Oregon Sports Live's Media Day Interviews

by Ben. on Sep 24, 2009 10:03 AM PDT in Links Comment 14 comments

OregonSportsLive.com has posted some really nice interviews with some of the less-heralded names on the Blazers' coaching staff. First, some progress reports on a few Blazers from shooting coach John Townsend.

Townsend: I think Jerryd Bayless is shooting the ball a lot better. He was working with [former Phoenix Suns head coach] Frank Johnson. Frank got him to do some of the things I couldn't get him to do in regard to jumping, which transferred into a higher lift and a better, more consistent jump shot. So, he shot the ball really well in some of the scrimmages that we saw this fall.

I think Travis and Martell have both shot the ball really well. So, we'll see.

And here's a tidbit about pace from Assistant Coach Joe Prunty.

OSL: Do you think that running might be more of a focus due to the acquisition of Andre Miller?

Prunty: Well, that's what we're going to find out. Does he help our guys...throwing the ball ahead? And Steve does a very good job with that. Do our guys get out and run the wings better? We did a really good job at the end of last year running lanes, LaMarcus in particular on what we call a rim run, and running the floor hard. And so there's a lot of components to doing it, and you never want to put it on just one person. We think he can help, because he gets the ball up, and he does make other people better, but it requires the wings running, and it requires the bigs running and having good floor balance.

OSL also took the temperatures of Monty Williams and Maurice Lucas.

All must-reads.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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Running, all the people running for just one dream.

If the mountain come to you, run. It´s a landslide.

by amlmart1 on Sep 24, 2009 10:08 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Fantastic reads and listens

wow… this is what I was looking for from media day.

thanks for the links be… Those guys did a fantastic job.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Sep 24, 2009 11:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Please nobody tell Travis that he's shooting well

There’s only one ball :/

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Sep 24, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"Frank got him to do some of the things I couldn't get him to do..."

My suspicion is that Frank discovered a much more effective enticement for improvement…

The cowards never started
The weak died along the way
Only the strong survived
They were the Trailblazers

by lukeyhere on Sep 24, 2009 12:15 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

You post that and get a rec. I post a photo of carrion and get a warning.

Where is the justice, I ask you.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 24, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

i shall then rec you both

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Sep 24, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

PWNED to the Bone!

by tominhawaii on Sep 25, 2009 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the day I was born, the nurses all gathered 'round

And they gazed in wide wonder, at the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up, and she said leave this one alone
She could tell right away, that I was pwned to the bone
Pwned to the bone
Pwned to the bone
P-P-P-P-Pwned to the bone
P-P-P-P-Pwned
P-P-P-P-Pwned
Pwned to the bone

I wrote a thousand comments, before I met you
I’ll write a thousand more baby, before I am through
When it comes to disrespect baby, I stand all alone
I’m here to tell ya honey, that I’m pwned to the bone
Pwned to the bone
P-P-P-P-Pwned
P-P-P-P-Pwned
P-P-P-P-Pwned
Pwned to the bone

I post carrion photos, Dave says “You’ve been warned”
Other BEdgers pile on me, tall mountains of scorn
I wanna write comments, without being disowned
I’m here to tell ya honey, that I’m pwned to the bone
P-P-P-P-Pwned
P-P-P-P-Pwned
P-P-P-P-Pwned
Pwned to the bone

by MiledAnimal on Sep 25, 2009 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

rec

by tominhawaii on Sep 26, 2009 7:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey Ben

Were you in the photo on the front page of sports in todays Oregonian?

by elkaholic84 on Sep 24, 2009 2:16 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

The audio interview with Luke is great.

His comments about Greg may be the only completely honest comments I’ve heard about GO from anyone in the Blazer organization.

Just a few passages … Link

“I think he had a problem with taking that pressure” … I think he’s taking a different approach to it. I think he’s happier… If we can keep him in the game we could be ok… I think Greg is skilled, but his confidence is lacking… Physical is a mental piece of the game… it’s how you are willing to mix it up, and you learn that. …I learned to push back early. I’m hoping that Greg will learn to push back as Joel learned to push back, and became a pretty good player… He’ll discover it, but I can certainly add fuel to the fire. … Some of the techniques … you’ve got to have a technique to it so you can stay in the game … learn how to hide things from the referees, is all part of the learning process."

Luke is talking about the toughness we needed as a team last year, and Greg will need in his career. Luke can certainly teach Greg something about mental toughness, not to mention physical toughness. It’s possible Greg would have handled the mental part of last year differently if Luke hadn’t been ill.

Luke was toughest guy in league when he played. Nobody took a cheap shot at one of his teammates without having to face off against Luke. Of course as Luke said, it was only a $50 fine for hitting someone in the face in those days.

But Luke was far from a thug. He was a fine basketball player, and led the ‘77’ championship team in scoring and minutes played. He was a 5-time All-Star

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 25, 2009 1:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

it'll take more than 1 big man coach

to get Oden all of the knowledge and confidence he needs to dominate

Bayno for the footwork and all the summertime reps

Lucas on the mental side and how to “hide your technique” from the refs!

Brian Grant to provide mentoring and “perspective” (and a big body to bang against when no younger “tackling dummies” like Jarron Collins are available)

I think Greg is in pretty good hands, now he just needs to stay healthy and not let the scab refs get into his head

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 26, 2009 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs