5 tough decisions the Blazers have to make

[Idog1976]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-trail-blazers-season?utm_source=newsletter

Sorry if this is a repost. A couple of points I found interesting:

Greg is in foul trouble every game. He is the first player on either team to get a foul. He gets two quick fouls almost instantly and has to sit on the bench.

Major buzz-kill.

Being a natural-born shot-blocker, Oden is programmed to go after the shot. Oden needs to be reprogrammed to give up two points as opposed to drawing fouls.

Are all of these fouls good calls? No.

Greg Oden gets some of the worst calls I have ever seen ... and that certainly leaves me to ponder the validity or the reasoning behind them.

(Does the NBA not want Oden to be successful in Portland? Remember, a lot of people were angry he got drafted to the Pacific Northwest.)

4. Make LeMarcus Aldridge Attack The Paint For Points

This one really is not that tough.

No team in the NBA will be successful without someone who can consistently score close to the basket. Right now, the Trail Blazers are relying on jump shots but not getting any easy points in the paint. It's killing us.

I like Aldridge's jump shot, but Portland has plenty of players who can shoot—including Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, and Rudy Fernandez.

What we need is a guy bulldozing in the pavement like a rampaging dump truck. Lamarcus is the perfect candidate.

LOL that he spelled LaMarcus wrong ,but aside from that, I actually agree with most of what he is saying. My other disagreement is with Oden not starting. The perimeter players have to commit to defense. We can harp on Oden all we want but Joel's foul rate is just as bad, he's just getting even less minutes which is criminal when Oden is barely breaking 20 minutes. Good read as far as his points.

 

[magnifier661]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nd-trail-blazers-season?utm_source=newsletter

Sorry if this is a repost. A couple of points I found interesting:




LOL that he spelled LaMarcus wrong ,but aside from that, I actually agree with most of what he is saying. My other disagreement is with Oden not starting. The perimeter players have to commit to defense. We can harp on Oden all we want but Joel's foul rate is just as bad, he's just getting even less minutes which is criminal when Oden is barely breaking 20 minutes. Good read as far as his points.

I completely agree with his assessment regarding Aldridge. I think now is the time Nate and Co. explain to Aldridge his mission is to score in the paint each and every opportunity. Establish this first, then occasionally drop back for a nice pick and pop or 10 foot fade away.

 

[Idog1976]

I completely agree with his assessment regarding Aldridge. I think now is the time Nate and Co. explain to Aldridge his mission is to score in the paint each and every opportunity. Establish this first, then occasionally drop back for a nice pick and pop or 10 foot fade away.

Yep, at the end of last season our most deadly weapon wasn't Roy, it was Aldridge's across the middle hook shot. It's unguardable and he was hitting it around half the time or more. I haven't seen it this year that I can remember, certainly I haven't seen it enough. If Oden isn't ready to score in the post we should have LaMarcus start there. Oden can lurk for the offensive put back once Aldridge makes his move. Oden from the weakside is pretty nasty cleanup to anything Aldridge misses. Later in the game we can play LMA in high post to Oden in the low post.

I honestly feel that Roy is best used as a "God Mode" outlet for scoring late in the clock. Early in the clock we should pound it inside and pass out of the double. The funny thing is Oden often draws a double and passes out of it. His problem is foul trouble and I can't help but wonder if the writer of that article isn't right. Maybe the league wants to make the game unplayable while he is in Portland so he will want to seek greener pastures.

 

[magnifier661]

Yep, at the end of last season our most deadly weapon wasn't Roy, it was Aldridge's across the middle hook shot. It's unguardable and he was hitting it around half the time or more. I haven't seen it this year that I can remember, certainly I haven't seen it enough. If Oden isn't ready to score in the post we should have LaMarcus start there. Oden can lurk for the offensive put back once Aldridge makes his move. Oden from the weakside is pretty nasty cleanup to anything Aldridge misses. Later in the game we can play LMA in high post to Oden in the low post.

I honestly feel that Roy is best used as a "God Mode" outlet for scoring late in the clock. Early in the clock we should pound it inside and pass out of the double. The funny thing is Oden often draws a double and passes out of it. His problem is foul trouble and I can't help but wonder if the writer of that article isn't right. Maybe the league wants to make the game unplayable while he is in Portland so he will want to seek greener pastures.

It's hard for me to believe that the evil empire lead by Stern would purposely ruin the game of Oden. I just don't know if I can believe that. If true, then I will stop being a fan of basketball and take up "underwater basket weaving"

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

My concern with Oden and his fouls is that NBA refs pigeon hole players fast. Some get to flop, some get to travel, some get to hold and some get no breaks. Right now, Oden is getting called every time he looks at another player. If he doesn't change his reputation, what we're seeing is about what we're going to get.

I hate the NBA refs. A crooked lot indeed.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I completely agree with his assessment regarding Aldridge. I think now is the time Nate and Co. explain to Aldridge his mission is to score in the paint each and every opportunity. Establish this first, then occasionally drop back for a nice pick and pop or 10 foot fade away.

I agree, Aldridge needs to establish himself in the paint. He can hit the outside shot, but this team needs him to be aggressive and get shots and draw fouls inside the paint.

Oh no, I can see this board start another round of Sheed type threads (establish position down low and not to settle for the outside shot) only with LA?

 

[magnifier661]

I agree, Aldridge needs to establish himself in the paint. He can hit the outside shot, but this team needs him to be aggressive and get shots and draw fouls inside the paint.

Oh no, I can see this board start another round of Sheed type threads (establish position down low and not to settle for the outside shot) only with LA?

Yep, that's what I'm afraid of. And I am a terrible person to argue about Sheed with. Believe it or not, he is my favorite Blazer. Hahahaha!

I want Aldridge to use those nice kung fu moves he learned last season!

 

[magnifier661]

My concern with Oden and his fouls is that NBA refs pigeon hole players fast. Some get to flop, some get to travel, some get to hold and some get no breaks. Right now, Oden is getting called every time he looks at another player. If he doesn't change his reputation, what we're seeing is about what we're going to get.

I hate the NBA refs. A crooked lot indeed.

Yeah that would definitely suck big time. I couldn't imagine how frustrated Oden is feeling right now.