About Camby

[UKRAINEFAN]

Do you remember that first half season he was with us? He was a game changer; a dominant defensive force at times. He often seemed the most valuable player on the court. Now he is barely noticeable at times.

Maybe it is lingering injuries or just being another year older. But maybe he is just not in a situation now where he is able to succeed so well. I don't know for sure but maybe some of his best games last year were when he was playing a PF and Pryzbilla at center, freeing him up to rove a little bit, where I think he is at his best. Or maybe it was against teams without strong athletic centers like Dallas.

In this series it seems he is confined to blocking off their centers to keep them from taking a dish off pass or from getting a putback basket. So he can't help out on defense much. It seems Portland needs to change something. Either he has to be given the freedom to leave his man; which would require the rest of the team (especially Wallace) to be aware of this and instantly cover for him. Or alternatively someone else needs to be there to block shots.

Because Aldridge seems a little slow to react in these situations and also seems to get pulled out to the perimeter a lot; the ideal man might be Wallace. But where is Wallace? Why does he hardly seem to be noticeable on defense? Is Dallas employing some strategy to either keep the ball away from his area or are they maybe having Marion focus solely on obstructing and slowing Wallace?

Whatever it is, this seems like one area that needs to be fixed.

 

[jlprk]

Yes, it really changes the team and I miss having a rebounding advantage. Camby contributes half as much as before his injury. With him and Przybilla before him, we had a big rebounding advantage. With Joel, we also had an intimidation advantage. Joel had time to play mindgames due to Roy's slow pace. We play less powerfully now, but faster, like most teams.

 

[Rhal]

Camby's shooting/blocking hand is broken. Its swollen up to the point you can't see the knuckles. He refuses to have an MRI though because he wants to play.

Roberts and Jensen were pleading for Camby to walk down the hall to have his right hand X-Rayed, but Camby was having none of it

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/04/behind_the_locker_room_door_ma.html


Still doesn't make up for the fact he hasn't seemed himself a lot this year. Maybe his is just old and feeling it now.

 

[B-Roy]

Yes, it really changes the team and I miss having a rebounding advantage. Camby contributes half as much as before his injury. With him and Przybilla before him, we had a big rebounding advantage. With Joel, we also had an intimidation advantage. Joel had time to play mindgames due to Roy's slow pace. We play less powerfully now, but faster, like most teams.

Camby is averaging 12 rebounds in 28 mins right now in the playoffs. He's still boarding like a beast, it's just his already limited offense is now nonexistent.

 

[HailBlazers]

Camby's shooting/blocking hand is broken. Its swollen up to the point you can't see the knuckles. He refuses to have an MRI though because he wants to play. Still doesn't make up for the fact he hasn't seemed himself a lot this year. Maybe his is just old and feeling it now.

Whoaa Crazy! I never knew, that explains a lot about his lack of aggressiveness around the rim, he used to try and block everything. Not an excuse, but I think overall coming back from the surgery has been tough for him aswell.

 

[handiman]

I don't know for sure but maybe some of his best games last year were when he was playing a PF and Pryzbilla at center

They never played together last year... Pryz was out for the year when Camby was acquired. Maybe you're thinking of earlier this year, but I don't recall them being on the court together much then, either.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

They never played together last year... Pryz was out for the year when Camby was acquired. Maybe you're thinking of earlier this year, but I don't recall them being on the court together much then, either.

You're absolutely right, and looking at 82games.com, they didn't play together this year either. I was just trying to figure out what the problem was; I don't think it is entirely his hand because he hasn't been really outstanding all year. Maybe it's just fatigue, especially with Pendergraph and Cunningham gone, he always has to push against guys bigger than himself.

 

[Drttimmy]

You're absolutely right, and looking at 82games.com, they didn't play together this year either. I was just trying to figure out what the problem was; I don't think it is entirely his hand because he hasn't been really outstanding all year. Maybe it's just fatigue, especially with Pendergraph and Cunningham gone, he always has to push against guys bigger than himself.

I haven't looked up the stats, but he was boarding really well before he went out earlier this year. I think he was averaging around 11 a game or something. That's really good. The defensive intimidation isnt as evident this year, but he was a great weakside defender, not a great man defender. I dont think he's in good weakside position most games.

Could be wear and tear. 37 years old is up there for a professional athlete. And big men athleticism slip fast when it finally does begin to go. Still, I'd like to see him dig deep for these playoffs. He was solid in game 3 before the BS calls ended his night effectively.

 

[KingSpeed]

Camby had 30 points and 13 rebounds the night of the RG chant. He's never come close to that since. For the life of me, now, I can't remember how on earth he scored that much,

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Do you remember that first half season he was with us? He was a game changer; a dominant defensive force at times. He often seemed the most valuable player on the court. Now he is barely noticeable at times.

This sounds oddly familiar.

 

[julius]

The guy still averaged 10 rebounds a night, in fewer minutes and 1.6 vs 2.0 blocks (this season v last season).

Theo went from 4.4 blocks to 2.5 to 1.6. He also wasn't on the tail end of his career (well, stat wise he sure was). He's now 38, whereas Camby is 37. Theo was 31, 32 and 33 when he was a Blazer. I'd take Cambys production over the production Theo brought after they signed him to that huge contract.

And while Camby's shooting was really low this year (sub 40%), if they can ever get a starting 5, his production would still be sufficient.

