Blazers @ New Jersey GAME THREAD

[illmatic99]

We need a change right now. Be it a coaching change or a trade, whatever it is. Just in hopes of waking up the team and bringing in a new perspective.

But if history is any indication, our moron coach will make a scapegoat of a young player and destroy his confidence while making an inane lineup change.

 

[RR7]

I've seen our lack of depth brought up a lot. And how in our 54 win season, we had so much depth. Deepest in the league, yadda yadda. That year our bench was Sergio, Rudy, Outlaw and half time, Joel. With bits of Channing and Bayless. Sergio, Rudy, Outlaw, Joel. Johnson, Rudy, matthews, Cunningham. Soon Joel. How is the lack of depth the issue? Seems a fairly similar bench. I dunno. I think it's a lack of specific talent, poor execution, poor game plan, and ill fitting parts. So it's on the coach, the GM(previous, more so), and the players.

 

[RR7]

Also, did I read something about killing Batum's trade value? What the fuck. You don't look to trade every fucking player when his value seems high. Sometimes, you actually want to develop and keep your own players.

 

[craigehlo]

Inconsistency from a 21-year-old player. It's never happened before.

Your post is another example why people stay away from the cesspool that are the game threads these days. A bunch of overreacting babies.

Well if he's inconsistent he shouldn't be starting. He's looking like yet another Blazer that isn't able to take the next step right now.

 

[MickZagger]

I've seen our lack of depth brought up a lot. And how in our 54 win season, we had so much depth. Deepest in the league, yadda yadda. That year our bench was Sergio, Rudy, Outlaw and half time, Joel. With bits of Channing and Bayless. Sergio, Rudy, Outlaw, Joel. Johnson, Rudy, matthews, Cunningham. Soon Joel. How is the lack of depth the issue? Seems a fairly similar bench. I dunno. I think it's a lack of specific talent, poor execution, poor game plan, and ill fitting parts. So it's on the coach, the GM(previous, more so), and the players.

lack of depth in the big man department. Aldridge doesn't have a legitimate backup, nor does Camby at this time.

 

[MickZagger]

Well if he's inconsistent he shouldn't be starting. He's looking like yet another Blazer that isn't able to take the next step right now.

He's so young. You don't give up on a player like Batum at that age. I think Cho agrees with me.

 

[RoyToy]

After 25 games last year the team was 14-11 and everyone was saying the same things then they're saying now. It kind of continued until the team got Camby and then they took off.

I think you guys just like whining. The team is 8-8 right now without even coming close to playing a full game with 4 losses sprinkled in there that could have easily been wins. Basically the only thing separating OKC and the Blazers right now are the two comeback wins OKC has on Portland. That's it. It's nothing.

Soon Joel will be back and the bench will be a little more balanced. It will definitely help. In the meantime try not to jump off a bridge because the team is .500 in November with 5 months left to play.

 

[illmatic99]

I think Cho agrees with me.

Most of us do. Putting Nic in the corner for 20 secs of the shot clock while Roy, Dre, or Aldridge go one on one is not the right system for him.

I hate how we're wasting his talent.

He's been known as a guy who disappears in games, but part of that has to be this garbage offense that Nate has him playing in with no movement, no fastbreaks, and no cutting.

 

[craigehlo]

He's so young. You don't give up on a player like Batum at that age. I think Cho agrees with me.

I think Cho sees assets as assets. Batum is wildly inconsistent but full of the classic "upside" that Blazer fans love. If there are good deals out there, nobody is untouchable.

 

[craigehlo]

After 25 games last year the team was 14-11 and everyone was saying the same things then they're saying now. It kind of continued until the team got Camby and then they took off.

Didn't that team have a healthy Oden and Roy until mid-December? Now with Oden's future seriously in question and a gimpy Roy, things are obviously a lot less rosey.

This team is playing .500 ball and hasn't made any significant improvements on either end of the court.

 

[MickZagger]

Most of us do. Putting Nic in the corner for 20 secs of the shot clock while Roy, Dre, or Aldridge go one on one is not the right system for him.

I hate how we're wasting his talent.

He's been known as a guy who disappears in games, but part of that has to be this garbage offense that Nate has him playing in with no movement, no fastbreaks, and no cutting.

