Wednesday Practice Report
by Ben Golliver on Dec 2, 2009 2:14 PM PST
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PrintThe theme of Nate McMillan's comments today was his team's defense and, particularly, its poor perimeter defense. In response to a question from Brian T. Smith, McMillan said...
We're not up close enough. We're not able to get into the ball and do the things (we should be doing).
We're missing key guys. Nic really set the tone for defensively how we played. Now we have guys who are working at that. They're not as good but they're working at it.
The interesting thing about McMillan's "not close enough" observation is how universal this complaint is among basketball coaches at every level. I've heard it from AAU coaches this summer, college coaches, I can even remember my grade school coaches harping about it.
No question, the spatial relationship between ball-handler and defender is a building block of any defensive system. So, why do defenders back off? There are three main reasons why this happens, regardless of what level of basketball you're talking about.
- One, they don't trust their footwork or foot speed and give extra space to compensate.
- Two, they don't trust or understand their help defense or defensive system and give space to prevent a bigger breakdown.
- Three, they are simply not committed to defense on every possession.
At times over the last week, we've seen all three of those situations. Steve Blake has given space to prevent getting burned. Martell Webster struggled with forcing players away from their hot spots and towards his teammates. Brandon Roy and Andre Miller take plays off, content to allow jump shots over the top.
I turned back to Nate McMillan for his thoughts on this subject. When he watches game tape what sticks out the most to him? What is he looking to correct?
Blazersedge: You said guys aren't close enough. Can you pinpoint a reason for that? They don't trust their footwork, their team defense or is it just an effort thing?
I think it's -- you're all of a sudden asking some guys to do something that they haven't had to do [in the past].
Martell [Webster] has now become one of our guys that we are trying to put on the best offensive player. Well, he's been a shooter all of his life. And now going from a mindset of what I do best to what the team needs you to do.
Brandon [Roy] is having to take on some of that this year.
Rudy [Fernandez] has that assignment. Rudy is a scorer. And he's had to take on that assignment because we don't have [Travis] Outlaw, we don't have Nicolas [Batum], he has to become a defender. He has to defend better. Somewhat become a stopper.
Now it puts even more pressure on guys like [Steve] Blake to have to become better defenders on the perimeter.
With that answer I think you get a pretty harsh dose of reality of what this team is facing right now. Simply put, the Blazers perimeter defense is stretched dangerously thin.
As McMillan notes, with Nicolas Batum and Travis Outlaw out for a long time, everyone is being asked to do more. Average defenders are now drawing above-average assignments. Below-average defenders are now drawing average assignments. Wing defenders are playing more minutes and thus are at greater risk for exposure.
There's no quick fix for that. Personnel might improve but it's not going to happen overnight. If you're in Nate McMillan's shoes and you're thinking about ways to improve this team, a minor trade for a perimeter defender might make a lot of sense. Otherwise, you're faced with the prospect of running out these same players who have struggled defensively for months to come.
That's a tough, tough pill for a coach to swallow. How many hours of tape of bad defense can you watch?
For a second look at the Blazers' recent defensive struggles, Kevin Pelton tackles the subject with graphs over at Basketball Prospectus. His conclusion: teams have simply shot better against the Blazers over the last five games.
Is that a product of weak perimeter defense, luck or both? Feel free to weigh in down below in the comments.
Some other quick-hitting notes from a nearly empty practice gym today. I guess there's this Civil War thing going on that has most of the local media distracted.
- Patty Mills was in the gym dressed for practice but didn't participate in drills aside from some light shooting.
- LaMarcus Aldridge did not practice and was receiving treatment in the training room for the knee contusion that kept him out of last night's game. Nate McMillan currently says he is a gametime decision for Saturday. The Blazers won't practice tomorrow so that will give Aldridge something like 72 hours of time for his knee. If that's not enough and he misses practice again on Friday it might be time to get a little bit concerned.
- Greg Oden did not practice due to a tweaked ankle, although he was in the gym getting shots up and had a smile on his face as he joked with coaches. McMillan seemed pretty confident he would play on Saturday. I think they were mostly just giving the big guy a rest.
