All signs point to Steve Blake starting

[MIXUM]

just thinking that blake is starting over miller makes me sick.

wait till we lose to houston twice cause blake got lit up by brooks

just like the playoffs.

WHY THE FUCK DID WE SIGN MILLER. he should ask for a trade

 

[Schilly]

Could all these people with "bad feelings" post their prediction for what is going to happen? 43 wins? Miss the playoffs? Rudy demands a trade?

What are you predicting will happen?

It would be fun to revisit in 6 months.

I actually think the team is going to win 59 games. In my mind though having a bad feeling and expecting bad things aren't one in the same. My prediction for wins is what I think the team is capable of and should achieve. But I have this nagging feeling that they might actually regress as stubbornness wins out over progress.

 

[rocketeer]

Also, how would you feel if you were Miller and you clearly outplayed Blake, but you're relegated to the bench because Brandon Roy wants Blake in the starting lineup. Think that will cause a rift between the two?

miller is very likely going to play more minutes than blake so in that sense he won't be backing him up.

and if miller is the "veteran leader" that he is in your mind, do you really think coming off the bench instead of starting him is going to effect him that much? i mean, i really can't see why it's impossible for you to see how miller coming off the bench could be a good thing and what's best for the team.

 

[illmatic99]

I htnk the case could be made that ANdre needs a bit more time to get learn his team mates tendencies. He did lead the team in minutes played in preseason I believe, but due toe the kaleidoscope that was starting units in preseason how we can have much grasp on what starting 5 would work best together is beyond me. It appears to me that Nate has a tough time committing to decisions so simply reverts to the last decision, because it's safe.

It's a pattern. And he doesn't seem to have learned from his mistakes.


Jack ---> Blake-- 3 games (record: 0-3)
Outlaw --> Batum-- 3 games (record: 1-2)

We have a pretty decent chance of jumping out to an awesome record to start the season. I don't want us to limp out of the gate because Nate made stupid decisions about starters before the start of the season.... again.

 

[MIXUM]

my predictions.

we win under 54.

we get 6-8 seed.... if we are lucky.

bayless asks for a trade.

pryz has a bad year.

oden gets hurt and misses a total of 20 games.

broy has an off year

la makes all star team

rudy has a up and down year

outlaw gets traded

miller starts at some point not before venting to media

 

[B-Roy]

miller is very likely going to play more minutes than blake so in that sense he won't be backing him up.

and if miller is the "veteran leader" that he is in your mind, do you really think coming off the bench instead of starting him is going to effect him that much? i mean, i really can't see why it's impossible for you to see how miller coming off the bench could be a good thing and what's best for the team.

Well said.

 

[rocketeer]

According to the post game show, Nate told Jason Quick after the game that the opening night starting lineup will be:

Blake
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden

that's what i expected(and wanted) the starting lineup to be.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

miller is very likely going to play more minutes than blake so in that sense he won't be backing him up.

and if miller is the "veteran leader" that he is in your mind, do you really think coming off the bench instead of starting him is going to effect him that much? i mean, i really can't see why it's impossible for you to see how miller coming off the bench could be a good thing and what's best for the team.

this

 

[Schilly]

just thinking that blake is starting over miller makes me sick.

wait till we lose to houston twice cause blake got lit up by brooks

just like the playoffs.

WHY THE FUCK DID WE SIGN MILLER. he should ask for a trade

Nate has said many odd things over the summer that leave me thinking that he isn't on the same page with KP. I also think there are some indicators of a coach who is at a point where he could lose his players. I know people love Nate and don't like to hear criticism, so I apologize if I offend anyone, but I think there is a chance that Nates seat is warmer than we might think. If it wasn't he wouldn't feel the need to say he is doing things the right way even if he loses his job as a result.

 

[MIXUM]

while i agree with you schilly and feel kp and nate arent on the same page....
nate has an absloute free pass this year. he has won more games each year. therefore unless we miss the playoffs or get torched in round 1... nates seat isnt very warm.

 

[Schilly]

miller is very likely going to play more minutes than blake so in that sense he won't be backing him up.

and if miller is the "veteran leader" that he is in your mind, do you really think coming off the bench instead of starting him is going to effect him that much? i mean, i really can't see why it's impossible for you to see how miller coming off the bench could be a good thing and what's best for the team.

I can tell you one reason why Miller coming off the bench could be considered a bad thing. Slow starts and playing from behind. Steve as the PG doesn't do much to exploit the opponent which is something Miller does very well. Take the lead hold the lead.

 

[MIXUM]

as far as losing players...


miller, rudy, and outlaw jump right into that picture..... esp rudy

 

[MIXUM]

exactly schill... miller would get us the lead.... and demand more respect from the opponent then lil blake

 

[Schilly]

while i agree with you schilly and feel kp and nate arent on the same page....
nate has an absloute free pass this year. he has won more games each year. therefore unless we miss the playoffs or get torched in round 1... nates seat isnt very warm.

Every year Nate is here I see more and more questioning of his methods and decisions, even though our results get better. He had a similar stint in Seattle.

 

[Schilly]

Ok I am really weirded out right now... I am making sense to MIXUM. So either he's coming around or I need to see a doctor.

 

[B-Roy]

Nate has said many odd things over the summer that leave me thinking that he isn't on the same page with KP. I also think there are some indicators of a coach who is at a point where he could lose his players. I know people love Nate and don't like to hear criticism, so I apologize if I offend anyone, but I think there is a chance that Nates seat is warmer than we might think. If it wasn't he wouldn't feel the need to say he is doing things the right way even if he loses his job as a result.

