Game 14 Recap: Blazers 94, Warriors 108
by Ben Golliver on Nov 20, 2009 11:23 PM PST
in News
267 comments
The most frustrating losses are the ones that are the most predictable. Tonight's 108-94 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Oakland certainly qualifies as predictable.
Every possible goal that would have been included in a game plan was not achieved. A brief list: limit turnovers, limit fast break points, pound the ball inside, exploit the Warriors' lack of depth, keep track of Golden State's shooters, play hard on the road, keep a level head during disagreements with the referees, remain open to the idea of strategic flexibility while playing against perhaps the most unconventional team in the NBA.
Of that list, the last one was perhaps the most difficult to watch, as Nate McMillan clung inflexibly to his "2 fouls and you're done for the half" rule, benching both Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge for the entire second quarter. The players combined to finish with just 6 fouls for the entire game, and their significant size and skill advantages were forfeited not only during the time they were on the bench but also during much of the third quarter, when both players struggled to get themselves back in a rhythm after such a long rest.
As things fell apart on cue -- the Warriors outscored the Blazers by 12 in the second quarter, by 4 in the third quarter -- McMillan stood by clapping his hands, hoping to exhort effort from the rest of his players who seemed quite content not to respond. On Wednesday night, Brandon Roy admitted to me he didn't know his role on this team. Tonight he played like it. And the rest of his Blazers teammates, except Rudy Fernandez, followed his lead. When all was said and done, the Blazers laid a big, nasty, egg on the road, playing without heart, composure, effort, pride or much thought.
Timeouts were spent ignoring their coach's instructions, offensive possessions were wasted with terrible decision-making, defensive possessions were spent halfheartedly rebounding and griping at the officials, and crunch time was spent with the starters on the bench and the game out of reach, an ultimate embarrassment against a Warriors team that gave minutes to a same-day call-up from the D-League signed just to meet the league's healthy body minimum and who allowed the Blazers to jump out with a season-high 37 points in the first quarter.
If Wednesday night's win over Detroit was a lesson in playing a full 48 minutes, then tonight's loss was a lesson in showing up for more than 12. Nothing more needs to be written.
Individual Observations
After reading back through these, they might be a little bit harsh. Just pretend I'm one of the assistant coaches chewing the guys out. Maybe drink half a fifth of Jack and then read them aloud while shouting at your monitor and throwing pillows. Liven things up a little bit. Things will return to normal tomorrow but, tonight, a reality check isn't the worst thing in the world.
Rudy Fernandez was the lone bright spot, the only Blazer that fulfilled his role and played with determination throughout his time on the court. 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 4 turnovers in roughly 38 minutes. He was slightly trigger happy, especially from distance, but his shot was falling and the Blazers needed that aggressiveness.
Brandon Roy struggled from the field (just 6 of 17 overall, 1 for 5 from distance), had more turnovers than assists and got lit up by Monta Ellis when the two players matched up. He spent more time arguing calls than rebounding, couldn't get easy buckets when his team faltered down the stretch, didn't help exploit interior mismatches after the first quarter and carried himself during the second half like he didn't expect his team to mount a comeback. Not an $80 million dollar performance for The Natural.
LaMarcus Aldridge should replay tonight's game tape in his mind's eye any time he starts dreaming about this year's All Star game in Dallas. A refined, established offensive player with go-to moves, he should be the biggest beneficiary of the mismatches presented by Don Nelson's uber-small lineup. Instead, he forced shots in traffic, committed dumb early fouls that limited his minutes, was a non-factor on the boards, watched plays develop around him as he wandered the perimeter and was neutralized by Corey Maggette. The fact that his coach doesn't trust him to play with two fouls -- and he seems OK with that -- are not good signs.
Steve Blake is still missing shots as I type this. 2-9 from the field; 0-4 from three point line. More difficult-to-watch defense against small, quick guards. Now more than ever the Blazers need offense from Blake.
Andre Miller looked like a player who didn't particularly care whether his team won or lost. He played grumpy. Like something was bothering him -- the refs, his ankle, the starting lineup, his role, who knows, whatever -- and he couldn't get his mind right long enough to concentrate on properly setting up his big men. 2 assists against 7 turnovers in a game against a team that cares as little about defense as the Warriors is unacceptable from a starting point guard on a playoff team. The coaches should be in his ear. And, unlike during timeouts tonight, he should be listening.
Greg Oden played a fine first quarter and then disappeared for the middle two quarters, making a brief re-appearance in the final period. 16 points, 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. Too little, too early. His shooting was efficient (6-8) because he's pretty solid at making dunks and he was attacking the basket when given the ball in good position, which was not nearly enough. Whatever lesson McMillan is trying to impart by sitting him for extended stretches is not getting through.
Joel Przybilla had one phenomenal defensive possession (back-to-back blocks before the Warriors finally cashed in on their 4th shot attempt of the possession) and hit the boards (9 rebounds in 20 minutes) but remains a shade of the all-around center that we saw last year. He didn't hit a field goal, didn't look for the ball against smaller competition and essentially tried to stay out of the way on offense. Like Blake, he needs to provide something on offense if he's going to play 20 minutes with Travis Outlaw injured.
Martell Webster is playing so poorly it's a wonder Nate McMillan can find 14 minutes for him. Don't be deceived by his +7, that came from garbage time buckets by his teammates that helped make the score look a little bit more respectable. No defense, no court sense, a missed corner three that the team expects -- needs -- him to knock down. His performance is likely as frustrating for him to live through as it is to watch. Whatever the exact opposite of "seizing the opportunity" is, Martell Webster is doing that. Maybe we can call it "Letting opportunity run out into the middle of a highway and get run over by an 18 wheel truck." Yeah, that has a ring to it.
Juwan Howard scored 0 points, had 5 rebounds and was -11 in 12 minutes of play. I'm not sure how much longer the Juwan Howard era can continue before his play becomes a Nate McMillan problem and not a Juwan Howard problem. There are few situations where Howard's number gets called and your first reaction isn't "Oh dear, here we go." Just play Cunningham. Let's see him play worse than Howard before Howard gets extended minutes again.
Jerryd Bayless brought some energy and it was jaw-dropping how long Nate McMillan waited to give him a chance, given how lackadaisical and out-of-sync the rest of the guards were playing. 6 points, 1 assist in 9 minutes. Adequate effort defensively. Nothing game-changing on offense but he played within the team framework alright. Deserved a shot to inject some life during the first half.
Dante Cunningham got 3 minutes of play in garbage time with his team losing by 20. That's not how it's supposed to go down.
Final Thoughts and Links
The Blazers fall to 9-5 but will enjoy the ultimate panacea tomorrow: a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Let's hope the plane ride home features some soul-searching, some player-to-player accoutability.
Before you clock out for the night, be sure to celebrate unconventionality in every form over at Golden State of Mind. A Grade-A website, period.
-- Ben Golliver | (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com) | Twitter
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Thinking on the Fly: The Delicate Art of In-Game Adjustments, by Nate McMillan. #booksneverwritten
i cry for nic
As much as I disagree with his 41-41 prediction
Simmons may have been spot on with his assessment of our guys tuning out Nate by the end of the year.
If I'm Greg Oden, I'd've tuned out Nate McMillan already.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
Yeah I agree.
If I were LaMarcus and Brandon, I’d be getting slightly irritated with him too.
For the life of me I can’t figure out what could have motivated Nate to keep LaMarcus out of the game for the entire second quarter. Neither can I understand why Blake is still in the starting lineup and why Brandon still is having to play out of position. He’s the best offensive weapon you’ve got and you put him in a position that he’s totally unfamiliar with besides taking the ball out of his hands on offense. Brilliant.
I agree with taking the ball out of Brandon’s hands on offense more because really he needs to learn to be active without the ball and it will keep him from being beat up physically in games so that he’s got more energy and the offense is more fluid when the playoffs come around, but putting him in the 3 spot totally wipes out any gains of taking the ball out of his hands on offense.
If we can’t have Martell in the starting five because he isn’t playing well at the moment, then give Rudy the nod and start him at the 3. Put Blake in the second unit where he belongs and stop screwing around Nate.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
It’s a loss, and a loss in November isn’t indicative of where the team will be in November. What matters now is what we do when faced with adversity.
