditioning (asthma), he hasn’t played well when he has had extensive (35+) minutes. You want him fresh and ready to make those clutch shots in the 4th. He can’t do that if he’s worn out. Secondly, he doesn’t really care about being in the 1st unit, or getting the glory, stuff like that, he’s fine being the 6th man.

This is the current opinion and arguments of the majority of the BEdge faithful.

by Dheepan on Jul 22, 2008 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

I dont know if

the asthmatic bit gets him off the hook. If he had an attack that would be one thing, but it probably does not lower his aerobic fitness enough to severely affect him.

Remember in the goonies where the kid who goes onto to play Sam has asthma but it does not affect his ability to best one eyed willy. I think Travis’ situation mirrors that one perfectly.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Jul 22, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

As far as the defense goes,

his weakness at defense last year seemed to be exposed mainly in playing help defense at the pf position. Since the coaching staff appears to be making a committment to playing Travis exclusively at the 3, I wonder if we will see significant improvements in his defense due to a better use of his length/athleticism/quickness, as well as not being exposed as much since he won’t be needed for help defense. If his on ball defense continues to be bad, then I could see him being a liability playing d at the 3, especially when drawing assignments like LeBron or Pierce. I think he will make or break us in crucial matchups against the fakers, especially with drawing Odom.

I'm a rec whore, so sue me.

by premthegrem on Jul 22, 2008 6:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs