Game 23 Recap: Portland Trail Blazers 92, Sacramento Kings 95
by Dave on Feb 2, 2012 11:21 PM PST
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PrintWe apologize for the site being offline in spurts tonight. It was a network-wide problem that we now hope is fixed. On to the recap...
In a Nutshell
Behind LaMarcus Aldridge and Raymond Felton the Blazers play an inspired, physical first half only to fall prey to their old bugaboo, losing steam as the game progresses. They leave themselves in need of a three to tie at the end but having forced an impressive last-possession turnover to get their chance, they can't make either of their long attempts.
Game Flow
This game was the classic Tale of Two Halves. In the first half the Blazers could do no wrong. As he has in several games lately, Raymond Felton came out attacking the rim aggressively, either scoring or creating passing opportunities by collapsing the defense through his penetration. The difference between tonight and many for Felton was his jumper was also falling, making him a constant threat. It didn't take the Kings turning their heads that way for long before LaMarcus Aldridge took advantage to the tune of 6-7 shooting in the first quarter. Portland's shots were almost universally high quality, usually coming off of timely passes. The Sacramento defense just didn't know which way to lean. Add in some sparkling defensive energy from Gerald Wallace, a couple Marcus Camby blocks, some run-outs, and solid rebounding and you had a recipe for smashing the Kings. The second quarter pretty much continued the story, with Kurt Thomas now the outlet for easy points. Portland ended up shooting over 60% for the first half and took a 56-47 lead into the break.
And then the Blazers played their second half game. This featured a slow migration to the outside, one-on-one offense, and a general lack of energy. Where the Blazers played above the rim in the first half, their shots were low and easily disturbed in the second. Once-true jumpers fell short on the rim. Transition defense fell apart completely. When the Kings didn't score on the break outright their quick attack would catch Portland defenders out of position. Forced turnovers evaporated. Now Sacramento was playing Portland's physical game at the cup and the Blazers were looking like they didn't know how to stop it. To top it all off, their jumpers now started falling. Portland's 60%+ clip in the first half became a 25% shooting nightmare in the third period.
The fourth quarter wouldn't improve much, unless rising to 35% from 25% counts as an improvement. The Kings simply doubled LaMarcus Aldridge every time he put the ball on the floor. It was a sound strategy. If you come with the immediate double Aldridge will pass around it or simply make his move before it gets there. But once he dribbles he's normally committed to the shot, if nothing else because his handles aren't great and he doesn't see the floor well on the move. With Aldridge unable to get any clear shot attempts Portland's offense just crumbled. Felton was the only Blazer who retained his first half mojo, and that was only offensively. For the second straight game Wesley Matthews got his fast break layup blocked by a smaller man. Wallace missed rebounds and shots. Crawford scored occasionally but not enough. In the end the Blazers had a chance to tie, the product of temporarily re-energized defense, but the desperation three-pointers went askew twice and came after the buzzer the third time. Kings win 95-92.
Take-Away Points
The game flow says it all. This contest was all about energy and momentum. The Blazers had it first. The Kings had it last. Last won out. Read especially carefully the part about playing below the rim. When you watch these guys go up for any kind of layup or even for a jumper you can see their legs are not under them. The lateral movement isn't there on defense as the game progresses. The lack of a travel day and the emotional crowd at home no doubt helps the team get over the phenomenon. But Portland's getting Rope-a-Doped on the road time after time. They punch themselves out and the opponent comes back strong for the victory.
Individual Notes
LaMarcus Aldridge was nothing short of brilliant in this game. 28 points and 14 rebounds on 12 of 19 shooting says it all. Well...except the help on the defensive interior. That was nice too, at least until the whole team collapsed.
Raymond Felton had a strong game early then slid with the rest of the team late. He ended up with 15 points and 10 assists on 7-17 shooting with 3 steals to boot. The three-point shot has completely deserted him now. He went 1-7 on the night. That and the late defensive crumble are the black marks on the record tonight.
Gerald Wallace played 40 minutes. Insert comment about decline as the game went along here. He did some great stuff early but 8 points and 3 rebounds isn't a lot to show for 40 minutes on a night when every opposing wing got off.
Marcus Camby was brilliant blocking shots, so-so on the boards, good in the meta-game. He single-handedly sent DeMarcus Cousins to the woodshed twice on the same play, blocking his shot and asking who his mama was before Cousins eventually got it back and lofted a significantly-arced shot off of the backboard. Respect these years AND the blocked shots I just pinned on you. 5 blocks, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.
Wesley Matthews had a Bad Wes night, going 4-12 from the field, 1-4 from the arc, for 9 points in 38 minutes. He did have 3 steals but that doesn't make up for not hitting shots, slipping defense, and general nondescript play.
Jamal Crawford had some nice scores and some misses but in general played one of his good games, netting 17 points on 6-17 shooting with 2 steals and a smattering of other stats besides. His glaring fault came from the arc where he was 1-5. Missing them is not a crime but why the Blazers have to take so many...particularly a Blazer with good handles against a permissive defense.
Who put the nickel in Kurt Thomas tonight? Dude scored 10 points on 5-7 shooting with 5 boards and a block in 18 minutes and actually keyed a Blazer run. That man was hot. Have you noticed that he's the only guy outside of LMA that we can talk about positively almost every night?
Craig Smith got 5 rebounds in 13 minutes. He went 0-3 from the field but 5 rebounds > 3 shot attempts. Good game.
Elliot Williams got the call off the deep bench tonight for 6 minutes and a 3-pointer hit. That made him 1-2 on threes for the night, by far the best percentage on all the team. The young man was smart, quitting while he was ahead.
Fun With Numbers
- Blazers 4-18 from distance, 22.2%. When your shooting percentage is lower than your tax bracket, you have problems.
- Kings 29 foul shots, Blazers 16. The Blazers run a 14-point deficit at the charity stripe in a game they lost by 3.
Final Thoughts
If imposing your will is critical to NBA success the Blazers have a long way to go before they've achieved it.
You can read about the win at Sactown Royalty
Trail Blazers vs Kings boxscore
Your Jersey Contest scoreboard and the form for Saturday's game.
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Inb4 blow up the team and hplope for good draft picks.
Well…. Atleast lma isnt injured. (knock on wood)
Formally known as: My_name_a_rudy
by Blaze_that_trail on Feb 2, 2012 11:32 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
MORE OF THE SAME
We cant beat bums, therefore we are a bum.
Might as well start leaving Wallace and Wesley in Portland, it’s not like they show up on the road anyways.
by Cjones10 on Feb 2, 2012 11:32 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I feel we are no better then said bums because we can't win on the road
I am not ready to point fingers at Wallace and Wesley without including Crawford. As Dave said, EW had the since to quit shooting 3’s while he was ahead. Would you go back and count the fast breaks and scores off Jamal’s missed 3pt attempts. You could almost see that everytime Crawford shot the three Sac gained at least 2 points on us. BTW that was Sacs plan in the second half. Force outside shooting and run out on misses. Does that sound too familiar?