We’ll see what the team is made of in the next few months. I hope the team isn’t tuning Nate out.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 21, 2009 12:08 AM PST up reply actions
Just curious...
what IS indicative of where the team will be in November?
That did strike me as a Freudian slip of sorts. Nate is in denial and still are many fans. The record is deceptive...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
And I so can't spell.
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
All this team
needed was oden to play the way he is playing now while staying in the game or a sf who could create for himself a bit. Instead they got desperate and signed the old and chemistry wrecking miller. Just disgusting. I can only hope batum can come back quickly as possible and this nightmare with roy guarding sf’s and not attacking the rim can end.
by BBG on Nov 20, 2009 11:26 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Chemistry wrecking?
Wow. Of all the tangible poor decisions and strategies, you want to chalk this up to chemistry?
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:31 PM PST up reply actions
players were tuning Nate out during timeouts.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 20, 2009 11:33 PM PST up reply actions
I'd attribute some of that to your first post.
But yes, that shouldn’t happen, I agree. I wouldn’t put that first in line as the cause of the loss though.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:34 PM PST up reply actions
Also, the crap lousy lineups handcuff the players.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:36 PM PST up reply actions
Miller has
cost the blazers roy. Its simple as that
I disagree.
In my opinion, Roy and Nate have cost the Blazers Roy so far this season. There’s no reason they can’t fix this.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:37 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
it'll be
fixed by trading miller at the deadline. There was no reason this team should have signed a legitimate starting point guard with roy on the team. His whole game has been thrown off since day one. Something he’s already admitted to. If roy wasnt such a saint this miller signing could have been real ugly hec it just might if roy keeps playing like this. Im still trying to understand exactly what was the plan in bringing in an aging miller? Win a championship now? Really?
You don't think a team with championship aspirations needs a "legitimate starting point guard"???
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:46 PM PST up reply actions
Jordan’s Bulls say no
Honor Jordan, Retire #45
by The Arkitect on Nov 20, 2009 11:50 PM PST up reply actions
point being a dominant 2 guard or point-forward can replace the need for a good point guard
Honor Jordan, Retire #45
by The Arkitect on Nov 20, 2009 11:55 PM PST up reply actions
Of which the Bulls had both
even if Roy could turn into a reasonable facsimile of Jordan, Scottie Pippen isn’t walking through the door any time soon.
Nicolas Batum
Gets compared to Pippen pretty often. You don’t see him playing a Pippen type point forward role in Portland, but he does on the French national team when Tony Parker isn’t in the game.
Also, Rudy = Ron Harper + 3-point shooting (actually Ron Harper took a lot of 3-point shots, he just missed most of them).
If I hear the Nic Batum - Pippen comparison
one more time I’m going to vomit. That’s easily the biggest joke on BE.
by Royster on Nov 21, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I'm also sick and disgusted with it.
It’s an insult to the criminally underrated Scottie Pippen.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
I dunno
I think Pippen is good, it’s not an insult to Batum to be compared to an okay role player like Pippen.
Good Ol’ Morty
Roy wasn't dominant enough in the playoffs last year to beat the double teams.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:57 PM PST up reply actions
how many
times does it have to be said that they lost that series because ROLE players stunk it up. A lot of that had to do with Houston being a great defensive team. Roy and lma played the way you want your stars to play
Right.
In a FLAWED SCHEME without enough talent at PG.
by Free Bayless on Nov 21, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions
really?
so playing 3 rookies in their first playoff series one of which was still coming back from microfracture had nothing to do with it? Not to mention travis a player who needs no pg to get his shots going awol? My concern with this team is have any of these players gotten better? Oden obviously has.
PG wasn't the biggest problem
Where we really struggled against Houston was at C and SF.
uhm no
aaron brooks taught steve blake a thing or two about being quick,
luis scola taught lamarcus aldrigde a thing or eighty million about how to post up and how to defend the post.
Aaron Brooks pretty much sucked after the first 2 games
And Luis Scola didn’t score much in the post against Aldridge. Most of Scola’s scoring came off of mid-range jump shots when Aldridge left him to double team Yao.
Meanwhile Przybilla isn’t a credible threat on offense and couldn’t defend Yao 1-on-1, so he was a liability on both ends of the court. Oden couldn’t stay on the court. Outlaw missed a huge number of shots, and Batum didn’t have the confidence to even try taking any shots.
you already
have one with roy. Bringing miller in creates something similar to a qb controversy with blake. Roy likes and excels with a blake or blake type of pg for obvious reasons. They went along and brought the direct opposite of that. What did you think was going to happen because i saw this happening from a mile away.
which he
did tonight numerous times tonight. Its not that hard
Andre Miller and Rudy are the only guards able to make post passes consistently
Roy not so much, but his is good at going iso (which is what 2 guards do).
andre miller and rudy lead the team in turnovers
trying to pass it in
It’s an offensive set problem
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 3:00 AM PST up reply actions
I don't have the data, but I'd bet you can count Roy's assists that generated points in the paint this season on two hands.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:58 PM PST up reply actions
well, not if you count his drives and dump passes
but if you are talkng pick and rolls and entry passes into the post, then yes, I’d agree
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
I may have selective memory, I'll readily admit to that possibility.
I just don’t remember him dumping the ball off to guys in the paint off drives for scores this year. I remember him either finishing (good), drawing enough contact for a foul (good), or not drawing enough contact on a miss and yelling (bad).
by Free Bayless on Nov 21, 2009 12:05 AM PST up reply actions
He has been, he had a nice dish in traffic to Pryz, I believe a couple of times last game. Not saying he does this all the time, but he has been just about the only one I have seen doing this, this year anyway.
That's part of the issue I believe
He only seems to look for that dump-off when Joel is on the floor. Greg was wide open under the rim several times and Brandon didn’t even look his way
Sucking at darts is not a super power
The idea is to get the ball to the big men
including many other point guard duties we didn’t have the talent to execute.
put a body on 'em
Did Steve Blake light it up tonight?
When I checked the box score, I could have sworn I saw that Blake got 30+ minutes while Miller got 18.
I also could have swore that the Blazers lost in the first round of the playoffs last year without a legitimate point guard.
There’s plenty of blame to go around and it starts with the coaching and our $80 million wunderkind, B Roy.
look at
the lakers lineup and look at the blazers pretty easy to see why they beat the rockets and the blazers didnt. It didnt have to do with having a legitimate point guard
The big difference there is
the Lakers have a tried and true offensive scheme and the Blazers have an ugly, isolation offense that resembles a high school team
Sucking at darts is not a super power
i've heard
kobe bryant and pau gasol and andrew bynum are a better offensive trio than roy, lma, and oden. seems a little far fetched, but i dunno. ariza and artest don’t hold a flame to outlaw’s defensive ability, yaknowhatimsayin?
Miller was also in foul trouble.
"Rudy is not everyday a shooter," Fernandez said. "He's defense. He's passes. He's assists."
Miller was very bad
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
Not that he was alone in that
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
if you are happy winning 55 games every year, then losing in the 1st or 2nd round,
then by all means be in favor of never having a legitimate PG and play Roy iso offense all the time, becuase that’s the ceiling of that offensive system.
If, on the other hand, you want to go deep and win titles, then you have to support brining in a true distributor, someone who knows how to get the ball down low, and will consistently do it. And we have to develop offensive sets that put people in motion and keep defenders on the move.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
by douglast on Nov 20, 2009 11:58 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Let a point guard run the team. Andre Miller is the only one on this team capable of it. Nate, stop trying to call every play from the bench. Its not working.
It was only a few games ago that the Mikes were saying that McMillan
had given the keys to Miller and wasn’t calling plays every time down the court. The team had some really good performances in that stretch. Where did that go?
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Although it is an old beef
I’m still shocked watching the Blazer guards try to feed the post.
Our bigs are marginalized by our own players
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:00 AM PST up reply actions
Brandon Roy's garbage effort on defense and inability to facilitate for Greg Oden ...
are glaring holes in his game that must be addressed. Dismayingly, though, I doubt that Nate McMillan is capable of solving those two issues.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
Thank You!
