Hey Nate why in the hell did you take out rudy????

by Odenisgod on Apr 24, 2009 10:16 PM PDT

I just don't get this guy! He just sticks to his stupid rotations no matter what. Travis freaking outlaw played 31 mins tonight folks!!! Rudy played 22! What game, or actually what series is this guy watching????? I was pulling out my hair when he took rudy out and screaming at my tv. You could tell how pissed rudy was too. Outlaw should of played 20 mins tops! Nate is so freaking stubborn its not even funny. I literally feel sick to my stomach right now and I'm going to sleep. pisssssssed!

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It's obvious...Nate hates him...

in fact, I heard Nate tells KP everyday to trade Rudy for a box of Cracker Jacks and Mark Madsen.

by JasonT on Apr 24, 2009 10:21 PM PDT reply actions

I dont think we could get both Cracker Jacks AND Mark Madsen.

I mean, there is a prize in the box.

by BlazerBen on Apr 24, 2009 11:54 PM PDT up reply actions

I do not believe that

Nate is a brilliant coach,and would never ask to trade Rudy. That’s insane. Rudy and Brandon are going to be the success of this team for many years to come. But, so long, Travis.

by Nora R on Apr 25, 2009 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions

This is a perfect post for the vent thread, 2 fanposts below.

by Corvid on Apr 24, 2009 10:21 PM PDT reply actions

Have faith in Nate!

He has a vision. Sometimes it looks hazy, but in the end it will all work out. The players failed to execute tonight, not Nate. Yanking Travis as soon as he is cold just lowers his confidence and makes him a non-factor in the series.

by dblieberman on Apr 24, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions

more of a non-factor than he already is?

how exactly?

In fact, he hasn’t been a non factor thus far, he’s been a net negative.

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 24, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Nate messed up

so did many of our players. Just like they make mistakes, so does he. Let’s just see if he learns from it.

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 24, 2009 10:22 PM PDT reply actions

Exactly. But LEARN. Rudy was freaking hot.

When Rudy is on he is a deadly weapon. Nate needs to insure that he is getting the ball. Several plays in the second half, Rudy was open and the ball was swinging around and no one found him.

Rudy and Greg were the only guys tonight that did not show fear. LMA and Roy hesitated. Roy totally should have taken the open 3 with Artest’s back turned on the high pick-and-roll late in the game, for instance. And LMA short-armed several hesitation jumpers. [There is no “try.”]

Playoffs. Learn THIS: “Bring it. Or go home.”

Rudy brought it.

by LaoTzu on Apr 24, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions

agree

Rudy is a gamer. So is Roy. It looks like Oden will be some day. Joel is too, in his limited role. The Jury is still out on the rest of the bunch.

Off topic here, but I continue to despise our offense. I personally feel we don’t play to the strengths of many of our players. We have guys who are great finishers on the break, but no one to lead it outside of Sergio. We have big guys who can be fantastic at the pick and roll, yet we rarely if ever play pick and roll (not to be confused with pick and pop). We station our centers at the 3 point line almost the entire night – guaranteeing there is a help defender in the lane as well as little chance to get the rebound. We don’t play the pick and roll with the one guy (Rudy) who is actually a dual threat when running it (Roy never passes on it, Blake and Sergio only pass). We play far too much isolation and far too little ball and player movement. Obviously, non of this can be addressed now, but I’d like to see changes in our offensive sets in the offseason.

Topic for another day

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 24, 2009 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I completely agree

I think the Blazer offensive rebounding (which is great) disguises what would otherwise be an average team in terms of offensive efficiency. We don’t get anywhere near enough easy points and I don’t just mean on fastbreaks or FTs. Against any competent defense the Blazers struggle to get good looks. If Roy wasn’t such a magician with the basketball we would probably get less than 5 layins/dunks per game.

Regarding the game tonight, the offense takes forever to get moving on way too many of our plays. I don’t know how many times I watched Blake or Roy dribble out the first 12-14 seconds of the shot clock and then have to put up an ugly shot in the last 5 seconds because Houston is too good at stopping the first option. Screens need to be set immediately, players need to be cutting immediately and passes should be fired around the court quickly. As long as the Blazers are doing the same tired, lazy pick and pop with only 8 seconds left on the shot clock, they are going to have their offense shut down.

