Punk Rock or Polka?

I don’t think I really care how good the chef is….

On a less metaphorical note.

I guess my take is kind of conditional, if its the right move to be running then do it. If its not, then don’t. In the past few years we have been playing our game, which is slow, if we start trying to do something just for the sake of doing it (adding spice when it is not needed) then this will hurt our efficiency.

If we are not the fantastic chef and don’t know when to add spice, then adding it may well ruin the pot roast.

I guess I can just say that I’m glad we have added personnel who can run, and I trust Nate enough to unleash the hounds when need be, but I don’t really think it should be the primary facet of our game.

Top in overall efficiency is something to be proud of if you ask me.

So when your best player thrives at a certain pace, you generally play to that pace. I’ve got no problem playing slow efficient basketball, as long as it’s a style that the team as a whole can thrive at.

a nice blend, please.

Definitely more running. But not all running.

is the demand for “uptempo” offense on the part of fans just a demand for dunks and 3-man weaves and fast breaks? Is it just an aesthetic preference? Because if so, I’m not on board. Is there a correlation between pace and winning percentage? If so, go with whatever wins the most games.

…then trying to teach them to slow it down, once they already play uptempo."

I agree mostly with this premise. I think Nate and the coaching staff would love to play more up tempo, they just want to make sure that a) they have players who know how to slow it down and grind out points when you need to (i.e. important end of game situations, and playoff), and b) they have players they trust to handle the ball, run the floor, create and make easy shots, and not turn it over too much (cough Sergio).

My belief is that last year, they started every game trying to get the bigs involved early (LMA in the post, Greg inside, and pick and rolls), which freed Roy up with more space to operate. I think this year, they will focus early on getting the ball out and running more (through Miller) and then concentrate later in the game on the half court with LMA and Roy. Like last year where they thrived on an inside outside adaptation, this year they will use up tempo, and slow down change of pace to force teams to adapt.

Our depth and versatility make this team able to change pace better than any in the league…just one guys opinion of course.

Ever heard any Triumph Rock and Roll Machine?

Now that is what I call fast break!!!!!!!!!!

is my preference. Not ‘run ’n gun’.

Smoke ’em if you got ’em, but always get a quality shot.

The Blazers do have good rebounding so a few good fast-break opportunities should be available if they are looking for them.

or should that be the Punk Polka?

Personally, I think that Nate would like to see the team run more but simply didn’t trust them to push it up the floor and not turn it over – as Matt Daddy already said. Let’s hope that Nate trusts Andre to be able to up the tempo while he’s on the court. Because while Blake is running the team from the point, the Blazers will look the same as they did last year, and I would love to see more opportunities for easy buckets on the fast break.

Portland won’t ever look like a Paul Westhead team as long as guys like Roy and Oden are the pieces that they’re building around. But I would hope that the talents of players like Aldridge, Fernandez and Batum can contribute in the open court more than they were used in that capacity last season.

Watching the blazers last year, it was painful to see how many outlet passes to the point guard were not even past the 3 point arc or were handoffs to the point guards from the rebounder. Is this the PG’s problem of not getting open or the Rebounder’s (Center, Forward usually) not being able to make a good pass?

As an ex-point guard I tend to blame the guards more than the post. A deep outlet pass does tremendous things for the running game. It puts pressure on the defense to get back quicker, makes the defense find and stop the ball first and then recover to other guys (not vice versa). It also puts the defense at an immediate disadvantage in the primary and secondary breaks because it usually leads to more mismatches.

Another common misconception with this team is that to run you need all five guys running. Really you only need 1 or 2 guys running with the ball handler to pick up the pace. You just need to make sure you have a guy who knows that when the break or secondary break isn’t there, back it out and get the offense going so you’re not fighting the shot clock…(this is what I see as Miller’s ultimate strength with this club and what Sergio and Blake truly lacked the most).

I for one am glad I don’t have to watch Sergio run along the baseline and take an inbounds outlet handoff anymore….it drove me crazy. Sorry, i’ll stop ranting now.

The problem with uptempo is that they can be defended with effort, no real talent involved, above the ordinary high talent that most NBA players have. I like to taste the food better than the dust. More meat and potatoes please. Bring it to the table faster if you can.

   Break when available(Like the championship Blazers)if not punish with a balanced team oriented passing game ala Larry Bird era Celtics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7UIzsx8h68

I have a friend who plays jazz trumpet. He gets irate when he hears a novice attempting difficult pieces. You play scales before you play bebop! He shouts. Without the fundamentals the fast fancy stuff loses it’s foundation and becomes meaningless. So I think Nate’s preference for the half court set has taught a strong value for each possession. Now it’s time to release the reins a bit. Time to play a couple standards. In another year comes the bebop.

I believe GO and Prizzy are going to benefit from Andre in ways they never have from our other guards. Andre Miller will penetrate in ways Blake never did, and they’ll need to collapse on him in ways they never needed to with Sergio. This will leave Greg and Joel open in ways we rarely saw last year. Seriously, he’s going to be able to hand them the ball right under the basket. We’ll go inside before outside just like we’re supposed to. We have a sweet 3 point shooting team. We have a sweet mid-range shooting team.