A voice of reason. We’ll never win big with the BR-needs-the-ball-in-his-hands-all-the-d*mn-time attitude. He needs to shoulder some responsibility for adjusting his game to a developing roster. Two years ago there wasn’t a better option than for him to go iso. Now that isn’t true.
put a body on 'em
what is
this roy iso talk? Just because he has the ball in his hands doesnt mean he’s going to shoot it. I can only imagine if wade or kobe joined the blazers and react to fans telling them they shouldnt have the ball in their hands
For the past 3 seasons, Roy has shown very little ability to:
a) make a good post entry pass
b) actually even LOOK for a picker rolling the basket
c) pass the ball to a man cutting or flashing to the basket.
He’s VERY skilled at driving to the basket, and either scoring or dumping it to a guy in the paint when he gets doubled. He’s also good at kicking it out to the 3 point line.
In short, he’s not a PG.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
by douglast on Nov 21, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
i dont watch wade too often
but i do know this….Kobe and Lebron make A LOT more jump shots than Broy does. And theyre way better at getting to the rim too.
lol
"Your best?!?!! Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and &^%@ the prom queen"
2008 Civil War: Oregon 65 - Oregon State 38
Thats more than slightly skewed.
All the truly great players have had to expand their game and learn to depend upon their team to propel them over the top. Brandon hasn’t reached that point yet, but he’s getting there. He’s going to need to know how to allow other guys to be the focus of the defense and move without the ball to get better position. He can’t just drive and get thrown around in the paint his entire career, unless that career is going to be rather short due to injury and just overall fatigue.
Miller is going to give us a better Brandon, when Miller has the permission and confidence of his coach to actually play the game they signed him to play.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Glad to see we watched the same game.
No pollyanna tonight.
"I saw him in the face" Sergio's quote on the latest alley-oop to Rudy.
by blazermaniac32 on Nov 20, 2009 11:29 PM PST reply actions
Ben did the review
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Dave saw this one coming too
intensity is still an Achilles heel for your Portland Trailblazers
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:02 AM PST up reply actions
they laid a big nasty something but egg wasnt it! LOL!
turd is more like it.
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 20, 2009 11:29 PM PST reply actions
Houston and
Golden State the blazers just cant win there
Thanks Ben
For your honest review of this train-wreck of a game. I am still trying to wrap my head around McMillan’s ‘gameplan.’ While blaming a coach may not be valid in most circumstances, I cant help but venture to guess how large a lead WE would have had if Nate would have left Aldridge and Oden in the game after picking up 2 cheap ones. Oden looked as dominant as I’ve seen him in this one, taking him out not only messed up his chemistry, but the entire teams chemistry. This is by far the ugliest 9-5 record I have ever seen…
Get well soon Nic and Travis
That’s all I’ve got right now, this team has big holes at SF and backup PF. Unless rehab goes better than expected for both/Martell steps up big, KP might need to make a mid-season deal, because this team needs help.
"man, steve blake is clutch *dead*" - Ben Golliver on Twitter
Gotta love how Warriors fans think Oden got owned by the Hunter guy trying to guard him. They also
think he blocked Oden’s dunk. Priceless comments over there.
They have a long season ahead of them
I don’t mind them enjoying this win, their team worked their butts off.
So did the refs. The did deserve the win, but it should have been much closer if the calls were even.
by BRoyInThe4th on Nov 20, 2009 11:39 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah the refs are a whole different story tonight
But I can’t blame the Warrior fans for enjoying this Golden State victory.
The WC is is going to be wild this year,the Clips beat the Nugs and get Griffen
Back Shortly,Utah and NO are digging a hole and OKC might not get a lotto ticket this year
by southern oregon on Nov 20, 2009 11:48 PM PST up reply actions
Utah won at San Antonio
They’ll be fine.
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
did you see that game? It was due to San Antonio being terrible.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 21, 2009 11:53 AM PST up reply actions
No, I missed it
but Utah is back on track.
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
tonight was
pretend Clear Path Fouls Don’t Exist Night in the NBA.
Party at Rudy’s house!
by pdxlifer on Nov 21, 2009 1:55 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I am surprised at how we didn't seem to know anything about Hunter
I mean, I know he is new to the NBA, but when the Warriors only have 8 players there is a good chance that they will play all 8 of them. The Blazers scouts should have at least looked up Hunter’s D-league stats and said “he hit 81% of his free throws last year, maybe we shouldn’t leave him open for short-range jump-shots.”
One thing I do have to give up to GSW
They have fantastic fans. Of all the things going wrong with that franchise, the stadium was packed to the gills.
And yet, the Hawks play in front of 4000 people…
I hope they can get some good ownership/basketball people in place
that place was crazy a few years back when they beat Dallas in the playoffs
"man, steve blake is clutch *dead*" - Ben Golliver on Twitter
by blazeraddict on Nov 20, 2009 11:39 PM PST up reply actions
True and one of the reasons I cant work up any real hate for GS
The other is that they are fun to watch[play some body else]
by southern oregon on Nov 20, 2009 11:40 PM PST up reply actions
Seriously thinking about adopting the Hawks as an east coast team...
Let’s face it. They could use the fans.
Ellis was the all-star tonight, not Roy
Roy doesn’t need to be telling people he “doesn’t know his role on the team anymore”. Didn’t he just get paid max $$$$ to be the team’s leader? If he needs to adjust his game some to make up for a roster that is now different from last year due to signings and injury than figure it out Brandon and stop b*tching about it. You just paid a LOT of money to figure it out. I’m tired of his quasi-excuses and semi-effort (there were some turnovers attributed to others that were Roy’s because he didn’t move to the ball when it was passed to him).
Whoever isn’t getting the ball into Oden in a game like this is who should be yanked, not Greg. Greg ought to throwing some chairs at people on the sidelines.
I nominate Mike Rice for coach. Internal hire.
put a body on 'em
I agree with your main point.
“Things aren’t exactly the same as last year” isn’t a viable excuse for subpar play and effort. In case he forgot, last year, in which pretty much everything went right in the regular season as possible, produced a one-and-done in the playoffs.
Change was necessary, they need to start making an effort to produce better results with the improved roster.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:45 PM PST up reply actions
yea blame roy
for inept general managing. Roy’s bending over backwards for an inferior player and its costing the team now. Too bad roy’s a nice guy and wont blow up.
He played like garbage tonight
Maybe the ineptitude of the General management was giving Roy a max contract. Or not trading him for Monta Ellis.
many reasons for the loss, not only Roy
but he got schooled by Ellis and if he’s complaining about “his” role versus how the “team” is going to fix their issues then we’ve got a long season ahead.
put a body on 'em
his role is to stop the bleeding when the other team goes on a 19-2 run
instead he was nowhere to be found
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
by douglast on Nov 21, 2009 12:02 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Maybe he shouldn't have been partying
at Circolo until 3 am after a 5 game 7 day road trip.
by Dominator13 on Nov 21, 2009 12:57 AM PST up reply actions
Steve Blake slashed my tires
And nearly ruined my mother’s birthday. Okay, so maybe I didn’t see him do it, but I’d like to hear his alibi.
Tonight was my mom’s birthday so we took her out to dinner and she happened to choose the new Appleby’s which happens to have a large bar with solid flat screen action around the perimeter. I was recording the game at home but saw an early lead during dinner and thought it would be fun to watch in full at home, maybe even catch the end live. After dinner we went out to the minivan, got in, and after pulling forward 10 feet we heard a Very Bad Sound and discovered one tire flatter than Andre Miller.
I went back inside with my little brother to catch the end of the third quarter and enjoy some sweet beat down on Maggette to discover that, between dinner and the tow truck, the Blazers forgot how to play. I don’t know if there was some kind of memory-erasing ray involved or a mass-discombobulation device at work, I missed most of the third, but after 5 minutes watching that zombie defense I was expecting Michael Jackson to come in off the bench.
Thankfully the tow truck savior showed up and replaced the tire in the cold parking lot while I stayed inside where it was warm, and I got to enjoy almost the entire fourth quarter. And by “enjoy” I mean “not enjoy at all”.
boy you said it
I was gonna quote what I liked that you wrote. But I like the whole thing. Each asessment of the players was spot on.
I think its time for a team meeting(or a BROY freakout)—somethings gotta give—there is just a weird element starting to circulate it feels like. I see alot of sour looks, no paying attention during timeouts, alot of weird substitutions, alot of complaining, no praise of teammates, no hand slapping fives, no livelyness like last year. I would say if anything the teams mood appears to be dour. Everyone looks unsure. Last year we were pretty crisp-this year we lack that.
