blazers vs zbo game thread

[Sinobas]

Well, not having seen it myself, it appears that the majority of that run came after Oden was pulled in the 1st. 21-0 while he was out. That's just crazy.

It did, the game turned after Nate McMoron benched Oden, though we can't possibly put all the blame for a 31-2 run on that fact. Roy and Blake were just letting guys blow past them. Blake, we all know he sucks, but Roy just isn't giving that effort on defense.

Once the got down, they got frustrated and weren't executing at all. In the meantime, the Grizzlies were making shot after shot. A real leader would have put an end to that shit. But we don't have that this year.

It seems that Roy is of the mindset that he just wants to dominate on offense, going 1 on 1 all the time, like Allen Iverson.

 

[RoyToy]

It's just, I don't see him taking over games anymore. Certainly not like last year, where he would impose his will on the game, making shot after shot and then passing at the right moments. Now he seems to hesitate when he knows he has to get it going. He ends up forcing bad shots, making bad passes, deferring when he shouldn't, and even missing the easy shots. I think it's more of a mental thing, but I don't know how he's going to snap out of it.

While he's missing some shots he usually makes I think the rest of that comes down to Miller. He's obviously just not used to playing with a PG that handles the ball as much as Miller does. I think he's trying his hardest not step on Miller's toes and let Miller do what he does, but that just means less of Brandon doing what he does best, which is what you explained up top.

 

[Kaydow]

Maybe the weight loss is making it harder for him to finish through contact?

You would think the weight loss would make him quicker and more explosive - haven't seen that.

The local radio guys said he took the summer off from "basketball related activity" to let his knee tendinitis heal. I'm wondering if the weight loss is just inactivity - sat around and lost muscle. Portland is such an average team with him playing like this. If this is what we get from Brandon all year - look for about 40-45 wins. Funny, he was the last guy I would have worried about.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's just, I don't see him taking over games anymore. Certainly not like last year, where he would impose his will on the game, making shot after shot and then passing at the right moments. Now he seems to hesitate when he knows he has to get it going. He ends up forcing bad shots, making bad passes, deferring when he shouldn't, and even missing the easy shots. I think it's more of a mental thing, but I don't know how he's going to snap out of it.

I mostly agree. I think with the addition of Oden down low and Miller being a true playmaker I wonder if there isn't a seed of doubt in Brandon's mind about how aggressive he should be. Last year Nate gave him the greenlight to go out and dominate -- in fact he almost had to goad him into demanding more shots -- and now with more moving parts and frankly too many offensive minded players who seem to only be thriving when they are getting shots it's muddled what it is that Roy is supposed to be doing out there.

This is one of the big reasons I thought it was so important for KP to consolidate this roster and start to round out spots 7-11 with role-players, defensive specialists and guys who make a living off of hustle plays.

If anything I think the play of LaMarcus and Roy is being dilluted by the fact that their teammates don't recognize that they need to be given the ball early, late and often (throw Oden into that mix too). Our bench should be filling in the gaps, hitting an open shot and flying around on defense and going after loose balls.

And lastly, it probably wouldn't hurt if we had a coach who could integrate more than 2 moving parts in an offensive system.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

blazersedge

Nate puts loss on lack of effort, Roy and LA needing to set tone; Roy and LA seem confused by this. Roy also says energy wasn't issue.

I think we may be starting towards the tune out of Nate.

Edit: Also I like him throwing his team under the bus again.

 

[BBert]

No, I think he meant the previous lineup changes. I guess he was saying the tactic failed.

barfo

So...back to the 3-guard starting unit? I hope not. Besides, Martell looked great to start the game. And Blake was crap to start the game. Then Martell and Greg came out. Then...crap happened. I know...maybe if Nate tried starting Miller instead of Blake? Nah, too crazy.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So...back to the 3-guard starting unit? I hope not. Besides, Martell looked great to start the game. And Blake was crap to start the game. Then Martell and Greg came out. Then...crap happened. I know...maybe if Nate tried starting Miller instead of Blake? Nah, too crazy.

How fucking hard is it to figure out that Miller, Roy, Martell, Aldridge and Oden is our best starting unit? Play these motherfuckers 35+ a game, bring in Bayless to give you some hustle (and frankly is he really worse than Steve at this point?) Rudy to hit some open shots and make some steals, Joel to spell Oden as needed (like 15 minutes, not 20+) and possibly Dante to come in and play some D, take the occasional open shot and fly around going after loose balls.