 

[Rhal]

Camby had 30 points and 13 rebounds the night of the RG chant. He's never come close to that since. For the life of me, now, I can't remember how on earth he scored that much,

I'm trying to remember too and I think he just took it to the rack every time because the thunder had no real big men.

 

[Rhal]

This sounds oddly familiar.

At least Camby is still averaging huge rebound numbers. His defense just wasn't there after his injury. He looks good at the moment so I hope we get the old camby back (even though he has a broken hand).

 

[Boob-No-More]

Last season, Marcus Camby led the league in TRB% at 22.2 (22.0 as a Blazer). This season, his TRB% was 24.1, but he didn't qualify for the league lead due to missing too many games due to injury. That's not just a good TRB%, it's historically great. Here's a list of every player in NBA history (since they started keeping TRB% in 1973-74) that played at least 50 games, at least 20 MPG that had a TRB% of =>24.0. Besides Marcus Camby, there is only one other name on that list - Dennis Rodman did it 6 times. Think about that. Moses Malone never did it. Charles Barkley never did it. Dwight Howard never did it. Hakeem Olajuwan never did it. Kevin Love had a much talked about "historic" season this year with a TRB% of 23.6.

And, in these playoffs, Camby's TRB% is even higher than it was during the regular season - an absolutely amazing 26.6. Dennis Rodman's career best playoff TRB% was 25.7.

So no, Camby's rebounding is not down. He had a career best regular season TRB% and is also having a career best, historically good TRB% during this series.

His BLK% during the regular season was about the same this season as last (5.2 vs. 5.0), but is down (3.3) during the playoffs. Could be the broken hand, could be the opposition, could be the way Portland is playing team defense, could be the small sample size, or maybe the lingering affects of his knee injury/surgery. Although, if I think it was the latter, we would have seem a more significant drop-off in his BLK% during the regular season.

His passing remains well above average for a center and above his career averages. His AST% was 11.7 during the regular season (career average 10.0) and is 11.0 during the playoffs (career playoff average 7.1).

His scoring and shooting percentages are both way down during the regular season, but his shooting percentages have bounced back during this series. That's really the only area where Camby's production has declined significantly compared to last season as a Blazer and compared to his career averages. One big difference, during the regular season was his minutes were down by over 5 MPG. So, that makes his per game averages lower for some stats.

He is rebounding at an amazing rate, both regular season and playoffs, for ANY player, but the fact that he's doing it at the age of 37 makes it even more amazing.

And, the comparison to Theo is ridiculous. Theo was a one trick pony. He could block shots. He was a horrible man-to-man defender a weak rebounder and his passing was non-existent. His first half-season in Portland, he had a BLK% of 6.5 - which is excellent, but not historic. His second season, his BLK was 5.2 and his 3rd it was 5.3. As I mentioned above, Camby's was 5.2 last season and 5.0 this season. So, 36-37 year old Marcus Camby was blocking shots at about the same rate as 31-32 year old Theo Ratliff - and Camby was doing EVERYTHING else better. Camby is literally twice the rebounder Theo was (RB% = 11.0 - 13.6 as a Blazer) and 4 times the passer. Oh, and Camby continues to do it in the post season with a PER of 17.0 at the age of 37. Last year, at 37, Theo had a post season PER of -2.5 and the last time he had a PER => 17.0 in the playoffs he was 26.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

I'm trying to remember too and I think he just took it to the rack every time because the thunder had no real big men.

That's correct. Nenad Kritic, their regular starting center did not play due to injury. The only two bigs OKC played in that game were Collison and Ibaka. Collison had 5 fouls (and zero rebounds) in 20 minutes and Ibaka fouled out in 27 minutes.

BNM

 

[Masbee]

Do you remember that first half season he was with us? He was a game changer; a dominant defensive force at times. He often seemed the most valuable player on the court. Now he is barely noticeable at times.

Maybe it is lingering injuries or just being another year older. But maybe he is just not in a situation now where he is able to succeed so well. I don't know for sure but maybe some of his best games last year were when he was playing a PF and Pryzbilla at center, freeing him up to rove a little bit, where I think he is at his best. Or maybe it was against teams without strong athletic centers like Dallas.

In this series it seems he is confined to blocking off their centers to keep them from taking a dish off pass or from getting a putback basket. So he can't help out on defense much. It seems Portland needs to change something. Either he has to be given the freedom to leave his man; which would require the rest of the team (especially Wallace) to be aware of this and instantly cover for him. Or alternatively someone else needs to be there to block shots.

Because Aldridge seems a little slow to react in these situations and also seems to get pulled out to the perimeter a lot; the ideal man might be Wallace. But where is Wallace? Why does he hardly seem to be noticeable on defense? Is Dallas employing some strategy to either keep the ball away from his area or are they maybe having Marion focus solely on obstructing and slowing Wallace?

Whatever it is, this seems like one area that needs to be fixed.

Dude, Jeez; Camby has been banged up all season.

 

[jlprk]

He's getting 3/4 the minutes per game. Per minute, his rebounds haven't changed, but his other stats have gone down.

before all star game...after it

per game
minutes 28.7 21.1
FG% .425 .303
FT% .655 .417
rebounds 11.3 8.3
efficiency 17.1 10.1
rebounds/48 min 18.9 18.9
efficiency/48 min 28.6 23.0

http://www.hoopsstats.com/basketbal...-blazers/players/marcus-camby/stats/11/25/353