Dante's Blazers vs Wade's Inferno game thread

[The Sebastian Express]

sounds bad for LA....

says further tests on saturday but xrays negative but LA says he will try to practice wed. however it seems like his return could be days or a while. i think they hope rest does the trick.

why the fuck are we waiting till saturday for tests????


its shaping up to be a lost season unless we trade.

He may have some swelling around the bruise and they have to wait for it to go down, although practicing on it would just make it swell more if that were the case.

 

[RoyToy]

Another plus:

It puts pressure on Kevin Pritchard.

Not really to make a trade but sitting on his thumb, err, RLEC was a bad move and his acquisitions have been mediocre since the Oden draft.

What if Pritchard had use RLEC to get Miller?

At this point I'm convinced any new player added to the roster would have disrupted the Blazers. Can't make McMillan think too hard and Roy wouldn't like it anyways. The body language between him and Miller is really not good at all.

 

[KingSpeed]

sounds bad for LA....

says further tests on saturday but xrays negative but LA says he will try to practice wed. however it seems like his return could be days or a while. i think they hope rest does the trick.

why the fuck are we waiting till saturday for tests????


its shaping up to be a lost season unless we trade.

Agreed.

 

[Sinobas]

Well it was at around this time last year we lost 4 of 5 including 3 in a row and were sitting at 15-10. The world didn't end. Not playing well at all right now but there's a long ways to go.

We just got through an easy part of our schedule though, when you look at the combined record of our opponents thus far. We're not quite as good as we were last year.

 

[MARIS61]

its shaping up to be a lost season unless we trade.

Because we traded.

We're a step behind where we were this time last year, EXCEPT Greg has progressed.

Too much talent to not make the playoffs, but some fans and the media are determined to blow the team up again it seems.

Lack of communication, on the court and off it, seems to be the problem as usual.

Nate's customary practice of having special dinner meetings at his house with only his favorite players invited doesn't seem to be the answer.

Maybe he should have one with Rudy, Joel and Steve. They're the only guys on this team who have ever actually sacrificed their stats for the team. Should be worth a dinner and explanation at least.

 

[oldmangrouch]

This has really reached the point of low comedy. KP WASTED 2 draft picks (Claver and Pendergraph) and now injuries are driving the last nail into the coffin.

At this point, I wouldn't be terribly shocked to learn that Nate had gone Tonya Harding on LMA, just to create another excuse for the team.

BTW, for all of you who flamed me for daring to be critical of the Claver pick:

 

[Nate Dogg]

Now I feel like I'm watching the 05-06 Blazers. I thought we were past this.

I was thinking that same way tonight on the way home. I have a feeling that we will be lucky to get 32 wins at this point. This team is so out of sync.

 

[Nate Dogg]

Did anyone else notice that Oden was on his 3rd foul entering the fourth? Why wasn't he put in sooner when he was getting aggressive in the last 4 minutes of the game? We could have trimmed that deficit closer in the 3rd. The closest we got in the 4th was 6 points. Nate should have let oden play in the 3rd and the 4th with 3 or 4 fouls, giving him 2-3 minutes of rest. Who cares if he fouls out with 2 minutes left in the game. We could have taken the lead back if Oden was left in the game!

 

[julius]

This has really reached the point of low comedy. KP WASTED 2 draft picks (Claver and Pendergraph) and now injuries are driving the last nail into the coffin.

At this point, I wouldn't be terribly shocked to learn that Nate had gone Tonya Harding on LMA, just to create another excuse for the team.

BTW, for all of you who flamed me for daring to be critical of the Claver pick:

Yah, because Blair and anyone else they could've drafted in the 2nd round would be the difference between this team sucking shit right now, and kicking the living fuck out of teams right now.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yah, because Blair and anyone else they could've drafted in the 2nd round would be the difference between this team sucking shit right now, and kicking the living fuck out of teams right now.

About what I would expect from a Beaver fan!

Seriously, Casspi (taken one pick after Claver) might well be the Blazers' starting SF right now. With LMA down, Blair would be a very attractive option as well.

 

[Natebishop3]

About what I would expect from a Beaver fan!

Seriously, Casspi (taken one pick after Claver) might well be the Blazers' starting SF right now. With LMA down, Blair would be a very attractive option as well.

Amen to that. Casspi has been solid.

 

[alex42083]

I know there are a lot of people who refuse to accept it, but we miss Outlaw in the worst way. Fuck, with Batum, Outlaw, and LMA out, we've lost all of our athleticism.