Fuck this 1st team, 2nd team bullshit, I'm so tired of it.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

How fucking hard is it to figure out that Miller, Roy, Martell, Aldridge and Oden is our best starting unit? Play these motherfuckers 35+ a game, bring in Bayless to give you some hustle (and frankly is he really worse than Steve at this point?) Rudy to hit some open shots and make some steals, Joel to spell Oden as needed (like 15 minutes, not 20+) and possibly Dante to come in and play some D, take the occasional open shot and fly around going after loose balls.

Fuck this 1st team, 2nd team bullshit, I'm so tired of it.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Nikolokolus again.

 

[B-Roy]

I think we may be starting towards the tune out of Nate.

Edit: Also I like him throwing his team under the bus again.

I don't think this was on Nate actually. The players showed a lack of effort and Nate tried every substitution possible to try and get something going.

 

[B-Roy]

So...back to the 3-guard starting unit? I hope not. Besides, Martell looked great to start the game. And Blake was crap to start the game. Then Martell and Greg came out. Then...crap happened. I know...maybe if Nate tried starting Miller instead of Blake? Nah, too crazy.

Yeah, if he benches the only consistent player tonight. Ugh.

 

[illmatic99]

How fucking hard is it to figure out that Miller, Roy, Martell, Aldridge and Oden is our best starting unit? Play these motherfuckers 35+ a game, bring in Bayless to give you some hustle (and frankly is he really worse than Steve at this point?) Rudy to hit some open shots and make some steals, Joel to spell Oden as needed (like 15 minutes, not 20+) and possibly Dante to come in and play some D, take the occasional open shot and fly around going after loose balls.

Fuck this 1st team, 2nd team bullshit, I'm so tired of it.

This idea is so simple, it's really hard to understand why our coaching staff can't see it.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

We lost cause Brandon didn't have time to ask God for a win, because he was too busy listening to the dumbass national anthem.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, if he benches the only consistent player tonight. Ugh.

I'm going to laugh ... then cry ... then laugh again and finally just give up and concede that Steve must have pics of Nate doing unspeakable things to animals or children.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I don't think this was on Nate actually. The players showed a lack of effort and Nate tried every substitution possible to try and get something going.

I put this at 50/50 Nate and the team as a whole, really. But Nate must take some blame for his rigid substitutions of game changers, his inability to bring Oden back in when Joel was just not getting it done in the first half, and him basically going back on his word about Greg getting a chance to play until 3 fouls in the first.

The other team knows what Nate is thinking because he lays it out there so clearly, so defined, and so stubbornly.

 

[BBert]

Yeah, if he benches the only consistent player tonight. Ugh.

If Nate is going to 'shake up' the lineup, perhaps he could consider benching the worst player on the starting five? Oh, there I go again. Maybe I should lay off the sauce? I'm just a clueless fan. I'll just keep paying my money and shut up and watch.

 

[BBert]

We lost cause Brandon didn't have time to ask God for a win, because he was too busy listening to the dumbass national anthem.

No. Doubt. Never mess with a player's pre-game ritual!

 

[B-Roy]

I put this at 50/50 Nate and the team as a whole, really. But Nate must take some blame for his rigid substitutions of game changers, his inability to bring Oden back in when Joel was just not getting it done in the first half, and him basically going back on his word about Greg getting a chance to play until 3 fouls in the first.

The other team knows what Nate is thinking because he lays it out there so clearly, so defined, and so stubbornly.

Oden came back with 10 minutes left in the 2nd, and the Grizzlies still extended their lead. Not saying it was Greg's fault, but the team (Greg included) just looked lost. Oden missed his first three shots by the way, two of which were right under the rim.

Funny stat. Blake leaves when the Grizz were up 4. By the time he came back, the Grizz were up 23.

 

[mikeg]

How fucking hard is it to figure out that Miller, Roy, Martell, Aldridge and Oden is our best starting unit? Play these motherfuckers 35+ a game

a-freaking-men... i don't understand why nate makes coaching this team so labor intensive. this is a pretty veteran group, has been playing together for a few years... and yet he treats every training camp like it's his team's first, acts as if he's still trying to figure out what "works" on the floor, and generally micromanages every single aspect of this team's play. and yet, i don't think we are any better for his efforts. all this tweaking, all the odd lineups, all the tough love... i just don't think it's needed. a big time coach would have these guys running like a well oiled machine. i'd love to see this roster with someone like Pop or Adelman or JVG at the helm.

