Not according to script is it?
by VinnyB on Apr 25, 2011 6:34 AM PDT
Email
Print
Well perhaps it is but its taken a while to happen. I am talking about Roy of course. He was expected to be a scorer off the bench but produced next to nothing in games 1 and 2. Suddenly after that "outburst" he has come alive and now he's the hero. But what if he acutally did what he was supposed to in games 1 and 2? We might have a road victory by now and maybe be even up in the series.
I'm still angry at him for that "outburst" and will take more than just one heroic performance after a few duds in this years Playoffs. I thing I wouldn't be surprised to see happenning in the following games is some of that Roy ISOs that we all love so much. In fact we probably already started seeing them in game 4 which works when Brandon is actually hitting it jumpshots. But what if he isn't which is bound to happen, is it still our best chance at winning?
The one player that I really feel sorry for is LaMarcus Aldridge. He was the one to get the team to the Playoffs but he still isn't getting the respect from his coach or his team-mates to their #1 option. He is still being treated as the guy that gets them going, in the first quarter, then just forgets about him in the 2nd half. They often give up on getting him the ball if there is just a little bit of difficulty in it or, now that Roy is hitting shots again, deferring to Roy.
Why are we living and dieing by Roy's jumper when he is so unreliable? Roy can certainly be usefull but to rely on him to be our #1 option in the fourth quarter has got to be the most daft idea ever! My hope is that Nate will use Roy as the decoy for once and let LMA lead the team to victory for game 5. But I don't see that happenning as its too good an idea for him. Plus having his little pet back will surely mean more and more Roy ISOs. Oh and more Roy ISOs.
And some ISOs for his pet.
and again.
35 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Was with you until this "Roy can certainly be usefull but to rely on him to be our #1 option in the fourth quarter has got to be the most daft idea ever!"
Miller, Wes, LMA all scored off Roy creating. GW had a wide open three off a Roy pass. Oh, and we won the game.
Team Aldridge
LMA was incredibly tentative, hesitant and passive during most of Game 4
Almost every time he had the ball, he hesitated or danced around before making a move, giving the D plenty of time to set up.
by Sheedwasright on Apr 25, 2011 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions
The problem with this is that LMA ....
…cannot create his own shot. In fact …this is an issue with Dirk too. In fact, The Mavs have relied on JET for 4th quarter scoring punch for this very reason. It is very difficult to get a big going late in games so traditionally this function is left to you best scoring wing.
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
Whatever dude.
Brandon Roy was born to take over the game in the fourth quarter. Check the stats. He’s one of the best high-pressure players this league has ever seen. It’s only natural for a player to struggle with his confidence after undergoing double knee surgery and experiencing the pain he did.
The only mistake the Blazers ever made was in relying on him for whole games. He doesn’t have the menisci for that.
\\\oo///
<
\__/
by NCBlazerfan on Apr 25, 2011 7:42 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Points for consistent hater-tude, I guess
But do I ever disagree.
Yes, Brandon could have played better in games 1 and 2. Although it’s hard to hold game 2 against him, too much—maybe he’d have gone off in a major way starting at minute 9. We’ll never know.
But to be angry about the outburst? Whatever for? It could have been a distraction, but it wasn’t. Instead it was the trigger for Brandon to drop the facilitator role and attack, which was just what the team needed. If he weren’t just a little bit selfish—if he didn’t believe in his own ability and want the chance to prove it, he’d still be bringing the ball up quietly and settling for the odd jumpshot.
Meanwhile, I guarantee you that LaMarcus doesn’t feel sorry for LaMarcus. He wants to win, and they’re winning. And there are very good reasons why Brandon is the better 4th quarter first option, if he really is the old Brandon again. He’s the better passer. His jumpshot is slightly better than LA’s, and he’s better at attacking double teams. And teams can’t deny him the ball the way they can challenge a post entry pass.
So let’s let Brandon be Brandon. Let LA carry the team for the first three quarters and anchor the late-game defense. And enjoy the fact that we just might have our superstar back.
Sorry but its only the first quarter that LMA is the #1 option and a little
of the 3rd quarter. The team simply forgets he exsists in the even quarters.
Shots by quarter---LMA
Game 3 Game 4
-———— -———-
1st: 7 1st: 4
2nd: 5 2nd: 5
3rd: 5 3rd: 6
4th: 5 4th: 4
I’m counting trips to the line for two free throws as a shot attempt. (and-ones wouldn’t count, if he’d had any, which he didn’t.)
I don’t really see a massive forgetting-of-LaMarcus going on.
He’s also had the most shot attempts of any Blazer in every game. And it’s not close. Game Four was the first time any other player was within 7 shots of him. He’s the number 1 option—what more do you want?
by zopa on Apr 25, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
So far in these Playoffs Roy two bad games and two good games
That isn’t the way forward if we want to win the series. It would be suicide to bank it all on Roy when LMA has been there for the team all season. Forgetting him now and going back to Roy is hugely disrespectful and not what I’d want to see. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it happen but I know that it shouldn’t as it sends the wrong message. Nate definately takes LMA for granted in favour of the most injury prone player in the league. Its not like he wants to see BOTH of them taking charge of the team, its still Roy’s in Nate’s eyes and it shows in the way that they play.
All I am saying is that both have to be the #1option in the 4th, take turns cause Roy will not always have his jumpshot going.
First if Nate picks Roy over LMA ...why did Roy only play 8-9 mins in game 2??
Nate definately takes LMA for granted in favour of the most injury prone player in the league.
And secondly, Roy isn’t even the most injury prone player on this team…let alone the league.
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
by 92wastheyear on Apr 25, 2011 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions
I would forgive him the hyperbole
I would be a little more sympathetic to VinnyB’s point of view if we had a reasonable big rotation and LA was not so absolutely gassed at the end of these playoff games.
Aldridge is logging too many minutes to be an effective closer. Nate has no choice but to use Aldrdige as much as he does either. I have often felt for Aldridge, he never has had his name chanted from the rafters, effectively anyway. People start an MVP chant on occasion but most never join in so it is a feeble calling from the rafters, who cares if you really believe Derrick Rose should be league MVP, throw the guy a bone would you. Camby played one amazing second half of ball against OKC and his name washes down from the rafters like he was the only big guy we have had make a contribution to the team. Wallace dove for the ball twice his name was chanted, Rudy bats his eyes his name is chanted, matthews has gotten a chant. LA has gotten one chanting of his name, and it did not even take off really.
Now it seems LA is going to be forced to surrender his starring roll this season back to Roy (I do not see it this way, but I can empathize with Aldridge lovers on this point).
I mean Brandon was getting standing ovations for just walking onto the court in games 3 and 4 (I am not against that by the way), when has LaMarcus ever gotten THAT kind of love and respect. We complain because he did not get league wide honors like he should have, when we routinely show more love to his backup after a few good hustle plays…
I don’t think Aldridge particularly cares that much about it, but hey, you know he has got to appreciate it when it comes. The only moment I thought he was shown the amount of love he deserved was his before his pregame comments on the last game of the regular season.
I am not sure what it is about him, he plays a hard physical game night in night out, but people just do not cheer him on. He has brought us home more victories than I can even remember this season. He put up huge numbers for a month, was involved in probably 70% of our highlight reel worhty plays this season and Gerald Wallace’s name rains down from the rafters before Aldridge’s does. We should fix that.
On the shot attempts
I tend to agree, the team forgets about hitting aldridge in the post in the second a lot. Sure he gets a few jumpers, but that is mostly him coming out looking for the ball, I do not know what it is, they just stop dumping the ball down low. He can miss all of them or hit all of them in the first, they just generally stop hitting the post in the second like in every single game, regular or post seasons…
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
I'm with you on this
SHOW LA SOME LOVE!
It’s ridiculous. For this season he deserves a massive ovation.
The one thing I will note, is that there something about Aldridge that is still a bit shy. He has to learn to accept praise, lift his arms and let it rain down on him. He’s given us hints of it when he makes a nasty play (sticks out the bottom lip and does the “hell yeah I did that” nod) but when he’s asked to stand before the Rose Garden and say a few words and the crowd starts going off, what does he do? He ducks out early with a chidish grin and rosy cheeks.
so I’d say, he deserves praise, he deserves it X20 but he needs to accept it and allow his ego to soak it in while he’s on the court, for the sake of the game and go back to being his humble self after victory. Then you’ll likely see more if it from fans
that's the problem with 3-syllable names
did you ever try to start a chant with the name LaMarcus? Don’t blame section 314 for what his mama named him
OTOH, Aldridge probably has a complex every time the L*kers come to town, because all of the home fans start chanting “BEAT L-A!”
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I am not sure why it is that hard
just jam La and MArc together
LaMar – cus – Ald – ridge
how about
Ride – the – L – Train
Love – the – L – Train
I personally give a little tug on an imaginary steam whistle every time they play the LTrain sound at the Garden
Woooo – Woooo
How about WOoo – wooo – L – Train
There has to be something…
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
that will just wind up sounding like Mar-cus Al-dridge
now that Dallas has taken away his signature eLAy-oops, LMA is looking like a very average NBA forward again (minus the “power”)
Oden is required, so Aldridge will not be defended by centers
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Actually he got a standing ovation right before the last home game
When he came out to thank the fans for their support. We wouldn’t let him talk we applauded so hard…he started …then had to spot and let the applause subside a bit.
I was so glad that happened because until then you were right and he hadn’t got as much love as he deserved
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
by 92wastheyear on Apr 26, 2011 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions
At least part of the reason we don't rely on Aldridge in the 4th
is because he is totally gassed by then. He and Camby are our only legit 4/5 players, and Camby’s minutes are severely limited due to his age and injuries. LMA is lucky if only has to play less than 40 mins. By the time the 4th quarter rolls around he has been extremely active on both ends of the floor for pretty much whole game.
Post plays are also harder to set up, especially when the defense digs on and focuses on denying the entry. They also take more time, and if you’re down, time is precious.
\\\oo///
<
\__/
I wish I would have read this first
I just made this point.
Aldridges range and wuickness nullify some of the big guys are harder to set u point, but when he is as tired as he was at the end of game 4 it is tough.
I wathced him a lot down that stretch and he fought hard when in the post, but was pushing it to get up and down the court afterward…
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
I guess my question is
How does Brandon taking over a game in what was a completely amazing way turn into a bad thing. I can understand being down on Brandon for speaking out between games 2 and 3. The timing was not what any of us would have considered right.
But judging by his performances in games 3 and especially 4, maybe it was exactly the right time. Maybe we will never know for sure. I am OK with that.
But the vitriol towards Brandon and the team in general seems to be unfounded if not completely troll worthy. I mean what more does Brandon have to do? Travel back in time and have scientists grow him some meniscus in a petri dish? Take over a playoff game and drag the rest of the team kicking and screaming into a win that they were so ready to give up as a loss? (Oh wait, he did just that on Saturday, so that obviously isn’t enough.)
I guess I just don’t get it. We just saw one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history and still people hate on the guy that orchestrated it. Boggles my mind.
Go Blazers!
by BlazerFanFromDenver on Apr 25, 2011 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
while I don't agree with the OPs tone
I do share some of his concerns, two games of nice play and we are ready to sub out our offense we have been using for 6 months. Doesn’t that concern you even a little?
I hope it all comes together either way and we take this game tonight.
I also agree with the OPs point about the lack of love shown to Aldridge in general. I think people love him, but we do not share that love like we do with others on the team when he has been our most consistent performer probably for years. I used to think mr consistency doesn’t get the big cheers I guess. This year he puts up some amazing numbers, and yet he still gets some decent applause when he comes out of a game, once or twice a standing ovation, but never the kinds of things lesser players on this roster have receieved…
"What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?"
— Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
I'm hoping for one great Roy game down in Dallas, this week. Maybe tonight?
