FINAL: Houston Rockets 107, Portland Trail Blazers 105 (OT)
by Timmay! on Jan 14, 2012 7:46 PM PST
in News
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PrintThe Portland Trail Blazers spent most of Saturday night in comeback mode against the Houston Rockets, eventually falling short in overtime. Houston did their best to hand this game to the Blazers, but Portland refused.
Nicolas Batum did everything he could tonight, with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks (see video here), including a career high six 3-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge (22 points, 10 rebounds), Raymond Felton (13 points), Craig Smith, Gerald Wallace and Jamal Crawford also scored in double figures.
Both teams looked tired and a little disorganized, but the home team took advantage of Marcus Camby's absence, out-rebounding Portland 16-3(!) in the first. Kyle Lowry led the Rockets to a 6 point lead.
Craig Smith came alive in the second, scoring Portland's first 8 points to tie the game. However, the Blazers then fell apart. No shots were falling, while Houston scored at will, building a 14 point lead. But behind Nicolas Batum's 20 first half points, the Blazers cut the lead to 5 at halftime.
The Blazers pushed the pedal hard to start the third, pushing back quickly against the Rockets to take a 1 point lead. But, and stop me if this sounds familiar, that's when the Blazers fell apart. Behind Lowry, Houston's lead bounced back to double digits. The lead was 8 after three.
The fourth quarter is one long attempted Blazer comeback. Finally, the Blazers take a one point lead with 6 minutes left on three Crawford free throws. Houston kept turning the ball over, but the Blazers couldn't take advantage. Eventually, Kyle Lowry puts Houston ahead with second left, only for the Blazers to tie it on an Aldridge jumper. And they headed to overtime.
The Blazers kept overtime close, but struggled to put up points on offense with repeated turnovers getting in the way. Houston led by 1 with a minute left, and the Blazers call timeout to set up a play... which leads to a wide open Felton three that danced on the rim but would not fall. Kevin Martin hit a jumper in the lane, leaving the Blazers down by 3.
Read the box score here, then stay tuned for Dave's recap. The Blazers get a day off, then are back in action at Noon on Monday (set your DVR's!). -- Tim
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Oh yeah. Re-sign Nic.
Let Wallace walk and—for goodness sake—go out and get some competent PG play.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:49 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I said competent.
There are plenty of backups more competent than Crawford, and at least Felton’s equal as far as running plays goes.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:53 PM PST up reply actions
I hate to jump on new guys
But, yeah, Felton is not winning people over right now.
Steve Goodman lives.
Felton is playing like Felton, apparently.
We just assumed he was going to show up and play above his level. I expect more from a vet but his turnover was the work of the Vanilla Gorilla, not an NBA PG and esteemed member of a championship NCAA squad. That sucked. He’s a hack.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Felton is not playing up to Felton's level
Not even close.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 14, 2012 9:01 PM PST up reply actions
You mean like Dre?
This is usual Felton with last year being the aberration. There’s a reason why some of us saw the trade as a downgrade at the PG spot.
The cake was a lie.
Portland:
Where this highs are high and the lows are even lower.
I don't always root for an NBA franchise, but when I do, I prefer the Portland Trail Blazers.
by Oh. Em. Gee. on Jan 14, 2012 7:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Are we entering a new era?
The Frailblazers —> The Failblazers
That saying should have been dead last year.
Well it was, so that won’t catch on.
It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am NOT a big man.
Felton's OT turnover
and Crawford’s abysmal fast break were positively JV squad.
This team is in poor hands.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:48 PM PST reply actions
I had my hopes up for Felton but
he has been a travesty of a TO machine and he can’t hit a freaking shot to save his life.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
Felton can not run this team and he's a turnover waiting to happen in crunch time.
He’s now shooting a cool 15% from the 3pt line but happily launching over 3 per game (6 tonight).
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 8:27 PM PST up reply actions
just terrible
just plain terrible. That turn over left me speechless. Worst thing about it is I actually expected something like that to happen.
something is seriously wrong when
you are afraid of your point guard handling/distributing the ball – or shooting.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is smiling at Gerald Wallace Blazer highlights.
this
it was bad enough cringing when Patty or Armon tried to play backup PG last season.
perhaps it is selecltive recollection,
but I remember Patty having some really nice outings, handling the ball and shooting well, and, of course, speedy. He has had a lot of off season practice. I am hoping he may have improved his skills. I would be interested in giving him a chance, particularly with the faster focus we are presumably trying. He is familiar with the team and Nate, so he could be quickly integrated with the team. Basically, he would be an improvement this season.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is smiling at Gerald Wallace Blazer highlights.
he did have some good moments
but I never fully trusted him like some seem to. He would be much better than Crawford at backup PG though.
Regression toward the mean.
Felton has been playing the worst basketball of his career. He’ll be fine in a month.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:29 PM PST up reply actions
7-5 now. 0-6 road trip… You heard it here first.
by lawalteral14 on Jan 14, 2012 7:49 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Okay, I may have watched the game at a bar and my memory may be "clouded" but why didn't Nicco touch
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Jan 14, 2012 7:49 PM PST via mobile reply actions
The ball in overtime.
He was the “hot hand”. Shoulda, woulda, coulda… Nicco was the man of the night and he didn’t effect the overtime period.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Jan 14, 2012 7:50 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Why didn't his hands wrap around Felton's neck?
That’s illegal, is why. Even in France. We were all thinking it though.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
I like it when we win
I don’t like it when we lose
by Mister Hooligan on Jan 14, 2012 7:49 PM PST reply actions 5 recs
Biggest story of the game:
None of Nic’s teammates or coaches look for him in the 4th quarter or OT period….why?
Tell me again why we traded Miller?
oh please
Tell me again why we traded Miller?
by RenoBlazerFan on Jan 14, 2012 7:50 PM PST up reply actions
Because Batum can't create on his own
Most of his points come in catch and shoot situations. The few times he put the ball on the floor he either got it taken away or was called for an offensive foul. Don’t get me wrong, I love Batum, but he’s not a player you iso on one side of the court and let him go one-on-one.
by jebuz on Jan 14, 2012 8:19 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Rec
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 8:19 PM PST up reply actions
yep. takes one guy to cover him
got to get the ball where he’s ready to score
But...Batum can shoot
So you run him off as many screens and back picks as necessary to force the issue…
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 14, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
he reminds me a lot of Reggie in some ways.
But if 31 didn’t get the ball he wouldn’t stand in the corner and pout, he would find another down pick and sprint to the other side to wear down/break the defense.
But in Reggie’s case he was the offensive gameplan (and he produced) night in and night out.
It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am NOT a big man.
by SGT Lenny on Jan 15, 2012 6:34 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
horrible offense down the stretch
it’s becoming a normal thing too, and im tired of being tired an excuse. Playbook is out on us, time to make some adjustments and step it up
imagine if we had Martin and Lowry in the backcourt instead of Felton and Crawford
"Say his NAME, Portland. Gerald Wallace is...awesome." -Dave, 4/9/11
Reason for loss:
Batum barely touched the ball in OT
Batum Shakalaka
Felton awful, Crawford awful, Nate horrible
If Nate can’t figure out that Dalembert has five fouls going into O.T. and post LMA, we need a new coach.
"Per John Hollingers twitter - Over the final 12:45 of today's game, Brandon Roy's PER was 84.98" GM 4 vs Mavs
Yes, but Miami has the personnel to make you realize it's just a hiccup for them.
Our stretch of games has me questioning if the first week and a half of the season was just a fluke
Not Good......
felton was a huuuuuuuuuugggggeeee mistake….. Crawford… has been off… but i still have hope for him…. Felton makes stupid play, after stupid play… and hasn’t brought ANY of that shooting range that was promised… it’s not over obviously… but things are looking bleak…. looks like a one and done team… :(
WHY DID EVERYONE IGNORE BATUM?
I am PISSED to say the least.
Batum was having the game of his life and he didn’t touch it ONCE in OT.
Aldridge, you should be ashamed of yourself as a team captain.
Crawford, YOU ARE A BALLHOG!
Nate… speak to your team.
This team is going to miss Marcus Camby in the worst way
LMA really needs to step in the paint, tonight there was nothing in the interior
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
its their fault
….. relying on oden is pure lunacy…. when are they gonna go out and spend the neccassary money on a big man…. they need rebounding and interior defense in the worst way… and for all the great things aldridge brings… those 2 are not it…
I've supported Nate through most everything...
