Playoff Rotation- Answer to the Bayless/Rodriguez debate

by boppitywop on Mar 20, 2009 9:25 AM PDT

It looks like we are starting to see what our play-off rotation is going to look like. Nate is tightening up the minutes and I think we can see who will be in the final 8 man rotation.

Starters:

Blake-Roy-Batum-LMA-Pryz

Bench:

Trout-Fernandez-Oden

In an overtime game on the back-end of a back to back with 2 starter's out Rodriguez and Bayless got only 9 minutes combined. So the answer to the Bayless/Rodriguez argument will probably be: NEITHER. I can see both of them getting spot minutes as well as Frye playing a little back-up center or power-forward if there's foul trouble, but I think we're going to see the 8 man rotation more and more. Considering their quality of play as of late it isn't that surprising.

As we all like to second guess Nate. Poll question for y'al:

Poll

What should our play-off rotation be:

8-man rotation(with spot minute exceptions)

35 votes

9-man rotation(Bayless at back-up)

9 votes

9-man rotation(Rodriguez at back-up)

9 votes

9-man rotation(Rodriguez,Bayless or Frye depending on matchup)

10 votes

10-man rotation(Rodriguez/Bayless plus Frye)

2 votes

12-man rotation(Ruffin and Shav need to get out there)

3 votes

This will all change because Martel's coming back

18 votes

86 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I think an 8 man rotation

is asking too much of Roy. At least based on what I’ve seen since Roy has come into the league, when he plays tired at the end of a game, he gets sloppy. Sometimes, he’s bailed out by an iffy call, other times its a big turnover.

"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP

by Arby on Mar 20, 2009 9:29 AM PDT reply actions

I put 9 man with Sergio

Throw Sergio in for 10 minutes.
Final 2 minutes of 1st and 3rd
First 3 minutes of 2nd and 4th

Gives Blake/Roy time to breathe. Hopefully gets Rudy going so he can finish each half strong. Keeps us from playing 4 on 5.

by Zaig on Mar 20, 2009 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

+1

For the love of god Nate, let the guys run the ball & make mistakes!!!!

by Nakamura on Mar 20, 2009 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions

It is possible to play an 8-man rotation without expanding Roy's minutes

With an 8-man rotation you are still only averaging 30 minutes per player. If Roy and Aldridge play their normal 38 minutes per game, the rest of the players would still only be getting about 27 minutes each.

by trk on Mar 20, 2009 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

I said 8 man rotation

but for the playoffs only. I think that our players will be able to handle more time on the court because there will be more time in-between games and c’mon its the PLAYOFFS.

I Blazersedge daily, nightly and ever so rightly.

by Claire on Mar 20, 2009 10:16 AM PDT reply actions

8 until Martell gets back.

Then 9.

It looks to me like an area of emphasis will be dribble creation by Brandon, Rudy, Nic and Martell. We seem to be deemphasizing piont distribution when Steve’s resting. Brandon will play “point” the 15 minutes Steve’s out and the more successful creator/distributors will accompany Brandon at PG. I like it.

Bedge or go home.

by Ojala John on Mar 20, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions

15 minutes at point for Roy is pretty brutal though

by Zaig on Mar 20, 2009 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions

Last night, Rudy covered point a few times. Took the ball up, ran the offense.

I thought I saw it three times, but I know he did it at least once.

by Timmay! on Mar 20, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

C-town doesn't have a PG who penetrates

So Nate could “get by” with playing Roy and Rudy together

The playoff “rotation” will depend upon the matchups. Rick Kamla was interviewed a few weeks ago and he was asked the question “who should Portland want to face in the playoffs?” His answer was that the Blazers would stuggle against teams with penetrating PGs (Parker, DWill, CP3, etc) because Blake/Bayless/Sergio simply can’t guard them.

The “solution” is team defense, and the Blazers have had a few games where they created an effective “wall” against penetration (Spurs, Lakers at home) but they’re far from being consistent with it. To play Roy and Rudy “together” for long stretches of games against those elite PGs is just asking for trouble…which is why some of us advocated upgrading the PG position at the deadline (Hinrich, etc)

by two4larue on Mar 20, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions