Game 62 Recap: Blazers 110, Timberwolves 91
by Dave on Feb 27, 2010 8:24 PM PST
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PrintLong Story Short: The Blazers did exactly what they were supposed to, riding a career high from Nicolas Batum and some more hot jump-shooting from LaMarcus Aldridge to blow away the hapless Timberwolves before the second half got old.
The Game
There isn't actually that much to say about this game, thank goodness. The one thing we were hoping to avoid was any kind of excitement in Minnesota. That is strictly reserved for Snow Queens and cream-based soups. The Blazers preserved that sanctity tonight.
The game started out decently with LaMarcus Aldridge scoring Portland's first 8 points via a combination of listlessly-defended jumpers and floor-running. Although they're talented Minnesota's big guys--Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Darko Milicic--all look like they went overboard on the hot dish. You could fit two LaMarcuses, a case of bobbleheads, and Uncle Olaf's bottle of aquavit inside any of their uniforms. Consequently they couldn't keep up with Aldridge. On the other end of the court, though, Al Jefferson was banging inside and the ‘Wolves were using that same size to snag offensive rebounds like they were dinner mints. Portland led after one, but only by 2.
The second quarter was an amazing snooze-fest. On the bright side the Timberwolves couldn't buy a bucket or an offensive rebound so their scoring stopped faster than Ole's after Lena caught him giving squeezing lessons to the milkmaid. Unfortunately Portland's second unit clicked like a garage sale clock. The entire affair was turning into a refund-worthy disaster until the ‘Wolves obliged the Blazers by turning the ball over repeatedly. With the run-outs and conversions Portland crept into respectable territory, scoring 22 in the period. Minnesota managed 10. Blazers lead by 14 at the half.
The second half belonged almost entirely to Nicolas Batum. He deep-fried the ‘Wolves like a State Fair pickle, hitting threes, driving and dunking, anything he wanted. He ended up with 31 for the game, most of them in the third period. Their offensive rebounding never returned and when the Blazers extended the lead by a dozen more in the third the ‘Wolves figured it was time to pull the dock from the lake, shut the curtains, and look forward to next year. Portland wins by 19, 110-91.
The Blazers did well in most aspects of this game. The standout stats are 28 free throw makes on 35 shots versus Minnesota's 13-17, 29 assists on 37 made buckets, limiting the ‘Wolves to 8 offensive rebounds for the game, and netting 34 points off of 19 ‘Wolves turnovers while committing only 7 T.O.'s themselves. The Blazers also got 18 fast break points.
Individual Observations
The night really belonged to Batum and Aldridge. Nic had 31 points off of 11-16 shooting, 5-8 from range, 4-4 from the line, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in his best all-around game as a Blazer. Aldridge pounded the ‘Wolves early and wasn't needed later to add to his 21 points on 8-14 shooting. He drew 7 foul shots as well, a huge number for him.
Rudy Fernandez shot well in 23 minutes, going 5-8 for 18 points. Brandon Roy set it in cruise control when the other folks stepped up scoring. He had only 7 points but dished 9 assists and added 3 steals. Martell Webster had a rough shooting night but got active on defense and ended up with 7 rebounds.
The Blazers are now set up nicely to have the trip they really, really needed to have after those two home losses. Only the Grizzlies stand in their way of a 4-1 outing. But the Memphis game is the most important of all for a variety of reasons. If they don't win on Monday night the trip looks mediocre. But they've created another opportunity to show that they do mean to be reckoned with down the stretch. Now let's hope they can follow through.
Get the feel of the game over at CanisHoopus.
You can see your Jersey Contest scores for the evening ici and enter the first game of the new month la.
This was the final game of February and you can tell by the scoreboard that our Jersey Winner for the month was TheGreatMon, who obliterated the rest of the competition, scoring 740 points. The next nearest score was Machairi's 671 followed by SonicTonic with 669. Congrats to all who did well. Enjoy the March contest and don't forget the Jersey Contest playoffs are coming soon!
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Comments
is it my ridiculous bias?
or should more have been made of Mills 8 points in 4 minutes, if he got a whole game he would put up Wilt Chamberlain numbers
You mean his 8 points in 4 minutes
in garbage time against careless 3rd string defenders who were already beaten? Yeah, don’t read a lot in to that.
i love how people point that out
when you get any number of players on the floor trying to play for minutes they give 110, to assume anything else is ignorant. That goes for any team in the NBA.
Fine, play down the fact that a player who is the 14th guy on our roster, comes in with the time that he is allocated at the end of a game and does the best he can.
I assume that Minny had already given up the pretense of playing D
and they don’t play much D to begin with.
Even if the defenders were going all out (they weren't)
they were the third string defenders in garbage time, which always dissolves into a bit of a pickup game. Patty Mills did fine with the minutes but nothing should be made of it.
You can make something of his sweet pull up J
He has the quickness to get that shot off against any pick and roll defense…
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 28, 2010 1:04 AM PST up reply actions
Hey, He got minutes
When you are 14th player on the team it is just as important developing him as anyone else.
His contribution is important to many fans. Minny didn’t play any better against Batman and Ihis contribution was important. 8 pts in 4 minutes is great in my book——keep it coming Mills
hg
So, that was a great game...
But I still have a concern going forward about how this team plays when Miller goes out. Bayless is not getting it done as a backup pg right now, and Mills or Rudy isn’t going to be the answer. If Roy or Miller isnt on the floor, it usually ends up in disaster. The 2nd unit has been bad when Rex is at pg, and really has been since Blake was traded. Does this concern anyone else? I cant believe Miller had to be put back in the game in the 4th against the Twolves after the bench blew a 30 point lead. I think this is a real problem for the rest of the season and heading into the playoffs…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
Blew a 30 point lead is harsh
Let the Wolves get it under 20 in only a couple minutes with the majority of the 4th left is more like it…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
This is exactly what we're trying to find out though
Those guys need some experience and a chance to prove themselves, or not, running the offense. Bayless has done some, Rudy has done some, both have had issues. I’m not certain that those few back-up minutes will be enough to sway the playoff seeding outcome one way or another. At least I hope not. I’d like to see what each can do because the Blazers are going to be making decisions about both players over the next calendar year or so and how well they could potentially run the offense figures into those decisions.
—Dave
I thought it was good that Nate intervened before it got out of hand
It is late in the season and perhaps tme to stop anything that looks like Platooning. Certainly lay Rudy, Bayless and Webster. Just not all at once and not without main scorers in at the same time for support.