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:11 AM PST up reply actions
but we can beat good teams too, does that make us a good team?
or can we just not win on the road?
It’s more of the same, yes, but 13-10 seems more average than bum-like to me. Average is not good enough, but I just don’t follow your reasoning.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Maybe we are just road bums with an occasional win on the raod
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 9:16 AM PST up reply actions
does nobody remember that we were like 21-21 last season
before finishing 48-32? That we had terrible losses to teams like Washington on the road?
This was a game against a Kings team that is bad but not terrible, and a game that we win if we simply finish fast breaks, make more free throws, or if Marcus Thornton doesn’t hit that 3 against the shot clock buzzer with 5 minutes left.
Throw it on the pile of road games we should have won..,here’s to hoping we are good enough to rectify our shortcomings in these situations so we do start winning these games on the road. I’m confident we can and will do that, but apparently to most people losing in Sacramento is a death knell for our season.
We’ll see what we can do over this next stretch of tough games, I think we can rise to the occassion.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I anticipate it will turn out just like last year, 6-8th seed, summarily dismissed by a team that either out-talents (Denver) out-executes (Clips) or out-coaches (Spurs) the Blazers. Those teams have started to separate themselves along with OKC.
i keep dancing on my own.
by atomiccafe on Feb 3, 2012 9:32 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
If that happens I say bring it on
I’d be happy to play the Spurs, would be ok with the Nugs, would actually like to avoid the Clips…but regardless we will have a puncher’s chance in those series.
I think one thing we lose perspective on a lot of times is that sports are only formulaic to a point. We look at a good series (say Bulls-Celtics or whatever) and history looks favorably on the victor, virtually dismissing the opponent. Does that team win that series 10 out of 10 times? There’s a randomness to sports that will never go away. I’d be reasonably happy with our chances against those teams, and would like to see it happen.
Also, Greg Oden maybe? A city can hope
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I am just saying comparing this season to last season shouldn’t be all that comforting. Also, Blazers didn’t add Gerald Wallace until the stretch run which was a big contributor in that great second half record. Now they have him for the whole season.
i keep dancing on my own.
The GW point is a big one
Regardless of his current home/road disappearing act, having him is still a big upgrade over the nothing we were getting out of Przy and Dante up to that point. Unless we have some sort of similar acquisition, I see no reason why we should expect any sort of similar second half surge.
well,
to be fair isn’t our record through 23 games better than last year? Didn’t we have a surge prior to getting GW that was centered around LaBeastmode Aldridge?
Our only hope for anything significant is Oden…even without him we can still win a playoff series, it just doesn’t seem real likely.
Regardless, it’s all about this trade deadline and offseason and the direction we choose to go in.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Our record is one game better, sure
13-10 vs. 12-11 last year, although we have had an extra home game compared to last year, but my point was that it’s not like that team just suddenly started surging. To a point we did with LA’s emergence, but most of the driving factor was a significant roster change. Without a similar roster change this year, and considering there’s not really anywhere up to go for LA from here, it’s not really a comparable situation.
I felt like starting with the Dallas game in December
that was LMA’s coming out party ish, we went on a nice stretch.
But yeah, I’m not arguing with anything, I just think we are capable of getting it together.
For as terrible as our road record is, three of those losses (if not more) could easily have been wins.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
good points
I guess my point is that with the current roster, how much more than last year can you expect?
If we make the playoffs, even as a low seed, and go out in the first round that’s essentially a neutral season about in line with expectations. If we come up and bite somebody and get to round 2, season is a success. If we don’t make the playoffs, the season is a failure based on the roster and the expectations that go with it.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
but the Blazers DON'T have Andre Miller...
one of the big reasons they traded Andre was his inability to hit outside shots..Felton has gotten better..needs to improve some more on the jumper. Needs to forget the 3pt shot. Use his skills to get to the net and take a page from Miller’s book on maneuvering to get the foul call.
I can go along with all that
I still hope on Greg. I think they are holding him as a secret weapon to spring on them after the all-star break when all games mean more.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 9:43 AM PST up reply actions
The Clippers out execute?
Hmmm, not sure I buy that outside of CP3. But the Clips have no one off the bench who can add valuable front court minutes, that’s their big flaw.
"Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake."
- Chessmaster Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower
by lietothegirls on Feb 3, 2012 11:47 AM PST up reply actions
They just signed Kenyon Martin
and besides, I’m never eager to face guys like CP3, Caron Butler, and Chauncey Billups in the playoffs. That’s not even including Blake and Deandre
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
still a good pickup
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
So glad I missed this game.
It’s a bad day when TSA confiscating your toothpaste is preferable to being in your living room watching a road game. I settled in just in time to catch the last 1:19 on ESPN Gamecast… sat there thinking… okay… if they go into OT I’ll fire up the streaming audio… but no need! No need at all. I love this team but all we had to do with this one was make our avg. FT %.
On the flipside, what are you going to do about the fatigue thing? While I do think we’re a bit more bipolar than the avg NBA team at this point, this is not a unique problem for all kinds of teams this season. So I’m gonna gripe but not hurl blame at convenient targets.
If there is a silver lining here, it’s that it seems like Ray Ray is trending upward. He’s having more good games more often, and it seems like his assists especially have bumped north. Certainly in last night’s blowout against Charlotte, I saw the kinds of passes he gave Amar’e in NY. The kind of interior passes I’ve been waiting for since we traded for him. Anyone want to speak to Felton/LMA chemistry in this game considering they both got double-doubles?
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
I would agree
that Felton’s play is markedly better than it was earlier in the season. If nothing else he is attacking the lane harder on offense. Sadly his three can be trusted like your ex-wife’s lawyer.
—Dave
What Dave, can't you let a man grasp at his straws in peace?
I don’t need to be reminded of that. You know what, I’m in Spokane tonight. Hypothetically, I could TP your house before dawn… if I had a rental car… and knew where you were… and knew where to find a place that sold TP after midnight. So clearly that’s not going to happen. But thinking about that is certainly better than thinking about Felton’s 3pt%.
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
by conspirator5 on Feb 2, 2012 11:52 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
ex wifes lawyer
who sadly can hit a three with more accuracy than Felton
by cavejunctionblazer on Feb 2, 2012 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
What a low point!
Execution on this team only works by telepathy, and that’s usually unreliable. Teamwork, basketball IQ, killer instinct, shut down defense, crisp passing, everything related to TEAMWORK is missing from this team. What a bunch of wussies; and for the first time, you can tell Nate I said so.