-- Ben Golliver | (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com) | Twitter
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Comments
For all of the gnashing of teeth about our offense
I see our recent troubles as completely on the defensive end. It’s nearly impossible to win a game when your opponent shoots over 50%, and that’s the one thing the last 3 games have in common. And it’s not like our opponents have gotten red-hot shooting, it’s because they’re getting lay-ups and dunks at will.
Wow
Sounds like Batum’s absence is making more of a difference than we thought, or it’s all a crock.
I think it’s likely a bit half and half. Something else is wrong too, but Batum really did have an impact while in play. Outlaw was also playing some nice defense this year so I’ll toss him in there as well.
However, I’ve also seen a lack of effort from others. (aldridge and Roy)… mr defensive player of the year wannabe… Why is he taking ANY time off from defense? We have offensive weapons, we do not have defensive weapons with Oden on the bench and Batum out.
I do see defense as the main issue.
Hopefully the players are tired of losing and the coaching staff can identify the issues that are fixable (blake and miller will NEVER be elite defenders, but Roy CAN play defense all the time and leave some of the scoring to others).
I honestly would not want to be in Nate’s shoes. Yeah, i’m peeved at him, but if coaching were as easy as the quarterback coaches thought, anyone could be doing it. In interviews he’s occasionally revealed why he went against the grain, and in the holistic view of things, it did make sense. Here’s hoping he can find that this year and right this boat.
Also Ben, it’s nice to read non-regurgitated answers from him that I’m used to reading after the game that never answer anything.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
by ratbastird on Dec 2, 2009 2:36 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
those answers just add fuel to my anger at how the team is playing
these answers sound like a problem is recognized and a solution is being worked on.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
If you had to answer the same questions night after night ....
…. for your entire career, you’d pretty quickly come up with stock answers that don’t say much. Nate just seems to buy into that mindset a little more than others.
hakkaa päälle !
yeah
I know. But the questions and issues are different from this year to last. I’d like a little more than stock please.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Sounds like Batum’s absence is making more of a difference than we thought
When Wheels interviewed the anonymous NBA “scout” last month on the Game, the scout said that Portland would miss Batum a lot more than people thought. (I think KP2 said Nic’s absense would only be a"1.8" difference?) Perimeter defense matters, and KP1 has only drafted (or acquired) one superior perimeter defender in the past 4 years. That roster deficiency is starting to show up on the court
(No, Bayless and Taurean Green do not count as “superior” perimeter defenders…nether does Patty Mills)
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
It's something I said
when the season began too. Watching him play… he did such an amazing job shutting various people down.
Outlaw, Batum, new line-ups, new roles, it’s all having a nice effect.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
One thing a lot of people don't consider
is that not only are we missing Outlaw’s offense, he was a real matchup problem that forced opponents to change their lineups.
I hate to say it but you are probably right.
Even if Travis is off kilter, teams still have to account for him by playing him honest. That does mean, you must pay attention to him even if you are playing the same lineup most of the game. That said, with two guys on the court that can truly create their own shot and hit from just about anywhere on the floor (Travis and Brandon) its not so easy to just pack it in, or clog up all of the lanes. I wish Rudy was able to fill Travis’s shoes, but it is appearing as if he is not, at least at this time. I do think that the reason Rudy’s defense is off from where he started the season with, is mostly his teammates fault for not contesting their own men enough to force them into mistakes. Mistakes, that Rudy was able to take advantage of with his speed and anticipation.
I do also wish we would try just setting up inside way more and spend closer to 40-50% of our possessions running our offense through Oden or LMA on the low block, (the latter when he can get position close enough.) Do this early in the possession and go inside out, rather than running most of your offensive sets at the fringes of the court.
Average defenders are now drawing above-average assignments. Below-average defenders are now drawing average assignments.
……. and steve blake is now required to have a defensive assignment.
-Princess S
The Princess of Blazersedge
It just takes an iron fist to keep the riff raff under control and her princess hand is mad strong- Idoltime
The Pale Rider
feels the pimp hand of the Princess yet again. – Elgin
Travis Outlaw, the Funnel Cake of the Blazers
The opposition was more impressed. And here I thought Miami had better guards.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/12/2/1182954/i-was-really-impressed-with-how
Ceterum censeo Lakers esse delendam
theres a bring steve blake back home to florida bias that happens down there
""..Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own . . . "
Blake and Outlaw for Chalmers and Haslem.
