Blazer favorites can do no wrong.

When are Blazer fans gonna wake up? Can someone give me any reasonable rational why Rudy Fernandez should even be playing? What does this guy contribute? Scratch anything on the defensive end of the floor.

Rudy can be a good asset when he’s hitting his shot, because he is multi-dimensional. He’s very good at reading the passing lanes and coming up with steals, and he passes well from the 2 spot. The problem is, he’s such a weak shooter most of the time he’s an overall detriment on the floor. He actually seems to shot worse when he’s open. I think his days are numbered here because his contract is up for renewal, and the Blazers are tight cap space. He’s too inconsistent as a shooter to have much value IMO.

I’m not suggesting that we have any direct influence. However, I do think that fans do shape how the media reports on the team to some degree, especially in Portland. And players do follow what the media is saying. Just look what occurs in Dallas with Roddy B. Their coach is constantly having to spend time answering questions about why he is not playing more, because Dallas fans are so convinced he is the savior. You can’t tell me that doesn’t influence their coach to some degree even a little bit. Or look at Minnesota. Kevin Love got selected to the AllStar game because fans and media were crying about him so much. In the end that swayed coaches opinions, even though most of the actual players knew that there were better players left off. I agree that fans don’t have much influence on the team, but I don’t think there is zero influence either.

Yes, David Stern selected him. Not a good example. You may be able to say the same thing about Griffen though.

Rudy has to start getting less minutes now, something is up with him and it’s too late in the season to wait until he can sort it out.

For someone who is considered an “offensive specialist,” a 37.0% FG percentage just can NOT cut it. Especially at this time of the year. While I agree that Batum has been pretty inconsistent, he brings some other good skills to the table that Rudy does not like above average defense and rebounding.

This is the time of year where the minutes for guys who just aren’t cutting need to get cut down. ESPECIALLY in the fourth quarter. From here on out, the 4th should be LA, Dre, Brandon, Wesley, and Wallace. That’s it, no-one else.

If Nate feels like he needs to give guys minutes to get their confidence back up. It needs to happen earlier in the game.

Creativity is overrated. I would rather just have a guy who is effective. You don’t get extra points for “oohs.” When he is on is few and far between in my opinion. His defense is mediocre at best and he gets killed by anyone with a decent first step or weighing over 230 lbs. We always hear about his playmaking abilities, but every time he is put in the situation, he usually comes up smelling like a dead fish. Who do you find? Easy, give his minutes to Matthews and Roy. Rudy can’t play any position but the SG. Unfortunately, Matthews and Roy also play the same position. With those two in front of him, I don’t see how any minutes can be justifiably given to Rudy.

Is that the Blazers suck and you have no solutions to this problem. All you’re basically doing is generalizing about Blazer fans, suggesting your knowledge is somehow better than anyone else’s, and tearing down three players in any way you can and basically ignoring their positives.

Nicolas Batum hasn’t improved? Well, gee, uh … despite having better stats, keeping in mind that he has taken way more shots this year thus explaining the leveling out of his percentages, there are ways a player can contribute that aren’t easily quantifiable. Place in team defense, individual defense. In both of these he receives praise, not to mention his transition defense. Nate and various players have called him a “glue guy” and many GMs have thwarted any attempt by our FO to create a trade by demanding he be traded as well.

But he’s slightly inconsistent! Will this 22 year old ever be good?! Better put him back in the D-league!

Rudy it’s the same thing. He’s averaging 9/2.3/2.5 in 24 minutes. For being an off-the-bench role player I don’t think that’s bad at all. He’s also got a better than 2:1 ast/to ratio. Yes, he’s shooting very, very poorly, but he’s also not taking a lot of shots. He’s also probably the biggest energy guy on the team along with Mills.

As for Wesley, I honestly don’t see what about his statline you could complain about given his role within the team and the fact that he’s a second year player. Also, pretty much everyone agrees he’s a great defender so I’m afraid it’s you who’s in the wrong. Shooting 45/40/84 percentage-wise sounds pretty good.

Hell, looking at Batum and Matthews on 82games, they have a slightly below zero net production despite drawing the hardest defensive assignments almost every game. Yeah, I’ll take that. Wallace replacing Batum in the starting lineup is something I’m not really opposed to; I even quite support it, but you are blindly tearing down these players. They aren’t perfect, they have flaws, but none of them are meant to be first options. I don’t see the problem. Most teams would love Matthews or Batum right now, and Rudy’s stock went down almost exclusively due to the drama with his agent and you know it.

I’m talking about the vocal minority that think role players are untouchable. These are the same people that said Sergio Rodriguez was the next Steve Nash if it weren’t for McMillian. Or Telfair. Or Bayless. Or Ime. Or whoever.

I am suggesting solutions. You stop playing them quality minutes. Wallace should be starting at getting 35 minutes a night. Roy should also see an increase in minutes as long as he continues to feel good and remains productive. That leave about 30-35 minutes to split up between Batum, Matthews and Rudy. Personally I think Matthews should get the majority of it, if only because he can play multiple positions and can fit in the easiest with the other players. Plus, he is much better when he is your 4th or 5th option on the court. Rudy should see the floor period.

Second, who caress what other GM’s want. Travis Outlaw got 8 mil a year. How does that look. And other GMs are only asking for Batum in a deal that clearly benefits them. IE Gerald Wallace. They wanted Batum, until they found out there was not market for Wallace. Some of you think Batum should return a player like Chris Paul or Deron Williams which is completely asinine. As far as potential, I’m sorry but there hasn’t been that much improvement at all from his rookie year until now. I don’t care that he is only 22. That is when he should be improving the most. Just look at a guy like Derek Rose. He is younger than Batum! He’s going to win the MVP. This is the biggest problem with Blazer fans sometimes. They think that just because someone is young, that they are certain to improve. I say, lets look at their track record of improvement. I’m not saying give him away for nothing, or get rid of him at all. But this is not a guy that you can rely on. That’s why a guy like Bill Simmons says “good luck with that” when the Blazers say they are building around Batum and Mathews. You know if a guy is a build around guy by his third year in the league. You just do. Sorry.

As far as Matthews, what are you talking about? I am not suggesting he is a bad defender. He’s not. My problem, if you’ll read is on the offensive end of the floor. He seems to feel as though he needs to be something he is not, which results in a lot of bad plays. All he needs to do is come off reverse screens to free himself at the basket or wait for the ball to be reversed for open threes. He never needs to be dribbling the ball period.

I’m not blindly tearing down players any more than you are blindly supporting them by using their splits. That works in fantasy basketball. It doesn’t work in real basketball. These guys to often don’t pass the eyeball test. There are far to many times every game where you have the “Cmon!” moment after they have done something stupid. Thats fine if they are your role players, not fine if they are your foundation.

Rudy doesn’t even deserve any more comment than has already been paid.

Most teams would like to have Matthews or Batum, sure. But not as their number two or three options. Not a chance. Not anyone that is remotely serious about contending.

He’s still top 5 on the Blazers? Huh? Great, he’s better than Camby, Aldridge, Pryzbilla, Marks, Miller. That’s the only thing he is paid to do! That’s the only reason he is in the NBA! Make 3pt shots. He is shooting low 30% and he is being left open on half of his shots! C’mon.

Hes a completely different player this year, trading Nic for him would have been stupid, we would have the most broken team ever, and Gerald Wallace is not a better shooter.