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 27, 2010 9:15 PM PST up reply actions
"when you're up to your neck in alligators, it's easy to forget that the initial objective was to drain the swamp"
I’m not certain that those few back-up minutes will be enough to sway the playoff seeding outcome one way or another
Maybe not, but in a playoff series the lack of experience at backup PG will be magnified. I remember the first game in the ‘91 series against L*A when Adelman pulled Porter/Drexler at the beginning of the 4th quarter and the L*kers went on a quick 10 point run and stole the home court advantage (and ultimately the series). Sure, it’s always good to find out sooner or later how much Bayless and Rudy can be trusted to “run the show” but the best-laid plans can quickly turn ugly when a lead in a playoff game lead evaporates because the offense went cold due to apprehensive floor leadership
KP can bring in another big man tomorrow if he wants, but I still think adding a veteran PG would be more prudent
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I am also very much in the bring in another vet pg boat
That is assuming that there is one out there that can actually still play. I also wouldnt hate a big that could put Juwan on the bench either. If there is a credible floor leader out there, that’s who I would want first…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
I disagree, Rudy and Bayless are struggling but they have to learn.
Billups and Nash took four and five years to figure it out. Guys like Paul and Williams are rare.
This year’s playoff’’s is a first round and out anyway. At least KP will know what he’s got by the end of the year. If the idea was to play it safe and get a veteran point guard to finish out the year they would have kept Blake and people would be going nuts about Blake getting minutes.
If the idea was to play it safe and get a veteran point guard to finish out the year they would have kept Blake and people would be going nuts about Blake getting minutes
Two things: dealing Blake was necessary to acquire a starting center so the risk was worth the reward. And while Steve was a solid backup PG, Nate couldn’t be trusted to play him solely as a backup to Andre
But adding a veteran PG to the roster now has nothing to do with Blake. It has everything to do with providing insurance against injury and playoff preparedness. I know that most everyone feels that the Blazers have “no shot” to win a playoff series, but Paul Allen, Kevin Pritchard, Nate McMillian, the coaches and the players haven’t “flicked in” this post season like most of the fans. Until they’re eliminated, they’re going to keep fighting and if there’s a veteran PG who could help “keep things organized” for a few minutes while Roy/Miller need a rest in a key game, then there’s no reason to not bring him in for a workout next week
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
they're out there
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
They named some big men, I didn't see any point guards named.
At this point they’re looking at cast offs to fill a 15th roster spot, not a backup that’s going to put them over the top in the first round.
you didn't read far enough down Maxey's article
"We’re putting together a list of guys we at least want to discuss. We have a couple positions we feel we’re going to look at for players. A lot depends on who is being bought out," said Mike Born, the Blazers’ director of scouting.
…
If Portland’s search comes down to a point guard, they’ll certainly have their options.
The NBDL’s Will Conroy (Rio Grande Valley) already has a place on Portland’s list while standby free agents like Jacque Vaughn and Mike Wilks could also make the cut. Recently waived Mike James (Washington) is another notable point guard worth considering.
This week will be very telling for Portland’s process depending on who gets waived around the league.
I’ve read some other veteran PG names earlier this week, but I don’t expect anyone will be “wowed” by these guys. Most veteran PGs who don’t have jobs aren’t “exciting enough” in one area or another, but “boring and uneventful” is exactly what you want from your backup PG when you put them into a close game. (Just keep it together, don’t get crazy and make sure the team gets a good look. Don’t turn it over and give the other team momentum.)
If you think Bayless and Rudy can do that grunt work, then you’ve got more confidence in them than I have, at this point in time. It’s easy to say in February “they’ll be fine, I can live with the growing pains” but it will be a different story in April, when the team is playing tough games and a couple of possessions one way or the other can spell the difference between success or failure
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Of the guys mentioned there, I would only like Vaughn in terms of playoff experience – if he is still on about the level he last had in San Antonio. Wilks has almost none, James had one good playoff series for Houston and that was five years ago, Conroy has a relationship with Roy but not at the NBA level.
I suppose they bring in a big man if a 15th man gets added.
just about any of them, other than Conroy
have more NBA regular-season experience playing PG than Rudy or Jerryd. Playoffs would be a “bonus”
Granted, Rudy has a lot of international experience, but he’s rarely been used as a traditional “PG” during his pro career
We should learn in the next 24 hours what KP and the front office have decided. If they’ve been watching the bench struggle to hold leads since the trade and there’s a FA veteran PG who’s cleared waivers that they feel can help out, that’s the direction they should go
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
If it came down to a couple of possessions:
1. You could put Dre back in
2. You could put BRoy at PG and slide Rudy or Bayless to shooting guard.
3. You could put Martell in at the 3 and slide Batman into the 2. Heck the way Batum played last night you could put him in as PG.
We have many options and I doubt that our 15th man on the roster will be an impact player anyway you look at it. The fact that Bayless is limping around on a swollen ankle is really the biggest concern. If they wanted a washed out PG or a better one to begin with why did they go with Mills instead of bringing over Petco?
hg
I think eventually Batum will be able to play the position that LeBron plays..
what is that…shooting forward?
when it comes to playoff time, Roy will be backup PG just as he was last year..
#52 #10 #7
by Cablinasian on Feb 28, 2010 10:59 AM PST up reply actions
I'd rather see that
THan him guarding other teams Small Forwards. Seriously, we have Batum, Webster and Cunningham to do that. I cringe when I think of what it can do to his body. I also think he is simply adequate as a 3. Short stretches when Batum was injured, ok…But playoff push..Nope
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
Antonio Harvey said
That Batman could become a great facilitator as Pippen was. That would help out on PG
hg
down the road, definitely
but to ask Batum to do this during a playoff series 6 weeks from now is ’way premature
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
But on this road trip
There has definitely been a correlation between bayless and the second unit coming in and the opponents bench immediately streaking onto 10 point runs. We’re talking about B-rex running the offense, but maybe it’s on the defensive end that things aren’t clicking at all. Miller has definitely played excellent defense, particularly grabbing steals on errant or telegraphed passes. I think the answer is getting bayless to bother people and figuring out how to get that unit to tighten down on defense, hopefully leading to more difficult points for the opponents and easy buckets to get bench confidence and contribution up.
All day baby, all day!
by LMA All Day on Feb 27, 2010 10:17 PM PST up reply actions
that's a good idea against teams like the Wolves
but keep in mind that against veteran teams Rudy and Bayless would be the “hunted” instead of the hunters. During a road game in a hostile environment, if the opposing players and fans “smell fear” they can easily rattle inexperienced players (especially PGs) and you can also be sure that the refs will do the kids no favors
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I think it's because Bayless has two defensive modes:
Lax, and fouling. He hasn’t quite figured out the middle tier known as “good defense”, where he maintains his intensity but doesn’t send them to the foul line and take himself out of the game.
So..Change your rotations
Stop Platooning. Bayless has Batum, Roy, Aldridge on the floor wih him
Rudy Has Miller, Batum Aldridge on the floor with him
Webster has Miller, Roy and Aldridge on the floor with him
Shorten your rotations and give these bench guys some help out there. When they are in all at once, it is like lost sheep
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 8:10 AM PST up reply actions
A few points
1. The lead was only 26 after 3
2. Martell Webster missed 3 wide open shots…not Bayless.
3. The basket before they took the 2nd team out was the fault of lazy play by Aldridge who did not hustle after the ball.
Part of trading Blake and Travis was to clear the way to see what Bayless and Rudy could do.
I agree that the second unit starts to lose motion when Bayless comes in for Miller. I’ve always said that Bayless is work in progress. However I’ve also been tremendously impressed by how much Bayless has grown this year. He used to have tunnel vision when he had the ball. This year he has improved so much in when he penetrates and dishes off. His next level is to run the team’s flow of motion. This might take some time, but I suspect he will be able to do it.
I saw something different tonight
Rudy came in for Miller instead of Batum in tmidway through the 3rd, leaving us with the Roy/Rudy/Batum lineup the rest of the third, with Nic defending the point. If this can work, this would get us through the stretch of the game where Miller needs to rest. He can then come back in for Roy at the quarter break, with some combination of bayless/rudy/martell at the two wing spots. Roy and Nic can then return for the stretch run, either with Miller or the hot hand from that threesome.
long story short – work the lineup so that either Roy or Miller is in at all time – I’ve been saying this for weeks.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
agreed
Its really when Roy and Miller are both on the bench that the wheels tend to fall off. Keep one of them out there and you would hope the blazers can at least just tread water…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
this will be easier to do in a playoff game
whe Nate can play Roy and Miller 40+ mpg and there’s extra TV timeouts and no back-to-back games
but that doesn’t account for foul trouble to Andre or Brandon. Mark my words…at some point before the end of April Nate will wish he had a more-experienced PG than Bayless or Rudy to put into a key section of a big game
Heck, he might even feel that way as early as Monday night
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Value of a decent back-up PG
A few yrs ago Houston’s back-up PG was Luther Head. Played pretty well in regular season. Then came a Playoff Series against Utah where the Jazz back-up PG just destroyed him,running him off court. Starting PG had to play more and more minutes as series went on and his legs-and his 3pt shot-started to falter badly at end of games. Not to mention the team would have to dig out of the quick 6-8 pt runs the Jazz went on in the couple minutes Head was manning the point.
But you are talking about a 15th spot on the roster.
It is too late to shore up the deficiencies at PG. Therefore it is important to give what we have a chance for Chemistry and experience. That includes Mills.
Bayless has not been good at running the team, but does pretty well at the 2. We have many multi-task guards anyway, there will always be times when Nate will miss players that are not available; therefore IMO; you are making mountains out of mole hills. This late in the season you have to go with what you have. We have to give them as much experience as possible.
.
hg
Yes, Roy/RUDY!!!/Batum works at both ends.
Al three can slash or bomb, run and dunk, pass and dribble and rebound.
Prime defense; intense zone or easy switching man-to-man.
Swap Martell for Rudy for more length.
I posted the similar observation before reading yours
Since we are in agreement, I am thinking you are genius
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 8:12 AM PST up reply actions
This is a totally "Mike Barrett manufactured" line of thinking
Actually look at what happened rather than swallowing Barrett’s interpretation of what happened:
1) Bayless did not enter the game with the rest of the bench players late in the third quarter. The thirty point lead was down to 25 when Bayless did come in at the beginning of the fourth.
2) Bayless was on the floor for 1:30, before Miller was reinserted.
3) During that 1:30 the Blazers had three possessions. Bayless did not pound the ball; he did not turn the ball over; he did not attempt a shot. He passed the ball to teammates which resulted in 3 open jumpshots by teammates. The first was by Rudy and missed badly resulting in a long rebound and a runout by Sessions. On the second, Martell hesitated to take the open jumper which allowed the defender to close and block his shot. The third was a badly missed, wide open, corner three by Martell.
The Blazer lead shrank from 25 to 19 during the 1:30 Bayless was on the floor. How is this a major concern? How is this Bayless’ fault?
Bayless got whistled for two fouls against Sessions, one on a run-out, and one on a secondary break. He was in a tough position on both plays, and the contact appeared minimal to me on slow-mo replay, but even if his defense was poor, it had nothing to do with him not getting the job done as a PG. Bayless was only -2 for his 12 minutes of PT. Hardly a sign of a collapse during his time on the floor.
I am going to write a much longer piece this morning attempting to put Bayless season in some sort of context. For now, I urge everyone to chill out and not buy into Mike Barrett ill considered concern trolling about Bayless.
by upper left corner on Feb 28, 2010 6:33 AM PST up reply actions 5 recs
I agree entirely
The offense ran reasonably well with Bayless in for that short stretch, and if we’d just made a couple of those wide open jumpers, the lead would have been bigger rather than smaller.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!
also agree
cause and effect….
I recall disagreeing with Barrett when he was calling for Miller’s return; and I made a point of observing Miller once he returned. Bayless didn’t do anything different than Miller….
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 28, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
I dont claim to be a very smart person
But I am perfectly capable of coming to my own conclusion without Mike Barrett manufacturing my thinking. The fact that Miller had to check in during the 4th quarter of a 20 point game, during the 4th game in 5 days, and against the zaching timberwolves should display the amount of trust the coaching staff has in Bayless as a floor general right now.
Against Minnesota, Bayless came in with about 1 minute left in the 1st period, the offense managed to score 1 field goal in his 4 minute stint. He came back to start the 4th quarter, and the offense produced 0 field goals in the first 2 minutes before Bayless was pulled for Miller after the Twolves produced 7 quick points.
Looking at the Bulls game, Bayless was put in with 1 minute to go in the 1st and the offense produced 0 field goals in his 4 minute stint. Nate didnt put him in later that game without Roy on the floor to help keep things under control. That is 10 minutes of play in the last 2 games where Rex was running the show, and the blazers got 1 field goal and a few freethrows out of it.
There was also 2 plays against Minny that I can remember where Rudy was wide open and literally waving his hands in the air to get Jerryds attention. The first play he passed to a less open Webster. The second time he forced a fade away 18 foot jumper on the wing that was blocked while LA stood wide open at the top of the key, and Rudy was even more open on the opposite wing for a swing pass from Aldridge if LA wasnt able to get a clean shot off. Rice appropriately pointed out that Rex made a terrible decision after the blocked shot and would soon be replaced by Andre. It took all of 10 seconds for Miller to hop up off the bench.
Jerryd obviously needs to get minutes to continue to develop, but he has really struggled from what I have seen. I guess we will see how it goes tomorrow against Memphis. This team cant afford the kind of scoring droughts that have happened when Miller and Roy both hit the bench, and that isn’t purely on Bayless, but I do think he is a major factor…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
Bayless is not a point guard and he never will be or want to be
lets start looking at Mills, he can’t do any worse
Some props to Camby too
His D helped key the 2nd quarter run.
by Epimenides on Feb 27, 2010 8:59 PM PST via mobile reply actions
interior defense lends itself to being overlooked. It is so sweet seeing someone in there denying a few shots per game again.
#52 #10 #7
by Cablinasian on Feb 27, 2010 10:03 PM PST up reply actions
there was also that one defensive possession in the 3rd quarter
where Camby checked Jefferson twice and forced the shotclock violation. Portland was up 25 and the Blazer starters were “giving no quarter” to the Wolves.
You almost had to feel sorry for those hapless Minnesota players.
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
you have to highlight just how good
Batum and Aldridge were, its great to see guys other than Roy putting up big numbers, LMA particularly, hes very consistent of late.
Is this another end-of-season surge by LMA?
And if so, is it a good thing or a bad thing?
by Epimenides on Feb 27, 2010 9:10 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
What would you rather have?
LMA and Batman surging on offense or BRoy in an Isolation every play for the last four minutes of the game? IMO, Nate won’t trust either at crunch time if the game is on the line, since Batman missed that one 3 pter to win the game. But maybe they could give us enough offense to stop the third qtr melt down.
hg
it's a good thing that LA steps up late in the season. He no longer has to worry about whether or not he makes the
ALL STAR TEAM, can just relax and play his game. He has been one of the most consistent, high minute guys on the team. KUDOS to LA
Batum
Portland Trail Blazers - where injuries and people come together"
by debra31098 on Feb 27, 2010 9:01 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
wow, is that real?
gotta say Im glad he shaved it down…
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
real or not real
maybe photo shopped…..or maybe not…not sure…just found it interesting…with all the other pics of him online..but if it isn’t photo shopped I also am glad he shaved it down
Portland Trail Blazers - where injuries and people come together"
it’s ’shopped, by someone on Bedge.
#52 #10 #7
by Cablinasian on Feb 27, 2010 10:04 PM PST up reply actions
Are you saying
With the lack of facial hair he looks a little sisifiedLOL.
I don’t think he looks bad, but I am 70 and looks are not a big thing with me LOL
suspisiuos
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
by thomasikehara on Feb 27, 2010 9:47 PM PST up reply actions
The International flavor did some good things for the blazers tonight
Batum 31
Rudy 18
Mills 8
Thats killing my theory that Nate is a racist lol
you mean only 4 races got to play tonight??
what a racist
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
by thomasikehara on Feb 27, 2010 9:10 PM PST up reply actions
well arguably six races
Mills is Australian, Australian Aboriginal, and Torres Straight Islander.
"pull the dock from the lake"
Heh, thanks for the midwest flashback, Dave.
You don't need a Maserati to mow the lawn.
Si si.
In Bayless I trust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
2nd unit problems
Yes, Rudiculous, we have a serious problem. And if you and I can see it, you can bet the Doc Rivers and the Sloans can see it. What can be done about a 2nd unit without a pilot. I smell big trouble unless Dre can play 40 minutes a game. Can anybody but Andre dribble, cut, pass, and read the court. This last trade strengthened our 1st unit but it decimated our 2nd unit. Maybe Mills can give us something at PG, but it will take some time under Miller’s tutelage. I don’t think any other guard even aspires to be a PG. We are in trouble.
Did you just literally put Doc Rivers and Jerry Sloan in the same sentence?
Really? Rivers? Not Popovich or Jackson or Karl… but Rivers?
Rivers and Sloan
Two coaches who most recently read our offense and adjusted to win. There were others but those were still open.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 12:30 AM PST up reply actions
Ah, I get it now.
Apologies. I thought you were saying Sloan and Rivers were on the same level.
First of all
that whole idea of Miller’s “tutelage” is bunk. I seriously doubt he just hangs around Mills, Bayless, and Rudy, and says, “look guys, you’ve gotta play the game this way and do X and Y to be successful”. I just think it’s pretty rare that pros do that considering these other guys are trying to take minutes from Miller. Second, Miller has shot us right out of a few games in the fourth quarter this season, and he has failed to get guys involved in the offense in a number of other games. Plus, he can’t knock down anything outside of 15ft, so when Roy kicks it to him off the drive he either puts up an awkwardly disgusting brick, or he kinda stands there and doesn’t know what to do with the ball.
What I will give you is that Miller is a stable player, whereas Bayless and Rudy are more volatile at this point, but I think that with consistent minutes both Bayless and Rudy will have more consistent production that would eclipse what Miller currently gives us. Plus, I think you really shortchange Rudy as he can clearly dribble, cut, pass, and read the court. He did all of those things tonight when given the opportunity…it’s just that he’s usually asked to stand around on the perimeter and wait for a pass from the PG/Roy, so that’s what he does.
by adaoh on Feb 27, 2010 9:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
nope
but maybe I should join the tominhawaii fan club if such a thing exists, because it seems like I generally agree with his comments
by adaoh on Feb 27, 2010 11:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Rec
I wish there was some sort of chart that would track Millers inconsistency. How can a guy who can score 52 points in a game average 13.6 points per game?
To be honest, I don’t want him mentoring the younger guys. They are already inconsistent enough without him teaching them a crappy jump shot and only showing up every third game.
I am hands down the greatest Blazers fan on Blazersedge.