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

by Magnum on Apr 25, 2009 1:31 AM PDT up reply actions

The Point Is

Rudy was hot and Nate yanked him, while he was hot. Outlaw was cold all game long- one of his worst performances and Nate kept playing him. I understand that maybe he was leaving him in to boost his confidence but at this point in the seasons, Blazer wins are more important than Outlaw’s confidence. Nate made a mistake (yes it is possible) by not playing Rudy more.

by ExpatDan on Apr 24, 2009 10:28 PM PDT reply actions

True. But,

But if I am Rudy, I have a talk with Nate. If I’m Rudy, I ask Nate if it is the right move to start me in front of Batum in this series. No one besides Yao needs special defensive attention, anyway. rudy should get extended minutes if he is playing like this.

This should not happen again. If Rudy is hot like that, make him a focal point.

Nate does need more flexibility in his thinking regarding what is working. And he needs to change it up, reminding his players who is hot, to look for them and how we plan to get them the touches we need to be successful.

Rudy is a monster right now. The only thing holding him back is PT and a little focus on him from the coach on down. Rudy has elevated his game. Time for him to get the minutes and touches he deserves!

by LaoTzu on Apr 24, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions

ok...

So…Did hair pulling and screaming at the T.V. help any?

by Roadblazer on Apr 24, 2009 10:52 PM PDT reply actions

I hope you snatched yourself bald.

"Aneurysm".

When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie

by annthefan on Apr 24, 2009 11:04 PM PDT reply actions

lol

Goodbye Deke. The NBA will miss Mt. Mutombo.

by prezofdeath on Apr 25, 2009 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions

For what it's worth...Rudy's (and Nate's) thoughts:

Portland’s biggest offensive weapon was Fernandez, who kept the Blazers in the game the first half and finished with 17 points on 6 of 9 from the field, including 5 for 7 on 3-pointers, 22 minutes.

"I make a few points, but it doesn’t matter," Fernandez said. "The important thing is the team, and we did not win."

Fernandez played only eight minutes in the second half, a time when the Blazers could have used his offense.

"You have to get defense, too," McMillan said. "We needed offense on the floor for a while, and Rudy was scoring. But with Brandon in foul trouble, we couldn’t put Rudy on Artest, so we had to get Travis back in the game."

At one point, Fernandez appeared angry, tossing a towel to the floor when he was removed from the game following a short stint with three minutes to go. He said he was upset with himself for allowing Battier to sink a 3-pointer "in my face" moments before.

"Everybody wants to play the last minutes, but it’s the coach’s decision," Fernandez said. Outlaw "is more aggressive on defense than me."

Link

Very diplomatic is Rudy.

by Evanescent on Apr 25, 2009 5:28 AM PDT reply actions

How long will he be diplomatic though?

He’s got his rookie hat on right now, what if he wants more of a role next year after an off-season worth of work?

Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.

by The Pirate on Apr 25, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Rudy is a professional, not some rookie. He knew he was feelin it last night and should've been in.

This guy has been the go-to for his team in Europe for years, and now he sits for Outlaw? You know it pissed him off—but I like his emotion and I bet he simply gets better.

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Apr 25, 2009 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Nate is the right coach for this team.

Lots of people made mistakes last night, and Nate was one of them. Clearly, Rudy should be playing 30+ minutes—his experience is critical, and like someone else mentioned, his perceived defensive liabilities are outweighed by his smart, offensive skills, IMO.

Also, I would like to point out that although Nate has a fairly set rotation, the guy has made adjustments for the most part over the course of the season (Oden off the bench, Sergio not playing) and he is no fool. He still gets my vote. Unless he benches Rudy over a worthless Outlaw performance AGAIN—then I will be concerned.

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Apr 25, 2009 10:31 AM PDT reply actions

Subjectively we think Rudy is more "clutch" than he really currently is (myself included especially yesterday)

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

In 2008-09 with 4th quarter or overtime and less than 5 minutes left and neither team ahead by more than 5:

Fernandez FG% 23.8; 3P% 27.8, FT% 72, 8.7 points added (per 48 minutes of such situations). That’s worse than Steve, Travis, and far worse than Roy (amazing 42 points, #7 in the league).

Doesn’t mean he can’t be clutch as he improves in the NBA, I think he can become the #2 outside option at the end of games when Roy is covered and inside for Oden/Joel and LMA is clogged. So far he isn’t.

That stop and go by Roy is straight sick. I'm calling him "The Flu" from now on. - Wendell Maxey

by Norsktroll on Apr 25, 2009 10:41 AM PDT reply actions

yes, but Travis is slumpin and Rudy is hot....

I know that 3 playoff games is not a big statistical sample (to quote jksnake) but would you have played Rudy over Travis in the 4th last night, regardless of the 82 game stats?

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Apr 25, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions