An Interesting Sidenote to this Series That I Have Not Seen Mentioned Yet...

by jksnake99 on Apr 16, 2009 10:19 PM PDT

Nate McMillan last coached a playoff series in 2005. McMillan was the coach of the Seattle Supersonics, who came in with a record of 52-30 (a bit of a lucky mark as their point differential was more in line with that of a 48-34 team). The Sonics that year played at the 4th slowest pace in the league and boasted the league's 2nd most efficient offense... but its 4th worst defense.

The Sonics' first round opponent was the 6th seeded Sacramento Kings, who had a regular season record of 50-32 (also a bit of a lucky mark- pythagorean record was 47-35). The Kings had the league's 3rd best offense and 23rd best defense. They were coached by a man named... Rick Adelman.

McMillan's Sonics were not expected to do well by some against the Kings, who featured playoff veterans Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson. Meanwhile Ray Allen was the only Sonic who had extensive playoff experience. However, the Sonics-- helped by an out of nowehere explosion by Jerome James-- won the series 4-1, stealing game 4 at Arco Arena and closing it out at home in Seattle.

In the next round, the Sonics faced the mighty San Antonio Spurs, who would go on to win the championship that year. The Sonics were blown out in games 1 and 2 in San Antonio before winning the next two at home. The Sonics were finally ousted by a 98-96 score in Seattle in game 6. They were inches away from taking the eventual champs to 7 games.

---

Obviously, the parrallels between the upcoming Rockets-Blazers series and the 2005 series between Sacramento and Seattle are limited. Unlike in 2005, Adelman is at the helm of a squad that excels defensively (4th best in the league) and is mediocre offensively (15th best).

I do think it is interesting to point out that McMillan will face the same coach who he faced in the first round the last time he led a team to the playoffs and its a bit surprising this hasn't been pointed out yet.

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That is surprising

by tingeyga on Apr 16, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Very interesting

by TallTimber on Apr 16, 2009 10:26 PM PDT reply actions

great stuff as always

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 Apr 16, 2009 10:29 PM PDT reply actions

I'm actually in the middle of a McMillan/Adelman post

It’ll be up soon.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 16, 2009 10:30 PM PDT reply actions

If I'm not beaten to it

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 16, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice point

McMillan takes a group of playoff newcomers up against a more experienced team, and beats them? This is irrelevant to our current situation :)

by rmcdougall on Apr 16, 2009 10:30 PM PDT reply actions

Neat stuff

To me it seems both teams are much stronger this time around. Tougher.

by staylost on Apr 16, 2009 10:32 PM PDT reply actions

indeed-- while that was a pretty typical 3-6 matchup, this Rockets-Blazers matchup could easily (and I would say SHOULD)

be a 2nd round matchup between the 2 and 3 seeds.

by jksnake99 on Apr 16, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah, its really too bad

someone from the other half of the West bracket is going to make it to the WCF without having to play any of the top 3 teams. Denver’s got the inside track, but they don’t exactly instill confidence. San Antonio has the experience and two extremely good players, but one is injured, and their depth is pretty poor. New Orleans has the best player of all 4 teams, but he has very little help. Oddly enough, I could almost call Dallas the favorites out of that half. They have three very skilled players who make few mistakes, a supporting cast who knows their roles, and like us, seem to be peaking at the right time.

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 Apr 16, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions

that bracket is absolutely wide open

Denver’s my pick, due to homecourt advantage.

by jksnake99 on Apr 17, 2009 12:29 AM PDT up reply actions

Really? I'm a bit surprised

I know how strongly you’ve felt about their performance against their point diff. It seems like the playoffs are as good a place to regress to the mean as any, you know? Or, when you say homecourt advantage, do you specifically mean Denver’s altitude will be the deciding factor?

It really feels like the bottom bracket winner is “the team to be sacrificed to the top bracket winner”.

The bottom bracket really is wide open, you’re right. Any of the 4 teams can get hot and take it. I can envision scenarios for each team to sneak into the WCF.

by Timmay! on Apr 17, 2009 1:49 AM PDT up reply actions

Well, Denver isn't the only one outperforming their point differential.

All of the western playoff teams except for Portland and Utah have more wins than expected (including the Lakers). Based on point differential, the order of quality of the four teams in the other half is San Antonio, Denver, Dallas, and New Orleans from best to worst. Considering Denver has home court and San Antonio doesn’t have Ginobili, picking Denver may be the “safest” pick statistically.

by poster on Apr 17, 2009 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions

I know, its wierd

I’ve been ripping Denver for a while now— I absolutely feel Portland and Houston are better than they are— but I think with homecourt they are good enough to get past the other 3 teams in that bracket… but I would not be at all surprised to see them get CP3’d.

by jksnake99 on Apr 17, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions

watup Snake? as always, excellent post

recs for effects

Go Blazers!!!!!!!!!! Wooooooooooot Wooooooooooooot!!!!!!!!!

by broyposse on Apr 16, 2009 10:35 PM PDT reply actions

i like it, jksnake99...

may I make a suggestion?

Can you add Portland’s rankings going in this year, for slightly more perspective? You’ve got the two teams’ from 4 years ago, and you’ve got Houston’s for this year… but not Portland’s.

Just a suggestion… I won’t be bothered if you don’t add it.

But I like to be here. Oh, I like it a lot! Said the Cat in the Hat. To the fish in the pot.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Apr 16, 2009 10:40 PM PDT reply actions

I will soon post a stat geek breakdown for this series-- I decided to do it seperately...

look for it within the hour.

by jksnake99 on Apr 16, 2009 10:44 PM PDT up reply actions

darn you

you just assured I won’t be going to bed for a bit longer yet…

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 Apr 16, 2009 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions

So you think Ruffin will have a huge series, resulting in a team to overpay him by about 6 million per year?

Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.

by Norsktroll on Apr 16, 2009 10:42 PM PDT reply actions

wait, i thought isiah thomas was coaching FIU

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Apr 16, 2009 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Its a florida school

They will pay their Athletes

by ggassen85 on Apr 16, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions

no, that's Isiah Thompson

you must have him confused with someone else

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 Apr 16, 2009 11:06 PM PDT up reply actions

that was embarrassing to watch...

how do you not remember the last name of the coach you just hired?

"I don't know Twitter" - Rudy Fernandez

by RoodiePhirnandizz on Apr 16, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah...i was amazed that sports center even played that clip multiple times

and not make a comment about it.

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Apr 16, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

They played that clip as the opening of Sportscenter for a while that day

I think they decided the clip said more on it’s own than any sarcastic studio comment could.

by Timmay! on Apr 17, 2009 1:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Not to mention it is Isaiah "Freakin" Thomas

Like him or not, who doesn’t know who he is?

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Apr 16, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions

speaking of embarrassing

are we allowed to point out that he’s going from coaching one of the main (in terms of the market) teams in the NBA to some school I’ve never heard of?

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Apr 17, 2009 12:22 AM PDT up reply actions

His alternative likely seems to have been joining the Clippers. He is more likely to be left alone at FIU

Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.

by Norsktroll on Apr 17, 2009 12:48 AM PDT up reply actions

great find and point - rec'd

put a body on 'em

by RayBourque on Apr 16, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions

Come on!

One more! This is a great post! If I had two recs I’d use them right now!

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on Apr 16, 2009 11:29 PM PDT reply actions

Nice work.

This is a good score…brings added insight to the scenario.

this has been a message from: "The People's Alliance to give Greg Oden at Least a Couple of Seasons"

by bforsythe on Apr 16, 2009 11:38 PM PDT reply actions

With regards to comparing the 2004-2005 Seattle SuperSonics to the 2008-2009 Portland Trail Blazers ...

the roles of Vladimir Radmanovic on the former and Travis Outlaw on the latter are very similar to each other.

Obviously, there are some very noticeable differences stylistically between Radmanovic an Outlaw; however, it wouldn’t shock me one bit if “Trout” put up a poor performance in the first round against Houston similarly to what “Radman” did five years ago against Sacramento in what’s considered to be a reminiscent situation.

Indeed, the Houston Rockets employ enough defensive firepower at the wings to cause Outlaw constant fits.

by AK1984 on Apr 17, 2009 1:36 AM PDT reply actions

Radmanovic

is not in the same league, galaxy, or universe as Trout when it comes to creating his own shot. I feel like it doesn’t really matter who covers Travis — he shoots dang near as well with a man in his face as he does when he’s wide-open.

Although I think you’ve inadvertently hit upon a key — perhaps THE key — to the series. Battier and Artest can make life hell for our wing players…but only two of them. The Rockets are going to feel that Battier on Batum is a waste of Battier’s ability, so he’s going to be playing a ton of free safety. If Batum knocks down shots, that makes SB stay at home and opens up passing and driving lanes for everybody else.

Artest can neutralize Roy. He’s the best defender in the league at stopping a wing player of Roy’s style. But what happens when Rudy and Travis check in? Battier and Artest can’t play 48 minutes. Brent Barry, Von Wafer, and Kyle Lowry aren’t stopping those guys. We NEED our second-unit wing players to score in bunches, because it’s going to force Adelman to do one of two things: either bring A/B back in to stop our scoring runs, leaving them vulnerable for late-game attacking when they’re tired; or try to play catch-up ball once the starters come back in with a team that really isn’t designed to play well from behind.

This series comes down to Batum, Travis, and Rudy making shots and raising havoc. If they’re cold, I don’t believe that we can win.

The Michael Ruffin of BlazersEdge, cuz Amlmart said so.

by BlazersOrBust on Apr 17, 2009 5:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Could Greg Oden be this year's Jerome James?

as long as he’s not next year’s Jerome James

"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 Apr 17, 2009 7:14 AM PDT reply actions

Good post as usual...

I think it would’ve been interesting to play the Nuggets also—Nate’s former coach. At least he got the opportunity to whip him on Wednesday.

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Apr 17, 2009 7:44 AM PDT reply actions

WCF?

We can dream can’t we?

"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"

The Bhagavad Gita

by Idog1976 on Apr 17, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions