Whose Minutes Do You Want to See Decrease?

I thought he was pushed a bit too much last year. But with Dre that shouldn’t be an issue this year.

And I’d like to see the Martell of last pre-season take Outlaw’s minutes at the 3.

1. Joel – Because it’s that important for Greg to develop. Also, Greg will be an upgrade at the offensive end where Joel can be a liability.
2. Steve – I like the idea of having someone who can push the tempo and throw the lob (a la sergio) and create for themselves (not sergio), while making better decisions and functioning like a second coach on the floor. I’m talking about Andre, of course.
3. Brandon – ‘cause it’s not a good idea to ride him as hard for as many games as we did last year.
4. Travis (with the caveat that he doesn’t show us anything new come Fall) – I like a more team-oriented game on offense and defense, so that would favor more time for Rudy, Brandon, Nic and Telly (hopefully) on the 2/3 rotation.

is there someone’s game that drives you nuts? Get that bum off the court!?

No question. If Roy see’s a mild decrease in minutes it can only mean one thing: we’re winning. Although it also probably means we’re commited to going somewhere in the playoffs.

Steve Blake.

Steve Blake, Joel Przybilla, and Travis Outlaw.

Steve, as he played a lot of minutes last year and I feel he’s best as a star backup.

Joel, because it would mean Greg has emerged.

Travis… I really want to see Martell healthy. It would be a bummer for the foot injury to be a chronic issue.

What has changed about our team going into next season, which would precipitate change?

In 09/10, Miller will impact reduced minutes for (in this order):
Blake, Bayless, Roy

Basically I give Blake about a 5% chance of starting next year. I think it’s obvious KP & Nate wanted a better ball handler, decision maker and someone who could run point and push pace. It’s actually scary to think about Blake and Rudy on the floor together coming off the bench. The continued dominance of the caucasian connection! Then of course there’s Bayless who I honestly don’t see playing at all next year, barring injuries. I maintain that he’ll be bundled in a trade before the deadline. The affect Miller has on Roy is a little different. Bear in mind that Sergio was a really, really, really poor decision maker. He had his moments but they certainly were not playoff caliber minutes. So, instead of Roy being out there longer than needed, I do see a good 4-5 minutes off his average next year. Simply because I think Nate will want Rudy to continue blossoming.

In 09/10, Webster/Pedergraph/Cunningham will impact reduced minutes for (in this order):
Outlaw, Batum

Not to throw Travis under the bus, because he’s done some great things for us, but he’s as likely as Bayless to be traded. If! If Webster ends up even 80% the player he was in 07/08 and shows promise. I do still see Travis starting out with normal or slightly reduced minutes. Travis is still the best backup to Batum or Aldridge right now. But that could change if one of these new rookies ends up playing tenacious defense and rebounds well. I don’t think we need scoring really at the 4 spot, as a backup. We just need a solid banger who can come in and be an energy guy running the floor. Power forward is an interesting position for us next year. What happens if we pickup a veteran blue collar forward before the deadline? When you hear stuff like “one player away from a title”, as Blazers fans I think we all can all agree it’s a backup to Aldridge.

In 09/10, Oden will impact reduced minutes for:
Pryzbilla

You don’t draft a guy #1 and then not have him start in his second actual playing year in the NBA. I honestly don’t see Greg as a bust, but I don’t expect 20/10 on this team either. I’m more looking for 10/10 and pushing 2.5 – 3 blocks/game. To simplify it even further, Greg needs to be a better center than Bynum next year. If he can turn the corner a little, I see Oden starting.

Total Minutes – If Joel plays as many total minutes as last year it means Oden is injured and missing games again. GO only played 61 games last year.

Average Minutes per game – If Joel plays as many MPG as last year it means Oden hasn’t decreased his fouls, and that is the first and necessary step to GO realizing his potential. GO only played an average of 21.5 MPG last year. If that continues it will have a serious effect on his confidence going forward and create many more doubts about his future performance.