@tominhawal's accuracy
In Millers[[COMMENT_CHILDREN_TOKEN]]#8216;s ten games before Minnesota, he scored 11,14,22,20,10,16,17,20,18, and 14. Is that so inconsistent? His 13.6 season average is due to the fact that for the first time in ten years his coach had the lack of insight to not start him in 16 games and limit his minutes. He has started more than 95% of his games played since his rookie year until Nate. His job is not to score volume points but to make it happen and that is why he is 24th in career assists. That is among the who’s who of basketball. Thank God you are not mentoring the young Blazers in statistical analysis.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 9:15 AM PST up reply actions
lol
There is more to his inconstancy than scoring.
Millers job was to play defense, set up his teammates, run the fast break, and score. He didn’t start at the start of the season because he does not play defense.
I am hands down the greatest Blazers fan on Blazersedge.
by tominhawaii on Feb 28, 2010 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
Miller's defense?
Look at the number of steals the man gets. I don’t know how else to judge his defense statistically but I see him as being strong in that department.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions
Rudy averages more steals per game in fewer minutes
and everyone rags on him for his supposed lack of defense, so I wouldn’t consider this a good argument in favor of Miller.
Miller v Rudy
I have never ragged on Rudy’s defense. In fact I love his ability to pick a pocket. However, Miller’s steals per minutes played in the six games prior to Minn. is higher. I would say the best way to statistically judge a players defense is to see how defending an opposing player affects that players averages. Points, assists, TOs, rebounds, and personal fouls would have to be considered. But I am not the man for that job. I guess since you are the one ‘ragging’ on Miller’s defensive abilities, the burden of proof is on your shoulders. If not, it is your opinion and I strongly disagree that having Miller on the floor is a defensive detriment.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 3:59 PM PST up reply actions
OK, check out Rose's averages
compared to what he did to Miller.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!
Trade Miller? Are you serious?
Can you even imagine what would happen to our playoff hopes if Miller blew a kneecap?
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 5:10 PM PST up reply actions
I like Millers game but he's gotta stop taking those twenty foot jumpers. There is a reason he is wide open for them.
He shot the Blazers out of a couple or three close games with those things.
by raoulduke on Feb 27, 2010 10:13 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Miller has made a lot of lazy pass TO's and clock brain farts lately but he does a lot of good things
His shot selection is not that good either but he can dribble out the clock if thats what the coach tells hom to do
by southern oregon on Feb 27, 2010 10:49 PM PST up reply actions
Miller has made a lot lazy pass TO’s and clock brain farts lately
I am not sure what you mean by lately, but on this road trip he has 28 assists to 4 turnovers. That is a 7 to 1 ratio. In the month of February he has 88 assists and 22 turnovers, that’s 4 to 1 exactly.
His shot selection is the one beef I have with him. Sometimes it just looks like he gets lazy and settles for that jumper teams are always giving him. Other than that he has been awesome in my book…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
post ups or other close shots where he can get creative against a weaker defender
are what make Miller more valuable. That and not turning the ball over.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 28, 2010 1:11 AM PST up reply actions
I wish Miller put half the effort he puts in offense into his defense
I am hands down the greatest Blazers fan on Blazersedge.
He is a sly old fox, though
covers up his general lack of defense with the occasional steal and decent rebounding for a pg…
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 28, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
That about covers it
His defense is bad but he often finds ways to make up for it.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!
A. I. had a lot of steals too
and was generally considered a poor defender
Roybot: "Then he said "My girlfriend is from LA." to which I replied "Well then you need to find a new girlfriend."’
by 92wastheyear on Feb 28, 2010 5:03 PM PST up reply actions
same with Ruben Patterson
Captain Chaos (aka the “Junkyard dog”) was known for his gambling steals and breakaway dunks, but the coaches always complain that he messed up the team’s defense because he would ignore rotations and cherrypick deflections
Dumb as a rock, that was Ruben. He was a NBA player who made a career almost exclusively off of his athletic ability
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Miller is the fixer.
Yes Miller has given Bayless quite a great deal of advice. So says Bayless. He is shouting directions constantly on the floor and the team listens. If you don’t see Miller as the play maker on the team, then I quess that is your opinion, He just passed Jerry West in career assists. He is now 24th amongst the who’s who of basketball. He did not get there by standing around wondering what to do. He has been awarded the game ball something like three times in the last five or six games by an ex coach that knows the game well. That would be his opinion.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 27, 2010 11:59 PM PST up reply actions
At least we have the depth
Many teams doesn’t have our options. The same could be said about River’s and Sloan’s second unit, that is why they only play small rotations, they don’t have the depth. Plus, every team in the NBA has their strength and weaknesses and every other team will do it’s best to exploit it. BRoy can do all those things you said. and I think mills can do more then you give him credit for already. At point he is better then JBay IMO. Counting his international experience and college, he has more experience then JBay.
hg
OK BBK
I will go with almost all of what you say, but I don’t think BRoy has dished that well in last minutes of close game. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Go Mills!
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 9:21 AM PST up reply actions
I think part of the Bayless deal is his ankle
Hopefully it will heal. Bayless is young, I am hoping he puts it together this season. We have seen flashes of it and it is really good
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 8:17 AM PST up reply actions
Batum as a potential point-forward?
Question:
Dave, if you have a chance, consider this question in your next mailbag.
Please tell me if this is crazy? I can also see Batum’s potential as a point-forward in a couple years .. sort of ala Scotty Pippen? He’s a pretty good ball handler. We’ve seen him steal or rebound the ball and move full speed up court, or put it on the floor and attack the rim. He’s getting a decent number of assists without handling the ball a lot. He’s a student of the game.
I'd be fine with him doing it now
Not in a couple of years. Other than Dre I think he has the highest BBIQ and feel for setting up his team mates.
I'm not saying, I'm just saying.
You think Batum has the highest BBIQ?
Or Scottie? Because Batum is average, and you would be shortchanging Roy. I see Batum as more of a Battier than a Prince.
I suppose it should be clear
I love Battier and think he should have won several All-NBA defensive accolades and a few defensive POY awards.
Battier was always happy to not be a scorer
He could have been a 17 ppg scorer if called upon. He preferred being a glue guy and a lockdown defender.
exactly how does he get those points?
open jumpers and the occasional putback/free throw are the only ways he ever scores
by collectiveshane on Feb 28, 2010 8:11 AM PST up reply actions
No offense to Batum
but open jumpers, free throws, and wide open drives to the hoop were how he got his 31. Nic can’t create (yet). Battier also has (had) a respectable post game and could penetrate better than Nic. Hate me for saying it but it’s true. Remember, I said I saw Nic becoming Shane Battier so I’m not knocking Nic, I’m complimenting him.
