Canzano weighs in on Nates Rotation

[Natebishop3]

Przybilla has 10 times the basketball IQ of Oden. At the end of last season, it was no contest between them. Oden will get there, but it will take another season. Oden has raw strength, rebounding, etc., but Joel pleases Nate with his nuances on all aspects of the game. Some coaches would start the raw young buck and lose games while he learns, but if I know my buddy Nate, he'll go with Przybilla.

Have you ever met Joel? Nice guy, but he's not a member of MENSA. I think you're overstating things. Joel had the exact same problems when he was a rookie. In fact, the refs didn't let up on him until his second or third year here. I don't see how Nate can keep Greg on the bench when he can be a difference maker on both ends of the floor. Joel isn't an offensive weapon in any way, shape, or form.

 

[oldmangrouch]

and the idea that the blazers got their ass kicked or hammered in the playoffs is simply wrong. they lost in 6 games. it happens. two of the losses were by a combined 4 points. portland lost but they didn't get dominated or anything.

Phooey.

2 of the games were humiliating beatdowns. The other 2 losses were winable games that the Blazers lost because the Rockets out executed them down the stretch. (collars getting a little tight there guys?)

Portland had HCA, and their star player was having a good series....and they still never had a realistic chance of winning the series. I call that "dominated".

 

[rocketeer]

Phooey.

2 of the games were humiliating beatdowns. The other 2 losses were winable games that the Blazers lost because the Rockets out executed them down the stretch. (collars getting a little tight there guys?)

Portland had HCA, and their star player was having a good series....and they still never had a realistic chance of winning the series. I call that "dominated".

that's great. you probably would have found a way to discredit the blazers had they won the series, so i'm not really worried about it.

 

[rocketeer]

The 54 wins were kind of a fluke, to be honest. The team came from behind to win a ton of games last season. Way more then a 54 win team typically would.

If they go with the same lineup this year and fall behind as often as they did last year, I would expect their record to go down. Probably 47 or 48 wins and a first round exit from the playoffs.

it was kind of a fluke. they should have won more.

 

[hasoos]

that's great. you probably would have found a way to discredit the blazers had they won the series, so i'm not really worried about it.

I prefer to think about it in a different way. Portlands stars showed up to play, and the rest of the team was dominated, especially the bench. People yammer on this board how deep this team is. Outside of Roy, Aldridge, Oden and Rudy, and possibly Miller, there isn't a whole lot to write home about with this team. Last nights game against Utah where it was basically Roy and 4 scrubs vs the Utah Jazz should have puncuated that. Portland is not deep. They are heavily laden with guys who can't differentiate themselves from the 11th and 12th guys on the roster.

 

[BlazersBlood]

I prefer to think about it in a different way. Portlands stars showed up to play, and the rest of the team was dominated, especially the bench. People yammer on this board how deep this team is. Outside of Roy, Aldridge, Oden and Rudy, and possibly Miller, there isn't a whole lot to write home about with this team. Last nights game against Utah where it was basically Roy and 4 scrubs vs the Utah Jazz should have puncuated that. Portland is not deep. They are heavily laden with guys who can't differentiate themselves from the 11th and 12th guys on the roster.

DING DING DING DING DING! Winner winner chicken dinner!

For all the griping about who should play, it's obvious that the guys are 100% role players on this team, and would be role players on any other playoff team.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I prefer to think about it in a different way. Portlands stars showed up to play, and the rest of the team was dominated, especially the bench. People yammer on this board how deep this team is. Outside of Roy, Aldridge, Oden and Rudy, and possibly Miller, there isn't a whole lot to write home about with this team. Last nights game against Utah where it was basically Roy and 4 scrubs vs the Utah Jazz should have puncuated that. Portland is not deep. They are heavily laden with guys who can't differentiate themselves from the 11th and 12th guys on the roster.

Play-off basketball is a different world. Teams tighten up their rotations, focus harder on defense, and have more time to scout/gameplan for their opponent. All of those things worked in favor of the Rockets.

 

[BlazerWookee]

The play-off ass kicking by the Rockets trumps the "we won 54 games" argument.

We got our ass kicked in one game, and it was largely due to the fact that Joel and Greg talked Nate into playing Yao straight up.

 

[oldmangrouch]

that's great. you probably would have found a way to discredit the blazers had they won the series, so i'm not really worried about it.

Hmmm....you mean the way you aren't giving the Rockets credit for their decisive triumph? Got it.

 

[rocketeer]

Hmmm....you mean the way you aren't giving the Rockets credit for their decisive triumph? Got it.

you always seem to have a negative view of anything the blazers do.

i absolutely am giving the rockets credit for beating the blazers. the rockets were the better team during the series, but they certainly didn't dominate.

 

[STOMP]

I don't think leading hte league in come from behind victories is something that teams who have success in the playoffs do.

what about leading the league in point differential and rebounding?

STOMP

 

[jlprk]

The 54 wins were kind of a fluke, to be honest. The team came from behind to win a ton of games last season. Way more then a 54 win team typically would.

A month or two ago, a Hollinger article said that the Blazers should have won more games, based upon their other statistics. The article compared expected wins to actual wins for all teams.

Have you ever met Joel? Nice guy, but he's not a member of MENSA. I think you're overstating things. Joel had the exact same problems when he was a rookie. In fact, the refs didn't let up on him until his second or third year here. I don't see how Nate can keep Greg on the bench when he can be a difference maker on both ends of the floor. Joel isn't an offensive weapon in any way, shape, or form.

Never met him, but I have been a member of Mensa. You make my point. Joel took a few years to learn the game, and so will Greg. But Greg has more talent, so he'll be as effective as Joel in 1 year instead of 5 years, even while knowing less. Remember the definitions. Regular IQ is unchanging throughout life--it's in your genes. Basketball IQ grows with experience.

Portland is not deep. They are heavily laden with guys who can't differentiate themselves from the 11th and 12th guys on the roster.

DING DING DING DING DING! Winner winner chicken dinner!
For all the griping about who should play, it's obvious that the guys are 100% role players on this team, and would be role players on any other playoff team.

I second the ding ding ding. Having baby players with potential does NOT make us the deepest team in the league. McMillan makes everyone into a specialist instead of a generalist. Everyone is a role player except Roy. When we have proven experienced players who can play, only then will I say that we have good depth.