Sounds about right.
im sure so basically ,your linking skills are used to argue what exactly?
that steve blake is good? useful?
S
The Princess of Blazersedge
It just takes an iron fist to keep the riff raff under control and her princess hand is mad strong- Idoltime
Blake is seems really unappreciated here
He hustles hard, has it short comings but busts his seat off to make up for it.
Actually hating blake is dumb and irks me particularly when there is SO much else wrong that is completely NOT blake.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
by ratbastird on Dec 3, 2009 10:03 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yep...
and the fact that Roy and Aldridge can play defense but generally choose not to…
I think Blake is playing better D this year than he has in his life (stats please?). He’s just been really inconsistent on the offensive end and is so passive when bringing it up the floor. I understand he is a low-risk taker but at least get it to someone who can finish when there is a fastbreak opportunity. Steve Blake rule: only bring it up court from a made basket, otherwise give it to someone else!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
he tries harder than roy
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
understanding defensive philosophy
the first thing that everyone has to recognize is the significance of losing Batum and Outlaw to injury. While they are good defenders, they are especially effective because of their height and length for their position. In fact, the Blazers have built our team around length and mismatches (look at LA, Oden, etc.). To lose the 2 wing players that hold that advantage is a huge loss, even beyond their defensive prowess. Now, we have Roy (6’5"-6’6") and Rudy (6’5") guarding 2s and Martell (6’7") guarding 3s, so those size advantages are gone. Add in the fact that those three guys aren’t great defenders to begin with, and you can see where the problems are – as BlazerFan1 quoted above.
There is also the aspect of adjustment. Last year, Roy knew he only had to guard the opponent’s 2nd best player, and save energy for offense, as Batum would be guarding their elite scorer. This year, he has that assignment. More than a big physical change that’s a HUGE mental adjustment, and it is the same for Rudy and Martell, as they’ve never really had the pressure to defend on them before. It might sound like a simple thing to be focused and committed on every defensive possession, but it’s really not, it takes a lot of discipline and focus and training to lock in for a while game on that end of the floor
the thing is, the Blazers are fortunate enough to have 2 of the best shotblockers in the league inside for us, so there should be less pressure on our perimeter defenders as they can hedge their assignments toward the help, and the help is very effective. The fact that it isn’t happening shows we are struggling. But in the end, I think this will help us during the playoffs, as all of these guys will be used to playing that level of defense, even after we get Batum and Outlaw back
by rip_city_swagger on Dec 2, 2009 2:50 PM PST reply actions
Batum and Outlaw…While they are good defenders, they are especially effective
Let’s not lump these two together. Nic is a superior perimeter defender—he’s better than good. Travis can be an average defensive forward when he is focused and motivated; Outlaw tends to be out of position in defensive rotations, a lot. Calling #25 “good” at defense is revisionist history
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Outlaw, this season
was actually doing a pretty impressive defensive job… the times i watched him anyway. i would have labeled him as good this year, or at least decent and waiting to give the good level after I watched him doing it night after night for a few months.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
But in the end, I think this will help us during the playoffs, as all of these guys will be used to playing that level of defense
I agree to this in principle, but I haven’t seen enough consistent play from the Blazers this season to project them as a playoff team, at this point of the season. They will be lucky to be over .500 at the first of the year. The team also cannot afford any more key injuries during the next 5 months, and that’s assuming LMA’s knee contusion does not linger
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Please dont be right. Please dont be right. Please dont be right.
But I agree, they are going to have to find ways to win with the talent that they have so they had better hurry up and figure it out.
believe me, I don't want to be "right" in this projection
but we’ll see how Brandon, Greg and LMA respond to the adversity. If they can’t come through and learn how to play well together, 2009-2010 will be known as a evaluation and “reconsolidation” year, in the future
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
please don't you be very right
please don’t be right
for I may be asleep. – George Harrison
Travis Outlaw, the Funnel Cake of the Blazers
It's true, though.
December is really tough.