Man the game was going good, we were up at the half by 9
I was staying positive. I commented to someone on here that it seemed like we had this in the bag and that to lose we would have to have an epic collape! I felt confident everything was all good. Ray was playing well, LMA was beasting. We had pep in our step. Then we went to halftime. Out from that we emerge sluggish, slow, and tired. Its like they are passing around a bong and pounding a 12pack at halftime. Straight lethargic. Slowly the Kings dissolve our lead, and walla they win it in the 4th. Sound familiar? Our biggest problem is consistency. Outside of LMA we have no reliable consistency. I hope it gets better. One third of the season is gone,we should be a little more consistent by now right?
by cavejunctionblazer on Feb 3, 2012 12:08 AM PST reply actions
Well let me see.....
we have a Center, Small Forward, Shooting Guard, and Point Guard that can’t score or defend when the heat is on. It doesn’ t make the team better to be honest, but it makes me feel better to know that PA and the Vulcans really don’t know **** about basketball. They should, since they have fortunes riding on the outcome, but they don’t.
We are consistent
We consistently win at home and consistently lose on the road LOL.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:19 AM PST up reply actions
How can this not be a coaching issue?
The Blazers ARE better than the Kings. When your team is better than the teams that beat you, you’ve got a problem. If whatever Nate’s message is isn’t getting through the players, then they need someone who can get through. That’s where you start. If that doesn’t work, then players need to go.
Allen claims he’s in it to win it, but I’m less sure of that the longer he stays with Nate. I went to the Hornets game night before last and closely watched Miller and Allen sitting. No, it wasn’t a great game, but neither one of these guys showed ANY emotion the whole game. I kept wishing we had someone like Mark Cuban sitting down there going crazy for his team. Honestly, would Cuban have kept Nate this long given the standards he has for his team? I seriously doubt it!
FIRE NATE NOW, PLEASE!
by kuhnsmith on Feb 3, 2012 7:17 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Once again, How many years was the Mavs in the play-offs with their coach before they won the big one?
Nate can’t make the shots for his team. His strategy may be good or bad, I wouldn’t know that, but we are a better team then Sac at home, but apparently not on the road. So you are saying that Nate is a terrific home coach and a lousy road coach. that could be, but I am inclined to believe that the Blazers as a whole is a great home team and a lousy road team. For whatever the reason’s
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:23 AM PST up reply actions
He calls time outs too late
Or in sine cases not at all, and lets the opponent get ALL the momentum, when he could easily call stop things after a quick 4-0 or 6-0 spurt that had the crowd and team all riled up, be he just lets the blazers keep on running the same crap offensive schemes and eventually the lead is gone, all hope is lost, and you can bank a loss barring a miracle. Also, why can’t this team look better than a middle school rec team when running a fast break. It’s hideous to watch these fools try to finish with numbers in transition. That had got to be something you can coach.
by ZenGarden on Feb 3, 2012 7:29 AM PST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
Again the Coach can't play the game.
Can’t comment of time outs and gaining or losing momentum because I am not a coach.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:32 AM PST up reply actions
I completely agree BBK
So you are saying that Nate is a terrific home coach and a lousy road coach.
A 10-1 home record seems to indicate that Nate knows how to coach. Based on that the road record seems to indicate that the players have trouble executing Nate’s plan on the road. Can’t shoot the man for that!
Or a more micro view, Nate coached the first half of last night’s game great. The second half, he didn’t?
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
Valid points - but there are caveats
In game coaching is all about adjustments. Can a coach recognize a mismatch? Recognize an opposing strategy and exploit? Can he communicate the adjustments to his players? Does he understand his players strengths and weaknesses and can he make good decisions on who to play and when?
Last night – the Blazers were going fine until Sacramento started switching the high pick and roll. When Sacramento started switching – it created mismatches that Portland was unable to exploit. Players’ or coach’s fault?
Last night – the Blazers were also going fine until Sacramento basically double teamed LaMarcus at every opportunity, collapsed on anyone trying to go inside, and dared Portland to hit an outside shot. Players’ or coach’s fault?
I think it is way to easy to blame the players for not being able to make an outside shot. Sure, they are professionals and should be doing their jobs – but if a team has a known weakness – the coaches cannot allow the opposition to dictate that you only play to your weakness.
This Portland roster is extraordinarily vulnerable to very simple defensive strategies. That is due to both shooting (coaches) and strategy (failing to put personnel that can run a break or swing the ball and attack the weakside of the defense).
Portland being unable to get a shot in the first 20 seconds of the shot clock while trying to force sets against the strength of the Sacramento defense was a coaching issue. The players are not prepared for this simple defense and are easily defeated by the worst defense in the NBA.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 3, 2012 9:50 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I'd say coaching on the first and players on the second
good post
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Some great points made.
It is the coach that keeps saying when they swarm the middle and double team LMA our shooters has to step up and make the shots. But they very seldom able to do that. Like they don’t miss on purpose. So, do we have the right personal to prevent other teams from exposing our weakness? or is Nate stuck on If failed the first 9 games try, try again.
But who-ever and what ever is the blame, when teams grind games out with LMA, or shove comes to push we don’t do very well. I can see the problem, but I do not know how to fix it. When I say it is the whole team that is to fault, that includes coaches, front office and players.
My biggest complaint about Nate and I don’t even know if that is true, that he seems bias to Seattle bums opposed to bums from elsewhere LOL.
hg
Good points...
I still put a lot on the players being able to recognize mismatches and exploit weaknesses. They are professionals after all and shouldn’t have to rely on the coach to see everything. Any rec-leaguer can pick out a mismatch after about five minutes of playing a team. Certainly the pros can, too. Obviously, the coach is there to remind them and also to maybe present a few nuances that might only be observable from a third-party perspective (the sideline). Indeed, these nuances can make a difference in a tight game but more likely it’s on the players to execute the general strategy…
If they had hit just a couple of open shots from the outside it would have been Sacramento making the adjustments again. However, they didn’t so Sac didn’t have to adjust further….What does that leave them with? Going inside would have been playing to Sac’s strategy (as you indicated). So you’re either hitting jumpers to stretch them out a bit or you’re executing the fast break better. I don’t think there was a personnel issue on the fast break. GW, Wes, Jamal, Ray, LMA…all those guys can run the break. What they failed to do was execute it. You simply can’t have all three guys diving to the rim. The ball handler needs to slow up (free throw line-extended) and look for one of the wings diving to the basket or take the short jumper. That stuff is taught in middle school. Instead, the ball handler pushed all the way into the paint then dished off at the last second which was either behind the guy or at his ankles…
#7
Phil Jackson did that all the time...
he’d force his team to play through tough stretches without calling the timeout.
#7
can you please make a more insightful comment?
It’s not just Phil Jackson that does this. Most coaches do this. Phil was only ‘known’ for it because the announcers made a deal out it for whatever reason. You definitely see it less often from coaches with younger personnel on the roster simply because it’s tougher for them to recover from a deficit than a more savvy veteran squad. I’d like to think this team is no longer young and in need of coddling…
#7
by clinchmobb on Feb 3, 2012 11:21 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Even Larry brown didn't call timeouts after a 4-0 run
dinasour type of guys choir boys
by mittsabishy on Feb 3, 2012 9:28 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Two years in the playoffs with Carlisle in his first two years
one playoff series win in those two years. Given that we’re on three straight first round exits in six years of Nate coaching, I’m not sure that’s the best example.