But WHY was We$ out for so much of the 4th and OT?
Even on a defensive stand down the stretch he put in Crawford?
I just don’t get it!
#7... GO BLAZERS!!!
Time for someone to do a poll
Which would stink more? Losing in the first round to LA or OKC?
You KNOW it’ll be one or the other . . .
Steve Goodman lives.
Lets shoot Nico a low ball offer, then freeze him out in the second half on a career night for him.
"Per John Hollingers twitter - Over the final 12:45 of today's game, Brandon Roy's PER was 84.98" GM 4 vs Mavs
9 points in a half is not "freezing out"
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 14, 2012 9:05 PM PST up reply actions
ugghhh
i was trying to play along, but as soon as lowry blocked aldridge in the post…. i realized that 2k12 sucks, lol… :/….. seriously though… 2k12 has some MAJOR gameplay problems
12/21/2012
Blazers have best record in NBA, meteor hits Earth.
Steve Goodman lives.
by twinsbrewer on Jan 14, 2012 7:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
lakers sign the meteor to a minimum contract
by nerfthunder on Jan 14, 2012 7:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Sweep Portland in the Afterlife playoffs
Steve Goodman lives.
by twinsbrewer on Jan 14, 2012 7:56 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I miss Brandon Roy.
Badly. Running is fun, but losing close games sucks.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:52 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
or Miller
Tell me again why we traded Miller?
by RenoBlazerFan on Jan 14, 2012 7:52 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
What happened to out fast-break oppurtunistic offense?
We looked slow and half court ish…
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
I dont think Batum was ignored
they made an effort to not leave him open and we dont run our offense through him and for whatever reason Nate doesn’t trust him to run a high PnR so he is relegated to taking what the defense gives him. Would have atleast liked to have seen LMA get the ball inside with Batum as the kick out though
Agreed
The other thing is Batum’s handle is suspect, especially in the halfcourt. Would have like to see some curl/screen action for him, because he just can’t get his own shot one on one
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 7:54 PM PST up reply actions
ya, should have seen a bunch of those curls for Batum too
I wonder what Nate was saying during timeouts and what plays he was calling because I wonder if some of it had to do with tired legs and bad execution if they were just not executing what Nate was calling
by Peteyhasnohead on Jan 14, 2012 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Good observation
Although, if the players aren’t able to execute, it’s going to be a long year.
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 7:58 PM PST up reply actions
even media is wondering what happened:
casey:
How a guy who is 8-for-14 doesn’t get a single shot attempt in overtime is simply beyond me.
quick:
Nicolas Batum finished with 29 points, but didn’t attempt a shot from 6:52 left in the 4th until 8.2 seconds left in overtime
PHILLY!
Nate has no respect for Nic. He views him as a soft player. He surely won't take any blame
for Nic being phased out the last 11 minutes of the game
we need a coach who will actually use Batum for what he is...
he’s been really good this year, but Nate overlooks him and uses JC so much. Batum is spark and threat to SG’s trying to break away on the break… those blocks are ridiculous!
Does he really view Batum as a soft player?
Honestly I have no idea what McMillan thinks of Batum. He rarely mentions him and obviously he doesn’t design many plays for him either.
Don't know, it seems conjecture, but when do ever see or hear Nate having these heart to heart talks with a Euro.
Call me whenever (Jarret Jack and Roy), we’ll get your name in the rafters (Crawford), etc.
Play designing is not Nate's strong suit
He’s more of a locker-room chemistry guy.
Steve Goodman lives.
That beef guy is tired (and old)
He’s put up 40, 48…
It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am NOT a big man.
But Wallace sure got his pathetic field goal attempts.
Ridiculous.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 14, 2012 7:55 PM PST up reply actions
Blazers have a few plays for Batum
Notably the backscreen curl….
However, the Blazers don’t run that set back to back
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 14, 2012 9:09 PM PST up reply actions
And Rice thought Wallace shot that 3 in the corner near the end.
Of course the media is wondering what happened.
It takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am NOT a big man.
How's Wallace been playing?
I’ve been in and out of the last two games… is he still disappearing in these road games..