Where do you get that Batum is AVERAGE. please...(to GMan83201)
He is in his 2nd year…and has played about a month of his 2nd year. The guy is very smart. I can’t believe anyone does not see this.
I definitely think the potential is there
Everyone is forgetting how young Batum is, and how much time he missed this year with the shoulder injury. I think Nic is doing phenomenally well, considering his age and lack of experience against US players. There’s no doubt he’s got a great feel for the game and comparing him to Pippen (etc) at this stage is silly. Just ask yourself: How good were Scottie, Brandon, Tayshaun or Shane when they had just turned 21? Not as good as #88 already is, they weren’t even in the NBA!
The sky is the limit for this kid and (like I said a few weeks ago) I don’t think I can over-exaggerate what his “ceiling” will be. Batum’s already in the conversation or the best SF in Blazer history, if he can just stay healthy and continue on a conservative career growth curve
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
my god, two4larue .. what you're saying is high high praise
I hope you’re right. I’m on your side, so I’m not going to argue. This should be fun!
you never can tell what might happen
Batum could plateau at any point of his career and just be an “average” NBA wing player (he’s already at that level, IMO) Or he could keep getting hurt and never fulfill his potential
But I like Nic’s attitude. We’ve read about it in his blog entries. When Webster broke his foot Batum was in training camp with Luke Jackson. Nic said that he looked over at Luke in the locker room and said (to himself) "don’t even think you’re going to beat me out for the job!’ This was a 19 year old rookie from France who had a poor summer league. Now, I know that teenage boys can be cocky (I’ve got a couple of ’em) but Batum backed it up with his play and by the end of camp, he had Roy solidly in his camp as a starting SF and “glue” guy for the rotation
Then, there was the incident in practice where Nate told him something and Nic got mad andturned his back on the coach. This kid stands up for himself. His dad died when he was young and he had to grow up fast. His mom was interviewed and she said how he’s always been mature for his age. Nic expects a lot out of himself, and he wants to be great. I think it’s safe to say that if Batum doesn’t become the best SF in Portland history it won’t be because he “cheated himself” out of his potential
I guess what I’m saying is that it’s perfectly reasonable to be “geeked” about Batum’s future. He’s just as important to the franchise as Roy, Oden and LMA.
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I agree with you one hundred percent: Batum is part of the "core of four"
You hit it exactly: “He’s just as important to the franchise as Roy, Oden and LMA.”
Jason Quick just posted that Brandon agrees with exactly what you’re saying:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_110_minnesota_91_batu.htmlout
“When the Trail Blazers think about winning an NBA championship down the road, it is with visions of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden leading the way.
But Roy thinks the foundation for that championship lineup should include one other player: small forward Nicolas Batum.
“I put him right up there with us as far as importance,” Roy said earlier this month. “He’s a glue guy, the type of guy every championship team has to have.”
Nate and Brandon's comments, from that article
“Hey, if he shoots the ball like that he’s going to be tough to keep off the floor,” McMillan said. "His shot is certainly improved this year and he is taking it with confidence.
Leave him on the floor, then. Don’t play Batum less than 30 mpg just to carve out more PT for Webster, Rudy or Bayless.
Roy said. “But for us to be at that level, we are going to need Nic to play at a high level more consistently. When he shows that, and shows he can play in the fourth quarter, that’s when I will say we are for real.”
Nate needs to think of Nic like he used to with Travis in late-game situations.
Not next year. Now.
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
We might be getting a bit ahead of ourselves...
But since Nic is my favorite on the team I won’t argue! He has so much poise for someone so young. While I understand the comparisons to Pippen, they make me cringe ‘cuz I can’t help but think about what a smug you-know-what (IMHO) Pippen was. Not going in the game because they play wasn’t called for you? pffft
I wasn't all that impressed with Batum last year.
But for him to be out of action for as much of the season as he was and to come on like this so early in his return shows that he has kept himself in great shape and continued to learn the NBA game even while he was out of action! Kudos to him for that! If he can be the defensive player that he’s always been and develop and offensive game that he seems to be developing, he’s going to have a place in this league for a long time!
while he was rehabbing his shoulder
Nic worked a lot with Monty on his pull-up jumper. You can tell he’s got confidence in it. Last year he mostly shot wide-open 3-balls and his % dropped off, late in the season
Another thing I’ve noticed about Batum is that he is automatic from the FT line. That’s a guy you want in close/late game situations. He doesn’t panic or get the yips
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
who was Scottie being compared to, when he was 21?
Magic Johnson? George Gervin? Alex English?
Nic’s “limb” is sturdy enough to rest your weight on
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
This thread is way over the top
This was the T-wolves, remember?
Bayless went for 31 this year against a real team, but no one says he’s HOF material.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!
Antonio Harvey agrees with you.
In fact, he said almost the exact thing, except he used the word facilitator instead of point forward.
hg
We've seen Greg oden run the break with success as well, LOL
Sorry, that just struck me. I actually agree with you. One thing, when you run something, at first it surprises other teams. Then they start defending and you truly find out
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 8:19 AM PST up reply actions
Already mentioned it a couple times
One of my guesses at the way a lineup could work is Roy, Batum, and Player X sharing “point” duties with Player X not necessarily being your traditional point guard. That could be Rudy, could be Bayless, could be someone else. I think the potential is there for that kind of system.
—Dave
This is what I keep calling for
but many people seem to get hung up on the perceived need to always have a traditional point guard in the game. I really like the Rudy, Roy, Batum combination though. All three are capable of finding open teammates, as well as spacing the floor and knocking down perimeter shots. With Batum and Rudy on the floor, I think this would leave the lane open for Roy to drive and then kick out if the defense collapses on him.
The thing is
Roy’s probably not ready to make the mental shift required and Batum just isn’t ready for that kind of role period. It’ll take some planning, discussion, and probably another year of steady minutes for Nic. You’re going to need three guys fully committed who are also able to perform in a variety of situations on a moment’s notice. That’s part of why you don’t see this happening in the NBA often. However I think we might have the players uniquely suited to do it.
—Dave
what you're saying is Portland has some players who could probably run a triangle offense
but of course they don’t have a coaching staff that’s committed to it
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
The Triangle offense
Does not necessitate any number of players bringing the ball up the floor. It involves players making the right reads to adjust to the defense in halfcourt sets.
Official Adrian Wojnarowski Hater.