That again is the players not the coaching.
We had a string of injured players a yard long, we had different line-ups almost every game. When Mavs played without Dirk their win record plummeted. When we played without BRoy the same. Again that is the players not the coaches.
I can’t debate with you on the difference in coaching and the difference in players. but you were the one that brought the owners into this debate.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:54 AM PST up reply actions
The mavs are a really bad example though
all excuses aside they were a playoff team for years, but didn’t win it till they switched coaches.
"I was the one who brought the owners into this debate"
huh?
Maybe check the screen names, given that was my first post in the thread. Regardless of the difference in players, my point is that citing Rick Carlisle with the Mavs is a pretty terrible defense for Nate given his relatively quick success with them.
If you’re looking just at semi-recent title teams, the evidence pretty strongly points that if a coach doesn’t win a title in his first couple years with a viable playoff team, he’s probably not going to win one with that team. All recent title-winning coaches (Carlisle, Phil Jax, Rivers, Pop, Riley, Brown) won a title within their first three years of making the playoffs with their team.
I think that’s more of a fluke than anything, given that there are plenty of title contenders who have long time coaches, but it isn’t exactly a good trend for Nate.
Sorry thought I was debating with one. I will check screen names.
Nevertheless, Nate not winning the championship after six years is still on the hands he was dealt not his coaching ability. He has had a string of injuries dating back to the first play-off with Greg coming back late to play against Houston, then it was BRoy, then it was a slue of injuries. That is not Nate’s fault. Now, I can’t debate on whether he is better then the late successful coaches or not. He took over the Blazers to start a rebuild and that is what he did. As far as I am concerned this is still a rebuild after losing BRoy and Greg, a short season with unfamiliar rotation.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 9:28 AM PST up reply actions
I'm not sure if you're referring to me...
but I DID bring ownership into the discussion vis a vis Mark Cuban compared to Paul Allen. My contention is that Cuban would have shown Nate the door by now because he REALLY demands excellence and wants to win whereas Allen may not. He says he does, but his failure to sack Nate after failing to get the team out of the first round and his failure to hire a top notch GM don’t speak well of his drive to win.
But, I digress a bit. I think the injury excuse is just that. While I agree that most of us tend to over value this team’s potential, I do think it is capable of playing more consistently than it does. The coach’s job is to figure out how to get players into position to succeed and to keep the team from psyching itself on the road. If Nate doesn’t believe they can win on the road, the team won’t believe it. I honestly don’t know if Nate has the answers. If he doesn’t, he’s the wrong guy for the job.
Back to injuries, seems to me the team has done fairly well when key players have been out. It’s when most everyone is back that it struggled last year. That’s because Nate couldn’t figure out how to put all of the pieces together.
Maybe Nate is the scapegoat here. If so, so be it.
FIRE NATE NOW, PLEASE!
they may play better, but their ceiling is considerably lower
Back to injuries, seems to me the team has done fairly well when key players have been out. It’s when most everyone is back that it struggled last year. That’s because Nate couldn’t figure out how to put all of the pieces together.
Roy-Oden-LMA could have contended for a title even if took more time and effort to make them work optimally. It may be easier to get a rag tag group to play optimally, but their optimal isn’t good enough.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I think Nate doesn't think they can win on the road...
If Nate doesn’t believe they can win on the road,
It’s like he dumbs down his decisions when on the road…maybe he doesn’t get enough sleep…whatever the reason….some of his coaching on the road is fairly BAD.
The coach manages everything that happens on the floor and during practices, etc.
If bad things happen, Nate is ultimately responsible.
One we have very few practices, Two he has no control of the other team
He can predict other teams play, but he can’t predict lucky shots or a close foul going against us a ball going almost in but spins out and lots of other tangibles that happens.
Sorry, I have to disagree with you.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 9:31 AM PST up reply actions
I think what manfredi is saying is that it has to fall on someone
and whether it’s right or not, that someone is almost always the head coach.
I completely agree with your post though…I’m far more disappointed with the players than with Nate
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
manfredi
Nate can’t hit shots for the team. Or control the fact that Odens bones are as old as he looks and the owner has used 7 first round picks in 8 years on guards. LA needs a little help from his friends.
just win baby !
by FrenchieFan on Feb 3, 2012 1:08 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
More PT for Ewill. There is absolutely no reason he should not be getting 10-15 minutes a game
He’s gotta be better than matthews and at least as efficient as craw (i mean how could you get less efficient). While everyone’s doing so crappy throw the kid a bone and carve him a consistent role off the bench see how he does. Knowing Nate he’ll play him 5 minutes here and there though no matter how many 3s Wes misses or how many TO’s and bricks Craw lays.
Also I like Gwall but he’s got to be traded for more useful assets. I mean honestly there might not be a bigger Jekyll & Hyde type player as far as home/away games go and that doesn’t bode well for the playoffs. And I would honestly rather have Isaiah Thomas as our starting PG over Felton.
I get the feeling that Isaiah Thomas
relishes putting Portland’s nose in it since he openly complained how he got passed over twice by them and wanted to make them pay. The question now is would he have been better off in Nolan Smith’s position?
and settling for bricked jumpers, silly TO's, not finishing, weak defense...
but hey its a b2b right poor us
3 missed fast break opportunities
In the fourth q. The worst of which led to Wes bring rejected by five-foot-nothing Isaiah Thomas. Pathetic, Wes. But, yes the missed free throws were really where the game should have been eon
by ZenGarden on Feb 3, 2012 7:24 AM PST via Android app up reply actions
Aldridge again...
We’ve got to figure it out ASAP. If we don’t start winning on the road, we aren’t going nowhere.
I feel sorry for the next defense that tries to stop him. He sounds pretty frustrated.
sam_amick Sam Amick
Asked to explain the road struggles, Aldridge said, “If I knew how to break it down, I would fix it…Guys have to look at themselves.”
by poorwebguy on Feb 3, 2012 12:19 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
he sounds like he's wants to hit someone
http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingblazers?blockID=644128&feedID=5212
Sam Amick posted the video on CSNNW
good find bro
camby sounded very professional almost like a coach. LMA was clearly pissed. Ray was too.
by cavejunctionblazer on Feb 3, 2012 12:35 AM PST up reply actions
Nates face said it all
he was disgusted and embarrassed and pissed off by this loss
by cavejunctionblazer on Feb 3, 2012 12:36 AM PST up reply actions
LA is starting to sound like B-Roy, when there was no one to hit the 3 when he was doubled.