"The only 'Advanced Metric' that matters is what you see with your eyes." -Timbo, Nov., 2009.
disagree...
defense should be played on every possession by every player. No taking plays off. That is what good teams do. No saving oneself for offense. If you don’t play D, then you sit on the bench. If you get tired, then we substitute someone else in for you. The point of the game is to score more points than the other team. There are two parts to that equation, defense and offense. The best chance at success is by doing both, not one or the other. And great defensive teams win more rings than great offensive teams…
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
i should have said disagree about 2nd paragraph, sorry.
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
The Blazers are not going to win a championship this year
thats obvious. They are not going to win one without playing minimally above-average defense. There are many skillsets each player/team need. The name of the game is being unstoppable while taking away from the other team. As a Finals opponent will try to do, they will strip layers off the onion. You need to be the team that has more layers to draw from.
These guys are showing they are young by not understanding there are so many things to pickup. Hell this team does not even know how to play the officials yet. They do not know how to fight constant head-down driving to the hole with anything other than a jumpshot on the other end. Where’s the pick-n-roll? They need to know how to do it all.
So please, Brandon, fantastic with the ball, but you’ve got a ton more to do. Thats how a team becomes unstoppable.
Lot’s of work and lot’s of skills to build.
Land Rondo.
"He needs to realize that he can't stop every shot, especially from a smaller and offensively potent player. Get your hands up, make him shoot it over you, but let him shoot every once in a while. They score a little but you stay in the game a lot. And when you stay in the game...smashy smashy!" Dave on Greg Oden
There are many skillsets each player/team need
The Blazers haven’t talked about this in awhile, probably becasue the 54 wins brought higher expectations, but I can remember KP and Nate talking about 2007 and 2008 being “evaluation” years during the beginning of those seasons. The idea was to identify which players would “fit” with Roy, or alongside Oden. Some players have already “failed” this process and were dealt away (Jack, Sergio, etc) and most everyone (I assume) felt the remaining players had made the grade.
This is not necessarily the case, and I warned Bedgers to not become “married” to the current roster during the offseason, and that we should be willing to (at least) entertain trade suggestions
Now, we’re hearing about certain players having defensive shortcomings. This really should come as no surprise, but it’s an area that has been glossed over in the recent past because of the team’s yearly-improving W-L record. Some of the reasons why the team is weak at perimeter defense can be traced to the coaching staff, and how well they instruct the players how to defend the PnR, etc. Another share of “blame” has to be given to the scouting department and the GM, who (perhaps) are acquiring players based on their offensive accumen and not taking their defensive upside into enough consideration? (Maybe the scouts feel it’s their job to add players with offensive skills to the roster and then the coaches will teach the how to defend as a unit? That is Nate’s reputation, after all) And still another part of the equation is the players themselves, do they have the heart, desire and personal accountabiity to put out the kind of nightly effort required to win not just only regular season gams, but to pick up their level of intensity for a playoff run.?
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I wouldn’t have to pose them if the quality of play on the court hadn’t sunken to it’s current level. It’s easy to say “they’ll get it together, just give them time” but my point is…the evaluations should be continuing for this group of players. A few of them (Roy, LMA) are past the point of no return, they will be Blazers for the long term, because of the extensions they signed this fall. Certainly Oden is in the same category, but the rest of the team still has got to show the coaches, front office and fanbase that they have the “right stuff” to be on a championship-cailber ball team—because if they don’t have it, KP needs to get busy making some roster changes this winter and not wait around until draft night
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
The injury bug has plain hit us.
We all thought going into this season that everyone was healthy and ready to play. First it was Nic and it just has perpetuated from there. Loses will probably continue to pile up. It just isn’t going to be our year.
Foul Line Jumpers
Did you notice how many shots near the foul line Oneal and others had against the Blazers in Miami. I dont think the blazers had a single open shot in that area. NBA pros will make that shot everytime if you dont defend. Why are they wide open?
most of those
came when the Blazers were playing a 3-2 zone. Foul line jumpers are a weak spot in that particular defensive alignment, but it takes away a lot of other weapons.
by LicketyBrindle on Dec 2, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions
a lot of those open jumpers
came as a result of Oden switching to defend the driver that the toreadors let roll right past on their way to the hoop. Then when Oden switches to them, the easy pass to the capable Jermaine resulted in an easy jumper. – Elgin
Travis Outlaw, the Funnel Cake of the Blazers
Losing to quality opponents is painful
but at least you get more clarity than from beating poor opponents and putting up misleading defensive stats. We all knew going in that we were going to be a below average defensive team and a good offensive team. I don’t think its a surprise we play bad D. The surprise is the bad offense. Fundamentally, I think the bad D is a personnel issue that won’t be resolved until Batum is back and at least one pg is acquired who can play D. There is no magic scheme to make poor defenders a good defensive team. That being said, a better effort may get us up to an average level.