Agreed. Coaching is one of the main reasons of why were average right now. Another is no depth in the size department. I don't have any stats on me, but I'm sure when Batum scores atleast 15 points our record is infinitely better, were lacking scoring options and it was the right move for Nate to bench Batum at the beginning of the 2nd half, he was playing like shit.

Another problem with this team is Aldridge, as much as many of you hate to admit. The guy has no cajones and disappears for long stretches of the game. To get 5 boards in almost 40 minutes against the Nets frontcourt is pathetic.

Losing big leads in the 2nd half of games comes down to bad coaching. Bad execution. Especially to young team like the Nets, that should never happen. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I want to see some ball movement, some cutting, something. This offense is pathetic!

 

[OneSport3]

Blowing big leads is bad coaching. Period.

Agree. Nate never calls a timeout to stop the opposition's run when there is a big lead. He will always wait until the lead is totally gone or the other team has actually taken the lead. I've seen Popovich call a timeout immediately after a team scores one bucket when the Spurs have a big lead. Pop is an excellent coach and knows that teams relax and lose focus when they get big leads. That's how you keep big leads. You have to keep the team focused. Its not a coincidence that Portland consistently loses big leads.

 

[RoyToy]

Didn't that team have a healthy Oden and Roy until mid-December? Now with Oden's future seriously in question and a gimpy Roy, things are obviously a lot less rosey.

This team is playing .500 ball and hasn't made any significant improvements on either end of the court.

Yeah, they were 12-8 in games Oden played in. Wow! And Roy has played well the past two games.

The team is a .500 team right now and will be getting Przy back. The last two years has told us they're better than a .500 team and there's no reason why the team this year can't be the 50 win team they were the year before. Just because it isn't clicking in Novemeber doesn't mean it never will.

 

[MickZagger]

Agree. Nate never calls a timeout to stop the opposition's run when there is a big lead. He will always wait until the lead is totally gone or the other team has actually taken the lead. I've seen Popovich call a timeout immediately after a team scores one bucket when the Spurs have a big lead. Pop is an excellent coach and knows that teams relax and lose focus when they get big leads. That's how you keep big leads. You have to keep the team focused. Its not a coincidence that Portland consistently loses big leads.

Hire Mike Budenholzer!

 

[THE HCP]

I'm surprised NOBODY mentioned Brandon banged knees HARD with Favors and was noticeably limping after and wincing.

 

[illmatic99]

Just because it isn't clicking in Novemeber doesn't mean it never will.

Regardless, losing to the frickin NJ Nets when they're on the second night of a back to back is a horrible sign.

We look like a fringe eighth seed right now. And that's being generous.

I'm surprised NOBODY mentioned Brandon banged knees HARD with Favors and was noticeably limping after and wincing.

Damnit. When did this happen? I was watching Marv/Czar.

 

[RoyToy]

Regardless, losing to the frickin NJ Nets when they're on the second night of a back to back is a horrible sign.

We look like a fringe eighth seed right now. And that's being generous.


Damnit. When did this happen? I was watching Marv/Czar.

New York blew out Portland last year in NY. Big deal, one game. It's only November. There will be plenty of ups and downs like always. How they look in the 1st month of the season doesn't mean much.

Roy banged knees, limped, then seemed to walk it off. Looked fine at the end of the game going for the rebound.

 

[Nikolokolus]

New York blew out Portland last year in NY. Big deal, one game. It's only November. There will be plenty of ups and downs like always. How they look in the 1st month of the season doesn't mean much.

Roy banged knees, limped, then seemed to walk it off. Looked fine at the end of the game going for the rebound.

You could be right, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on this team suddenly morphing into a super competitive squad ... there is a real lack of "something" with this group (aside from front-court depth).

 

[RoyToy]

You could be right, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on this team suddenly morphing into a super competitive squad ... there is a real lack of "something" with this group (aside from front-court depth).

And I wouldn't bet on you to bet on it. You've always been more of a pessimistic/glass half empty type.

 

[RoyToy]

You could be right, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on this team suddenly morphing into a super competitive squad ... there is a real lack of "something" with this group (aside from front-court depth).

You seem to have added more to your post that I didn't get to address.

I'm not saying the Blazers will be a serious contender(odds are they won't be w/o a trade), but they'll certainly be competitive and earn a playoff spot. The starting 5 is too good not to and once Joel is back the bench will be a little more balanced.

 

[jlprk]

The Nets players seemed surprised to win, but their crowd was quiet all game.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And I wouldn't bet on you to bet on it. You've always been more of a pessimistic/glass half empty type.