Pretty soon he’ll start asking Nate to start Steve Blake …
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 3, 2012 1:00 AM PST up reply actions
You mean the next defense the double/triple--teams him and
forces our outside shooting to beat them…Aldridge can only do so much, he’s not Dirk, he’s not Barinari, he’s not going to start taking 3’s – and even if he could make a decent percentage, it would destroy our rebounding. and who we gonna put in the post?…Did I blackout/imagine it or did we at one point in this game have Felton, Wes, Wallace, Rhino and Kurt Thomas on the floor…who in that group can score outside the paint other than Kurt…more importantly how sad is it that our backup C has a better jumper than our staring PG and SG??? I think I lost my voice yelling at nate when Wes and Felton continued to brick shots and he left Crawford on the bench…Crawford isn’t perfect but he’s the ONLY one hitting any 3ptrs and was the ONLY one hitting free throws today!
Aldridge can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?
when they start pressuring him he becomes like everybody else. He can’t hit his shots or make his free throws.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:24 AM PST up reply actions
he's an elite big man that needs help
we may want him to be able to light up a triple team but I’m not sure that’s realistic. He’s one of the most consistent stars in the NBA.
At some point we need someone else to step up instead of expecting LMA to be more.
by poorwebguy on Feb 3, 2012 10:18 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
he already walks the walk...
it shouldn’t be necessary for him to get 40 points and 25 rebounds every road game because other players aren’t doing their jobs
these second-half losses are heartbreakers.
Portland’s getting Rope-a-Doped on the road time after time. They punch themselves out and the opponent comes back strong for the victory.
sigh.
"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
by thankyouforblaze on Feb 3, 2012 12:16 AM PST reply actions
I've noticed Gerald Wallace losing steam for a while now,
most notably with his hops, which always poorly effects his shot, whether its an open 3 or a reckless layup. We’ve got to let the second unit run when they’re hot and allow the starters to get some extra rest.
"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
by thankyouforblaze on Feb 3, 2012 12:29 AM PST up reply actions
It was the opposite at the beginning of the season
Portland was having big fourth quarters and winning games, even when trailing after three.
That is my thoughts
We trailed in the first half and made adjustments and won the second half, Now we play great the first half and run out of gas the second half and lose.
Isn’t the Motto for playing on the road is just to keep it close for 3 quarters, and pour it on in the fourth and win the game. Now we burn it in the first half and smolder in the second half trying to rely on our lead to maintain a victory.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:33 AM PST up reply actions
I thought the same thing
following this game. Starting look more like last season when the Blazers were almost guaranteed to fall apart at some point in the 2nd half.
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
I realize I'm not quite finished for the night.
I want to add my unhappiness that Paul Allen and Vulcan Inc. are marketing the TrailBlazers as a professional basketball team when it is obvious, even to the casual viewer’ this team is only a group of paid journeymen acting the role of professionals without any conviction or skill. Aren’t the Blazers really just the latest Washington General’s, a team of poses and poseurs?
A tad too harsh me thinks.
You can make comments like that about the Bobcats but the Blazers aren’t that bad off yet.
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
I just don't get why this team is just so bad on the road.
by Jonathan Wright on Feb 3, 2012 12:42 AM PST reply actions
Wow, the Blazers really suck. One of the worst teams in the NBA
Oh wait, they have a winning record? They have an all-star and an all-NBAer?
Huh.
People saying this team is a joke are, well, a joke. Are they perfect? No. Are they title contenders? No. Are they the Washington Generals? Also no.
This team is pretty dang good.
Also, anyone else heartbroken to see Evans hit that Roy-esque shot in crunch time?
"Brandon Roy has done this before."
by sabonis11 on Feb 3, 2012 12:43 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
"People saying this team is a joke are, well, a joke."
Since when do the fans shoulder responsibility for the quality of the team? I’ll tell you; Never, never have the fans caused a team to play like crap. What you see is what you get.
by oregonslee on Feb 3, 2012 12:52 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I do believe
he was referring to the fact that some people are over reacting because we lost a game some people expected we should win, not that the fans are somehow responsible for the loss.
We have a great team, a great owner, a winning record, a home court any team would be proud to have, and a team that makes every game a nail biter… Not to mention we are likely to make some exciting moves this summer, and we have one of the best up and coming big men in the league on our team signed to a fresh extension…
Losses happen, the condensed schedule means that alot of teams will struggle to find wins on the road, I’m not sweatin’ a loss to a plenty talented Kings squad..
what about @Detroit or @Houston or the drubbing that was @Phoenix - this isn't a one time occurrance
and I don’t care how much revenge we get on them when they come to Portland (Suns for example) it’s still a split against teams we should be sweeping!
good news is those teams won't be in the playoffs
which we will be in barring major injury or trade
poorwebguy
we will not be in the playoffs check out the schedule till march 1st, and then right after two bums following miami portland hits a 7 straight road game stretch. brutal 45 days coming up for portland. Or just see my fan post for the breakdown, its brutal.
tough stretches happen every year
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
What Western Playoff teams have we beaten on the Road?
OKC…………………………………………..I think that’s it.
We might actually be their first round opponent as the #8 seed so maybe we can continue being impressed with this win that happened a month ago, 5 games into the season?
we might actually get a rude awakening in the next 3 home games
but my above comment was more of a jab at a team that worries me more against bad teams than good.
And who says we should be sweeping, the Stats?
The game has still got to played on the floor with real people and real mistakes that can be costly. Why should we sweep a team that has Nash and a reliable center that can shoot, two or three outside specialist and created the formula for beating Portland with mobbing LMA and daring our outside shooters to beat them. That is the formula that all teams developed when we are on the road. Guess what it is working.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:41 AM PST up reply actions
yeah our guards can actually shoot at home
being able to hit shots really helps in the NBA.
BBK, we should be sweeping the Suns and Rockets
unless we want to be on the outside of the Playoffs like they will be. Put it this way, are we better than the Suns if they whoop on us at Phx and we return the favor when they come to Portland?…IMO no, that just makes us equal. I look at what this team has done so far this year like this:
Great Wins – shows we’re a Playoff caliber team
Home vs Philly
Home vs Denver
Away at OKC
Home vs Lakers
Home vs Clippers
Other Wins:
Home vs Sac
Home vs Cavs
Away at NOH
Away at Toronto
Home vs Sac
Home vs Memphis (no Randolph but this is prob close to a Great Win)
Home vs Charlotte
We have 1 good Road win and that was a month ago today. Also the last win I would consider to be a clear demostration that we are a Playoff team was Jan 10th Home vs the Clippers.
Bad Losses:
Away at Phoenix
Away at Houston
Away at Pistons
Away at Sacramento
Other Losses:
Away at Clippers
Home vs Magic
Away at Spurs (no Manu but still a good team)
Away at Hawks (no Horford but still a good team)
Away at Warriors (Oracle is tough & Curry torched us, if he’s healthy they’d have a good record.)
Away at Jazz (no Al Jefferson so this is prob close to a Bad Loss)
yeah people just blowing off steam right now
I’m still seeing a bit of red myself actually.
Pretty dang good?
Have you been watching the last 9 games against all bums? We just got done blowing a 9 point halftime lead to the Kings. We blew a 11 point lead to Utah with 5 minutes to go in the 3rd with Al Jefferson out. We got killed on the offensive glass against Utah, again, with Al Jefferson out. We lost to Detroit, a team that had won 2 games in their last 13 before beating Portland. Portland got curb stomped at the 3-point line against Golden State and couldnt beat them!
You love the word "bums"
I live in England so I keep thinking the wrong things about your posts.
Cheers!
dinasour type of guys choir boys
by mittsabishy on Feb 3, 2012 9:33 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
that explains your cheeky sense of humor lol
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
This team isn't a joke, but their home/away Jekyll and Hyde act is a joke.
10-1 at home, 3-9 away. That is ridiculous. Teams in the league are having a tough time on the road this year, but nothing like that discrepancy.
Dre ain't got no love for these pros
Bucks seem close unfortunately
for decent teams we have San Antonio and the Lakers.
thank you
good grief
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Can anybody give me one good reason why Nate would start Batum over Wes once he's back?
I just don’t get it. Wes is not starting material and seems to be extremely overvalued by Nate. When his outside shot isn’t falling, which is pretty common this year, he is absolutely useless. His handles are atrocious, he can’t finish at the rim, he can’t create his own shot, he can’t create anyone else’s shot, he doesn’t rebound, I could go on and on. His defense can be decent at times, but other times it’s pretty sad. And it seems other teams have figured out all you have to do is play him up close on the perimeter, take away his outside shot, and he can’t do anything. Batum on the other hand can do everything pretty well, so at least if his shot is off, he can get some assists, boards, and play excellent defense. But I believe even his outside shot has been the best on the team this year. Nic needs minutes to really show the potential he shows for France. And he deserves them a lot more than Wes.
Dre ain't got no love for these pros
at this point probably not
at least Nico can hit the 3. We need at least one guy that can in with LMA. Wes has earned his upcoming bench time. Sadness…
well he can hit the 3 when he takes it
Instead of passing when he is wide open. He needs someone to spike his OJ with aggressive juice…
LaMarcus Aldridge All-Star 2011-2012.
by Eat Politicians on Feb 3, 2012 1:50 AM PST up reply actions
we have a few guys like that
We$ has been passing up the open shot to try to fake and then drive. I’m glad he’s picking up something new but it’s his job to take that shot when it’s wide open.
Have to give Ray a bit of credit tonight for not being scared to shoot in the 4th.
But he knows to quit shooting 3's when it is not necessarily
if you live by the three you die by the three, and I believe that is Portland’s worst arcillas. Batum is the most consistent 3 pt shooter we have and he can make them under stress, but that should not be full focus of his game. His back door, post up, coming off screens is what will make him better then Wesley at the time.
If any of our back court could make any of their shots regardless of where they come from we would have won a handful of those games we lost,
When the opponents are banging you going to the basket and you can’t get to the rim, and you can’t make any other shot, then you find Batum in the coffin corner.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 6:54 AM PST up reply actions
Sounds good starting Batum over Wes
but then we have Crawford and Wes as our best two bench options, that is two guys that play the same two guard position. We have nobody to come in for Wallace at that point.
It doesn't matter who is in with Crawford or whether Crawford is playing the 1 or the 2
He is going to play one on five regardless, The nights that Batum seems to disappear on offense are often the nights that Crawford is playing 1 on 5.
Other then that, when Crawford is playing team ball instead of All mighty Crawford, the lineup of Crawford, Nico, Wallace, LMA and Camby worked as good as any. And now that Ray is starting to find his groove, Crawford could play the point on the second unit with Wesley, instead of Batum, and can go inside to Rhino with Curt hitting the high post and pick and Pop jumpers.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:02 AM PST up reply actions
Wesley Matthews
His offense has been horrible lately. I’m okay with his J being off every once in a while, but he’s not doing the things that made him a threat last year — ie slashing to the hoop for an easy catch & lay-in.
I cringe every time Wes does his best Jamal Crawford impression when he does a couple crossovers and then a turnaround jumper. That’s not your game Wesley!!! The ball shouldn’t be in your hands for more then a couple seconds…ever.
Attention DUSTRUCTO; He already knows that LOL.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:15 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The team's problem is not a lack of awareness
They all know that they are failing on the road. They all know they need to “figure it out”.
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
This team desperately needs a leader.
LMA doesn’t have “it”. Not yet at least. Melts in the 4th.
Camby? Doesn’t play down the stretch. Doesn’t have offense.
G. Wallace? Doesn’t play on the road. Doesn’t have a reliable shot.
Felton? Pfft. Please.
Mathews? The role guy? Your leader?
Crawford? C’mon.
Nic? Passive Nic?
Anyone not in your top 7? As a leader?
LMA played well in the 4th last night
got to the FT line (which was all he could do w/out open looks). Plenty of rebounds, including some key offensive rebounds. My only complaint with him in the 4th was when he moved to center and didn’t rotate well on penetration.
scrappy
by Honka Playboy on Feb 3, 2012 6:18 AM PST up reply actions
I would say Nolan if he could remember the plays.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:17 AM PST up reply actions
I would not say Nolan.
He has three times as many shot attempts as assists, and honestly I can’t even remember the assists. He doesn’t run the offense — he just takes shots. That’s my impression so far.
when the opponent takes Aldridge away someone else needs to hurt them
"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 Feb 3, 2012 9:01 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yep, there are a lack of options for LMA
And I agree that more often than not he needs to pass out of the double team and that someone needs to hit a shot. But for this team, when that’s not happening, once in a while he needs to at least try to bust through the double team or quickly bust to the basket before the double team comes and try to more often get to the free throw line. Of course, that he struggles at the line in the 4th might be why he shies away from this. All to often when the team needs to see someone vigorously attack the basket he’s still settling for a fade away jumpshot—a jumpshot that’s less reliable due to the defensive pressure and his weary legs.
He still seems to have a “rely on the others” when things get tough rather than being the leader. That’s what I’m seeing despite my constantly hoping that I see him lead at crunch time.
I would like to see him take it at the defense a little more too
though he is right. A wide open jump shot is a better shot than a 7 footer trying to maneuver through congested lanes with two guys fouling him. That can end in a travel, turnover or offensive foul pretty easily and he doesn’t really get the calls yet.
He also seems a little more fatigued near the end of games. Understandable.
ding! ding!
there are reasons Dwight Howard doesn’t just put up 60 per game
The Kings did play some inspired defense in the 2nd half
they doubled LMA well and rotated back quickly. Our lack of someone who can penetrate consistently hurt us as badly as not having someone who can hit threes.
Tonight, not finishing fast breaks especially hurt. I was glad SBN froze up when Crawford and Matthews muffed that break, Blazers up two (with maybe 4 minutes left?). I would have said things.