The Ardent Optimist.
this is true
it also doesn’t require a “traditional” PG, so a potential lineup of Rudy-Roy-Batum (or Bayless-Roy-Batum) would be well-suited for the triangle offense
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
there’s only one person who really knows how to effectively teach the triangle, so it’s not really a shortcoming of our staff that we don’t run it. There’s a reason only one team runs the pure triangle, it’s very difficult to implement.
#52 #10 #7
I'm not saying the triangle will ever be implemented in Portland
only that the Blazers have backcourt players who could be a good fit in that system
I understand that Tex Winter is the triangle guru, and he’s been an assistant for Phil Jackson both in Chicago and in L*A. But I refuse to believe those Bulls and L*ker players had a higher level of BBIQ than the current Portland roster. If Paul Allen and Kevin Pritchard had the will to bring a coaching staff to Portland that would teach the triangle offense, it could be done. (And it would very likely be a more efficient offensive system than what is been in place for the last 4+ years.) The fact that only 2 NBA teams have run it for any significant amount of time, and that they’ve both been successful argues to it’s effectiveness, and the difficulty for the opponents to take away every scoring option in a critical possession.
Sure, Michael Jordan and K*be Bryant were formidable offensive talents, but (to my knowledge) neither player won a ring “outside” of the triangle. Portland has Brandon Roy, and he’s not too far below those two as an offensive weapon and facilitator
Sometimes I wonder if the Blazer organization wants to be great, or just “good enough” to compete in the finals, as they were back in ’89-92
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I just hope mcmillan does not ruin batum by giving him inconsistant PT
he is the truth.
"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "
best one liner i ever heard.
Batum at PF
Good point, bowdown. i hope Nate is finally onboard with Batum. But I can see Nic as our 21 year old PF. Interesting idea, jayfisher.
Batum
I want Batum to play more minutes cause my wife has a crush on him and that means I will get more Blazer time. Yes he has tremendous BBIQ. Amazing at 21.
how bout u just put on the pants in your relationship
then just tell her youre gonna watch the blazers
by 64-18 on Feb 27, 2010 11:52 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
My wife in pants
Watching the Blazers is not a problem in our marriage. But watching each game twice will only be possible if Batum gets 20+ minutes.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 12:09 AM PST up reply actions
Ha!
Batum couldn’t even score 24 in one quarter against a weak team like Minn.
In Bayless I trust.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
since batum can control the weather
he needs no ceiling
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
by thomasikehara on Feb 27, 2010 11:15 PM PST up reply actions
whoa
i just noticed that the blazers edge motto got changed
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
So that's why they are so bad
the hapless Timberwolves
Somebody stole their hap!
How did Denver lose to these guys in Denver, and Utah lose to them twice?
I know, on any given night, any team in the NBA….
But still.
Give Blake the MLE in 2010!
Farewell to #2 and #25, good luck to you!
#10 #52 -- #5 #7 & #88 are back!
I actually felt bad for K-Love
and being a Duck that’s not easy to do…
during that possesson in the 3rd quarter where Camby and the boys absolutely denied the Wolves any clean look at the basket. Stole their lunch money and their jacket and their Air Jordans and sent them limping home to mommy. Marcus swatted A-Jeff twice then slammed the ball down in triumph!
That’s the kind of “take no prisoners” domination that we need to see more of from this crew in the weeks to come. And not just against the teams who are missing hap
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
It would be nice to see Nic get 8-12 shots a night on a consistent basis
Give him the opportunity to prove himself. LMA is what he is, but ultimately I don’t think he is the complement Brandon deserves/needs. Perhaps Batum will be. I don’t see him as a PF, however, he would simply get pushed around by too many big guys in the league. Trout got away with it because he was often in with the second unit playing against weaker competition.
there actually were some Bedgers that suggested Batum be used as a "stretch 4" like Outlaw
but that was before the Camby acquisition
Batum did a nice job guarding Dirk, but I agree that Nic is a superior perimeter defender and shouldn’t play “PF” against more-physical fowards. It actually would be a better choice for him to “swing” to SG, but Portland already has enough depth at that position
Cunningham is Outlaw’s replacement at the 4
and there needs to be a different abbreviation for “point forward” than PF. Or none at all
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I think Batman has enough BBIQ to play all positions
except maybe the center spot and big PF that post up.
hg
Gotta disagree
I think LMA is the perfect compliment at power forward to a team that has a healthy Roy and Oden. If Oden gets healthy and becomes the GREG ODEN we all hope for, LA will be an absolutely awesome 3rd wheel that stretches the D for both players. I really feel like what he brings to the blazers is under appreciated far too often…
RUDY > MJ
Thank you KP
I believe you are right.
If Nate let’s Batum get more involved with the offense, even as a 4th option you would have LMA and Batum for Greg to pass to. or with Batum’s passing ability and maybe becoming a PtF, Greg would become even more valuable.
hg
Batum's efficiency is what makes him unusual
I think Webster could be a volume scorer, and his intangibles were a big reason why the Blazers were successful early in the season.
However, Batum’s all-around game is pretty unique. The touch pass off the rebound for assist; 7 assists vs. no turnovers; 31 points on 16 shots; 7 free throws; all at 21 yrs of age?
What was interesting is that none of it was forced – it all came within the flow of the game. The same style he played tonight either gets him 31/7/7, or it gets Brandon 31/7/7 when teams adjust to Batum.
So long as the threat is there, the Blazers are better off.
When Martell is in the game – the Blazers need to run plays for him. Getting him the ball off screens makes him a #1 option on offense – and I think he would be a lot better option off the bench if he was made a focal point of the bench scoring. If defenses react, let Bayless drive it in, or dish to a set up Rudy. Anything to get the 2nd unit playing like a unit.
correction; "only" 4 ft's (but it was 4/4)
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 28, 2010 1:27 AM PST up reply actions
"Right on" about efficiency
I was also going to mention Batum’s efficiency. He doesn’t need to have plays called for him to get between 10 and 20 points in a game. He gets rebounds, put backs, steals, fast breaks, and opportunistic 3’s. He produces within the flow of the game. He doesn’t need to be set up to get him going (like LMA).
The next step in Batum’s development will be learning to create his own shot.
I have suggested this many times.
I was shot down saying we don’t need that many shooting options, that most teams only use two at the most and many times just one (BRoy), but I say the more threats the better. and the way to make the 3 a more shooting threat is to make more plays for him to keep their heads in the game with just a few touches opposed to spotting up for the three all the time.
hg
exactly
less shooters, more attackers
Awesomeness (ô'səm-nes)
1. n. Something that inspires awe
2. n. Nicolas Batum
by thomasikehara on Feb 28, 2010 8:25 AM PST up reply actions
Great game. I love what Batum brought to the table. One point, though...
