Batum's opportunity this road trip

[magnifier661]

With camby's injury, I expect Batum to start. I guess we'll see how this team and Batum will handle it. Hopefully Batum can prove he can start and we look better on the road.

We can't have a losing record on the road, so this trip will give us the opportunity to get our team above .500. I like our chances.

 

[Draco]

Yeah, I think Batum now gets 30min + per night and we have some much better offense, especially 3point lineups on the court. Hopefully this can improve the half court execution, its looked dreadful for stretches.

Now our three players who can play SF all start. If Nate needs a backup SF for 8min does he play Crawford out of position or give Babbitt a chance?

 

[magnifier661]

Yeah, I think Batum now gets 30min + per night and we have some much better offense, especially 3point lineups on the court. Hopefully this can improve the half court execution, its looked dreadful for stretches.

Now our three players who can play SF all start. If Nate needs a backup SF for 8min does he play Crawford out of position or give Babbitt a chance?

I wish it was more "E.Will" than Babbit. I just hate Babbit's game with a passion.

 

[B-Roy]

I wish it was more "E.Will" than Babbit. I just hate Babbit's game with a passion.

Huh? All Babbitt does is shoot threes and rebound. What do you dislike about him?

 

[cdub503]

Huh? All Babbitt does is shoot threes and rebound. What do you dislike about him?

He's white. Jusssssss kiddin

 

[Draco]

Huh? All Babbitt does is shoot threes and rebound. What do you dislike about him?

Key word "shoot"

Not "makes"

 

[Rastapopoulos]

With camby's injury, I expect Batum to start.

Joe Freeman tweets:

Coach Mac says he will start Kurt Thomas in place of Marcus Camby vs Rockets

Apparently this was after some serious thought:

McMillan: after sleeping on it, I've decided to go with Kurt

Sigh.

 

[magnifier661]

Joe Freeman tweets:


Apparently this was after some serious thought:


Sigh.

That is a sigh

 

[illmatic99]

Fuckin dumbass move.

 

[B-Roy]

Going to be sad if Nate can't get Nic over 30 minutes today...

 

[Nikolokolus]

I didn't get to watch the game, but Nic only getting 15 shots in 42 minutes of play last night is just criminal with the way he was stroking it.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I didn't get to watch the game, but Nic only getting 15 shots in 42 minutes of play last is just criminal with the way he was stroking it.

The last vestiages of faith I had in Nate evaporated last night when, instead of calling Nic's number even once in the last six minutes, we let every other player on the floor touch the ball while Nic literally jumped up and down screaming "I'm Open!" (this exact thing happened on a missed LMA jumper).

Fuck this sport. If we can't field a team with any brains, why should I be compelled to watch?

 

[magnifier661]

The last vestiages of faith I had in Nate evaporated last night when, instead of calling Nic's number even once in the last six minutes, we let every other player on the floor touch the ball while Nic literally jumped up and down screaming "I'm Open!" (this exact thing happened on a missed LMA jumper).

Fuck this sport. If we can't field a team with any brains, why should I be compelled to watch?

It was bad, really bad. I have been a Nate supporter, then doubted him before the season started, then became a believer again. Then last night happened. Then the last 3 games happened. My concerns came back 10 fold. I doubt Nate's ability to make mid game adjustments. The previous 4 games, we've lost the second half battle, the sign of mid game adjustments.

If Batum isn't starting tomorrow, or given offensive opportunities; my faith will be lost for the Blazer coaching staff.

 

[BBert]

The last vestiages of faith I had in Nate evaporated last night when, instead of calling Nic's number even once in the last six minutes, we let every other player on the floor touch the ball while Nic literally jumped up and down screaming "I'm Open!" (this exact thing happened on a missed LMA jumper).

Fuck this sport. If we can't field a team with any brains, why should I be compelled to watch?

10-04 Good Buddy!

 

[Boob-No-More]

I doubt Nate's ability to make mid game adjustments.

Fuck mid-game adjustments, that ain't happening. I'd settle for mid-series, or even mid-season adjustments. The ONLY time Nate ever adjusts anything is when it's forced on him due to injuries, and even then he tries to force fit his roster to match his system. Nate's inability to make in game or in series adjustments has always been my biggest criticism of him as a coach. It makes me seriously doubt if we'll ever win a playoff series with him as head coach.

BNM

 

[PapaG]

The previous 4 games, we've lost the second half battle, the sign of mid game adjustments.

Second half scores last four games

Clippers 50
Blazers 51

Orlando 45
Blazers 54

SAS 49
Blazers 46

Houston 49
Blazers 52 (this games includes OT)

So ... doesn't that mean that Nate is making adjustments, based on your incorrect criticism of the last 4 games?

 

[PapaG]

Fuck mid-game adjustments, that ain't happening.
BNM

Except for 3 out of the last 4 games, based on the actual scores.

But, whatever.

 

[magnifier661]

Second half scores last four games

Clippers 50
Blazers 51

Orlando 45
Blazers 54

SAS 49
Blazers 46

Houston 49
Blazers 52 (this games includes OT)

So ... doesn't that mean that Nate is making adjustments, based on your incorrect criticism of the last 4 games?

Sure looks like it. I stand corrected. Just seems that way when I watch them.

 

[PapaG]

Sure looks like it. I stand corrected. Just seems that way when I watch them.

It looks like it to me as well, mags. I was actually surprised when I saw the scores. I'm trying to find a historical first-half vs. second-half breakdown of Nate for his career.

 

[magnifier661]

It looks like it to me as well, mags. I was actually surprised when I saw the scores. I'm trying to find a historical first-half vs. second-half breakdown of Nate for his career.