Aso, Thorton and Salmons looked better than I’ve seen them look in a while. I can’t remember Salmons playing such good D
scrappy
fast breaks were a circus
between that and missed free throws we left a ton of points on the court
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
LA's teammates are going to cost LA an all star selection
He’s getting double and triple teamed and is making the right reads to pass it out for open shots/cuts. no on is finishing.
PHILLY!
by CleBlazer on Feb 3, 2012 6:36 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
he'll make it, but they're costing the team wins
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Did LMA already say
that he doesn’t care about the All-Star game and would gladly take the rest? While I like to see him be honored, I really don’t care about the All-Star game. Maybe the rest would be best for the team overall.
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
Buchanan Prich slap some one
Lets rent Nash, he would’ve made that 3 felton missed at the end of the game.
The Crawford PG experiment should end
He should be the last guy touching the ball on a possession instead of the only guy touching it. Put him in the corner and rotate the ball to him or bring in our back up PG.
I didn’t type a name there because it doesn’t sound like Nolan is ready and I don’t see Williams as a PG so…who is the back up PG? If they are at all serious about trying to get out of the first round, they need to address that position. It could even be addressed by committing to play Nolan 12-18 minutes a night and hope you have enough firepower to keep winning at home and steal a few on the road to slip into the playoffs. Then Nolan might be ready to be an impact player by the time the playoffs roll around. It is probably a gamble Nate doesn’t want to take but the Crawford PG gamble seems less and less likely to pay off as the season rolls on.
PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04
Do what
you have to to get Curry out of GS. Curry and Aldridge can be built around for years. Their games complement each other perfectly. When Aldridge gets double he pushes it out to Curry for the 3. Curry is deadly. I think we can get him via a 3 way with the lakers
Curry, Beidren, Walton to PDX we get PDtf
Wallace, Felton, Camby to LA gets a run this year for kobe and gets capspace next year.
Batum, Gasol to GS – these two would possible be enough
We would have the same problem with Curry as we did with BRoy
That ankle isn’t going to heal by itself.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 7:46 AM PST up reply actions
From Sacs announcers.
We missed fast break opportunities because Crawford and Wesley hung on to the ball to long in the same area letting one player guard two men.
The half time report was the Kings was worried about Crawford’s shooting so slacked off on Thomas and even LMA to slow down Crawford, that apparently was a mistake so we will go back to doubling and tripling LMA, sag to the middle and let Crawford shoot and run out on his misses. Does that sound familiar?
hg
lol this loss had nothing to do with Crawford and everything to do with Nate
We went 9 minutes 9 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST SUB AND SCORED TWO FIELD GOALS DURING THAT TIME . Thats how the 3rd quarter started Crawford wasnt even in the game
It was 56-47 at the half
When Nate subbed Crawford in his first sub it was 3:32 left in the 3rd and it was TIED 63-63
What coach allows his starters to basically suck all the life out of team by dwiddling away the momentum they had from the first half ? 9 minutes !!!!!!
It wasnt even Crawford who blew the fast break chances it was Wesley getting blocked by THomas and Felton by Evans.
by Willie Beamon on Feb 3, 2012 8:43 AM PST up reply actions
if we execute fast breaks
and we make free throws, we win the game. As far as I’m concerned, that means we were in a position to win and the players failed
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Yah at least these are correctable problems
I think we will go on a run where we don’t mess up fast breaks and free throws
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
We went 9 minutes with only 2 field goals and the refused to even play the bench guys who had actually played pretty well
If you come off the bench on this team right now Nate is basically re affirming the unwritten truth that hes playing faves and no matter what you do he aint cutting the starters minutes no matter what .
by Willie Beamon on Feb 3, 2012 9:08 AM PST up reply actions
the starters need to figure it out
period
"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 Feb 3, 2012 9:17 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nevertheless Sac shut down the middle in the second half
Crawford and Wesley goofed a fast break also.
hg
by BBK on Feb 3, 2012 9:51 AM PST up reply actions
Anyone else?
Notice errors with the jersey contest scoring for last night’s game?
We have the second most road losses on the road in the West
that is unacceptable. Especially since you are capable of being 9-1 at home. We dont suck. There is something we are not doing which we are very capable of doing on the road.
Our outside shooting sucks though for sure.
WITH ODEN ON OUR SIDE
Playing rotation?
Why doesn’t McMillan mix it up on the road? Try something new, maybe rest the starter more in the first half. Everyone want to blame Felton.. why doesn’t Nate get some blame for 2nd half collapses?
Regardless, the Blazers won’t be winning much when their bench brings the less than formidable lineup of J. Crawford, C. Smith, K. Thomas, and E. Williams.
This team badly needs
a SG/SF type of player who excels in the fourth. Someone who creates, can handle the ball, and knocks down shots. Seems like we used to have a player like that? Aldridge always — ALWAYS — disappears at the end. He had 19 first half points meaning he had 9 second half points … what was it 2 in the fourth? Oh well maybe it’s better to keep losing and get in the lottery. Although with Buchanan’s abysmal record in draft picks may not bode well there either. Paul Allen needs a post Superbowl Seahawk experience to wake him up maybe we’re seeing that right now. Does Larry Miller have a permanent position? Just thinking out loud and rambling … a game like that will do that for you.
Hi,
I am nic batum and last year, i developed a promising midrange game that is not used at all this year so far. And i was clutch for french NT during the summer (and a few times as well with the Blazers, when i had the opportunity – read, almost never).
But the best would be to get a scoring combo with great court vision with reliable outside jumper. Instead of thinking about having one go to guy in the backcourt, the Blazers should try to get that combo or pg (with a good size) and use batum’s midrange game much more often. Thomas was supposed to be signed in order to set screens for batum, i still got to see that (especially with a ballhog like crawford). Przy was awesome for batum last year in that area. Nic needs team work to get opportunities, but so far he seems to be a much more reliable bet in the future than other players in the backcourt or at the forward position (minus alridge).
Having a sort of a two punch offense in the backcourt could be really awesome, but it’s hard to imagine it in Portland with nate as a coach since his plays seems so stereotyped.
One player I hope they go after on the offseason is Eric Gordon
Love his game, plus hes the type of star we might actually bea ble to convince to come here
GO BLAZERS!
We never win back to backs on the road, its just our trademark. Consistency is key : ). Also I hope someone talks to We$ about his fast breaking this game, it really turned the tides when he decided not to pass on that 3 V 1
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
Wallace's Home/Away splits:
Home: 18.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 61.5% from the field, 35.7% from 3-point range, 4.5 FTA/game (76.0 FT%).
Away: 8.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 32.0% from the field, 13.6% from 3-point range, 2.8 FTA/game (57.1 FT%)
Aside from the increase in rebounding, those numbers are pretty staggering.
ahh what you know the Blazers are in town
we’ll be able to rest our starters and give our rooks some time!