I'm not saying it will, but...
this injury thing could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. It’s easy to be slack on defense when you’re winning games and it can be somebody else’s job (like Batum.) But if the quality of YOUR personal defensive energy and effort begins to decide the quality of your minutes, and the outcome of games, that really raises the bar.
If guys like Rudy and Webster and Blake and Bayless (and Roy) will learn to really commit to defense while Batum and Outlaw are out, then our team defense as a whole will be that much better when they return.
Silver lining? One can hope.
I like that thought process!
Make your lesser (or slacker) defenders learn to play better defense and when the good guys get back, the team defense is greater as a whole (in theory)!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
Not a game. Not a game. Not a GAME.... PRACTICE. I mean, what are we talkin' bout?
"whoever scores the most points is probably gonna win the game"
that sgreat ,you guys were like a bloggersnop quartet
by DowntownVinnie on Dec 2, 2009 5:57 PM PST up reply actions
wish i could think as fast as i can type
Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".
...no seriously--stop.
Somebody had to post it
The original:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
And the remix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I
lolz.
His conclusion: teams have simply shot better against the Blazers over the last five games.
How profound.
"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."
two more words...
Too. Old.
And we need another stats all-star (internally or externally), not another no-stats-all-star.
Ceterum censeo Lakers esse delendam
right
Batum is Battier, or he will be in time
Acquiring Shane was a good idea a few years ago, but Morley would’ve asked for more than KP would’ve been willing to pay
The goal for KP is to go out and find his “own” Battier, like Morley did. Drafting Batum was a good first step, but the team’s perimeter defense can’t be “held together” by one skinny Frenchman
There’s plenty of potential offense on this roster between Miller, Roy, LMA and Oden. Portland doesn’t need to add another volume scorer, they need better team play—on both ends of the court. That’s what Andre was brought in to help the young players discover. But there’s no guarantee that with or without Miller this group of players/coaches will push the right buttons to reach the finals. As good as the team looked down the stretch last season, that may have been when they “peaked” as a unit, and it may take another “mix” of players and/or coaches to reach the next level
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I'll get it right one of these days
are you the same guy who keeps reminding me how to spell calvary?
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
woulda, coulda, shoulda...
but we didn’t….keep Ime Udoka!
"Do me a favor. Put your lip over your head... and swallow." Max Goldman
I think Nate is substituting WAY TOO MUCH!
I’d be curious to know how his substitutions compare to other coaches in terms of numbers of substitutions and how long he goes with a given line-up before making a change. As a player I know it is difficult to get a rhythm (Nate speak) or be connected (more Nate speak) when the guys around you are constantly changing.
What do others think?
I think
that Webster should be logging big minutes – he’s the best choice at small forward. I’d be happy to see Roy’s minutes go down to accomodate Rudy. Blake or Miller – who knows, who cares. Both are inadequate, and Bayless, while showing some glimmers of hope, is still not ready for prime time. Aldridge, Cunningham, and Howard are all fine at power forward and the Oden/Przybilla combination still might be the best combination in the league.
At this point, Nate needs to come to some decisions about who will play and who will sit. The decisions will be hard, but they need to be made.
I guess I’d go with Aldridge, Oden, Przybilla, Webster, Rudy, Roy, Miller, and Blake, and the rest of them would have to sit almost all of the time. – Elgin
Travis Outlaw, the Funnel Cake of the Blazers
Aldridge, Cunningham, and Howard are all fine at power forward
I can’t agree with the last 2. I ilke Dante, but he is far from “fine” — he’s a work in progress. And Juwan will have a game like last night once or twice in a season, with a whole lot of “meh and blech” in-between. (Howard shot his wad in the first half, and ran out of gas in the second)
I guess I’d go with Aldridge, Oden, Przybilla, Webster, Rudy, Roy, Miller, and Blake,
Looks like you agree…maybe the “twin towers” lineup should get more consideration, then? After all, we can’t expect LMA to play 40+ mpg
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
yes, the Two Towers lineup is a good idea
while Aldridge is getting a breather. – Elgin
Travis Outlaw, the Funnel Cake of the Blazers
Nic is important?