I can't believe ANYONE believed Crawford was going to be our 4thQ closer???
He can’t carry BRoy’s socks (to be nice)… and should NEVER even be mentioned in the same sentence as the Natural!
#7... GO BLAZERS!!!
Honestly, it's better than nothing.
You can’t replace brandon.
Being a Blazer fan is not exactly healthy.
Crawford is horrible.
Such a ball hog. He holds it on purpose… you just know he is going to chuck up a crappy shot.
To be fair to Crawford
He shouldn’t be expected to replace B Roy. Crawford is an offensive spark off the bench when he’s on, but to think you can put him in the same role as a top 3 SG (and Roy was gaining on Kobe/Wade) is insanity. That’s on the coaches more than the player, imo
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 7:57 PM PST up reply actions
Agree - when he's not on, he should be getting some bench time
but again, I put that on the coaches. Jamal Crawford is what he is – a streak shooting, offense first 2 guard. Anyone who thought he could be a consistent PG and initiate offense is guilty of expecting a tiger to change it’s stripes
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
yeah....
i don’t really mind Crawford to be honest… i mean…. crawfor has still at times taken over entire quarters with his shooting…. Felton…. he’s just garbage…. 150% not the PG of the future……
I agree...
Nate put him in on defense with 22 seconds left down the stretch???? WHY?
We found every possible way to lose that game from Nate on down.
Hated seeing Crawford do that lame dribble, dribble, dribble brick thing a half dozen times when a score could have put us in position to win.
#7... GO BLAZERS!!!
that's on LMA wanting to bring JC to
the Blazers… I’d rather have the Blazers go after a big, yet they go after more guards in the off seasons
I got some really awesome Batum highlights. I'm so sick of this team not beating teams that they should beat.
I’d rather lose to the Thunder or Fakers than get beat by teams that put Jordan Hill on LaMarcus Aldridge.
My only hope that this team can go anywhere in the playoffs is that Orlando some how made it to the Finals one year.
no way... everyone complained about Rudy last year
he’s the same as JC, just white and not from Seattle.
So would I. I'd rather just have Andre back though. He actually is a better shooter than Felton.
by BRoyInThe4th on Jan 14, 2012 7:56 PM PST up reply actions
A point guard of the present would be nice.
We might have a decent team.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is smiling at Gerald Wallace Blazer highlights.
That seemed like a weird trade at the time
But, Roy didn’t like sharing with Andre. And the team couldn’t draft Durant and take posessions away from Roy. And . . .
Steve Goodman lives.
D-Will
would blow out both his knees on the flight over…
Trip over foodtray
OSU '06
GForce Crash Wallace FTW!
by TyboOSU on Jan 14, 2012 8:19 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
No inside offense in late q4 and ot
From the time d-bert and scola went out w/ 4 apiece I thought we would absolutely dominate inside and easily win. I really have no idea what’s going through lma and nate’s heads. Ima seemed congenitally unable to play from the low block when he had every opp to put the game away. Nate should be sentenced to a nuthouse for leaving Crawford in for entire ot. Dude is cancer for this team. Felton didnt play too bad— i guarantee you It wasn’t his idea to take that three. This team just needed ONE easy basket inside and it didnt appear to cross anybody’s mind that there was an option other than shooting long jumpers. Lma was a complete embarrassment. Nate should be fired ASAP.
by Sonic Phantom on Jan 14, 2012 7:56 PM PST via mobile reply actions
tipped a few to teammates too
I think I’ll have to give up on that with him. He’s giving rebounds away even when he has them.
Here's the thing about Nicolas Batum.
If the team could run its offense through him, it would. But it can’t, since he doesn’t have the handles necessary to go one-on-one in iso sets against the opposition. As much as people hate on it, that style of play is crucial to late-game, crunch-time situations. So, until the Blazers acquire someone at the 1, 2, or 3 who’s capable of that, this’ll be a fatal flaw.
Also, it’s nice to see New England throttling the Denver Broncos. Good times, good times.
"I Am Mine"
I guess JC's TV antenna went bad
Right now he’s banging on the set, spilling Coors everywhere, going, “I have to help Tebow! DAD! Come fix this thing!”
Steve Goodman lives.