1. Blake – Miller should take over the starting PG job, and Blake will be one of the best backups in the league
2. Pryz – Joel was great last year, but less of him means Oden is developing/playing well, which is critical for Portland’s title hopes
3. Roy – Keep him relatively fresh for the playoffs, where he’ll be averaging 40+ minutes a night

Are playing well Travis and JB becomes an attractive trade package at the deadline and that might be best for all concerned because I just dont see them geting the minutes to realize their potential with the Blazers

That is a little harsh don’t you think. Nic started last season, but didn’t see many minutes.
For me, Blake, Pryz, Travis, less
Nic, Greg more.
Miller Martel, I’m anxious to find out.

Clyde once said he often didn’t play the second half because the team was so far ahead. True or not, that would be very nice: Brandon sitting, saving himself, then stepping up to explode when needed.

so their minutes won’t be hit too much. unless there is foul trouble, I think outlaw will suffer.

more messing around. Throw Greg out there and let him play even through foul trouble.

Less time in descending order of priority: Fry, Blake, Outlaw, Aldridge, Roy, Sergio, Przysbilla.

Players who should get those minutes in order of priority: Miller, Webster, Oden, Batum, Bayless, Cunningham, Pendergraph, Rudy.

Playing time should be based on how players are playing and matchups, not automatic robo subbing. For example, Bayless gets time against quick point guards and Travis gets time against players that demand his focus, no drifting or sleep walking allowed. Less concern about fouls, we have great depth. Allow players to find their rhythm, avoid the quick hook. Hot players stay in until they run out of steam. Think successful matchups, motivation, and fun!

Brandon’s minutes should go down. The team needs him healthy, fresh, and strong for the playoffs, and if he continues to get banged up throughout the season, without help from the other guys stepping up, we can look forward to another early exit from the championship chase.

Can you really find joy in watching incredible potential rotting on the bench? I can’t. But maybe some of you (those still grinding axes about Sergio?) can.

To answer your question, yes I can, in certain situations. Jerryd’s potential “rotting on the bench” may mean that Blake and Miller are playing better than Jerryd. And we’re not really at the “playing for potential” point anymore. Leave that for the Minnesotas and Memphises. We’re trying to contend. Maybe we’re not quite there yet, but it’s time to start playing that way. If Blake and Miller are playing so that we are indeed in contention, then I say let the potential rot. Potential can be replaced. Production is a more valuable commodity.

Sure, Drazen Petrovich was good, but it was hard to argue with him on the bench when we were reaching the finals or posting 60 win seasons. When the window is open, you’ve got to do what gets you through that window the most effectively. Maybe if we had played Petro more he would have been good for us, but would we have been the contenders we were with him in that position? Maybe not.

I’m no Sergio Sympathizer. The same argument goes for him if he was the one who stayed. And I think the same argument can be made for Oden too. If he’s not cutting it out there, then play Przybilla. I hope and believe that wont be the case, but if it is, bite the bullet, admit the mistake and put the best players on the floor.

As for as the centers go, there is enough minutes for Joel and Greg. The fouls usually determine playing time.
Also, Joel plays better against teams that have penetrating pg and Greg plays better against the big aggressive centers with the exception of Shaq. There are many games where fouls exceeds the minutes than Pendergraph would be needed.

Everybody complained about Nate’s on the clock subbing, reading these articles makes it sound like everybody is doing the same thing. Take a minute here and put it there. Divide minutes between two players and such. I cannot sit here before even training camp has started and determine whose minutes should be cut.

Miller will be taking Sergio’s place; that could be exchanged for Steve taking Sergio’s minutes and Miller taking Steve’s minutes. That is because everybody was saying we were playing Steve too many minutes. Since Steve and Andre are both getting older and their game is already established, let the game decide the minutes. Bayless didn’t see that many minutes except for garbage time anyway, so his minutes for now would be the same.

I think Batman needs the minutes and gauging from his Summer performance, he may earn them. Martell is the dark horse. I remember like many, when Martell’s game was on he was terrific, but when he was off he sit and pouted a lot. Of course that was two years ago, things have changed. Therefore it is hard to dictate how many minutes he should get.

Outlaw didn’t play the three that good anyway so his minutes will probably be reduced. The excepting to that would be if the second unit becomes a running unit, I think either Batman or Travis would be better then Martell. (? broken foot). That again depends on the game.

Since this all speculation, IMO, the brass waited to see how JBay did in summer camp before going after Miller. That would explain why Miller was a late pick. I also think they are waiting to see how Martell produces and his durability before they make that next move everybody talks about.

I get somewhat turned off with posters comparing last years stats to determine playing time. Batuum, Rudy, Greg and JBay were all rookies last year. IMO this years performance should determine the minutes not last years

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How many minutes are you willing to give up? These are the best players on the Blazers and they need to play big minutes or else the team becomes worse. Fernandez and Outlaw are huge drop offs from Roy and Aldridge; playing your best players for fewer minutes means fewer wins. The Blazers haven’t really proven anything in this league and shouldn’t take making the playoffs for granted, they need to get all the wins they can.

I don’t think that Roy and Aldridge played too many minutes last year. If you look at mp/g of very good players in the league it can range anywhere from 33 minutes a game for guys like Duncan and Yao to 39 minutes a game for Iguodola. 37 minutes a game isn’t close to the top and in fact Roy and LA were 23rd and 24th (respectively) in the league last year in minutes played per game. Even K*be, who can rest when the L*(&&^ are blowing other teams out, plays 36 minutes a game. When you don’t have very good replacement players your stars need to play a lot of minutes, I don’t want to see Roy and Aldridge play fewer than 35 or 36 minutes per game.

So who should get fewer minutes? Going by last year’s statistics Andre Miller was a better point guard than Steve Blake, so I’d like to see Miller take the majority of the minutes at point guard (supposing Miller’s age doesn’t catch up with him and there is a huge drop off in his game).

Outlaw also wasn’t very effective last year, but he is the only known commodity at back up PF so he probably can be counted on getting those 10-14 minutes a night (and he probably will be better than Channing was). Other than those minutes I wouldn’t play Outlaw too much, since I think Batum and Webster will be better than him at SF.

So in summary 15-20 minutes less for Blake and about 15 minutes less for Outlaw, otherwise keep the same rotation.

Yes, I am going completly left field on this one. But, we have Rudy, Batum and Martell, plus our rookies who can use some minutes to get some seasoning. Why I say BROY and L. Aldridge is to keep their minutes down to insure they are healthy for the play-offs, and we have a ton of talented players we could take advantage of and to showcase their abilities in case we want to make a trade before the deadline.

the hope is that everyone stays injury free. We need to win as many games as possible to assure a top seed and on going home court advantage in the play-offs. I don’t think we’ll see any reduction of minutes for Broy or LMA. Most games are won in the final minutes which means those two play lots of minutes so we can win the close ones, especially on the road. I’d like to see Broy lead the league in scoring or at least be close. I think the competitor in him keeps him on the floor. As long as we are winning, minutes won’t be a problem. I look for the rookies and Rex to spend most of the season on the bench.

This question is really what will determine the outcome of the upcoming season, so thanks for bringing it up. I know it has been taking up a corner in my brain since the off season began…

The real problem position is no mystery: small forward. I mean seriously, with Rudy, Nic, Travis, Martell and Dante all able to rock the 3 spot, who gets shortchanged? All of these guys have great talents that they bring to the game, but there just aren’t enough minutes in the season to make sure that the guys that need to develop can, and that the guys that have earned time get it.

The first thing to do is to look at the SF candidates that perform well at other positions. We know Rudy is a fine SG, so he ought to stay there, even though he deserves more time than he will ever get following Roy. The jury is still out on Travis at the 4 spot, so until he shows a serious passion for rebounding, I’ve gotta keep him in the SF discussion. Cunningham showed that he can rock the PF, and I’ve heard it said that he lacks the ability to guard quicker SFs on the perimeter, so he can leave the table. The same question of quickness leaves Martell out of the guard club. Batum is very comfortable at SF and I can not see him playing anything else unless he puts on some serious weight and moves up to 4.

So it’s the battle that should have happened last season: Martell, Outlaw, and Batum. Of those three, I see Batum as the clear victor. His rookie season was amazing, his summer has been huge, and he’s only 20! So in my opinion, the real fight is between Webster and Outlaw. If Webster stays healthy and brings what he was supposed to bring last season, he wins. On the other hand, we have a young man that has added something to his game every season and there’s no reason to think he can’t do that again. The final question is, can Outlaw add more that Martell can bring?

If Outlaw comes into training camp without having shown a hugely improved BBIQ, he’s gone and the battle is over. It would take him either proving that he can defend the perimeter and bury the 3 just as good as Martell, or that he can seriously compete at the PF to maintain a spot on our roster. Otherwise, he gets just enough minutes to maintain interest, then off he goes to give us headaches in another uniform. I certainly don’t look forward to being on the receiving end of a clutch, three-point, game-winner, courtesy of Travis, but if that’s what it takes to get the most out of Batum and Martell, so be it.

Go Blazers.

Blake loses a ton of minutes. With Martell’s shooting ability, the need for what Blake brings is reduced. He is a wonderful vet, but I think that his time has passed for what this team needs. His strength is being the solid, experienced vet. Miller fits that role. The change of pace back-up is what is needed with the second unit. Blake’s not that guy.

If he’s playing big minutes, it means we need him. I’d rather see Jerryd and Rudy get regular season minutes, let Roy save himself for the finals. (And I still want Roy to play, don’t get me wrong)

but I don’t see it as a decrease in minutes, I’d like to see them be able to get a little rest at times. I’d like to not run them into the ground, so we have them for a long time to come.
Travis is going to have to bring it every night, or even I have to admit he is the odd man out. I’m curious to see what Pendergraph brings, when he gets a chance.
Blakes minutes will decrease with Miller here, and Bayless wont smell playing time unless there is an injury. I hope he puts his ego aside and really watches Miller, he can learn a lot if his head is right.

In the past few years I find myself calling my television names that I wont mention on this site. Use your imagination and I have probably used that word.
With that said, TRAVIS should’ve been traded, should have his minutes decreased dramaticaly, should be getting his ars chewed out by sarge. Her are a few reasons why:
1- It took him 2 years to understand our play book enough to even be effective out there(no basketball IQ)
2- He either thinks he is kobe wants to be kobe or is trying to prove that he will become the greatest jump shooter in the league
3- where his lack of B-Ball IQ comes into play is when our leading scorer in Roy is on the floor and there is 15-17 seconds left on the shot clock and his (kobeness) decides to take a fade-a-way from 15ft out. It makes no sence to me. And that is when I am yelling at my tv all game long!
4- He could be one of the best players in the league if he did have IQ. My reasonings to believe this are because he has one of the highest vertical leaps in the league, he is quick enough to blow by almost any small foward or power foward in the league. With all that said….DRIVE TRAVIS PLEASE! I dont know why Nate doesnt tell him that. He should be either ducking on people left and right( a higher % shot or laying it in or shooting f-throws)

The guy has a load of talent but either no one on the staff pushes him to his highest potential or he is jjust one of those all talent, no smarts kind of player.
His minutes should definatley decrease!

Brandon played way too much last year. Yes, he is our best player, but in order for us to have a chance in the playoffs we need him to be at 100%. If we can play him less, then it means that we’re either blowing teams out, or Rudy has developed his attacking game and midrange game enough to be a solid backup. I’d love to see that, because if Rudy is playing alongside Brandon, then it means that Nic, Martell, and Travis are all sitting the bench, or playing the super small 4. That’s not a good sign.

Lamarcus should have his minutes decreased also, even though he showed last year, through the playoffs that he is a horse. The man played almost every minute throughout the playoffs and he performed fairly well. That being said, though, we can’t burn him out early in games, and watch his effectiveness drop as the game progresses. What I’d like to see out of him is better help side defense, to keep Greg and Joel out of foul trouble.