We are kinda like Rocky when he first lost to Mr T, to blinded by our own shine to actually use it to our advantage.
Its time to swim or drown—play like you know who you are.
Glad to see a pro like Ben echo how I feel because it validates it alittle more for me. I always feel like a sore loser to be burnt when my team loses and blame it on anything but that our opponent played well. They did, we didnt at all—end of story.
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 20, 2009 11:48 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I'd love to see Miller hold a team meeting and get some things off of his chest.
Obviously I don’t know if what he and McMillan talked about in Vegas was passed on to the team, but it doesn’t look to me that Roy knows the reason why Miller was signed and it doesn’t seem like McMillan knows why Miller was signed anymore either.
If the focal point of the disconnect is the intrusion of Miller, then Miller needs to speak up and say exactly what he’s trying to accomplish to the people he’s trying to help – Roy, Aldridge and Oden.
Besides that McMillan needs to stop trying to live vicariously through Steve Blake.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Awful game
One of these weeks, we’re going to be winning because we’re playing good, and not because we’re just too talented not to lose.
This was a weird game. All guards except Rudy were downright bad. No one on any side of the debate gets to use it as a “SEE, BLAKE/MILLER IS GOODER” and when that happens we all lose. I can’t understand sitting LMA with 2 fouls when he rarely has foul problems.
I totally understand sitting Oden even while dominating. He has shown zero ability to manage his fouls and 4 fouls in the 2nd half enable him to get a good run when the game matters most.
The 3 guard lineup as it currently stands should go bye bye. Blake should be a PG or nothing else.
Once Roy is back to being Roy things will look nicer. Any week now…
Mortimer
The 3 guard lineup as it currently stands should go bye bye. Blake should be a PG or nothing else.
That requires Martell to move back into the starting lineup, yes? His game is way off right now though. Do we start him and hope he returns to form, or is there another alternative?
by Timmay! on Nov 20, 2009 11:51 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Start him
let him shoot the jumper on curls off screens.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 20, 2009 11:52 PM PST up reply actions
I think Marty
thrives when hes in that starting role, he seems to play a lot better when hes starting than when he comes off the bench
more than just starting though -
he has to included in the offense deliberately.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 20, 2009 11:53 PM PST up reply actions
If we start Martell, at least Roy can defend shooting guards again and play his isos. Blake vs. Ellis and Blake vs. Gordon and Blake vs. Johnson are ridiculous matchups. But I agree with Mortimer, in this game everyone but Rudy looked very lost.
Ceterum censeo Lakers esse delendam
Martell back at SF doesn't seem too bad to me
Hoping he returns to his earlier play, of course.
Anything but the current 3 guard lineup.
Put LMA at SF, Oden at PF, Joel at C, Roy at SG, Miller at PG. BANG IT INSIDE.
—M
"As it currently stands" means it can be Rudy
Martell sure hasn’t won his job back but I liked how he looked as a starter. Much more bounce to his step, more energy, more effort, more confidence.
He has looked awful since then :-(
Play a SG at SG and either Roy or a real SF at SF. Keep a PG at PG. Outside of the box thinking!
M—
Given the personnel issues Webster should start for awhile
and hopefully he’ll work out of the chaos his game has become. Maybe part of the issue is on the “second team” – which is now just a few subs and a starter or two – there doesn’t seem to be a defined role for him and he’s forcing a lot of things.
put a body on 'em
id rather start marty and have him be the 5th option on offense and defend the other teams wing
than have him come off the bench and try to be a 2nd option playmaker and stink up the joint. Look at his first 5 games. he shot and played well.
besides, this would put an end once and for all of playing our 4th best shooting guard in uniform 20+ minutes per night at shooting guard.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
actually, Blake might be our 5th best shooting guard in uniform.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
yeah, Webs was the last one
right now, I’d say Blake > Webster at SG, but the edge goes to whichever of them finds their shot first.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Neither guy plays the 2.
On offense in this game, Martell Webster saw action at the 3 and the 4 while Steve Blake saw action at the 3 and the 1. Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez, and Jerryd Bayless all saw time at the 2.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
We all need to understand Steve Blake doesn't play the 2, but rather a mix of the 1 and the 3.
I know it sounds like a small bone to pick with folks, but when discussing a player’s position on offense I’m a stickler for the technical stuff.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
Right, but the problem is Brandon defending the SF. See my long comment further down.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 21, 2009 1:55 AM PST up reply actions
I just now read it.
For optimum success, I agree with you that Brandon Roy needs guys who mesh with him stylistically — both offensively and defensively — at the other two perimeter positions. As it is, Andre Miller is a poor fit with Roy — albeit an awesome fit with Greg Oden offensively — and Martell Webster is no Nicolas Batum in any way, shape, or form. It’s a tough set of circumstances, indeed.
Dear Paul Allen:
Fire Nate McMillan & hire Jeff Van Gundy.
Sincerely,
AK1984
The most frustrating and perhaps alarming thing
about your writeup is that the players stopped listening and paying attention to Nate on more than one occasion in the huddle. Maybe this is directly attributed to his stubborn way of always pulling the hot hand and not grasping the concept of keeping his ‘substitution schedule’ flexible!
I'm not really a huge Don Nelson fan, but...
did Nate see that Mikki Moore got those insanely fast fouls, and then Nellie said “Hmm…I don’t think that’s gonna work tonight” and Moore was glued to the bench the rest of the game. On the fly adjustments are critical to the team’s success.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:52 PM PST up reply actions
for short its called coaching
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 20, 2009 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
good call. Hey Nate, try coaching during the game, not just in practice.
by Free Bayless on Nov 20, 2009 11:56 PM PST up reply actions
we also needed a timeout when they went on the 17-2 run
Nate loked a little confused and frozen like he didnt know what he wanted to do
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 20, 2009 11:57 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed.
Was just trying to make the point that its ok to make in-game changes then they’re so obvious.
by Free Bayless on Nov 21, 2009 12:02 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, let's try that
If our starting center gets quick fouls like Mikki Moore did, we should sit him down.
Works for Nelson, I’m sure Bedgers would applaud Nate if he did that.
Oh, wait….
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
Don Nelson isn't very awesome at player rotations, either
But even a broken watch is right twice a day.
Nate's somehow doesn't have that feature.
by Free Bayless on Nov 21, 2009 12:01 AM PST up reply actions
Nate's the watch on which the hour and second hands keep jumping from place to place unpredictably, but the big hand is always stuck.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
that was Nellie's one
obligatory coaching move for the game. after than he was content to sit in his chair and look as if he was being talked at by his uncle from Hoboken recounting his days as a chef on a submarine.
possibly might
have to do with the frustration with the refs and them not playing well. It happens
Webster didn't play bad defense when the game was still in play
that’s just a wrong conclusion. Yeah, he missed a couple of threes. But Webster, if anything, has proven susceptible to McMillan’s indefensible decision to play a 3 guard lineup.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 20, 2009 11:52 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
btw, how 'bout that FOUR GUARD LINE-UP?!?!?
Just when I thought we might phase out of the three-guard lineup Nate sticks four of them in there for awhile near the end: Roy, Blake, Rudy, Bayless and LA. Ughh.
put a body on 'em
Maybe it was a ploy to get Nelson to react out of jealousy?
“My guards practically outnumber your entire active roster!”
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Roy wasn't a bright spot overall
but a lot of these players seem to really pack it in when they don’t understand what Nate is trying to accomplish.
In the first, with Oden and LMA in the game, Roy was extremely effective in the post. Then that went away, and Roy’s game disintegrated.
juwan did flail pretty bad tonite, play Dante
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 20, 2009 11:59 PM PST reply actions
As for Juwan Howard
OOOOFFFFFF…wow…
Why didnt Dante get more run? I’m anxious to see what this kid can do. Is a 4 year college guy really THAT unprepared for the NBA ranks? With all these injuries it seems like the perfect opportunity to at least give him a shot.
by abobo84 on Nov 20, 2009 11:59 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
yep hes hungry for sure
and a better overall option than Juwan
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:01 AM PST up reply actions
Seriously
From all I’ve seen of him he looks like a mirror image of Trout + better rebounding. Seems like if Outlaw goes down, this kid should get a little bit of PT.
agreed, besides what else can really go wrong?
oops shouldnt have said that!