I'm gonna chalk this game off to epic facepalm
Henne is the greatest and the Dolphins will go 14-2 this year and win the SB
you have to wonder....
with all these new faces this year… what will it be like next year!!!!!!!…. there’s a distinct possibility that we lose wallace or batum…. felton, and crawford..
Allen moves the team to Mexico City
It’s renamed “Los Chalupas”
Steve Goodman lives.
by twinsbrewer on Jan 14, 2012 8:08 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
but P.A. doesn't want to do that
we are stuck in mediocrity for awhile, unless we can some how put together a miracle season or somehow get a big time F.A. here
by Peteyhasnohead on Jan 14, 2012 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
exactly
it’s not happening but Paul Allen doesnt want to go into tear-down rebuild mode, we are stuck
by Peteyhasnohead on Jan 14, 2012 8:11 PM PST up reply actions
I've lost hope on Felton. I was excited initially.
I thought, “Sure, we’ll miss Dre’s lobs, but we’re gonna have pick and rolls galore and a three point shot to boot.” How wrong I was.
Crawford's defense on lowry cost us
Only when Felton came back in did Lowry slow down. But then Felton couldn’t do anything offensively. And why do we not have batum feeding the ball to Aldridge in the post so Aldridge can send it back out to him. They always have him cut through and then he is useless on the other side of the court. But we can have Felton and Wallace out bricking threes. Newsy to double Aldridge then.
#52
LAME
quick :
McMillan said team didn’t go away from Batum down stretch, he was just covered better and the Rockets had different personnel in the game
PHILLY!
more fro jq
Batum was not upset in the least about his lack of shots down the stretch. "I wasn’t wide open like before,’’ Batum said
PHILLY!
Apparently Batum knows less than everyone on this thread.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:33 PM PST up reply actions
Except that he actually wasn't wide open like before.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:38 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
i saw him at least four times late in the game
pleading with his hands extended for his teammates to pass him the ball. nic is trying to save face of the poeple he’s around.
the defense certainly changed, but not as drastically as one would be believe.
PHILLY!
Batum said first play of overtime was designed to go to him but he was guarded, so he passed to Aldridge, who missed-Quick
You would have to show me those 4 times on tape. I do not believe it.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
You can't tell me that chase budinger can guard nic even with his suspect driving game.
#52
by blazermaniac32 on Jan 14, 2012 8:40 PM PST up reply actions
I've seen Steve Nash guard Batum.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:44 PM PST up reply actions
You still have to get him involved. Whether it's off ball screens or camping out on the same side as Aldridge posts on
You don’t freeze out the hot guy. Never. Well unless you like losing.
#52
by blazermaniac32 on Jan 14, 2012 9:00 PM PST up reply actions
No...you saw a team completely unable to get Batum the ball when he had position
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Jan 14, 2012 9:18 PM PST up reply actions
Not even Batum's night is cheering me up
have you guys/gals noticed with Aldridge even though hes been playing good he has been settling for layups on like all of his opportunities in the paint? To me that tells me that he still doesn’t completely have his legs so I really think he is going to be playing better as the season goes along.
If he can play like last years Aldridge with the dominance and force on the pick and rolls for sure buckets with Felton it would really open up our shooting I think. I realize it’s getting hard to be optimistic right now and we’re not used to losing 3 straight but the worlds not going to end. We’ll be ight.
Bat88m
I hope it's his legs rather than a mental thing.
I’ve been disappointed on more than a few games this season. I was really hoping he’d made that “jump” permanently and impose some of his will on the game. Would be helpful as our team captain and best player, but other than the game against OKC, it’s been few. I want to see more of these moves he supposedly worked on in the summer too. Right now, I’m seeing way too many jumpshots on the pick and pop. How about a pick and roll once in a while?
i just keep wondering..
where did his patented turn around J go… he uses it like once a game now… and misses :0…. hopefully you’re right i would love aldridge to get back in the flow…
saw some solid rebounds from him late
even a couple offensive boards with guys hanging off his arms. I know he’s capable I just hope he can get his legs and his brain in gear.
What about DJ augustin...
the blazers might want to take a look at trying to acquire him… while he’s not perfect… he can hit the long jumpers with consistency…. i feel like he could at least bring what felton was “supposed” to… a pick and roll game…
Wasn't he the guy backing up our current PG?