I thought he doesn’t really bring much based on most of the comments on BE
"I play, Coach stays. He goes, I go." - Jimmy Chitwood
by DucRider on Dec 2, 2009 4:21 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Perhaps good measure of how important a player really is
is when he’s not available, and suddenly, you can’t seem to guard anybody.
i agree with this :p
and i can eat a little crow re: Nic Batum
see im not always negative
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Dec 2, 2009 5:04 PM PST up reply actions
I think losing is frustrating for everyone
and people shouldn’t be judged on the basis of two days worth of comments…
anybody who is a passionate fan
can get frustrated and vent.This mornin when I was her,I kept reading Leroys posts and going ,man is he naegative.Then I remember some posts of mine two days ago at another site and thought .I was rippin hard on my peops.It happens.Now Leroy has stepped back .I respect that
by DowntownVinnie on Dec 2, 2009 6:21 PM PST up reply actions
Except...
and this is clearly the exception to prove the rule, but…
you could say the same about Travis…
He wasn't a big deal when the team still had Outlaw
Trade Andre Miller NOW before he destroys the team from the inside!!!!
Phoenix doesn't play a whole ton of defense.
Why can’t we play more like them? We just need to get LaMarcus out at the 3 point line and let him bomb away!
That will take pressure off of Blake and Rudy so they can properly concentrate on their new roles as our defensive stoppers!
I'm just not crazy about player nick names...
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Dec 2, 2009 4:33 PM PST reply actions
Why just LaMarcus?
Our new offense could be four guys just chucking it up from around the arc, with Greg just hanging out on the other side for defense!
If LMA really has something wrong with his knee then I retract all my pansy comments
Also if LMA someday shows up at my house, same deal
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Dec 2, 2009 4:47 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I rest better at night
knowing that my sports heroes can’t hear me when I’m yelling at them through the television set
Batum is a smoke screen
Not that he was not a good defender, but he only played what, 16 minutes or less a game and rarely in the 4th quarter. Come on Nate…you need better ways of saying your players are not earning their fat paychecks!!
How so?
He wasn’t a volume scorer, but he was an efficient scorer. His % from the field was about 46% and 37% from three. I thought he made for a pretty decent outlet scorer in his limited time on the court.
Travis Outlaw is NOT a good defender
His absence doesn’t hurt us at all in this regard. Cunningham already understands the concepts of defense better then it seems Travis ever will.
Nate MacMillan does not seem to understand you are not going to turn players into something they are not. Why does Greg Oden get a free pass on scoring, but Rudy has to play defense? Or Martell? Not only does MacMillan ask of players what they are unable to provide, but his messages are totally inconsistant depending on the player. You never hear that Roy should set the tone defensively. You never really hear Travis Outlaw did anything wrong while we all sit and watch him fall asleep on the court on a nightly basis.
Batum is a good defender, but he is getting waaaaay over rated here. We miss a 18 year old rookie setting the tone on defense? A rookie who never played in the fourth quarter last year?
Nate clearly is not the kind of coach who can take what he has and emphasize the strengths while minimizing the weaknesses. He just keeps trying to shove square pegs into round holes…..
What happens when you don't have enough round pegs?
You can complain about Nate’s “forcing players into roles” all you want, but this team game does actually require guys who play roles. You can’t have a team full of scorers and expect to win (check out the Raptors for exhibit A); besides, there just aren’t enough touches to keep a bunch of rhythm shooters and finesse guys happy.
Frankly, I pin this somewhat on KP’s seeming inability to surround his core with guys who help cover up their weaknesses.
Facts:
Roy is not an especially gifted defender physically (shortish arms and non-elite athleticism)
Aldridge has trouble banging
Oden is rounding into a helluva two way player. Defense is not his problem
What this team lacks currently:
hustle players
defensive prowess/instincts at the 1 and the 3 spots, leading to porous perimeter defense and lots of extra fouls for Oden, Przy, Aldridge and any other big we might choose to throw out there.