I didn’t think it would require another epic Brandon finish to win at home, but that just tells you how sucky the first three quarters of game 4 were, from the Blazer’s perspective
LMA’s post moves are too easy for the defense to take away on the low left block, and Portland doesn’t utilize him enough re: side PnRs (like Dirk) because Miller is the only Blazer ballhandler who can properly execute that play
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Do you need a hug?
"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez
by bfan on Apr 25, 2011 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
We should have
Because the preferred plan I heard from people going into game 4 was to see if Roy had it going in his first stint and if he didn’t don’t play him at all in the 4th.
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
by 92wastheyear on Apr 25, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
PS ..I believe he had 3 pts when he made that ....
…toilet bowl 3pointer to close the 3rd
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
by 92wastheyear on Apr 25, 2011 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
the 4th quarter was one long heat check for Brandon
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Every great team closes with a guard.
How many game winners do you see Dwight Howard making? None he doesnt take any that’s nelsons job. Aldridge is great he makes our new offense work, but in the playoffs you need to create of the dribble and that dribble and Aldridge can’t do that. Dirk is better, but you saw last night that if a team tries they can deny dirk down the stretch. Brandon gives us the one thing we have needed this season, a scoring guard who can destrubute. He gets shooters open by driving and punishes one on one coverage. Without Roy we loose this series in 5 now we may win in 6. So cut the guy some slack and let this team win games however they can. This Is the playoffs it’s not about establishing an offense for a season it’s about winning anyway possible. If that way is Roy then so be it as long as it works.
by PortlandPhil on Apr 25, 2011 11:50 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Sorry that he ruined your day.
I’m still angry at him for that “outburst” and will take more than just one heroic performance …
Too bad he didn’t just score 21 instead of 24 so you could blame him for the loss.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Apr 25, 2011 12:07 PM PDT reply actions
Speaking of, I haven't commented on Roy's performance yet and I would like to:
All I want to say is that this wasn’t just the best performance we’ve seen from the post
knee-mageddon Brandon, this may be the best performance of his entire career…and I think that says everything. Like Timmay! said in the postgame thread: “The legend continues…”
As for people hating on Roy? They just need to pipe it. Dude showed unbelievable leadership, it’s clear that his teammates love him, and aside from almost single-handedly evening this series in our biggest game of the season, he brings an element that our team desperately needs and is much more formidable with. Maybe we haven’t given him enough time to adjust to his new role off the bench, but if these last two games are any indication, I love what he can offer in that position.
Think about this people: A whole summer of work, a whole season of games/injuries/etc…, and it came down to Brandon Roy, in 13 minutes, putting this franchise on his back and changing everything. So proud. Let’s win this series and make sure that performance is etched in the annals of Blazer and NBA history for as long as those records are kept.
Long live #7!!!
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Apr 25, 2011 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Roy's mindset seemed different in games 3 and 4.
I saw him do quite a few crossovers for penetration or step back J in 3 and 4. Can’t recall see a crossover at that level in months (all year?) from him. When he has the crossover working he has his game back. I think mentally he was not confident he could do it. Now he is. :)
by LicketyBrindleDowntheMiddle on Apr 25, 2011 12:30 PM PDT reply actions
I'll go ahead and file this post with the "where are the Roy haters now" posts...
Blah blah blah… Brandon is selfish… Blah blah blah… all the BRoy haters went back under their bridge…. It’s all the same!
I’m just going to watch this ultra competitive and highly entertaining series unfold and enjoy it… How bout that for an option?
#7
GO BLAZERS!!!
We relied on him to be our #1 option in the fourth quarter because NO ONE ELSE WAS MAKING SHOTS!!
You are seriously going to begrudge Nate for putting the ball in the hands of a 3 time all star, all nba player when the game was for all intents and purposes over? LMA will still be the #1 option going into game 5, if anything this makes us STRONGER because now they HAVE to key on Brandon as well
Epic fail Vinny
This post was a thoughtless waste of space
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Blazer's Edge
Related FanShots on Blazer's Edge
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Behind the Box Score, where the Boston Celtics are moving on to the conference finals
- NBA Playoffs Fan Fiction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Indiana Pacers? Gone till November
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
