Amid Injuries, Roy Emerges As Humble Leader

[ABM]

From: Brian T. Smith - The Columbian

When Greg Oden was healthy, it was there.

When Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez and Joel Przybilla were still lacing up and running the hardwood, it was there.

And even when Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan ruptured his Achilles tendon and LaMarcus Aldridge was popping a handful of Aleve to dull the pain, the yellow post-it note remained fixed in the top-right corner of Brandon Roy’s locker.

On the note, two words written in red ink: stay humble.

And that is just what Portland’s star guard has done this season.

Without Roy, the Blazers are nowhere.

The spark that is Jerryd Bayless has helped Portland survive the storm.

Rookie Jeff Pendergraph is producing strong, powerful waves.

And if Juwan Howard is the team’s most valuable player through 34 games, then Martell Webster is the most improved.

But in the end, it all comes down to Roy.

He has been the most honest and most open. He has called things out when they didn’t feel right, stood up for his teammates and coach when outsiders tried to crack the shell, and stood in front of his locker after each game to answer everything thrown his way.

Most of all, though, Roy has shouldered the load. And he has done it all while staying humble.................

 

[Kaydow]

I like Brian Smith but, "if Juwan Howard is the team's MVP"???

I have to admit I was pretty hard on Roy earlier this year. It's like watching two different players - he just didn't look like Brandon Roy in November. He had 12 games (out of 16) where he scored less than 20 points. He was shooting poorly, missing FT's, his kept fumbling the ball, he didn't look like he could get to the basket (getting blocked/missing layins at the rim) It was baffling. I understand sometimes your shot doesn't fall, but his whole offensive game was M.I.A.

Fast forward to December and he's played like an MVP candidate - every game 23 pts or more. And he's just "looks" like Brandon Roy again. There was a pick-n-roll vs. The Clips the other night that Kaman got stuck guarding Roy. He put a move on him that was just sick. He faked right and went left so quickly that Kaman couldn't get back in the play - it was nasty. I don't think I saw a move like that from Brandon the first month + of the season. I don't know what flipped the switch for him, but he's playing fantastic recently. And he's really rallying around the young guys. I see him put his arm around Bayless when JB takes a bad shot & giving him "the nod" when Bayless does something good. I see him getting fired up with Pendegraph after JP blocks a shot. A big reason the younger guys are playing with confidence is because of the leadership of Roy & Howard.

 

[hasoos]

Why does it seem to me that this column was written by somebody who is some sort of melancholy drunken stupor.

 

[andalusian]

I like Brian Smith but, "if Juwan Howard is the team's MVP"???

That was a Nate quote about dealing with the injuries.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I like Brian Smith but, "if Juwan Howard is the team's MVP"???

I have to admit I was pretty hard on Roy earlier this year. It's like watching two different players - he just didn't look like Brandon Roy in November. He had 12 games (out of 16) where he scored less than 20 points. He was shooting poorly, missing FT's, his kept fumbling the ball, he didn't look like he could get to the basket (getting blocked/missing layins at the rim) It was baffling. I understand sometimes your shot doesn't fall, but his whole offensive game was M.I.A.

Fast forward to December and he's played like an MVP candidate - every game 23 pts or more. And he's just "looks" like Brandon Roy again. There was a pick-n-roll vs. The Clips the other night that Kaman got stuck guarding Roy. He put a move on him that was just sick. He faked right and went left so quickly that Kaman couldn't get back in the play - it was nasty. I don't think I saw a move like that from Brandon the first month + of the season. I don't know what flipped the switch for him, but he's playing fantastic recently. And he's really rallying around the young guys. I see him put his arm around Bayless when JB takes a bad shot & giving him "the nod" when Bayless does something good. I see him getting fired up with Pendegraph after JP blocks a shot. A big reason the younger guys are playing with confidence is because of the leadership of Roy & Howard.

Well, let's look at it objectively. What was different about Brandon's summer this year versus the previous three years? He was negotiating for a big contract which brings added pressure, so maybe he was a little tight to start the season. Secondly, he took the summer off to rest his body up instead of playing pickup games with his Seattle crew, so maybe he was just plain rusty and needed to work himself back into a rhythm.

 

[hasoos]

Well, let's look at it objectively. What was different about Brandon's summer this year versus the previous three years? He was negotiating for a big contract which brings added pressure, so maybe he was a little tight to start the season. Secondly, he took the summer off to rest his body up instead of playing pickup games with his Seattle crew, so maybe he was just plain rusty and needed to work himself back into a rhythm.

He also dropped some weight, getting down to 215 pounds in order to increase his quickness. Whenever you change your body, you have to get used to the results on the court.

 

[Kaydow]

He also dropped some weight, getting down to 215 pounds in order to increase his quickness. Whenever you change your body, you have to get used to the results on the court.

Did he drop 10 pounds for quickness? I sort of figured he lost 10 pounds because (as part of his "resting my body" summer program) he didn't step foot in the weight room all summer. He certainly didn't look and quicker/faster until recently.

I think Nik is right - I think it was rust.

 

[hasoos]

Did he drop 10 pounds for quickness? I sort of figured he lost 10 pounds because (as part of his "resting my body" summer program) he didn't step foot in the weight room all summer. He certainly didn't look and quicker/faster until recently.

I think Nik is right - I think it was rust.

Yes, for quickness and to take a load off of his knees. A lot of folks don't know this but Brandon had his knee drained several times last year. By taking 10 pounds off of it, it should help eliminate inflamation from the load he puts on it.

I know every time in life when younger, when I put on strength, or hit the weight room, it threw my basketball game off for a while. Some shots would be short, some long, until you get that feel back.

 

[handiman]

I have to admit I was pretty hard on Roy earlier this year. It's like watching two different players...

Me, too. It wasn't just his play, though, it was his actions and apparent attitude. IMO, "stay humble" is really, "get back to being humble." Roy looked genuinely hurt by the unprecedentedly negative reaction he was starting to get, and once the injuries piled up, he seemed to recapture some perspective.

 

[HailBlazers]

Why does it seem to me that this column was written by somebody who is some sort of melancholy drunken stupor.

Yea you would think he was a RIPCITYTWO user.

Roy is not emerging Roy is. .

 

[MickZagger]

I like Brian Smith but, "if Juwan Howard is the team's MVP"???

I have to admit I was pretty hard on Roy earlier this year. It's like watching two different players - he just didn't look like Brandon Roy in November. He had 12 games (out of 16) where he scored less than 20 points. He was shooting poorly, missing FT's, his kept fumbling the ball, he didn't look like he could get to the basket (getting blocked/missing layins at the rim) It was baffling. I understand sometimes your shot doesn't fall, but his whole offensive game was M.I.A.

Fast forward to December and he's played like an MVP candidate - every game 23 pts or more. And he's just "looks" like Brandon Roy again. There was a pick-n-roll vs. The Clips the other night that Kaman got stuck guarding Roy. He put a move on him that was just sick. He faked right and went left so quickly that Kaman couldn't get back in the play - it was nasty. I don't think I saw a move like that from Brandon the first month + of the season. I don't know what flipped the switch for him, but he's playing fantastic recently. And he's really rallying around the young guys. I see him put his arm around Bayless when JB takes a bad shot & giving him "the nod" when Bayless does something good. I see him getting fired up with Pendegraph after JP blocks a shot. A big reason the younger guys are playing with confidence is because of the leadership of Roy & Howard.

Your right, this is the most leadership I've seen out of Brandon Roy, who should be our leader. I think having Juwan Howard around has really had an effect on Roy. A great signing by KP, another in a long list of great moves by a great GM.