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:34 PM PST up reply actions
3 years ago...
he’s beginning to come into his own i feel…. i think he’s the best player on the bobcats… (not that that’s saying much) lol
well i'm just trying to think....
because so far what we’ve gotten from felton… is all the advertised negatives… and 1 of the advertised positives (faster pace)
It's going to change.
It’s still a small sample size. Regression towards the mean. This is as bad as I’ve ever seen Felton, which is actually a good thing.
by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 14, 2012 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
as opposed to what...
i feel more like a dirt poor man’s Orlando…. we have a good inside player in aldridge… and mathews, and then after that a bunch of guys who refuse open 3’s…. either they won’t take em, or they can’t hit em….. oh and all those same guys suck at creating their own shot.
it's going to be hard to have a good condensed season.
when you consistently suck on road games… and on the 2nd of back to backs…are we back down to looking at a 6th-7th seed again!?
All
This is moot until we get to real issue and that is Nate. He is not a good x and o coach. He also doesn’t have a feel for a game because he gets blinded by his stubborn nature. Crawford is my guy I’m sticking with him no matter. The thing is he makes judgements without really seeing what a player can do. If we keep Nate we need stars that will control the team, leaving Nate from botching up the game. He has too many options in a way.
A bizarre 22 and 10 game by a PF that sends the game into OT, yet it feels like he had a bad game.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 8:37 PM PST reply actions
Robin is still looking for Batman, and it isn't Jamal Crawford.
We’ll never be a contender until we find another Batman, and he ain’t on this team yet.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 8:42 PM PST up reply actions
21 shots though
And he just looked tentative/a step slow in his actions and decisions. I really hope he and the team learn how to play off the post double better, because right now it just makes them stagnant
Kevin Durant won me over when he went Rocky IV on Russia this summer.
by blazeraddict on Jan 14, 2012 8:40 PM PST up reply actions
Wallace
This game really should show fans why Wallace should be used to pull some talent while his name is hot. He is an energy guy that has reached his peak. We really should entertain offers.
The biggest problem is that he won't quit shooting them. Even Andre knew when to stop.
More than 3.3 per game now.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 8:53 PM PST up reply actions
to try for the lead no less
I hope Ray doesn’t spend much time in Vegas.
We can still go .500 on this trip
Knowing these guys we probably will. The last few seasons they tend to lose when they should win or need to win and then win when they probably shouldn’t.
They’re tired, injured, shooting terrible, bad defense. It all means they’ll probably win a few this trip.
Ny
Would take Felton back in a minute. I think Felton has been Nated. He has regressed since Nate started working with him. I’m not sure Felton has what miller has in that miller basically ignored him and played his game. That is why miller is gone. The problem right now is I’m not sure there is a pg in the league that would be able to function under Nate. Nate wants Nate.
No he wants Nash
Nate loves Nash.
#52
by blazermaniac32 on Jan 14, 2012 9:02 PM PST up reply actions
Nate
Wanted n smith, remember green. What Nate wants may not be what is best for the team. Maybe the answer is a star gm who basically tells Nate what he is getting. Right now Nate is basically the gm. Buchanan will take the hit, but Nate is calling the shots. Who is going to say no to him in the org? Miller is gone because Nate didn’t want him here. Shame as his play would have been much better without Roy around.
Nate gave the fans what they begged for. A running team with players that can't handle the ball
on the break and can’t finish under the rim. But what else you going to do when your PG can’t pass the ball to your big man above his waist, can’t make 3-pt shots but can’t stop shooting them, and turns the ball over in crunch time with atomic-clock-like reliability?
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 9:24 PM PST reply actions
Wanting to run isn't the problem.
The players generally sucking at passing is hurting both the fast break and the half court.
Also, Game planning for long 2s (which was less prevalent when the break was working) is a hallmark of Nate, and the fatal flaw of the Blazer half court offense.
We’re back to where we started folks, just had a nice 2 week stint where we thought Nate had changed his stripes.