Rock or Polka? Remember, They Might Be Giants were a rock band with an accordion. My slogan for 2009/2010 Blazers is: They Might Be Giants.

And we’ll be able to dance to our own tune.

The correct question according to Nate is, “Do we have the proper personnel to run consistently?”

1. To run you have to have good rebounding. We have that.

2. To run you have to play very solid half court defense thus forcing the opponent into bad shots and turnovers. We seem to be lacking in this department. Especially since we have not shown much of an ability to play pressure defense on the perimeter.

3. When running you have to be able to get back on defense yourself. We were poor getting back on defense at times last year.

4. To run you have to have ball handlers, decision makers, and finishers on the break. We would seem to be average to below average on this point.

5. To run you need a number of key players who are fast and willing to run. Again I am not sure we are any better than average here when factoring in an emphasis on our key players.

6. To run you need quality depth, and quality shooters. I believe we are particularly strong on this point.

All in all, I would say that we do not look to be a particularly strong running team at this point, which somewhat explains of Nate’s stance. It is possible that with improved team defense, and the leadership of Andre Miller that the Trailblazers could possible become a middle of the road fast breaking team this year, but I would doubt they could go beyond that.

A nice gavotte?

… and that is where Miller broke in to the NBA.

So, there ya go.

Polkas are often quite fast.

the blazers had one of the more efficient offenses in the league last season. i definitely would not want that to change to much. However, fast breaks can lead to easier baskets. i think that the team has developed enough to start running a few more fast breaks than before, especially with adding andre miller. i dont necessarily think that andre is going to improve this by just simply running. but what he does extremely well, which i think is very underrated is that initial precise passing up the floor. i think what kept the team from running more was the point guards inability to get rebounds. when a point guard can get the rebound, it leads to easier fast breaks. andre miller is a good rebounding point guard and that combined with his ability to pass the ball up the floor in a hurry is going to improve the teams fast breaks.

I like fast breaks (who doesn’t). I like easy baskets (who doesn’t). But a prerequisite for that is decreasing easy baskets on the other end, getting the rebound, stealing the ball, and then spreading the court in transition with someone throwing a fast and precise outlet pass. You can’t be up-tempo when you have to start most transitions with an inbounding pass from the baseline (unless your opposition is lazy and doesn’t get back at all).

A coach has to figure out ways to highlight the strengths of his team and hide the weaknesses. However, the right way to mask a team’s defensive deficiencies isn’t necessarily to slow down the game. Unfortunately Nate has done that sometimes, earning himself a reputation as a good defensive coach when his team allowed less points than most others by decreasing and slowing down possessions. That slower pace comes at a cost: A need for more efficiency on offense, and less easy baskets.

We have the right players to be good in both, half-court and open floor situations. People often say it’s Roy slowing it down, and he did when he felt unsure about his teammates and especially when he was the point guard. And of course he excels in half court isolations. But after the acquisition of Miller, he said he can play faster (he did in especially in high school, where he was seen more as a high-flyer than a methodical player) and would like to do more fast breaks where he spots up from the corners or comes in as the trailer. He’ll never be as much of a fast breaker as Jordan (watch old games of the Bulls, it’s ridiculous, there is always someone on the break and usually it’s him). But he can play faster than he did, getting easier buckets in transition and spotting up for mid-range and outside shots. It’s not so much his fault as it is the fault of the porous defense and Nate slowing it down trying to improve said defense.

in other news I found out my long time friend up the road plays Tex Mex accordian and I have some Los Lobos chops so we jamed a little bit and I told him that aint nothing but polka.

Whether it is fast breaks, pick and roll, driving one on one, dishing or hitting spot up shooters or just taking what the defense gives us, the team should strive for easy buckets.

If I only have five minutes to eat, I can’t slow down to enjoy the taste. Other Words, the team does what the situation calls for. Enjoy the spice but be sure you have time to finish the meal.

hg

At times I thought we had games where we looked almost as good as anybody in the passing department. But we had some ugly games, and those usually were when we couldn’t move the ball.
I don’t think you can run, until you can pass. Most times it takes a good, crisp, precise pass to get a break going, but that’s not all it takes. Then you get down towards the bucket, and then the tough pass comes. Not everybody can make that well delivered pass at that moment.
You have to be able to finish what you started, I think ROY slowed things down more because without personnel who can finish the play it’s just another turnover.
 With Andre and our improved passing we definitely should be running more this year.

Running isn’t just about fast breaks. Why was Nate all year on the side yelling push, push. Just because you don’t have a "classic fast break setup", doesn’t mean you don’t run. If you continually push the ball up, the defense may get back, but they’re not always set.

Push, push, and push, if the shots there you take it. If not, run your sets, but only after you’ve pushed it.
We have the horses, let’em run. Seems like we heard that before.

This is a great topic and I’d love to see more opportunism with the break. I agree that more running would keep opponents off balance and send the signal that this team can win fast or slow, and hopefully tall or small, inside or outside, too. In many sports, the tactic is too work one way, then when/if the opponent “starts” to adjust, switch to the opposite. It takes a lot of talent, skill, team play and good coaching/ floor leadership, but a balanced, multi-dimensional attack is tough to beat. The Blazers have what it takes to master this. But will they?