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:04 AM PST up reply actions
uh oh ive been spotted
RUN!
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions
Howard was terrible
He isn’t a good scorer, rebounder, or defender. Howard was only credited with 2 turnovers this game, but there were several more catchable passes that Howard failed to catch which counted as turnovers for the guards.
I agree. I won't be happy until we beat some good teams at the RG and some decent teams on the road.
We had the Hawks and the Warriors, let both games go.
by BRoyInThe4th on Nov 21, 2009 12:06 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Don't fear - our incredible powder puff schedule continues with more D-League teams this week.
We have a D-League team tomorrow (but after tonight’s lesson we have better not discount D-Leaguer’s). The Wolves are 1-11 and would probably win a couple of D-League games, but Wed we have NJ (currently 0-12) that might not. In between we have the powerhouse (comparatively speaking) Chicago Bulls (6-5 overall, 2-4 on the road). Then Friday we face those killer Grizzles again (4-8 overall, 1-6 on the road).
So we will win some games this week and everyone will feel better. Of course that won’t change the fact that we are playing poorly. As I said a week ago, although it may appear that the ship is righted, we are heading for an iceberg when we start playing contending NBA teams and Brandon Roy finally blows up over the 3-guard starting lineup. Of course Nate option’s suck now with Webster playing like a rookie out of high school.
Our 9 win’s this year have come against Houston and OKC (which now seems like a great feat) which are both 7-6. The other 7 wins came against teams that are now 23-60. But Nate has 4 more games to figure something out before the competition steps up a bit with Utah, Miami, Houston, New York (a chance to recover but dangerous for us just like Golden State), Indiana, Cleveland, and Milwaukee.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 21, 2009 12:01 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I agree
I am glad we are playing bad overall yet still have a good record, but it doesn’t mean all is well.
That’s why I want us to get into a steady rotation and use the weak teams as a way to gel and make a sustainable rotation.
No more gimmick’s that hide how badly we aren’t chemistricializing!
M—
chemistricializing!
Exactly!
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:06 AM PST up reply actions
I don’t think it’s hiding anything.
just ugh.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 21, 2009 12:06 AM PST up reply actions
that’s not the lineup, that’s the schedule.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 21, 2009 12:09 AM PST up reply actions
Your FACE is scheduled
For a BEATDOWN, by my FISTSTS.
Saying we were winning because of the lineup is what I mean. We won because we were too talented not to lose.
Let’s end this nonsense and get back to being good dammit.
Mortimer
simple
impose your will. You can’t do that if your coach doesn’t believe in you.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:17 AM PST up reply actions
Come on, Mort
Didn’t you know nothing was wrong after the last 6 games? We won all of them, except for that one in Atlanta, but it was the last game of a long road trip so it doesn’t count.
We all know that wins mean that there’s never anything wrong and that we’re just figuring things out, and that having three guards out there makes our defensive communication impeccable. How else would we be playing such great defense? Didn’t you see David Berri says we’re the best team in the west?
Playing great defense on mediocre teams,
you mean? I think our defense is just okay, maybe above average. But we haven’t been looking all that great lately. Our lack of being able to score is certainly a problem. The three guard lineup was not supposed to ever have that problem. But it has….
Mediocre is bit strong
More like putrid or WNBA-level. Out of the teams we beat recently, only Detroit is good enough to be considered mediocre.
How will BRoy blow up over the 3-gd lineup? It can only send Blake to the Bench and he and Mac dont want to go there.
"Gonna stand my ground. I won't back down." -- Tom Petty
"You have to know the past to understand the present." -- Dr. Carl Sagan
COMCAST SSSUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!!!!!
Rule No. 18: If you want to live to post another day, don't turn the tube on in Dave's living room.
that would be a shame
since he and Rudy are the only two guards on this team who are competent at getting the ball into Oden.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
by douglast on Nov 21, 2009 12:27 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Brandon is getting beat up starting at SF and playing SF (at least defensively) for almost his entire game.
It was fine for Brandon to play SF for 10-15 minutes a game last year primarily against 2nd string SFs to make minutes for Rudy at the 2-guard. But starting against first string SF’s and playing 36 or more minutes at SF is taking a physical toll on him and throwing off the rest of his game. I don’t think he has the energy even now to take the ball to the hoop as much or as well as he has in the past (and I’m not talking just about late in the 4th against double teams). If this goes on for another 10-15 games, and Brandon gets more and more beaten up as the team starts losing games to contenders, he’s going to want to go back to starting shooting guard.
Plus at some point it’s going to dawn on him that the league’s coaches may not give him an all-star spot for being the 3rd best shooting guard in the league when he’s no longer playing shooting guard. I don’t think he’s going to earn an all-star spot playing SF, so unless the Blazers have a stellar record the coaches may not be that generous to him. But I think his first priority will be to drop the 3-guard lineup and return to shooting guard to win games, and only secondarily because of all-star implications.
So at some point the 3-guard starting lineup has to end or Brandon’s game will deteriorate further and there goes the season. But how do they do that with Webster playing so poorly? Brandon likes Blake in the starting lineup because Blake’s 3-pt shooting threat keeps the defense from sagging and packing the middle against Brandon, and Blake is his #1 option to dish the ball to for high efficiency open 3-pt shots when his drives to the hoop are thwarted, or if he does get doubled late in the shot clock.
If Webster were playing well enough (including effort on defense as well as better shooting) then it would be feasible to move Blake to the bench and rely on Webster to spread the defense. But Webster is playing so badly he can’t even get many minutes with the 2nd team, let alone go back to starting. Miller can’t shoot outside the foul line and therefore can’t spread the defense like Blake, so unless Webster steps way up Blake has to continue to start or Brandon can’t play “his game”. But unfortunately Miller won’t embrace the idea of coming off the bench, where he is much better than Blake leading the 2nd unit with Rudy.
So Nate seems ready to stick with the 3-guard offense until Brandon finally yells uncle and demands an end to it. When that happens Nate is going to have to decide what to do with Miller and Webster. He sure isn’t going demand that Roy remake his game into a steady diet of catch and shoot off screens (which isn’t going to work anyway – Roy is not going to become a Reggie Miller) to play with an aging 2-year hired gun. Roy’s game is evolving and will evolve slowly over time, but you don’t ask the 3rd best shooting guard in the league to abandon his bread and butter and leap completely to something entirely different within a season. Not if Nate wants to keep his job. So Roy needs a 3-point shooter on the floor with him to play “his game”. Plus if you believe in Bayless, he is never going to be a Miller-like PG, so you wouldn’t want Roy changing his game to rely on getting passes from Bayless as he comes off picks.
I think Nate is going to be forced to go back to starttng Webster just so Roy doesn’t have to play starting SF, but I don’t think Webster can spread the defense any better than Batum did last year unless he really steps up big time. If Webster doesn’t step up, then Blake needs to continue to start and Miller will go unhappily back to the bench. If that happens, something big could follow with Webster and Blake/Bayless for an outside shooting small forward, or Miller could go (for perhaps a backup PF/C plus a 1st round draft pick or an outside shooting PG to backup/compete with Bayless) if Nate thinks Bayless is ready for real minutes.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 21, 2009 1:52 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I disagree. Brandon is 6'6" tall and a fairly thick dude. He's pretty close to the size of a typical SF, maybe he gives up an inch or two, which is no big whoop...
Who did Golden State put out there? Seriously, the only SF mismatch he’s had this year is Gerald Wallace. Brandon doesn’t spend much time or energy guarding ANYBODY, quite the opposite of him busting his butt and getting ground down by bigger guys.
Brandon has forgotten how to dribble, somehow. Again and again you see him lose the handle.
Steve Blake has forgotten how to shoot and freaks out when he gets trapped.
Andre Miller has forgotten how to pass.
You put it all together and the vaunted “3 Guard Lineup” is a catastrophe waiting to happen when the schedule finally toughens up.
Instead of figuring out the real long-term schedule. which is going to involve Miller and Roy and Marty starting and Blake and Rex and Dante Cunningham off the bench, Nate is screwing around.
“Headed for an iceberg.”