Not true. My pessism (I prefer realism) with this current iteration of the team started to percolate when KP failed to capitalize on Raef Lafrenz's expiring deal -- Miller falling into his lap doesn't wash for me -- and has continued mostly unabated with the raft of injuries key players on this team have sustained and also because I started noticing things that I consider "fatal flaws" that haven't been addressed in the past 3 or 4 years; mainly a lack of fundamentals or easy shots in an offense predicated on isolation plays, contested jumpers, and corralling offense rebounds instead of generating high percentage looks and a switching defense that allows a pretty high field goal percentage for a team that is led by a supposedly defensive minded coach.

 

[ehizzy3]

missed the game. was at a house with directv (thanks comcast!) ....looks like i didn't miss much. Roy had a good game on the boxscore at least.

 

[RoyToy]

FYI everyone's secret real favorite team the Thunder lost to a worse team than the Blazers did tonight. Time for them to rebuild?!?!??!?!?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Random thoughts: It is disappointing that Aldridge got outplayed by Humphries and did not make his 4th quarter shots. It really hurts the offense that Camby cannot make wide open shots. I think our top priority in draft or trade is to find an athletic, aggressive big. Wish the team could develop Batum's skill set, should be a priority for the rest of the season.

 

[handiman]

It is disappointing that Aldridge got outplayed by Humphries and did not make his 4th quarter shots.

I love Aldridge, but that's pretty much his M.O., isn't it? And since I know someone will question the "clutch" perception, I went looking for supporting data... All I could find is the '08-09 section on 82games.com (has any site ever been built with worse navigation?), but it turned up pretty much what I was expecting -- a fluctuation of shots/points, tapering off in the 2nd quarter of each half, as well as a significant drop in FG% in the 4th quarter. In order of quarters one through four:

Fga	Fg%	3p%	Fta	Pts	Reb	Ast	T/o	Blk	Stl
5.4 	.488 	.429 	0.9 	6.0 	2.2 	0.7 	0.4 	0.2 	0.3
2.7 	.491 	.000 	0.9 	3.3 	1.1 	0.3 	0.3 	0.2 	0.2
4.8 	.494 	.273 	1.5 	6.0 	2.4 	0.7 	0.5 	0.3 	0.3
2.4 	.466 	.167 	0.8 	2.9 	1.7 	0.3 	0.3 	0.2 	0.1

http://www.82games.com/0809/QTR1S11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0809/QTR2S11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0809/QTR3S11.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0809/QTR4S11.HTM

 

[KingSpeed]

We were so lost when we needed a basket down the stretch. Andre Miller dribbles down the clock and then chooses HIMSELF to shoot a three pointer? Why not find Wes Matthews?

Also- you know who this team misses? Juwan Howard. He was a leader on and off the court. He was a big who could hit an open jumper. We won a lot of games against a lot of good teams with Juwan at center last season.

 

[jlprk]

WHY did they get rid of Juwan Howard??? He could sub at 2 positions. He made many, many shots from 15-20 feet in important moments of the game. He bailed us out of many situations when we were losing scoring momentum and the opponent was starting to roll over us. His shooting % doesn't show this.

He was 100 times as good as Marks and 10 times as smart as Pendergraph. He clicked in McMillan's system. WHY oh WHY does management think we need to set more records for youngest team? Keep good experienced players when you luck onto one!

 

[Nikolokolus]

FYI everyone's secret real favorite team the Thunder lost to a worse team than the Blazers did tonight. Time for them to rebuild?!?!??!?!?

Despite their horrific start I wouldn't call the Rockets a 'worse' team than the Nets

 

[hasoos]

WHY did they get rid of Juwan Howard??? He could sub at 2 positions. He made many, many shots from 15-20 feet in important moments of the game. He bailed us out of many situations when we were losing scoring momentum and the opponent was starting to roll over us. His shooting % doesn't show this.

He was 100 times as good as Marks and 10 times as smart as Pendergraph. He clicked in McMillan's system. WHY oh WHY does management think we need to set more records for youngest team? Keep good experienced players when you luck onto one!

He is definitely missed. That is what I was trying to point out in another thread. We have nobody on the team that will bang, lay a big pick, and give some post presence for spacing. Howard did all those thingsfor the second unit, and sometimes for the first unit. All of the problems for the team right now can be traced back to a lack of bigs.