He pushes them when they get used to walking it down the floor and slows them down when they get out of control. Three years ago I cringed every time the Blazers got out on the break. No one seemed to know where to go and even break aways didn’t seem like easy buckets. But a combination of change in specific personel and continuity with guys who have been around for all three years of the Roy era has brought great improvement on the break.
Last year they were much better at pushing the ball, at home especially. They didn’t do it for 48 minutes but the offense was explosive in bursts, followed by controlled, half court play. What is exciting about adding Miller is that those bursts may become more sustainable and you don’t lose anything in the half court sets. He actually will take pressure off of Aldridge and Roy in the half court and help get easy buckets on the break.

I think the pace of the offense is always second to the effectiveness of the defense. Its incumbent upon the success of the defense to create more opportunities for the success of the offense.

From blocks, steals, to forced or coerced bad shots to rebounding (seem to already have that down) the offense gains opportunities to score and outscore the opponent. And Out scoring the opponent is the key to the game. (duh)

I rather enjoyed the inside out game the Blazers ran last season, and with an improved Oden and a more refined Aldridge, not to mention Andre Miller, I expect to see that offense again in plenty.

“If ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Well the only thing that’s broke was the defense last year (especially against the Rockets, I’m specifically remembering all the times Luis Scola burned the Trailblazers.) So it’s the defense that needs the attention and if you want to touc the tempo of the offense later, then you can.

Most important thing with the offense is to run plays for Oden, more of them at least, to get him up to speed and energetic faster.

Wow Dave that was an elaborate set of analogies. Don’t write these right before dinner. Who can deny that almost every summer since Nate McMillans arrival we have heard how he wants The Blazers to run more? Then as the season unfolds it becomes clear running isn’t our strength.

Well, I think there are a few factors to consider. First season, we were tied to a team dependent on Zach Randolph. Zach Randolphs’ game demanded a half court team. Then with his departure, we again heard how we were going to become more of a running team. Well maybe, but not much more of a running team. But then I think our running game was hampered by our youth. Don’t we all know McMillan is not “easy going” when it comes to unforced turn overs?

I expect our running game, and fast break points per game to improve. We’ve been growing and recovering from the past. Our youth has aged and we now have an experienced PG core. I think we can honestly see how much of a running team this team can be this season. We are not trying to bring along a young PG, and with each passing season the excuse of lack of experience for our principals becomes less and less valid.

This is an area where Andre Millers addition might really help. Not only can he be another player to execute offense in the half-court, he’s an experienced PG who should know when we should run. More importantly he’s experienced enough to let the players around him know we should be running.

In the end, I expect and hope this team develops a balance. I don’t expect us to be a “Utah Jazz” half court team, nor would I expect us to become “The Phoenix Suns” of recently.

To tack on to your cooking analogy, there is nothing wrong with realizing that your Pot Roast (half court game) is good. But I fully expect us to improve that Pot Roast with seasoning. This team had to work far too hard for far too many points. Learning to run, and take advantage of an ability to score without executing a careful 1/2 court set when points are available will make this team all the more potent. Then we can go from being a great pot roast to Fillet Mignon.

Yes, it has been said before, but I’ll be disappointed if this isn’t the season where we see a significant improvement in The Blazers running game. If we are an upper echelon team, we cannot afford to be near the bottom of fast break points per game. Aldridge, Outlaw, Rudy, even Webster and I also believe Brandon have no reason why they can’t be very effective fast break players.

During the Zach Randolph Era, I never expected us to run much. As we have developed our youth under McMillan running wasn’t much of an option. But I think we are now at a point where we this is an area we make a stride forward.

I find no fault with our offense. And now with Miller we can run if we want, but we still have Blake so we can have a slow tempo as well. Basically we will have The best of both types of offenses, the best of both worlds. And Nate should recognize this, utilize each PG to his stength and abilities against the opponent. Our we facing a team thats weak vs the run or weak vs methodical pgs? Each night our opponent changes and thats why we might see Steve or Miller start on any given night.
Where we will become CHampionship level is defensively improving. Everyone knows the Blazers can score, but stopping the other team from scoring is HUGE! We already have alot of potential to be the best team defensively, especially with Nate as our coach, but “D” is where we need to step it up. Oden will be a big part of our “D” improving.

I think the best way for the Blazers to find that balance is to experience both ends of the spectrum. That means the Blazers need to go…just go. Take off like a bat outta’ hell. There were an abundance of game watching moments last season where I was screaming “run, push the ball, go, GO! Faster! Harder!” It would be nice for once to scream “Slow down, gentle, GENTLE!”

In other words, the Blazers have spent enough time doing it gentley. Now it’s time to spend a couple of months on the extreme fast end of the spectrum, get a feel for the flow, how it helps the team, how it hurts the team, and then pull back and land in the middle somewhere.

In the mean time, I think I can swallow some high scoring losses. I think the gained running experience for the future will be invaluable.