The Felton trade sucked to some of us at the time of the deal, and he’s been far worse than we could have imagined.
by Free Bayless on Jan 14, 2012 9:29 PM PST up reply actions
Wanting to run isn't the problem, it's when they try to do it they have problems.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 9:30 PM PST up reply actions
Wanting to run with this PG - or wanting to win with this PG - is the strategic error here.
by Free Bayless on Jan 14, 2012 9:31 PM PST up reply actions
How come we agree but it seems like we are arguing?
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 14, 2012 9:32 PM PST up reply actions
We do agree.
We both think Felton is problem #1, and Nate doesn’t seem to be able to get a running team to work regardless.
by Free Bayless on Jan 15, 2012 9:23 AM PST up reply actions
Felton
Was fine in ny. You think maybe Nate and his coaching is an issue? Felton knew what to do in ny. Here as usual no one really knows what Nate is trying to do. He has No system.
I think the opposite
without Roy/Oden/Camby for awhile, he will figure out how to get wins out of this team, he always does
by Peteyhasnohead on Jan 14, 2012 9:37 PM PST up reply actions
Short
Term results no long term game plan. Nate coaches for his contract. Whatever will get him regular season wins. he gets exposed In the playoffs. He doesn’t have a system to win long term or to develop talent. It’s all day to day whatever makes him look good.
Felton is making some really bad decisions
Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have the team figured out. I really hope that’s the case.
Ray Felton sucked to finish out last season in Denver.
And I’ll take George Karl over Mike D’Antoni as a coach.
"I Am Mine"
Hey guys
I missed most of the second half, but I heard it was ugly to watch. I wish it had been prettier, and I can’t pretend like I’m sad we won, but I think lacking Camby really hurt you guys tonight (all together now…“DUH!”). What I mean is that a lot of teams would like to be where you guys are and I have little doubt that your club can turn it around. You’ve got a great group of players who are fun to watch when they aren’t gassed.
Anyway, good luck the rest of the season. We’ll see each other again February 8 in Portland. Looking forward to it.
Was too far to huck a beer at a Stro’s player as per bone’s request. Jess (girlfriend) said I was too far, I said challenge accepted, a security guard said guess again.-BD34
That is the reason I don't go to Battle Red Blog. I would be too rational and guys would flag my posts as spam.-batman713
by ak2themax on Jan 14, 2012 9:28 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Thanks!
We’ll try to live up to you’re expectations of us and hopefully it will be a good game in Feb. Maybe Lowry will get on the wrong plane and end up in Portland Maine that night. I wouldn’t mind that at all.
I thought the Blazers played fairly well
and they gave themselves a shot. Lowry’s PER is number 1 in the league right now for pgs ahead of Derrick Rose and Chris Paul. He was bound to feast on the Blazers. Hopefully Felton will come around and Crawford will settle down or start making more of his shots. We knew what we were getting with Crawford and having some scoring punch off the bench is not a bad thing. Streaky is frustrating but he will contribute some this year. I’m all for playing Batum 30 plus a night but I don’t think we should be tearing up any contract offers to Wallace. Just because Batum had one good night doesn’t mean it’s time to throw Wallace under the bus. Lucky we have both of them. How many players of that caliber do you think we’re going to find? This losing streak is just the reality check Dave has been warning us to expect.
by XBlazerfan on Jan 14, 2012 9:29 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
On the other hand, gambling..
.; on the fact that wallace will agree for a contract extension could leave you without both of them, or with either with a bad contract (wallace being injury prone, batum being still pretty inconsistent).
I highly doubt batum would not agree to a matthews’s like contract, even if i don’t trust his agent for being anything but greedy.
From what we could see so far, felton+crawford don’t bring anything close to what miller+roy were bringing, even the injured roy. Being smart here would be to get either a reliable pg with decent defense (for a change..) and or a clutch shooting guard able to create his own shoot (so far crawford is not that guy, even if he may improve through the season and, hopefully, during the play off).
It might be sad, but right now wallace is still the best trade bait in the roster (with camby’s contract) and considering how the season is going, it would be dumb to risk to leave him go for nothing. Depending on what they ask, i wish the organization could consider geting holiday here even if it involves geting nocioni’s contract (yet next season is a team option so it would not hurt so much). I would also consider guys like jr smith, chalmers (might not be avaliable anymore though, i had been advocating to get him i guess hype was more important than watching what the guy can do – on both ends).
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