Nate; Step our game up

by tevisthe4th on Feb 26, 2009 1:01 AM PST

Most games we lose are lost in earlier stages of the game. In these losses I always feel like the team goes away from the hot hand or nate pulls guys/puts in lineups that are just not working. If we are not scoring we are not winning because our defense is bad.

We just played a team without 2 of their top 3 players, 2 players that are among the best in the world at their position. Greg Popovich is a good coach, he is probably a top 2 coach in the league at this moment. He takes guys like, well actually I cant remember any of their names but guys like that, and completely shuts down one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league. Its not like they have outstanding defensive players, it was the coaching that made them have outstanding team defense.

Portland repeatedly lets opposing teams shoot a very high percentage. You cannot tell me that the lineup the spurs put on the floor tonight has more talented defensive players than ours does. (Im not saying that we have the greatest defensive talents, but they should be better than the lineup the spurs had out there.) Yet they made us look pretty bad going against basically their second unit.

Now im not saying this game could have been won by just inserting bayless or playing parker a different way, but I think there could be some better coaching done for our team. I dont think Nate is a terrible coach, actually he could be considered one of the top 4th quarter coaches in the league. He could make better decisions early in games, come out with better gameplans, and make sure to recognize what is working and make the team realize and execute that.

You could chalk this game up to just a poor performance against a top team in the league. Problem is, we seem to have a lot of these and I think this has to do with the coaching too. A coach should be able to motivate his team, inspire them, set them up to be successful, and show them how they are going to win a game.

In half of our games Nates inability to do this is often covered up by the crowd at the Rose garden. On the road there seems to be a trend that we cannot get up to play with the top teams. We have the talent, albeit young, to do this, we just need our coach to step up our game.

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We need Webster.

As much as I love Batum, and he was almost the hero in the Rockets game, we really need a scoring threat from small forward on the starting unit. Defense is mostly motivation, and right now I don’t see much from the Players or coaching staff on playing D. How many times must Tony Parker get by you the same way before you learn his simple little stop and go trick.

Though we didn’t get to see much of him Webster looked like a much improved player this year. He was driving with success and playing much improved defense.

He alone could make life on Roy and Aldridge much easier. To me this seems like part of the reason, especially with Oden out. Roy gets the ball, just double him, passes to Aldridge, just double him. If Blake or Batum aren’t hitting we’ve got nothing, especially when Aldridge’s shot is off like tonight. This is why I was so in favor of a Carter or Butler trade.

As for the coaching, the one thing I don’t like about Nate is that he gets too into his rotations he decided on before the game. Every game pretty much he will take out a player who’s on fire and leading us back into a game just because it’s time for him to come out. This sometimes leads to the offense going flat if no one else picks it up. It’s ok to play someone extra minutes if the other team can’t stop them Nate.

If something in this post makes no sense please excuse it, I’m tired.

by Bskey on Feb 26, 2009 1:29 AM PST reply actions

Yea Webster was looking good in pre season

hopefully he comes back strong next season.

by tevisthe4th on Feb 26, 2009 1:38 AM PST up reply actions

Should have stopped Parker

I can’t believe we let him get 39.

How many times must Tony Parker get by you the same way before you learn his simple little stop and go trick.

Now, if we had a good, experienced, quality defender at PG, like Jason Kidd, who knows his little stop and go trick, we might have held him to 37.

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Feb 26, 2009 3:40 AM PST up reply actions

+400

parker drives like a mofo on….well most everyone?…seeing him being left in the corner with noone within 12 feet made me queasy too

"Sergio and I obtained chalupas to understand their power. Then Sergio showed that each one has 427 calories and 27 grams of fat. Leaping upwards, we reviled the accursed chalupa and its pressure. – Rudy Fernandez

by LetsBlaze on Feb 26, 2009 6:24 AM PST up reply actions

His stop and go

He stops and hits an elbow J, or he goes and hits a layup. Pick your poison.

Witty Unpredictable Talent and Natural Game

by iDea on Feb 26, 2009 8:44 AM PST up reply actions

How many rookies are in the rotation?

Two starters are out? It sure seems like this team should be much, much, much, worse.

by Nick Van Excellent on Feb 26, 2009 1:32 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

Thats true

We are doing better than I expected coming in this season, mabey all this team needs is more time but It seems like our defense is getting worse as the season goes on.

by tevisthe4th on Feb 26, 2009 1:36 AM PST up reply actions

the wizards blog, bullets forever

were complaining on a fanpost that they had a bunch of injuries and their starters are out and that’s why they are miserable.

while losing Arenas is huge (like the roybot being out), their injury issues sounded a lot like ours. We’re totally over-achieving and i love it.

by northwestj on Feb 26, 2009 2:15 AM PST up reply actions

the demise of the Wiz is painfully felt here

…and I’m not sure Gil is missed as much as people think. They were a playoff team without him last year. Without question, however, they miss the money they are paying him which could have been used on a decent PG or frontcourt depth. Or to re-sign Roger Mason!

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Feb 26, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

At what point did Martell convince you he was an offensive threat?

Their per 36 numbers are very similar, when you take last years Marty and this years Nic. Plus Nic is younger and plays way better defense. Where does Martell see action when/if he comes back? If Nic was really a hurdle in getting a deal done at the trade deadline it is time to commit to him and get rid of either Trout or Marty ASAP.

by AndrewD on Feb 26, 2009 1:39 AM PST reply actions

They already have committed to Martell

Signed him to a 4 year deal. Outlaw has one year left on his contract and I’m not so sure we’ll want to pay what it takes to keep him here.

If you don’t think Martell is an offensive threat, you simply haven’t been paying attention.

"Male sperm swim harder than female sperm."

by BlazerD on Feb 26, 2009 3:28 AM PST up reply actions

I could see Travis signing a small contract just to stay in Portland

(I could also see him wanting more shots somewhere else)

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 26, 2009 4:04 AM PST up reply actions

Maybe because Webster

almost had more 20+ point games last year than Nic has 10+ point games this year. Or that despite playing roughly double the minutes, he’d hit almost 3 times the number of triples. And considering 3 of his top 5 scoring performances came on or after March 24th, I’d say it’s reasonable to expect Webster would be a lot more of an offensive threat this year.

While Nic has shown flashes on offense, Webster showed much greater flashes. When Nic ever scored 26 points in 25 minutes, then we can talk about them being equivalent offensive threats.

by Royster on Feb 26, 2009 6:26 AM PST up reply actions

"actually he could be considered one of the top 4th quarter coaches in the league. "

Nate in the huddle: “Ok guys, see this guy here (points) his name is Travis. Pass him the ball, then stand around and watch.”

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 26, 2009 3:57 AM PST reply actions

lol or brandon

by tevisthe4th on Feb 26, 2009 9:57 AM PST up reply actions

If you don’t think Martell is an offensive threat, you simply haven’t been paying attention.

Really now? Which is why last year he averaged 13 points per 36 minutes on 42% shooting. You’re right! He’s an assassin! 42% FG percentage? And I haven’t been paying attention?

I mean, he did shoot 3’s at a high enough percentage to be tied for third on this years team. Well he did make up for it though by getting to the line once a game.

by AndrewD on Feb 26, 2009 5:38 AM PST reply actions

Jscot you want this one?

Oh, I can have it? Cool!

48% of his shots were 3 point attempts. He took 656 shots and had 677 points. That’s over a point a shot. And he looked improved in the little we saw him during exhibition and the summer. (Yes I know you don’t pay attention to the Blazers during those times of the year.) Anywho, enjoy.

Przybilla: 1.31 pps (OWNED)
Oden: 1.14 pps
Rudy: 1.08 pps
Blake 1.06 pps
Batum: 1.04 pps
WEBSTER: 1.03 pps
Outlaw: 1.01 pps
Roy: 1.01 pps (points per shot.)
Aldridge: 0.98 pps
Sergio: 0.88 pps (Ouch)
Bayless: 0.83 pps (More ouch)
Frye: 0.82 pps (Who was hyping him?

Granted, FTs is another huge factor because a 75% FT shooter effectively gets 1.5pps when they to to the line. But on raw shooting, Webster is better than most of our team and this was last year. The guy got waaay better over the summer.

The other factor is that you are willing to sacrafice pps for shots attempted. Joel’s numbers are off the charts, but he doesn’t have the ability to take many shots. Give me Rudy’s 1.08 with higher volume anyday.

by Zaig on Feb 26, 2009 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

I would take last year's Martell over Rudy's this year

In a heartbeat.

Karma

by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 26, 2009 5:27 PM PST up reply actions

It's not Nate's fault

our players haven’t figured out how to play defense

by kickbrass on Feb 26, 2009 6:25 AM PST reply actions

But it sure is nate's fault

that he decides to go with a crunchtime lineup of Roy/Rudy/Travis/LMA/Frye.

by howlingfantods on Feb 26, 2009 9:09 AM PST up reply actions

There's something to be said for the fact that Nate can't fire his players up

That being thoroughly dominated by teams you are supposedly peers with doesn’t piss anybody off except maybe Joel.

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Feb 26, 2009 7:50 AM PST reply actions

I can tell you

the players on the Spurs last night are better defensively than our blazers. The reason I believe is they have been in the league longer and understand the nuances of the game better. Youth and defense have historically had a rocky relationship.

by ryryslyry on Feb 26, 2009 8:25 AM PST reply actions

defense, defense, defense

“What we have here…is a failure to communicate.”

I believe Nate coaches defense, but we have too many offensive minded players to play team defense. The only good defender is Joel. Batum and Aldridge are maybe above average. Everyone else is average at best…yes, even Roy and Bayless. Individual defense is not the problem though. The Spurs only have a couple of good defenders, but they play incredible team defense (re: Blazers shooting %). Of course Sergio, Blake, Roy, etc. is going to get burned by Parker. Everyone gets burned by Parker.

by clonigro on Feb 26, 2009 8:53 AM PST reply actions