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
by timbo on Nov 21, 2009 8:34 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
exactly
we are wasting all this time trying to get everyone used to playing lineups and rotations that aren’t going to be long term lineups and rotations, instead of spending out time figuring out how to play together long term. It’s going to kill us come midseason when we actually have to change to the lineups we should be playing then go through a whole other round of the “feeling out” process.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Seems we disagree about Brandon getting worn down
but I think that explains his loss of handles and ineffectiveness in 4th quarters this year (not just when he gets double-teamed). In any event, we don’t disagree about the 3-guard starting lineup. That has to go and that’s a problem with Webster playing so poorly.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 21, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions
If Brandon is worn down
it’s not because Morrow was too big for him to defend.
And he can’t seem to handle the ball for the entire game, not just the fourth.
"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5
I think it is the 20 lbs or so both he and Webs give up this season after slimming down.
"Gonna stand my ground ... and I won't back down" -- Tom Petty
"You have to know the past to understand the present." -- Dr. Carl Sagan
COMCAST SSSUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!!!!!
Rule No. 18: If you want to live to post another day, don't turn the tube on in Dave's living room.
I honestly don't even worry when the Blazers lose. We all knew there was growing pains ahead. I worry more about the reaction of
the fans after a tough loss. Everyone wants to fire Nate or trade a player. Once we start winning games the right way and players start hitting the many open shots they get every thing will be fine.
Roy is still getting back his offense. He is no where near the player he was in the Rockets series. It just takes time. These regular season games are for working out the kinks.
you don't worry when the Blazers completely fail against playground basketball?
GSW didn’t run plays. They used their athletic ability to their max advantage. They are not tall, so they attacked the hands of their taller opponents; they used their quickness to rebound; they played scrappy, ran as hard as they could, and took the first good shot available. Sometimes, it wasn’t a good look, but they never missed a good look.
The Blazers, on the other hand – play so deliberately that they pass up excellent shots on a regular basis. Even when they know they should shoot, they hesitate because they are too early in the shot clock.
Memo to Nate: its hard to get a good look with 2 seconds on the shot clock.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:06 AM PST up reply actions
Why would I worry? How many 3's did Martell miss when wide open? How many times did Roy lose the ball or Miller throw it away?
A ton of the Blazers problems are things that get fixed through out the course of the season.
Late last year we had a flow to how we played. We don’t even have Batum back. We just lost Outlaw. Blake and Webster are missing great looks.
Blazers are doing better than I even expected. They will figure it out. Then we will all try and pretend we never doubted Brandon Roy’s game.
by BRoyInThe4th on Nov 21, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions
if the Blazers cannot solve the GSW
then they are not playoff ready. They need to figure out how to play when the opponent gets in their face.
This isn’t just post game reaction – we discussed this in pre-game as benchmark for the Blazers. They haven’t got there, yet – and because they have had 5 chances in a row to figure it out, and haven’t – there is reason for concern.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:16 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah we aren't ready for the playoffs, that's why the playoffs are in April.
We have time. I still think we are being too nitpicky like Jason Quick said. I agree with Quick that it’s not much fun to be a fan when all you do is look at the negative.
I’ll start being concerned when losing becomes a pattern. For now we really haven’t played enough games to see a pattern develop.
by BRoyInThe4th on Nov 21, 2009 12:19 AM PST up reply actions
absolutely there is time
I’m concerned whether we have all the right pieces to make it happen.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
I for one don't want to see Nate fired.
I would however love to see him be more flexible with Oden, stop jerking guys around and face the fact that Miller is the better PG for Aldridge and Oden’s games and Roy is smart enough to learn how to play the game without the ball in his hands constantly even if it makes him uncertain about himself.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
We the fans definitely seem to take a loss harder than the players
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:05 AM PST reply actions
Time for Nate & Co to read some of the books the Zen Master gave his team. It's just too mental right now.
Thanks for calling it like it was and calling out the guilty. Somebody has to do it and you’ve got our vote.
"Gonna stand my ground. I won't back down." -- Tom Petty
"You have to know the past to understand the present." -- Dr. Carl Sagan
COMCAST SSSUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!!!!!
Rule No. 18: If you want to live to post another day, don't turn the tube on in Dave's living room.
First thought that came to mind when I read this
Of that list, the last one was perhaps the most difficult to watch, as Nate McMillan clung inflexibly to his “2 fouls and you’re done for the half” rule, benching both Greg Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge for the entire second quarter.
Our 54 win team is intact but where has our 54 win coach gone?
yeah
honestely, I’ve never heard or seen before tonight that this rule applis to Aldridge, a guy who almost never gets in foul trouble and who didn’t pick up another foul the rest of the game (though he was ice cold after having sat out the last 18 minuts of the first hafl)
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
rough stuff
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:12 AM PST up reply actions
This was one of the biggest and most obvious coaching mistakes that I have seen Nate make
It was blindingly obvious going into this game that GSW’s biggest weakness would be lack of big-man depth and inability to match up with Oden and Aldridge. The gmae plan should have been to get the ball into the post and have Oden and Aldridge scoring as much as possible. Yet Nate had Aldridge sitting on the Bench for 18 straight minutes and Oden joining him on the bench for an entire quarter. During that quarter when the Blazers lacked a post presence they also lost their lead and the Warriors gained a lot of momentum. By the time Greg and LaMarcus got back in the game, the Warriors were energized and the Blazers seemed dispirited and unwilling to trust their coach.
The only explanation I can think of is that Nate wanted to limit LaMarcus' minutes so that he'd have the energy to play well tonight against the Timberwolves.
But even that is pretty weak.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
i was halfway thinking that somehow maybe he thought LMA had 3 fouls instead of just 2.
Honestly, that’s the only reason I can fathom why you wouldn’t bring him back in the 2nd quarter. The guy has no history of getting into deep foul trouble, and you could have used him to stem the tide in the mid 2nd. It’s like he just threw up his hands said “hey, let these 5 guys out there try to figure it out”
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Perhaps that was it, but Nate's got a team of coaches on the bench.
Someone has to step up and ask Nate why LMA isn’t playing with only 2 fouls. There just doesn’t seem to be a rational explanation.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 21, 2009 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
I wonder what Dave will say? Any guesses?
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:13 AM PST reply actions
Guess it must be called the Aldridge Rule--different than the Oden Rule (I guess :)
"Gonna stand my ground. I won't back down." -- Tom Petty
"You have to know the past to understand the present." -- Dr. Carl Sagan
COMCAST SSSUUUCCCKKKSSS!!!!!!!!
Rule No. 18: If you want to live to post another day, don't turn the tube on in Dave's living room.
ugh
just ugh
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 21, 2009 12:17 AM PST reply actions
how the heck does Oden only get 8 FGA's against a team with NO center in uniform?
I mean really, doesn’t any other team in the league just feed the big guy every time down the court? he was dunking every time he got the ball almost – and 1 of his 2 misses was a clear foul too.
So aggravating. The guy is shooting 60% on the season but barely sees the ball.
WTB Post Entry passer. Willing to trade backup PG masquerading as starting SG.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
exactly. Ive been saying for 2 season that our offensive schemes are garbage
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
I Swear to God
I hope they all tune nate out until he gets fired for incompetence!!!!!!!!!
HE HAS NEVER WON ANYTHING AT ANY LEVEL…..PERIOD!!!!!!!!
I wasn't buying it until I saw the extra exclamation points.
by raoulduke on Nov 21, 2009 12:33 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
That's what convinced me, too..
That and the CAPS LOCK.
by xedubx on Nov 21, 2009 2:42 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
LOL at both of you
double rec.
"One of the bright spots of the young season has been rookie point guard Jonny Flynn, whose name sounds like he should be the lead character in a Broadway Musical. "What are you doing here, Jonny Flynn?" "Why I'm here to court trouble, and woo a girl, and build the most fantastical contraption the world has ever seen!" -- Dave, Game 7 Blazers versus Timberwolves preview
by BlazersOrBust on Nov 21, 2009 6:52 AM PST up reply actions
We turned down a lot of chances to play good basketball too
We gotta recognize how to be good at basketeering again and strike when the opportunity presents itself again!
Sir Baron von Mortimer.