If you listened to Mike and Mike tonight and still don’t understand why a number of us have a real problem with the way they call games, I really don’t know what to tell you.
I wish every Blazers game was on ESPN.
Yes! Yes! In the face!
PG
“If you listened to Mike and Mike tonight and still don’t understand why a number of us have a real problem with the way they call games, I really don’t know what to tell you”
They are homers. I can see some people have a problem with that. I don’t. After all, it is a production of Blazer Broadcasting. Not ESPN, not ABC, but Blazer Broadcasting.
“But I still have a concern going forward about how this team plays when Miller goes out”
Absolutely. It reminds me of when we first saw what happens with no centers in the game. I think it was in Orlando. Whenever Przy was in the game the Blazers would build up a lead and whenever he went out they would lose it. Fortunately Nate subsequently figured out how to still be competitive even without either of the regular centers to put on the court.
I don’t think there is a way to compensate in the PG situation, though. Without a leader on the floor (ideally, Miller), the Blazers become confused. Bayless is not showing the leadership ability. People who have never believed he was cut out to be a point guard may be right. When I look at someone like Deron Williams, I kind of get the feeling either you are a born point guard or not. That doesn’t mean Bayless is not cut out to be an NBA guard, but a shooting guard, not a point guard.
He did show glimpses of being capable as a distributor in some earlier games. However, right now I think the facts lean in the direction of him not being a point guard.
As to Patty Mills: Sure it was garbage time but consider that there is some pressure that goes with being a rookie that has had virtually no chance to prove yourself in actual games on the court. I think the guy can shoot the ball. With the hot and cold performance of some of the others (Rudy, Martell, Jerryd), if Mills has the ability to be a consistent shooter, that is an asset that might behoove the team to make use of more. But I do think he’s too unproven to put in the game much besides garbage time. I don’t think there is evidence at this point that he can control the floor better than Bayless can. Although one way or another I hope there is some way to give him enough of a test to start being able to assess that.
Yep
But I can’t side against Mike and Mike. I am not convinced that they are not two very good announcers. I think they fill the airways with some intelligent chatter. So on that we disagree. Otherwise, I think you Right On.
by thebigoutdoors on Feb 28, 2010 9:29 AM PST up reply actions
Rudy
Rudy is in a tough spot. As we all know he plays in the shadow of an all star shooting guard. Now it appears he is also playing in the shadow of an up and coming European NBA player.
One virtue of Batum I don’t think I have seen mentioned before: There isn’t much professional basketball in France, right? Batum is probably much better able to be at peace with the comparatively paltry salary of an NBA player on a rookie contract because he’s not in a situation where he could be making the big bucks in his home country. For Spanish players, it is of course a whole different story.
Miller
“I like Millers game but he’s gotta stop taking those twenty foot jumpers. There is a reason he is wide open for them. "
Miller shooting 3’s is cute, provided he MAKES THEM!
by lsjogren on Feb 28, 2010 7:13 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
pg
" What can be done about a 2nd unit without a pilot."
Yes, that’s a problem. Fortunately, we have two pilots in the starting unit, so the minutes of Andre and Roy may need to be staggered somewhat so that one of them is always on the court.
And I agree, maybe Mills can help in this regard but it will take a while. I think not only because of conservatism on Nate’s part but just flat out good common sense that you can’t risk losing a game by putting an untested guy like Mills in for more than short minutes.
Hopefully Mills will get some experience in summer league and get more playing time next year. Provided he doesn’t sign with another team. I believe he was only signed for one year so that makes him a free agent this summer as I understand it. It might be appealing to him to sign with a lower-echelon team where he has a better prosect of being in the rotation. I hope not, because I have high hopes for him with the Blazers.
by lsjogren on Feb 28, 2010 9:27 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Mills
I feel good about Mills’ shooting ability. If, in the sparse minutes that he is able to eke out, he is able to show some distributor skills, I could see Nate putting him into games as a bona fide backup PG. But we first need to get some feel for whether he can perform as a floor leader.
interesting
Interesting, if you go to nba.com and look up the individual stats, based on the stats one would conclude Miller had a crappy game.
Yet most people were quite positive about Miller’s performance, and that’s the way I felt too.
My conclusion: Stats don’t tell the whole story.
re: Stats
What a boring game BB would be if it were won or lost on stats.
Stats
Miller is a gamer, has heart, he has experience, he wants to win more than just about anyone, and all those other trite sayings that are not measured by statistics.
The Mills Bandwagon
Typical that a guy who isn’t thrown to the fire yet to expose where he is is often touted as the savior who should get more Playing Time.
Early in the Season, Bayless and Rudy both had larger number of folks touting them. THey really are the same layers as then, minutes expose why you were not starting. I think a lot of both of them. But, as with Mills, there is a reason they aren’t starters. There is a reason Patty Mills is at the end of the bench. If he torched everyone in Practice, it would be obvious
by Hermistonmelons on Feb 28, 2010 11:15 AM PST reply actions
All the great point guards came ready to go right out of th box right?
Billups, Nash, Terry Porter. None of these guys took years to develop.
In our haste to find an instant solution, it was worth noting that few people were willing to recognize the improvement Jarret Jack made in the two years since the Blazers gave up on him. He has beaten out one of the prime candidates the fanbase saw as a huge upgrade at the time.
I don’t know if Bayless will be good, great or a bust, but absolute pronouncements as if posters had certain knowledge that he is NOT a point guard are absurd.
by raoulduke on Feb 28, 2010 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
the winter does take its toll
the ‘Wolves have so much talent but are struggling to make it gel. this lapse of judgment reminds me of the ol’ JB days:
http://www.canishoopus.com/2010/2/28/1330362/even-more-drunken-action
patience my son ...
the wolves really...
suck. Kahn doesn’t have a clue. He hired a coach who wants to play triangle. What is Phil Jackson’s guard philosophy? Big guards, not necessarily a true point. So what does Kahn do?? He drafts 3 points, 2 of them runts. Then he traded the more “true” point, Lawson, and kept the one that wants to shoot. Perhaps he thinks Flynn will become a Dumars type off guard with Rubio playing point on offense, but Dumars was strong, Flynn is not as broad.
In any event, they can’t defend or score. Throw the ball all over the place, giving up layins. They are terrible. If Rubio is Magic/Bird all in one, the rest of their guys are so bad that 41 wins would be a lot. Good luck. They should move the team someplace warm.
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