Man I miss Andre Miller
This team has zero pacience in their 1/2 court sets…At least Miller knew he wasn’t a shooter, Felton thinks he his.
2-4 the who
Felton has been in the past
it would behoove us if he found that 35% 3 pt stroke again
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
There was no reason for Nate to keep the starters in 9 straight minutes in the 3rd when we know how it ends already
Crawford
Williams
Thomas
Craig
all played well in the first half and he still didnt want to take out the starters who were basically flat AGAIN. As I said in the game thread Nate shouldve benched the entire starting 5 at the 9 minutes mark of the 3rd quarter when they showed that despite our recent road woes they still are not ready to come out and stay focused .
Why change at all if you know for certain that no matter what happens the coach wont play the guys behind you ?
I was thinking the same thing during the game
our starters weren’t even doing well second half of the third… then they seemed to run themselves into the ground in the fourth. I wonder if its possible to find the stats somewhere for on the road 3rd quarters I bet only 6 players average over 5 min.
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
who's to say the bench wouldn't have let it get away completely?
the guys just need to get it together. No coach should have to deal with this Jekyll/Hyde team.
You can blame Nate for all our losses but it’s probably closer to a combination of things. In most cases the players could have changed the outcome easier than Nate could.
Living up to the freethrow shooting percentage alone!
would have won the game. 50% shooting from the line?! There is nothing a coach can do about that.
"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."
not to mention that if everyone just shot a reasonable % from deep...
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
How do you know unless you at least try ? they played well in the first half why not give them a shot in the second half ?
Where was Elliot ? he was playing well and with how well Elliot and Crawford played in the first half why would you stick with the same backcourt who have been struggling for weeks ?
Its not Jekyll and Hyde everyone here knew after the first 2 minutes of the 3rd where it was going . Nate left these guys in for 9 straight minutes and they made 2 shots .
There simply is no excuse for that in the NBA EVER . Last night was Nates chance to put his foot down and actually send the message that you either be ready to play or take a seat .
Now these guys are gonna come back home play well the next 3 games and we will be in the exact same situation next Friday with the Hornets.
Everyone knows that these guys have had limited practice but there simply is no excuse for that lack of energy they displayed at the start of the 3rd considering the starters had plenty of rest the previous game
by Willie Beamon on Feb 3, 2012 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
you don't really but bench vs starters isn't any less a gamble
then starters vs starters. I’ve seen the bench guys give up a 13 point lead in like 2 minutes.
You could be right that they would have saved us but I’m not sure I can put that on Nate. I wouldn’t have minded a couple of them coming in. To me we missed Nico and Camby most of all.
Man I miss B Roy !!
Even the injured B Roy….we (the fans) need another stud on this roster, and so does Nate…..
I think this will be the year Nates COTY talk dies down
Seems his players are finally under performing… : (
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
Imposing Your Will...
I think the final thoughts hit it on the head.
But right now on the road this team just seems to lose confidence, even if they start out with it…and you need confidence to impose your will.
You need to have enough of a team identity that you know what you want to do, you need the skills to execute that game plan, and you need the confidence as a team.
Right now? All that seems to be missing or come up missing on the road.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
nice coaching...
need a basket late? no camby, so no one to throw the ball to the post. lets just have chunky hoist a jumper.
That wasn't on Nate last night...
That was on the fact that this team shows no mental fortitude when things start to get tough. As soon as the slightest doubt appears, their collective you-know-whats begin to pucker. I’ve said it repeatedly, this team doesn’t have a single guy who plays with a real chip on their shoulder ALL THE TIME. They seem to pass the proverbial chip around just like they pass the ball on a fast break…
I want someone to step up and show some nastiness…I thought Jamal was going to be that guy…he’s not…he’s a nice guy but a streaky playground baller and not an assassin. Wallace is fierce but he’s not clutch. He seems to coast along too often with bursts of good play but he’s far down the ladder of guys I’d give the ball to when you need a score…LA can’t do it all…I believe Felton will come around but he’s not a killer either. Really wish he could have hit that 3, not just to tie the game, but more for his own confidence. Wes is streaky and he can be a killer but it’s not really in the clutch moment.
I think we really missed Batum last night. He very well could have been the difference.
Speaking of fast breaks, on a 3-1, anyone understand the concept that the guy with the ball is supposed to slow up at the free-throw line extended and let the wings dive to the basket? Don’t drive right down the lane and try a silly hand off pass at the ankles…
end rant
#7
Batum is neither clutch or an assassin
He is the classic coaster and dissappears for long stretches over his carreer in games
He is out best three point shooter and its not even close!
62.1% eFG…the next closest is Wes at 52.4%…and I neither mentioned Batum as clutch or assassin, only that he could have been the difference. A couple of made outside shots and that game was over. Sac comes out of the paint packing defense and double teams of LA and is now back to scrambling like they were in the first half…
#7
Things we LACK!
1. The ability to run the fast break. I mean, WOW! We looked like a high school team last night running down the court.
2. Aldridge has no killer instinct. He is really good, but never when it counts. Brandon Roy would have never let us lose that game last night.
3. Passion. I swear, our team has no desire to win. They SAY they do, but I do NOT see a fire in them like I do with teams like Denver, Oklahoma, etc.
ARG!
I seriously don't see us ever winning a game on the road again this year......
on the road it’s Lamarcus Aldridge……and everyone else. Someone else needs to step up. Nate needs to establish who the #2 guy is and start giving him more shots…whether it’s Batum or Wallace… this is starting to get ridiculous. How do you win by 44 pts and the next day lose to basically a slightly better team than the one you just played by 3? BIPOLAR!!!
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
well we will
I can guarantee it
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Is Kurt Thomas really the best defender on the team?
And is that Wesley Matthews on the court, or a body double?
Jamaal crawford is not good
Why is it that raymond felton and matthews get ragged on when crawford does just as terrible and gets praised?
Because Jamal Crawford does what Jamal Crawford does
and sometimes (not always) does it well. Jamal Crawford is not supposed to do what Wesley Matthews and Raymond Felton do. Felton and Matthews do not always meet their own expectations, which are not the same as Crawford’s.
—Dave
by Dave on Feb 3, 2012 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
somebody please teach this team to set screens and execute on the fast break
last night, felton actually used lamarcus as a screener while lamarcus had his hands on his knees resting. and that was the most successful execution of it that i’ve seen in a while. the fastbreaks were pathetic last night, especially the thomas block on matthews, but they have been bad for a while. either they don’t pass and miss easy shots (or get embarrassingly rejected) or they pass too early and everyone gets confused. please fix.
Blazers best defense is when their opponents throw bricks.
and that also results into their best offense. Not a great strategy for winning. Occasionally a steal results in a fast break score, but their set defense is uncreative and boring. They should be able to run some plays that free up some easy shoots for each of there men. Where is the coaching staff???
You are what you write.
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