Yes we do. One of our big 3 and two key rotation players out, Roy struggling, Blake can't hit the side of a barn, we're starting a second-round draft pick. This might get a little ugly for awhile.
Unfortunately for Nate, he didn't plan for any of this happening and I'll give him a little benefit of the doubt. He's going to take a ton of heat, but if we were fully healthy, I don't think we'd be struggling like this.

And I don't know if there's a magic formula out there to turn this around when we're trying to find a solution on the fly like this.

 

[Denny Crane]

Embarrassment of riches. That's what the Blazers supposedly had, coming into the season.

You'd think you have too many guys needing minutes and not enough minutes to go around. Yet a couple of injuries or guys missing a game here/there and you're starting bench players and your bench is your end of the bench.

The Blazers dominated just about every aspect of the game against Miami.

87 FGA to 75
32-FT to 27
8 3pt made to 7
49 rebounds to 34
36 bench points to 18

When you dominate in those categories, you'd expect a win. Especially with Wade being held to just 22 points, Oden grabbing 20 boards, and Roy putting up 25 points.

What went wrong?

39% shooting.

Roy 9-25, Oden 4-13, Webster 4-14, Rudy 1-5

Obviously, LMA missing the game really hurt.

Look at the box score. The Blazers had Roy and Oden and 3 guys who should probably not be starting. You can afford maybe one of those guys out there if the other 4 are solid.

Martel Webster was supposed to be your 3rd string SF. Going into the season, Cunningham was likely to get the Bayless treatment minutes-wise.

Juwan Howard played 26 minutes because Nate reached the end of the bench.

 

[blue32]

Roy missing 16 shots is atrocious.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Yes we do. One of our big 3 and two key rotation players out, Roy struggling, Blake can't hit the side of a barn, we're starting a second-round draft pick. This might get a little ugly for awhile.
Unfortunately for Nate, he didn't plan for any of this happening and I'll give him a little benefit of the doubt. He's going to take a ton of heat, but if we were fully healthy, I don't think we'd be struggling like this.

And I don't know if there's a magic formula out there to turn this around when we're trying to find a solution on the fly like this.

But apparently he can hit the side of a backboard which I have seen twice in the last few games.

 

[Kaydow]

I was at the game. This team is losing it's soul. It's obvious that a trade should have been made. Rudy looks disgusted. I think we should move him, assuming he still has good value around the league.

I know that would cost us our best pure shooter, but he's just not happy or effective (most nights) here anymore. His supporters say he isn't being used right - that he needs the ball more and that he's not just a spot up shooter. Anybody see him fake the 3 last night, take a couple of dribbles and shoot a 10 floater about 6 feet? His t/o's are high for how much he touches the ball. And he's unhappy. He'll never be happy being Roy's b/u, and he can't play PG or SF for more than spot minutes. He might be great for an uptempo team, but other than popping a few 3's he hasn't shown much in half court sets. I say move him while his stock is still high, and frankly before he asks for a trade.

 

[B-Roy]

Roy missing 16 shots is atrocious.

That's what happens when you chuck jumpers.

 

[Kaydow]

That's what happens when you chuck jumpers.

Even when he went he went to the basket he stunk. He missed a few of those left handed finger rolls - one of them didn't even draw iron (Oden followed it with a Dunk)

The team struggling isn't all Brandon for sure. But he IS the catalyst. I want '08-9 Brandon Roy back. I don't know who this guy is who's fumbling his handles, missing jumpers, and gets shut down by guys like Monta Ellis. I want to see the guy Ron Artest said there is nobody harder for him to defend. It looks more than mental to me - something looks wrong athletically. It's like watching a guy lose a step in his early/mid 30's only he's 25. Did he ever hang out with Danny Almonte? Maybe we should have checked his Birth Certificate before inking a max contract, because all of the sudden he looks like he's 35 years old.

 

[blue32]

^^ In somewhat of his defense, I did see a ton of contact being drawn and not called; however it was called on the other end for the Heat. The ref's were rather shitty last night

 

[Kaydow]

^^ In somewhat of his defense, I did see a ton of contact being drawn and not called; however it was called on the other end for the Heat. The ref's were rather shitty last night

You're right blue, but I think part of the reason Brandon isn't getting calls is because he's not really "beating" the defense. Last year, that first step was deadly and the defender often rode his hip to the basket. Easy call. He's not getting by defenders as easily this season (why? I have no clue) so even though there is a lot of contact, the defender is for the most part in decent position.