Solutions:
Get players who fill the gaps your current core leaves open. That means trading away some of these scorers and shooters and adding defensive minded role players at a couple of spots … who can also at least catch and shoot.
Our entire cadre of guards and wings right now leak like a sieve, only Bayless seems capable of fighting through a pick and staying in front of his man, but even he handchecks all the time and doesn’t always hit his rotations properly so it’s not much better when he’s in the game (A for effort I guess though).
Did you watch teh games this year with Travis?
I asked because he shocked the heck out of me with playing decent defense and doing other odds and ends. Last year I’d 100% agree, but this year… I was happily surprised by his improvement. I wouldn’t label him good only because the sample size is still so small, but I saw glimmers of hope.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Our perimeter defense has always been bad
and all that starts with Blake and Roy, our starting back court. So while you hear how bad our perimeter defense is all the time, why do you never hear from Nate that those two guys have to step up. Is Martell Webster suppoed to guard three guys???
Nate is driving me crazy. Just fix it! Just win! Or just take a pink slip!
Bayless could stand around and take scraps from Broy just like Yo Yo does
Wouldn’t he be our best perimeter defender?
by DowntownVinnie on Dec 2, 2009 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
Great post, Ben
As for whether the recent hot shooting of opponents has been due to poor Blazer defense, luck, or both, I come down pretty hard on the side of “poor Blazer defense.” Right out of the gate, I see opponents getting wide open 15 foot jumpers without a Blazer defender anywhere near. What a way to give an opposing team confidence! And more than anything, shooting is about confidence. Once players have knocked down a couple of those “practice jumpers” and gotten a rhythm, naturally the hoop starts looking huge to them and they can’t miss.
Granted, every once in awhile you’ll get away with terrible defense. You’ll run into a team that is simply cold and misses those wide open shots. But that doesn’t happen often; NBA teams—even the bad ones—are filled with players who got drafted mainly because they could shoot the ball. Give those guys a few open looks early, and you’re almost always in for a very long night.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Amazing isn't it?
That was a good time. Probably the only good game all year. I have high standards nowadays. At least we still got Oden………..Damn dudes BALLIN!
Nuts!
Hmmmm.
I think it’s — you’re all of a sudden asking some guys to do something that they haven’t had to do [in the past].
Every player should have to play good defense regardless of who you are. Defense is what wins championships.
My only offensive concerns are our team settling for jump shots instead of taking it inside.
Trade players for picks and draft Cole Aldrich 2010
Argh!
I think it’s — you’re all of a sudden asking some guys to do something that they haven’t had to do [in the past].
Every player should have to play good defense regardless of who you are. Defense is what wins championships.
My only offensive concerns are our team settling for jump shots instead of taking it inside.
Trade players for picks and draft Cole Aldrich 2010
Interesting point about the defender's distance
because one thing I’ve noticed in these losses is the Memphis/Utah/Miami defenders getting RIGHT UP in Brandon’s face, sometimes two guys at a time. The book on him must be: trap him whenever he has the ball. That’s been really effective, and Brandon hasn’t passed out of it or dribbled out of it well.
These guys practice?
Looked like they were taking lessons last game.
Nate’ll turn it around soon…….by starting Miller!
Nuts!
Isn't funny how Oden has become the one glaring bright spot for this team during its struggle.
I love it, I love being right.
I love how Nate gives Miller a free pass
He mentions half the team having to play defense but not Miller.
Trade Andre Miller NOW before he destroys the team from the inside!!!!
Andre Miller is clearly a cancer
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Dec 3, 2009 6:40 AM PST up reply actions
I've been wanting to say that for weeks
I thought folks would think I was being sarcastic.
Trade Andre Miller NOW before he destroys the team from the inside!!!!
wait...
is that sarcasm?
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Playing the game
I’m kind of sick of hearing about defense this and defense that. The game of basketball requires skills in both offense and defense consistantly. We constantly are breaking them out and it doesn’t work that way. Play the game to win and that requires excellence on both ends of the court. A lot of times we have a net zero situation with a guy scoring on one end and then allowing a lay up on the other. Great dunk/jumper, but…uhhh dude…your guy just ran by you. Or what a block …uhhh ….you have got to make that layup. I see a playing the game problem right now.
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