Crisis of confidence

[Rastapopoulos]

One particularly worrying feature of the current Blazers team is that when we get down, we seem to give up. I don't think we stop trying - in fact I think it's wrong and insulting to accuse the players of that. This is not a bunch of malcontents. No, it seems like, as a group, the team stops believing it can get back. When we start to lose it's as if an avalanche starts and by the end of the fourth, the other team is winning going away. God knows what would happen if there were fifths instead of quarters.

So what's the problem? And what's the solution? I think part of the problem is we have too many defer-ers. At the first sign of problems everyone looks to Dame and CJ and starts passing up shots or missing easy ones. Would we be better if we had a few JR-Smith-esque conscience-less gunners, who don't care what the score is, they believe their next shot is going in? I remember when we had the ORIGINAL JR, JR Rider, that I felt a strange sense of calm when he went to the line in a close game, because I knew he felt zero pressure. The opposite extreme is Nick Anderson. Remember him? The Magic were about to win game 1 of the finals against Houston and he missed two FTs, Kenny Smith hit a three and pretty soon it was a sweep. Ever after, Anderson, who up to that point had been a decent FT-er, became Shaq-esque at the line. It's as if our whole team is Nick Anderson at this point.

 

[julius]

One particularly worrying feature of the current Blazers team is that when we get down, we seem to give up. I don't think we stop trying - in fact I think it's wrong and insulting to accuse the players of that. This is not a bunch of malcontents. No, it seems like, as a group, the team stops believing it can get back. When we start to lose it's as if an avalanche starts and by the end of the fourth, the other team is winning going away. God knows what would happen if there were fifths instead of quarters.

So what's the problem? And what's the solution? I think part of the problem is we have too many defer-ers. At the first sign of problems everyone looks to Dame and CJ and starts passing up shots or missing easy ones. Would we be better if we had a few JR-Smith-esque conscience-less gunners, who don't care what the score is, they believe their next shot is going in? I remember when we had the ORIGINAL JR, JR Rider, that I felt a strange sense of calm when he went to the line in a close game, because I knew he felt zero pressure. The opposite extreme is Nick Anderson. Remember him? The Magic were about to win game 1 of the finals against Houston and he missed two FTs, Kenny Smith hit a three and pretty soon it was a sweep. Ever after, Anderson, who up to that point had been a decent FT-er, became Shaq-esque at the line. It's as if our whole team is Nick Anderson at this point.

In Nicks defense, he was never a good FT shooter to begin with.

 

[KingSpeed]

One particularly worrying feature of the current Blazers team is that when we get down, we seem to give up. I don't think we stop trying - in fact I think it's wrong and insulting to accuse the players of that. This is not a bunch of malcontents. No, it seems like, as a group, the team stops believing it can get back. When we start to lose it's as if an avalanche starts and by the end of the fourth, the other team is winning going away. God knows what would happen if there were fifths instead of quarters.

So what's the problem? And what's the solution? I think part of the problem is we have too many defer-ers. At the first sign of problems everyone looks to Dame and CJ and starts passing up shots or missing easy ones. Would we be better if we had a few JR-Smith-esque conscience-less gunners, who don't care what the score is, they believe their next shot is going in? I remember when we had the ORIGINAL JR, JR Rider, that I felt a strange sense of calm when he went to the line in a close game, because I knew he felt zero pressure. The opposite extreme is Nick Anderson. Remember him? The Magic were about to win game 1 of the finals against Houston and he missed two FTs, Kenny Smith hit a three and pretty soon it was a sweep. Ever after, Anderson, who up to that point had been a decent FT-er, became Shaq-esque at the line. It's as if our whole team is Nick Anderson at this point.

Aminu kept shooting vs Bucks and people complained. Now you want JR Smith to do it?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Aminu kept shooting vs Bucks and people complained. Now you want JR Smith to do it?

I'm not "people".

 

[oldmangrouch]

One particularly worrying feature of the current Blazers team is that when we get down, we seem to give up. I don't think we stop trying - in fact I think it's wrong and insulting to accuse the players of that. This is not a bunch of malcontents. No, it seems like, as a group, the team stops believing it can get back. When we start to lose it's as if an avalanche starts and by the end of the fourth, the other team is winning going away. God knows what would happen if there were fifths instead of quarters.

So what's the problem? And what's the solution? I think part of the problem is we have too many defer-ers. At the first sign of problems everyone looks to Dame and CJ and starts passing up shots or missing easy ones. Would we be better if we had a few JR-Smith-esque conscience-less gunners, who don't care what the score is, they believe their next shot is going in? I remember when we had the ORIGINAL JR, JR Rider, that I felt a strange sense of calm when he went to the line in a close game, because I knew he felt zero pressure. The opposite extreme is Nick Anderson. Remember him? The Magic were about to win game 1 of the finals against Houston and he missed two FTs, Kenny Smith hit a three and pretty soon it was a sweep. Ever after, Anderson, who up to that point had been a decent FT-er, became Shaq-esque at the line. It's as if our whole team is Nick Anderson at this point.

This was actually thought provoking - but I have concluded I disagree.

Being that fragile mentally would make it very hard for a player to reach the NBA. (though it does happen) Having a cluster of players with that handicap on a single team is hard to imagine. The GM would almost have to deliberately seek out a group of players with the same fragile mind-set - and why would he do that?

If you are correct, this roster is a lost cause and needs a complete over-haul.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This was actually thought provoking - but I have concluded I disagree.

Being that fragile mentally would make it very hard for a player to reach the NBA. (though it does happen) Having a cluster of players with that handicap on a single team is hard to imagine. The GM would almost have to deliberately seek out a group of players with the same fragile mind-set - and why would he do that?

If you are correct, this roster is a lost cause and needs a complete over-haul.

I disagree. I think confidence isn't an essential feature of individuals, I think it's context-dependent. Example: some performers who appear very extroverted can be very shy in private (e.g., Freddy Mercury). When you think you know what you're doing and you're validated in what you're doing, you can be confident. Players can go from one team to another and completely blossom because the coach "puts them in a position to succeed". Now, this makes it sound like I'm blaming Stotts for breaking their spirits or something. But it's more complicated than that. If you're playing on a team with a star, particularly one you like and respect, it can seem like you shouldn't be shooting because he's the one who is a great shooter.

Tl;dr: I think it would benefit some players on this team if Dame and CJ were out for a few games and they were forced to fend for themselves.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I disagree. I think confidence isn't an essential feature of individuals, I think it's context-dependent. Example: some performers who appear very extroverted can be very shy in private (e.g., Freddy Mercury). When you think you know what you're doing and you're validated in what you're doing, you can be confident. Players can go from one team to another and completely blossom because the coach "puts them in a position to succeed". Now, this makes it sound like I'm blaming Stotts for breaking their spirits or something. But it's more complicated than that. If you're playing on a team with a star, particularly one you like and respect, it can seem like you shouldn't be shooting because he's the one who is a great shooter.

Tl;dr: I think it would benefit some players on this team if Dame and CJ were out for a few games and they were forced to fend for themselves.

As I said before, your take does make me stop and think. I actually appreciate it when people make an argument that forces me to re-examine my opinions.