 

[RoyToy]

It all comes back to Nate wanting to balance his two units.

He wants the first unit to execute half-court, 2nd unit to run. I sort of find this ridiculous, but w/e.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

I'm going to laugh ... then cry ... then laugh again and finally just give up and concede that Steve must have pics of Nate doing unspeakable things to animals or children.

Why did Nate go to OSU?

Damn hated to say that since I"m a Beavers fan but couldn't resist......

 

[jlprk]

The most overrated Blazer is Aldridge. He has the upside to be better than Zach, but the years flow on and it doesn't happen. He's not even better than Zach at defense, much less scoring and rebounding. The Oregonian wanted a doughboy off the court, so they drove off Sheed and Zach. But off-court softyism transfers to on-court behavior. No more tough guys, this is the new age.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I think we may be starting towards the tune out of Nate.

Edit: Also I like him throwing his team under the bus again.

I've been saying the same thing since the first Atlanta game. Even when the team wins, they tend to have stretches where they play with no emotion and poor execution.

As for Nate throwing the team under the bus - what was he supposed to say? He was just acknowledging what everybody could see with their own eyes.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The most overrated Blazer is Aldridge. He has the upside to be better than Zach, but the years flow on and it doesn't happen. He's not even better than Zach at defense, much less scoring and rebounding. The Oregonian wanted a doughboy off the court, so they drove off Sheed and Zach. But off-court softyism transfers to on-court behavior. No more tough guys, this is the new age.

Not just LMA tonight. Oden/Joel got out-played by Gasol/Thabeet as well.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Oden came back with 10 minutes left in the 2nd, and the Grizzlies still extended their lead. Not saying it was Greg's fault, but the team (Greg included) just looked lost. Oden missed his first three shots by the way, two of which were right under the rim.

Funny stat. Blake leaves when the Grizz were up 4. By the time he came back, the Grizz were up 23.

Greg's first two shots were 12 foot jumper and a 6 foot hook, so that's not really right under the rim. I do not recall what the third one was, however. But he kept the defense honest, and he can get the other team into foul trouble. Instead we took him out at the 6 minute mark as usual, the other team felt free to drive, our offense became 4 jump shooters and a guy in the middle who isn't really respected by other teams offensively. We started missing, they got really aggressive and drove right at Joel and.. there we were.

 

[Nikolokolus]

a-freaking-men... i don't understand why nate makes coaching this team so labor intensive. this is a pretty veteran group, has been playing together for a few years... and yet he treats every training camp like it's his team's first, acts as if he's still trying to figure out what "works" on the floor, and generally micromanages every single aspect of this team's play. and yet, i don't think we are any better for his efforts. all this tweaking, all the odd lineups, all the tough love... i just don't think it's needed. a big time coach would have these guys running like a well oiled machine. i'd love to see this roster with someone like Pop or Adelman or JVG at the helm.

I'm with you on the first two, and not so sure about JVG, he's not exactly an offensive guru.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I've been saying the same thing since the first Atlanta game. Even when the team wins, they tend to have stretches where they play with no emotion and poor execution.

As for Nate throwing the team under the bus - what was he supposed to say? He was just acknowledging what everybody could see with their own eyes.

He needs to take responsibility for when he has poor game plans, makes bad adjustments, etc. I can only recall once where I heard him take responsibility, and usually he just blames the players. Even Lawrence Frank with his abysmal 0-16 team takes responsibility and doesn't only throw his players under the bus.

 

[B-Roy]

Greg's first two shots were 12 foot jumper and a 6 foot hook, so that's not really right under the rim. I do not recall what the third one was, however.

I said two of the three. One was a uncontested hook, one was a flip shot under the basket that missed.

 

[B-Roy]

He needs to take responsibility for when he has poor game plans, makes bad adjustments, etc. I can only recall once where I heard him take responsibility, and usually he just blames the players. Even Lawrence Frank with his abysmal 0-16 team takes responsibility and doesn't only throw his players under the bus.

Kind of hard to when you're 0-16.

"It's all their fault, I'm a good coach, serious!"

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Kind of hard to when you're 0-16.

"It's all their fault, I'm a good coach, serious!"

The only thing laughable is that a guy about to get fired openly takes more blame than Nate.

 

[jlprk]

Not just LMA tonight. Oden/Joel got out-played by Gasol/Thabeet as well.

Oden is new and Joel is limited. Aldridge has neither of those excuses.