Everyone loves Nate? What the hell are you talking about? Most of the people here want to fire him.

 

[MIXUM]

oh god... barrett liked what he saw. see thats why its hard to take him seriously. hes a good announcer and a real nice guy but man yesterday he was down playing the loss to the jazz... tonight he sounds like we won a playoff game

http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/very-positive-end.html

 

[Schilly]

Everyone loves Nate? What the hell are you talking about? Most of the people here want to fire him.

I didn't say everyone... I said people. That could be 2.

 

[MIXUM]

something about this season feels very disturbing....

I hope Im wrong

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

According to the post game show, Nate told Jason Quick after the game that the opening night starting lineup will be:

Blake
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden

Hooray! I think it will work out great!

 

[MIXUM]

All signs point to mixum >>>>> gagging about the the steve blake news.


All signs point to Aaron Brooks>>>>> fantasy owners being really excited for week 1 play.

 

[MIXUM]

oh and like ive said for weeks....

Blazer fans should go rent Major League 2 cause i think that movie will be a perfect match to our season in a lot of ways.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Steve Blake is zeroed in on two players while he is out there. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. I don't know did any of those three look for Oden in the post this evening? If this continues, might this stymie his development? Or will this coach finally get a clue, take control of this team, the players, the personalities and finally make the right decisions for the group?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Nate has said many odd things over the summer that leave me thinking that he isn't on the same page with KP. I also think there are some indicators of a coach who is at a point where he could lose his players. I know people love Nate and don't like to hear criticism, so I apologize if I offend anyone, but I think there is a chance that Nates seat is warmer than we might think. If it wasn't he wouldn't feel the need to say he is doing things the right way even if he loses his job as a result.

I have neither seen or read anything that would lead me to believe Nate is losing his players. My best guess is that every player but one is supportive (some maybe lukewarm) of his choices for the starting five.

 

[rocketeer]

I can tell you one reason why Miller coming off the bench could be considered a bad thing. Slow starts and playing from behind. Steve as the PG doesn't do much to exploit the opponent which is something Miller does very well. Take the lead hold the lead.

i think brandon roy would be more likely to get portland the lead(along with aldridge and oden). miller would then come in to have someone to run the offense when roy comes out of the game and so roy doesn't have to carry the load all the time when he's in the game(though i'd assume to start games he'd be pretty fresh so would be ok with initiating the offense then).

and really, i think nate starting the guys he feels fit together best is a good thing. because he's shown that if games that matter start to prove him wrong, he'll make the switch to what's working best.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

oh god... barrett liked what he saw. see thats why its hard to take him seriously. hes a good announcer and a real nice guy but man yesterday he was down playing the loss to the jazz... tonight he sounds like we won a playoff game

http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/very-positive-end.html

Hmmm...tonight our likely opening night starting line-up dominated the Suns who were also playing their starters...that sounds like a good reason to feel good heading into opening night.

Utah game - we got man handled when Oden, Rudy, LA didn't play at all and Batum got hurt and went out right at the start...doesn't sound like a reason to be concerned unless we're going to be playing without those 4 guys come Tuesday.

Nope, Barrett seems spot on in this case...

 

[Ed O]

oh god... barrett liked what he saw. see thats why its hard to take him seriously. hes a good announcer and a real nice guy but man yesterday he was down playing the loss to the jazz... tonight he sounds like we won a playoff game

Haha. You called the preseason a "disaster" when the team was at 3-4. Dude... you overreacted and look (again) more than a bit silly.

Is MB overreacting? Perhaps. But no more than you have for the past... hmm... 30 months?

Ed O.

 

[BlazersBlood]

something about this season feels very disturbing....

I hope Im wrong

Well, you usually are about the doom and gloom.

McMillan has major control issues and seems to pick "his" guys at point every season. It was Jack, now it's Blake. Is it just a mind game to get Miller to play harder? It could be. Everything isn't as black and white, especially when it comes to motivating million dollar athletes.

A slow start to games is what was most frustrating last year. Miller seems like he would have fixed that with his style of play. But we'll just have to wait and see how it works out. We've got too much talent with Roy, Aldridge, Oden, & a decent bench NOT to win a lot of games this year.

 

[DaRizzle]

but my ideal lineup would be....

Miller/Blake/Bayless/Mills
Roy/Rudy
Webster/Batum
LA/Howard/Doubtlaw/Cunningham
Oden/Pryz

I agree with this except I think Oden's and Webster's move into the starting lineup should be a month or two into the season. It would help with health, production and your record

of course this assumes they play to their ability

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Steve Blake does one thing better than Andre Miller, shoot threes. Andre Miller does everything else better than Steve Blake. It's gonna take a few months, but we will be much more likely to win games against the other elite teams in the playoffs with Miller as the starting PG. One preseaon game does not amount to a valid agrument, no matter who you think should be our starting PG. Andre Miller is a starting point guard in this league. If we didn't sign him to start then we shouldn't have signed him at all. I would bet that at least 28 NBA GM's and/or head coaches would agree. It's painfully obvious. The few regular season losses that may or may not occur as a result of Miller learning to play with our big 3 are nominal compared to the amount of playoff wins we would gain once they are clicking. I don't claim to be an expert, but if you ask those that do, aka front office personnel and coaches, they will almost all tell you that Andre Miller should be our starting PG if we want to maximize our potential.