Nate doesn’t trust Greg yet, which is understandable, but that trust needs to come quickly if this team wants to compete in the playoffs this year. Greg is a game changer, everyone can see that, he is just not getting the opportunity right now. He is hitting 60% of his shots, yet taking less than 10 a game which is crazy, considering even in his undeveloped offensive state he is hitting that percentage. Yes he can turn it over when given the ball on the block, but this team should be willing to live with those type of growing pains.

Both Greg and the team can help this process though, his teammates can hit him when he rolls to the hoop, (sometimes it feels like this team can only run the pick and pop) and to be fair they are doing it more this year than last, but they can still look for it everytime, because it is open almost every time. Second Greg can establish better postion down low, he is pretty good at it, but sometimes he allows himself to be pushed out an extra 2 to 3 feet. When this happens and he gets the ball it is almost always a missed shot. Greg needs to pass these touches back out and repost for better position if he wants the ball back to score.

One play in particular I would love to see run is the fake back screen lob play. We see Greg set back screens everygame for LMA, basically Greg is on one block while LMA is on the other, Greg will run through the paint setting a screen on LMA’s defender which allows LMA to cross the paint and set up deep post postion while ready to recieve the entry pass from the guard. Many many times we see these type of screens defended very sloppy by the opponent, Greg’s man will try and bump LMA on his way through the key, and LMA’s man will hurry to get around Greg and catch up to LMA. What everyone seems to forget is Greg, by the very nature of the back screen Greg is put into position right at the rim, with his defenders back turned, all that is needed is a on target lob to Greg at the rim for a quick and easy score. I have seen the Blazers do this once, with the result being a LMA uncontested Dunk, but for Greg it is open almost everytime he sets a back screen.

Get Greg involved in the offense and he will become an even bigger force on defense. And he may just have enough energy to not pick up some dumb fouls. Is it any coincidence that Greg stayed completely out of foul trouble on the road against Minny when he was very involved in the offense from the beginning of the game?

Rudy’s turnovers are often beautiful, like when he tries to thread the needle between 4 defenders but doesn’t quite make it. You’ve got to give him points for effort. Unfortunately, both are turnovers. Plus teams are starting to realize when Rudy heads to the rim, he going to pass the ball if the lane is clogged. He’s starting to get predictable and causing turnovers on these passes. It’s hard to blame Rudy, though. He’s 6’6" and weighs 175 pounds. Does he eat? You just can’t attack the rim with that build.