Things the Blazers LACK!

by NyahK on Feb 3, 2012 2:37 PM PST

1. The ability to run the fast break. I mean, WOW! They looked like a mediocre high school team last night running down the court, passing when they should shoot and shooting when they should pass. There were so many blown opportunities due to stupid decisions. Nate needs to have the team practice 3-on-1 drills in fast break situations because what I saw against the Kings last night was PATHETIC! I could overlook this if it were a rarity, but it has been happening all season long.

2. Aldridge has no killer instinct. He is really good and I really like his game, but never when it counts. Brandon Roy would have never let us lose that game to the Kings (or the majority of these other 2-4 point losses on the road).

3. Wesley Matthews. What happened? This guy was improving at a fast rate last year, making his contract look like a good move on our part. This year? He has practically disappeared! He said being the 80th best player on the NBA player rankings was disappointing, but he will be lucky to crack the top 150 next time if he keeps this up.

4. I have already made it quite clear in my previous post how I feel about Crawford.

5. PASSION. I swear, our team has no desire to win. There's no urgency. They SAY they want it, but I do NOT see a fire in them like I do with teams like Denver, Oklahoma, etc. It's like they just show up because they have to, not because they are hungry for a championship.

ARG!

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Aldridge barely ever gets the ball on the final shot.

It usually ends up with Crawford or Matthews, who just keep on throwing up bricks from three-point range.

"Wide, girthy. Just like a Rhino. Sometimes my horns are visible."

by YoniRap on Feb 3, 2012 2:53 PM PST reply actions

1. An upper tier partner in crime for LMA on the perimeter

2. Aside from LMA, any semblance of frontcourt player (PF/C) that is both good and not one of the oldest players in the NBA

"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 2:57 PM PST reply actions

Trade

Everything we have to get Curry. The in out game between he an Aldridge would be incredible. We can continue to build around those two for years.

by Cabbol on Feb 4, 2012 10:40 AM PST up reply actions

#5

Is bugs me the most. I cant stand seeing how passive every player is coming down the final stretch. I listen to a lot of games on the radio… common theme….
“pass to aldrige he’s double teamed passed out to X and he shoots a three it looks off and it is… Tyreke looking to drive gets passed crawford scoops it up and in”

THis is every time IT is ingrained in my mind you can count on portland clanking a long jumper and the opponet driving to the hole and maing the layup or getting to the stripe.

I think this comes down to aggression/passion we have none! To me it looked llike the blazers check out of the game in the 3rd and never bothered to get gritty.

grrrrr

by DonttrashCrash on Feb 3, 2012 3:08 PM PST reply actions

Yeah I dont get the amazing trapping full court defense that only happens the last 2 minutes of the 4th

Why not do this in spurts and mix it up? Or do it every quarter the last 2 minutes and force turnovers and easy buckets to close out the quarter?

by TheOdenator52 on Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM PST up reply actions

on order

to have a killer instinct you have to have the ball, when you score 14 pretty much in a row you would think the team would realize that they need to go them! this is on the guards other then ray, he always gets the ball to aldridge! then once raymond goes out they dont want to give him the ball?
WE NEED NIC BACK!!

by jpark on Feb 3, 2012 3:26 PM PST reply actions

Was Ray getting the ball to Aldridge during his 1-7 from downtown while shooting 19% on the year?

I would venture to say that less than 20% of Aldridge baskets come on assists from Felton and that Camby has a higher assists to Aldridge ratio per minute played.

by TheOdenator52 on Feb 3, 2012 3:35 PM PST up reply actions

what there starters were in 9 straight minutes of the 3rd which is where we lost teh game at and they made 2 field goals

Stop giving LMA a pass he is as much as to blame as the rest of the starters for Sac . Hes 6th in the NBA taking nearly 20 shots a game and somehow hes not getting the ball enough ?

The starters are not playing well enough at all . LMA is playing well Camby is dointg what he can but Wes,Felton and Crash are raising questions on of any of them are legit starters in the Nba.