Yeah it seems odd. But you gotta admit that Nate not running plays for Batum in those closing minutes was very questionable.

I would be surprise it proves anything. I bet it will be in favor of Nate. Which is even making me scratch my head even more.

 

[MickZagger]

Batum's my favorite Blazer. I've seen glimpses of it all year, finally put all together in the Houston game. Its too bad he was frozen out of the game by teammates when it mattered most.

 

[PapaG]

Yeah it seems odd. But you gotta admit that Nate not running plays for Batum in those closing minutes was very questionable.

I would be surprise it proves anything. I bet it will be in favor of Nate. Which is even making me scratch my head even more.

According the today's Oregonian, Nate ran a play in OT for Nic off of a screen. Nic didn't shoot, though, and LMA had to take the shot.

McMillan said he did call one play down the stretch for Batum. Batum said it was the first play of overtime, a pin-down screen with Aldridge. Batum said he couldn't get a shot. Aldridge ended up taking it, and missing.

If you're not going to shoot when a play is called for you, you're not going to get plays called for you.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...sider_nicolas_batum_demonstrates_why_con.html

 

[cdub503]

theres a difference from not shooting when your open when you have your number called and not having a good shot open for you....

 

[illmatic99]

1 failed play in 11 minutes for a guy who was smoking hot.

Just a failure. Nic is doing his best to defer blame away from his teammates and coach there. It's a shame that Nate never ever seems to realize his mistakes.

 

[MickZagger]

According the today's Oregonian, Nate ran a play in OT for Nic off of a screen. Nic didn't shoot, though, and LMA had to take the shot.



If you're not going to shoot when a play is called for you, you're not going to get plays called for you.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...sider_nicolas_batum_demonstrates_why_con.html

Lol. Sometimes just because you get a play called for you doesn't mean you need to shoot. Take a bad shot, just because the play was called for you?

 

[MickZagger]

In fact, he barely touched the ball as Crawford and Felton alternated running pick and rolls with Aldridge and Wallace. Blazers coach Nate McMillan said he didn't intentionally go away from Batum and that he once called a play for Batum the Rockets blanketed. But Batum clearly was not an offensive focal point.

"I can't speak for why he didn't get a shot," Aldridge said. "But I just know ... when it's crunch time, it's going to be me and Ray in the pick and roll, me and Crawford in the pick and roll. It's going to be (Wallace) on the block or me on the block."

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...7_portland_105_blazers_endure_painful_ov.html

 

[PapaG]

Hey, I'm not defending Nate here, but Batum got the majority of his points without plays being called for him last night. Blame Crawford, I guess, but do they even ever work on plays with Batum being the focus?

 

[MickZagger]

Hey, I'm not defending Nate here, but Batum got the majority of his points without plays being called for him last night. Blame Crawford, I guess, but do they even ever work on plays with Batum being the focus?

I see a great play they could run for Batum that they never take advantage of. When Batum makes the entry into Aldridge for post position and Batum seals his man and goes by to clear out for LA's post-isolation. Aldridge never looks for him on the give and go and with Nic's length advantage over most guys thats an easy bucket instead of an Aldridge fade away back to the basket jumper.

Creativity with the half court sets just isn't there. Watch Adelman's teams. PG has ball out top and he has different options because there is movement instead of clear out. Aldridge will still get his even if the ball doesn't have to be ran through him every time.

 

[PapaG]

I see a great play they could run for Batum that they never take advantage of. When Batum makes the entry into Aldridge for post position and Batum seals his man and goes by to clear out for LA's post-isolation. Aldridge never looks for him on the give and go and with Nic's length advantage over most guys thats an easy bucket instead of an Aldridge fade away back to the basket jumper.

Creativity with the half court sets just isn't there. Watch Adelman's teams. PG has ball out top and he has different options because there is movement instead of clear out. Aldridge will still get his even if the ball doesn't have to be ran through him every time.

Hopefully they start running a few plays for Nic, because he has elevated his game. If Wallace is going to be terrible on the road offensively, Nate may as well just play him at PF and move LMA to C. At least Gerald still rebounds on the road. Give Nic 34 mpg for the rest of the trip and see what happens.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I would be surprise it proves anything. I bet it will be in favor of Nate. Which is even making me scratch my head even more.

All it really means is we have a team of slow starters - and always have ever since Nate has been here. The excuse used to always be because Roy is a slow starter, a closer and much better player in the 4th quarter than the 1st. But this team, for years, has had the annoying habit of starting slowly, digging themselves into a huge hole and then trying furiously to come back in the 4th quarter. Roy bailed them out quite often with his 4th quarter heroics, but we don't have Brandon Roy as our go to guy any more. Instead of an icewater-in-his-veins assassin, we have a "go to" guy who is reluctant to take the big shot and looks for a teammate to pass to.

And to assume any increase in second half scoring is due to adjustments Nate made at halftime is just that; a HUGE assumption. To me, it just looks like a team that lacks energy and motivation in the first half, waking up and realizing, "Oh shit, we better start putting forth a little effort or we're going to lose another game we shouldn't". Feeding off the energy of the home crowd helps, but they still fall short more often than not these days, and spotting the home team a 20 point lead when you're on the road is a recipe for disaster. The ONLY adjustment I've seen Nate make in the second half is he tends to play his starters (except for Camby) more minutes. It seems like the players aren't the only ones resorting to desperation tactics to try to dig out of the holes they consistently create in the first half of almost every road game, and about half of the ones at home, too.

BNM