Martell Webster also should have his projected minutes decrease. Everyone seems to be expecting him to come in this year and play a solid 25-30 minutes a game. I’d like to see him play maybe 20 a game, because it’d mean that Nicolas is getting a lot of time as well.

Those are my top 3.

For the reasons as stated above

I want to see an adult backcourt (Miller/Blake, Roy/Rudy) that can do more of the on-court coaching and leadershipping, so Nate doesn’t have to fiddle with rotations all the time and call as many time outs. I want a team that doesn’t need to be coached every 2 minutes during the game.

So I’ll add to the chorus of votes for seeing their minutes get taken up by more competent and complete players. Ideally that would be Andre Miller and Healthy Martell/Better Nic.

Steve is great, but limited. Sorry to go all fatty on you, but Miller is a BALLER. SF I’m less convinced about…

how can anyone make that call when we haven’t seen how players have improved or developed?

Questions: Bayless, Batum, Oden, Webster (strangely and completely accidentally alphabetical.)

Will Bayless improve with work and focus on being a point guard? Can he make leaps with miller?

Is Batum going to take a giant leap forward, backward, or now where?

Is Webster going to be out of shape? did he really make improvements and will he still be improved with a year off for injury? Is his foot healed because that was a LONG time to be down.

Oden, can he improve? Does he have the dedication?

Assuming Batum can improve more and that webster can improve, then I lean towards travis with the cut. If Webster didn’t improve then I lean towards him as Outlaw, despite his flaws, can play PF and SF and doesn’t double book in areas we’re already clogged (SG)

I still believe in bayless so I see him keeping minutes but if he shows signs of improving then I see blake and miller both cutting minutes.

I’d like to see Roy cut his minutes due to the team playing well and being able to bench and rest him.

I’d like to see pryz cut some minutes because that will mean Oden is playing well.

Still, i think it’s all too soon. Need to see what we have to work with and how the mixes work.

Clearly we are going to have major minutes issues at point guard, shooting guard, and small forward with Travis, Bayless, the rookies being the big losers. I would like to see the total minutes for Brandon, LMA , Miller (he is getting older) reduced so that they are fresher come playoff time.

The traditional way of doling out the minutes is on a per-game basis where your stars get most of the minutes and your role players get well defined smaller minutes and everyone else gets scraps. How about if you were to let Brandon and LMA take entire games off (not at the same time) or play backup minutes every 4th game. Maybe when we are playing a weaker opponent you sit one of them to start the game and only bring them in as needed. Sometimes they will play very few if any minutes, and other times they end up playing their usual minutes. In those situations where they are called upon to come back and clean up after a tighter-than-shoud-be game against one of the weaker teams, aren’t their minutes more applicable to playoff experence than if we had just pummeled the weaker team with all of our guns and then turned the game over to the bench for meaningless garbage minutes? The backups would also get more meaningful minutes since to prove their worth, and players like Bayless and the rookies could potentially get long enough runs to allow them to develop, and players like Travis, Rudy, and Batum would be able to get enough minutes to satisfy them.

This would no doubt cost the Blazers some wins, but it could potentially yield a more experienced bench, and fresher starters for the playoffs. The west is likely to be tight again this year, so I’m not convinced that seeding is going to make that much difference at this point in our championship quest.

After reading all the great comments and swaying in the To ’N Fro, I have reached the conclusion that there is only on solution to the minutes crunch:

Schedule more Overtimes…

Last year he averaged 36 minutes per game. This year I believe it will be under 30 and closer to 24. Blake, Bayless and Roy will all take up PG duties at times. Miller’s contribution will still be enormous but not the role he played with Philly and not the minutes he played there.

I also believe what both KP and Nate have said – the unit that won 54 games last year is still intact as starters and will stay there until difficulties arise or one player clearly outplays a starter and that player will still mesh better with the other starters. However, I look for Nate to be creative with his lineups to keep opponents off balance and unable to concentrate on one strategy against us for the entire game.

This has been a great discussion and I appreciate the perspectives advanced. I will not repeat what has already been discussed so Miller is the one guy not featured as losing minutes already (although some have postulated lists with Miller getting less time).

Bravo.