Nate should bench LMA and start Howard for his veteran leadership while Dante continues
To develop in Idaho
by southern oregon on Nov 21, 2009 12:33 AM PST up reply actions
I agree
For good shooters (Rudy, Blake, Webster, Roy, Outlaw, Batum), open 3’s are very efficient shots. If you get a shot like that you should take it. Often the Blazers will be afraid to take that shot and pass to another open shooter instead. Usually it is a good thing to unselfishness, but in these situations over passing often takes up too much time and allows the defense to adjust leading to a missed opportunity. It can also lead to passing turnovers, as well as 3-in-the-key when the bigs expect a shot and it does not come early enough.
But at this point, Roy (35.3%), Blake (34.3%), and Webster (28.9%) don’t count as good 3 point shooters to me to suggest that they fire up all their open looks from 3. The only guys I consider a 3 as a “good shot” right now is Rudy (40.0%). The team is 14th in the NBA in 3pt% this year. Rudy is the only Blazer regular in the top 50 in the NBA in 3pt% this year.
There’s no substitute for good ball movement creating layup and dunk attempts which draw contact.
by Free Bayless on Nov 21, 2009 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
One more before I mercifually go to sleep
FREE DANTE!
After tonight, it is painfully obvious to me and anyone with any semblance of a brain, that Dante Cunningham should immediately receive all minutes currently going to Juwan Howard. It is not possible for him to play any worse, and you never know, the kid might do some good things out there. We’ll never know until we give him a shot.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Vladimir Stepania would be an upgrade at the backup 4 right now.
i cry for nic
by Cablinasian on Nov 21, 2009 12:32 AM PST up reply actions
yea I think I agree.
"B-Roy is the best shooting guard I have played against"
-Ron Artest
by premthegrem on Nov 21, 2009 12:33 AM PST up reply actions
Thanks for the "pull no punches" recap, Ben
I can only hope that McMillan is being as honest with his players. This was as difficult to watch as any I’ve seen in many years with this team. Bad body language, no effort, no determination…they let the Warriors run all over them and didn’t seem to care. Up and down the roster, it was embarrassing.
- Oden played well early, got yanked (as usual) and then barely got the ball again. It’s difficult to know who’s at fault, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t have been riding him. The Warriors literally had nobody who could guard him. Usually when things are working, you go to it until the other team makes adjustments, which they do. The Warriors had no options; the Blazers made it easy for them by abandoning their best option. I was watching Oden in the second half, though, and he needs to fight harder for position.
- Sigh. I love Brandon Roy and what he’s meant to his team over the last few years. But he looks lost. Maybe it’s the uncertainty over his role. Maybe it’s playing with Miller. I don’t know. But right now he’s a shell of himself. He needs to stop driving with only getting foul calls in mind; you might want to try to put the ball in the basket too, Brandon. And I’m tired of seeing him get the ball on a rotation with 10 seconds on the clock and just swallow the ball, allowing the defense to recover. He acts like he’s still getting the ball at the start of the possession and has all the time in the world. The number of times the Blazers are working against the shot clock and take poor shots is alarmingly high.
- I’m losing patience with Aldridge. This team NEEDS him to want the ball, demand the ball. The whole game, not for one or two hot quarters. He’s the second best (at least) option on offense in most games and he shouldn’t be disappearing as often as he does. Ten shots tonight? Ridiculous.
- I don’t know what to make of Miller. I couldn’t put my finger on it during the game, but having read the recap, I agree: he seems grumpy. You don’t want us to worry about your life outside basketball, fine. Give the effort in the game and I don’t care what you do outside it.
- I’ve been a relative Blake supporter but his deficiencies seem more glaring lately. Is there a point to him even penetrating? He can get by people but he almost never shoots, even if he’s right at the basket. When he’s not hitting his outside shot, he’s almost worthless.
- Webster looks bad, but he missed an entire year. That can’t be easy. I’m hoping he gets it together. At least he’s bringing energy and trying, something I don’t see from half the team.
- I love Pryzbilla, but he and Oden have got to be the worst two big men in the NBA at holding onto the ball underneath. I’m so tired of seeing it slapped out of their hands by point guards, ball boys, etc.
- Rudy commits some silly turnovers, but a lot of guys would be better off if they played with his confidence. The whole Warriors team plays with that swagger, and that served them pretty well tonight.
Sorry for the long post, but I needed to get that off my chest. If this wasn’t enough of a wake-up call tonight, I almost want them to lose to Minnesota. If that doesn’t show things need to change, nothing will.
by Corwin71 on Nov 21, 2009 12:41 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
On top of all that...
Nate needs to be honest with himself too. He’s coached just as poor, in my opinion even poorer, than any of our players.
by Coastie07 on Nov 21, 2009 12:50 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Part of the reason Aldridge "disappeared" was because he was on the bench
What’s ridiculous is that he only played 6 minutes in the first half.
I'm beginning to dislike Nate more each game...
Talk about frustrating coaching. The best part about Nate’s genius “2 fouls and your out for the half” rule/strategy is the fact that not only did it completely turn the game in the Warriors favor in the 2nd quarter and really for the rest of the game, but Oden and Aldridge ended the game with a combined 6 FOULS!!! Great job Sarge, you really saved them and us by sitting them and killing our flow and domination just to make sure they don’t get within 2-3 fouls of fouling out by the end of the game. Totally worth it. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg for all of Nate’s brilliant moves. Don’t even get me started on his love for Blake. I’m sorry, but Nate is for young up and coming teams, not for teams past that level, which is where we are now. He doesn’t know what to do to take a team to that next level. Unfortunately, the organization loves them some Nate and he looks to be safe for a while, even if it takes a few years out of our championship window.
Agreed.
I always thought that since you have a back up center who was your starting center last year that you could afford to have Greg stay in the game and learn to manage his fouls, not treat him like a child and yank him from the game when he gets a couple fouls.
How on earth is Greg supposed to get into the game and be affective when he’s on the bench? How can he learn how to keep from getting fouls unless he’s in the game with foul trouble and has to police himself constantly while still trying to be in the game?
Let Greg stay in the game and if he fouls out, he fouls out. He’ll get the picture sooner or later and the fouls will lessen. But beyond that, as much as he changes shots in the paint, you can’t afford to just yank him out and sit him for long stretches for any reason..
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Nate did a great job with the rebuilding of this team
But I doubt him when it comes to taking that next big step or two
An Oregonian in Texas.
that was the ugliest game i have ever seen
in the 2nd, (or 3rd) the warriors won a tip, blake stole promptly steals a pass, then promptly throws it back to Golden State.
ugh. Oh well, life goes on, and the T-wolves are coming to town
bayless leaves over my dead body
thanks for starting Andre
still got that song in my mind
runrunrun scorescorescore…
31 Y 6.5 ft 250 lbs 0 IQ
Fire Nellie! Fire Cohan! Fire Gregory! Fire David Stern! No need for explanations, just fire em all!
by Missing Barry
by Lat We N Trash on Nov 21, 2009 1:02 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Hey, I thought I saw the team shrink near the bench during the last two games (taking notes)
Anybody else notice that? (Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part.)
brief thoughts
- The 2nd quarter was one of the worse pieces of coaching I have ever seen. The Blazers were in control, the crowd was quiet, and our bigs had 2 FOULS EACH. As our entire double digit lead was whittled away, Nate left some truly horrible basketball players out there, allowing all our momentum to be taken away and the crowd to come alive. All so LA and GO wouldn’t get their 3rd foul. Not their 4th— their 3rd.
*Oden should never, ever play less than 30 minutes in a game where he doesn’t foul out. Ever.
*I’m a bit worried about Brandon— he looked lethargic out there, passed up shots, and allowed Monta to dominate their matchup.
*Blake and Miller were awful. Free Bayless.
*Howard should never set foot on an NBA court ever again.
*When Joel went to block shots, LA and Howard made no effort to help him out and crash the boards.
*Rudy and Joel are the only two Blazers I am not worried about right now.
by jksnake99 on Nov 21, 2009 2:00 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
you're worried about Greg?
I’m not. I’m worried that nobody on the team realizes they could have run post play after post play after post play tonight and just absolutely dominated whoever the heck was played “center” tonight. eventually they would have collapsed to the point where shots would be ridiculously open. how is it not obvious what you should do when your Center draws 2 fouls on the same OPENING POSSESSION and 13 seconds have elapsed since the game began?!? I’m dumbfounded by Nate’s stupidity and the team’s lack of calling the same play EVERY TIME DOWN THE COURT.