Good rotation players but starters all in the same lineup ? Its killing us ……..

by Willie Beamon on Feb 4, 2012 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

really your going to blame felton

for taking a three, they needed to shoot them they dont have their beat three point shooter, and ray just hit one so i was fine with him taking it. I thought wes was supposed to be some great player this year… wes has done nothing at all. recently he has hit the same amount of threes as felton and felton actually gets assists. In no way did ray hurt them, it was wes, and gerald killing our team and i think its time to give nic 30 minutes a night every night!

by jpark on Feb 3, 2012 3:50 PM PST reply actions

Actually Raymond has the worst +/- last night and on the season for the Blazers

by TheOdenator52 on Feb 3, 2012 4:00 PM PST up reply actions

+/- isnt really a stat to judge any player by

but I agree Ray hasnt been that good this season, although the last few games show hes getting better(and ive been one of his harshest critics). I dont think it was Rays missed 3s that cost us the game, it was the team, it was free throws, no consistency, shabby 2nd half defense and jump shooting instead of driving to the hoop. I also think Ray should keep shooting 3’s but should never take the most on the team which he did last night. Im curious to see what switching GW for Batum in the starting lineup would do for us. GW plays off of energy which is exactly what a 2nd unit needs to bring and lets face it, the 2nd unit ignores Batum completely. Put him in the starter role, see if he shines. Nate needs to make some minor tweaks to his line up, and also come up with another workable offensive scheme to go to instead of giving it to LMA and letting him post up when nothing else works. We need plays that help our players do what they do best, not try to conform the player by changing his natural instincts to what you want him to do. Everyone knows what LMA is gonna do, either post up or soft fade away or pass out of double triple teams. Its like LMA said, “those guys need to look at themselves and figure it out”. LMA is doing his job, everyone else needs to step up their game.

by cavejunctionblazer on Feb 3, 2012 4:21 PM PST up reply actions

if it eas not for raymond the

blazers arnt in that game! no one can get penetration into the lane like he does. Say what you want think what you want ray is playing much better, and if gerald or wes could step up and help a little they win these games.

by jpark on Feb 3, 2012 4:21 PM PST reply actions

Ray is playing much better

I agree…wish his 3 pt shot would come around

"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 4:46 PM PST up reply actions

The Blazers lack talent.

There’s not enough talent.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 3, 2012 7:40 PM PST reply actions

Blazers have talent but no team spirit!!

Like him or hate him, Patty Mills brought team spirit with his off the wall towel waving, back slapping jumping bean act. Also he could hit a few shots once in awhile. Portland needs to loosen up. Maybe the deep bench players could learn a thing or two from Patty. As to Patty’s future, I hear rumors that LAX or BOS may be interested after he gets his FIBA release letter. Be great to see him on the bench or floor doing his thing in a game against Portland.

by keywester on Feb 4, 2012 8:39 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly.

There’s a reason Crawford couldn’t pick up anything but the ME, that Wallace was picked up for spare change, and that Felton was picked up for Miller. Any other team could’ve picked these players up for the same price – but didn’t. The concept of talent as judged by Blazer fans doesn’t match the concept of talent of other GM’s.

by ebenc on Feb 4, 2012 10:48 AM PST up reply actions

Lol so now no wanted wanted Crawford ....really ? Im sure the Bulls and Pacers wanted him and they have two of the top 5 records in the league right now .

Jamal came here because LA asked him to not because no other team wanted him .

by Willie Beamon on Feb 4, 2012 4:55 PM PST up reply actions

You forgot, brains at the top of the organization.

The fish rots from the head down.

We must endeavor to persevere.

by Supercourse on Feb 4, 2012 6:41 AM PST reply actions

The brains were drained the day Roy retired and we finally accepted that

Oden wasn’t playing. That formula died this season. Now we need brains, as cutting a pasting under the pretense that we can magically go back to contention by some wonderful trade works in Disneyland – but rarely in the NBA.

by ebenc on Feb 4, 2012 10:50 AM PST up reply actions