He did get hammered a few times last night w/o a call though - No doubt.

 

[DUB]

Didn't get to see the replay until late last night.

The offense looked to flow a lot better when Miller was running the point (regardless of whether Roy was on the court or not). Everyone was moving, passing, we had multiple scoring threats.

When Roy was running the point (with Blake at the 2) the offense seemed to stagnate. Everyone just standing around waiting for Roy to do his thing; not much off the ball movement.

Miller looked to create for others, then score. Roy looked to score, then create for others. Both can work, but one is much easier to shut down.

After Oden scored his 13th point with just under ten to play in the 4th; we did not go back to him once, not once! WTF?!

The defence was just bad all around, except Greg, Joel, and Dante. Whilst I think Roy, and Miller is our best backcourt pairing offensively, we’d probably get torn up defensively. Why do we never seem to get back on transition defence?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Didn't get to see the replay until late last night.

The offense looked to flow a lot better when Miller was running the point (regardless of whether Roy was on the court or not). Everyone was moving, passing, we had multiple scoring threats.

When Roy was running the point (with Blake at the 2) the offense seemed to stagnate. Everyone just standing around waiting for Roy to do his thing; not much off the ball movement.

Miller looked to create for others, then score. Roy looked to score, then create for others. Both can work, but one is much easier to shut down.

After Oden scored his 13th point with just under ten to play in the 4th; we did not go back to him once, not once! WTF?!

The defence was just bad all around, except Greg, Joel, and Dante. Whilst I think Roy, and Miller is our best backcourt pairing offensively, we’d probably get torn up defensively. Why do we never seem to get back on transition defence?

Because they suck at D? Is that too simple of an explanation?

 

[RR7]

Did anyone else notice that Oden was on his 3rd foul entering the fourth? Why wasn't he put in sooner when he was getting aggressive in the last 4 minutes of the game? We could have trimmed that deficit closer in the 3rd. The closest we got in the 4th was 6 points. Nate should have let oden play in the 3rd and the 4th with 3 or 4 fouls, giving him 2-3 minutes of rest. Who cares if he fouls out with 2 minutes left in the game. We could have taken the lead back if Oden was left in the game!

What do you mean by put in sooner? Your suggestion for Nate's handling of Oden, which you think was bad, was give him 2-3 minutes of rest in the second half.

Oden sat for a total of 3:17 in the second half. He played the entire 4th quarter. There is no earlier in a quarter than the very beginning. Sorry if what actually happened doesn't coincide with what you felt was going on. It is unfortunate we gave up some easy points in that 3:17. Ideally, Joel comes right in and we "don't miss a beat". Seems like too often this season, however, we are missing that beat. But you can't really expect Greg to play the entire second half. Well, you can, and I wish he would, but he'd die out there, and probably tire out in the 4th, when we need him most. So Nate did what he could. Left him out there the majority of the 3rd. Had to get him a breather, with the knowledge he was going to play him the entire 4th. So he snuck in a 3 minute rest at the end of the 3rd. Brought him back and he played the entire fourth quarter.

 

[WillG]

I was at the game. This team is losing it's soul. It's obvious that a trade should have been made. Rudy looks disgusted.

He certainly looks it. I'm not surprised that he's disgusted. To play within Nates slow down, low movement & clearout iso sytem; must be tantamount to being in a basketball prison camp, for a player with such flair.

Rudy, an olympic caliber player, has been totally shafted within Nates system.

Nate's to blame more so than Rudy imo.

 

[RoyToy]

I still remember Nate saying he was staying up all night thinking of different ways he could use Rudy and how versatile Rudy could be for the Blazers.

Nate's thoughts never get old. Always good for a laugh.

 

[Mediocre Man]

He certainly looks it. I'm not surprised that he's disgusted. To play within Nates slow down, low movement & clearout iso sytem; must be tantamount to being in a basketball prison camp, for a player with such flair.

Rudy, an olympic caliber player, has been totally shafted within Nates system.

Nate's to blame more so than Rudy imo.

I honestly feel that every single player, with the exceptions of Roy and Blake, have been shafted by Nate's system.

 

[BBert]

Can we please get an assistant coach who has actually played center in the NBA.

How about a head coach who has actually played with a center in the NBA. Or at least coached one before.