Greg should have scored 30 tonight
but he only took 8 shots. made 6 (all dunks?), and one of his two misses was a dunk attempt when he got absolutely raked across the arms. He had his mind right on offense, and his moves were in sync and effective. When he’s got his Offensive game going and he’s playing agains Mikki Moore and a D-League callup, it is CRIMINAL not to feed him the ball. Of course that means you actually have to have players willing and capable of feeding him. We have 2 – Miller, who played only 19 minutes because he absolutely could not stop turning it over, and Rudy, who probably played only 9 or 10 minutes at the same time as Greg, and when he was on the court wiht him, he’s on the weak side and Blake or Roy is the one trying to entry pass.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Three good things and three bad things
Let’s just forget this game ever happened. Uuuuuuugly.
+
Rudy looks really reliable right now. That’s a great omen going forward with the injuries we have.
Greg was dominant tonight. He’s finally starting to size smaller guys up and take it to the rim hard.
Schonz was at the game! Always great to hear his voice.
-
Our transition defense is sloppy and inconsistent.
Waaaaay too many turnovers off lobs or ill-advised passes.
Martell Webster still has that deer in the headlights look in his eyes.
Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
-- Scottie Pippen
Since this was predictable, why freak out about it?
This might be just what they needed. They got humiliated by a team they should have blown out – maybe this will serve as a wake-up call.
And if this "wakeup call" doesn't get them out of bed, there's always tonight's loss to the Timberwolves," right?
And if they still don’t wake up, then how about being the first team that the Nets are able to beat?
And if that doesn’t do the trick, how about missing the playoffs?
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
I think I just watched
‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’. Empty pods litter Portland and I don’t recognize our team anymore. I’m afraid to fall asleep.
"against a team that cares as little about defense as the Warriors"
They DO care about steals and loose balls. They had 15 steals against 7 for the Blazers, and as you pointed out in the “Joel Przybilla” section, even after getting blocked twice, they still managed to get the ball in the basket. That happened more than once.
"After reading back through these, they might be a little bit harsh. "
False. Roy is a max player, LMA got a huge deal. This team is supposed to be #2 in the friggin West. Instead they are 9-5 against horrible competition and looking awful doing it.
It’s time to step up or make some changes.
Blazer Fan
Actually, since both those guys are making about triple the money NEXT season, they've jointly decided to play only 1/3 as good THIS year...
"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal
I might buy a Blake jersey
just to burn it.
by lickety brindle on Nov 21, 2009 8:30 AM PST reply actions
Dante & Bayless
Could someone please explain to me why Dante and Bayless are not playing more minutes. We have a bunch of injuries at SF so what we play Roy there and at SG so he has to consistently play a lot of minutes each game waring him out as the season goes on, Dante can play SF he is basically the same size as Webster. Also Bayless is playing pretty well why not give him more minutes he has earned them which is more then I can say for some PG’s
Trade players for picks and draft Cole Aldrich 2010
To Nate
Dear Nate,
Will you for 10 games start : ROY MILLER LA RUDY AND GREG and see what happens….and then for 10 games start BLAKE and WEBSTER and see what happens….this way you can give these guys some time to gel and you can truly measure things…..this yanking and panic with fouls is upsetting the apple cart….
And Brandon…stop whining about your role….this will not be the last time in your career you will need to make adjustments with peers on the floor. I love ya but you are NOT KOBE….OK? You alone will NEVER get us past the first round of the playoffs….and we need to stop talking about Batum and Outlaw…they will not be back this season….
Nate, you need to set the teams one and two so you can really know what you need or don’t need by trading deadline….I wonder if your good buy ROY will be honest with YOU about some of your questionable moves..hmmm? Team Leader are you RoY? I think the boundaries you both have with each other are out of control….peace out
That describes the mood
(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ceterum censeo Lakers esse delendam
that last one .... a picture speaks a thousand words
GSW went out and played; Portland went out and tried to “execute”. Portland got sat on.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:24 PM PST up reply actions
A night's sleep
didn’t make the game any better. Of the games I’ve seen in the 2+ seasons since I’ve reengaged with the Blazers, this was the most disheartening loss. In past bad losses I always thought that the Blazers played hard, that they never gave up, that their pride was at stake, that they scrapped to the very end. Last night was different.
A couple of observations:
1. The Blazers still cannot figure out how to contain smallish, quick PGs. This was glaringly obvious against Houston last year and was a problem again last night against Ellis (6’3" 180#).
2. Leadership is becoming a serious problem. Good teams turn up the defense when the offense isn’t working but Nate’s exhortations had no noticeable effect on his teams efforts. As Ben observed, players were tuning him out. You can’t lead if others won’t follow. But Nate’s not the only leader. So is Roy, and so is Aldridge, and so, presumably, is Miller. But I did not see any of them increase their defensive intensity. I did not see them hold teammates accountable for lapses. I do not remember them circling players on the floor during pauses for bucking up.
So just now it seems that, on the one hand, Nate wants to lead but increasingly the players won’t follow; while on the other hand, the players would probably listen to Roy (who knows whether Aldridge can lead) but Roy doesn’t seem to want to lead. Great players are great leaders who are demanding of themselves and of their teammates. Ask yourself how Jordan or Bird or Magic Johnson or Kobe would conduct themselves during a game like the wreck we witnessed last night. They would not go gently into that dark night and their teammates would know it. Now ask yourself how Roy responded.
Wrong
I had a discussion about this with friends. Game 1 of the playoffs was the worst loss of the last two seasons. You can’t argue this.
What's different about last night's game compared with the collapse against Houston in Game 1
is that the playoff loss felt like an anomaly that could be attributed to the Blazers unfamiliarity with the added pressures of playoff basketball. Last night’s loss felt different and I hope I am wrong. It continued a disturbing trend that may have started in the fourth quarter of the Atlanta game. Last night, Portland looked like a dysfunctional team, a team not so much stunned (Houston Game 1), but maybe indifferent, a team that’s not really a team yet, and a team that might be lacking leadership just now. That’s what makes it worse in my mind.
I wonder: Were there serious concerns about leadership after the Houston Game 1 loss last year? Do others worry about leadership now?
by Trutherlizer on Nov 21, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions
This collapse started in Detroit
Which worries me even more. Sure, they won that game. But the fourth quarter of the Detroit game looked a lot like the last three quarters of this one: letting guys waltz into the lane and get easy, uncontested layups, throwing the ball away over and over, etc. Watching the Blazers try to do anything against pressure was scary and a little bit funny. At least it would be funny if I wasn’t a Blazer fan. Why aren’t they hungrier? That’s what I can’t figure out.. I guess they think that if they talk about being contenders, it’ll just magically happen.
Agreed
It was the kind of performance you’d expect from a team that had won the championship the previous year and was complacent, thinking things could come easy now. Now, who will lead them out of this rut?
by Trutherlizer on Nov 21, 2009 12:31 PM PST up reply actions
combinations of players
roles
schemes
1) Playground basketball: when the opponent plays tight man to man defense, you punish them by going around. When they play sagging defense, you punish them by shooting over the top.
2) Professional basketball: when the opponent plays tight man to man defense, you go around, force the double team pass it to a PASSER or a SHOOTER and let the PASSER or the SHOOTER make something happen with the other three guys on the court. It requires good shooters, good passers, and good movement without the ball to find holes in the defense.
POINT BEING: if the other team doubles, someone is open.
PROBLEM: the Blazers suck, right now, at finding the easy shot in pressure defense. The shots are there, but they ain’t finding em (instead, lots of bad passes both on entry and on kickout; bad ball handling when executing weak drives into double teams).
RESULT: bad teams make effective comebacks. It happened for one quarter in ATL. It happened for one quarter vs. Detroit. It happened for three quarters vs. GSW. 1-2 record in those three games.
If I were the opponent, I’d be licking my chops right now – hoping to play the Portland Trailblazers and turn it loose.
by blacknoiseNW on Nov 21, 2009 12:32 PM PST up reply actions
That was shameful, I hope KP had a discussion with Nate about turning off the Sarge and turning on his brain.
Also, until Brandon Roy plays any semblance of defense or shows any sign of effort he is well and truly out of the top 10 players in the NBA discussion.
#88 > #23 > #25
Updated for latest line-up:
#5 > #2
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