Disturbing article

[Mediocre Man]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/blazers_seek_right_formula_to.html


Roy does not get it.

Nate needs to let the offense go. He has to stop calling plays. Maybe design a fucking offense that takes advantage of 3 players. I have done it, so I know it's not hard.

 

[blue32]

i think this was already linked in another thread.

 

[BenDavis503]

I'm not freaking out over this article...

 

[RR7]

I'm not freaking out over this article...

+1. Doesn't come across as all that disturbing of an article. I dunno.

 

[Nikolokolus]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns. I'm not necessarily calling out Nate's play calling ability (though I'm sure an argument could be made that he's not done the most bang up job of devising an offensive system) but how can a team push the pace if they are always looking over to the sideline to get whatever set Nate wants to run? Two things appear to happen: 1) the defense gets more time to get set, and 2) because of scouting the defense probably has a pretty good idea about what is coming.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to me that a huge part of an offenses ability to succeed hinges on the ability to confuse a defense; that can't happen with the current system.

 

[hasoos]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns. I'm not necessarily calling out Nate's play calling ability (though I'm sure an argument could be made that he's not done the most bang up job of devising an offensive system) but how can a team push the pace if they are always looking over to the sideline to get whatever set Nate wants to run? Two things appear to happen: 1) the defense gets more time to get set, and 2) because of scouting the defense probably has a pretty good idea about what is coming.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to me that a huge part of an offenses ability to succeed hinges on the ability to confuse a defense; that can't happen with the current system.

Ya think?

Just giving you a bad time man!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ya think?

Just giving you a bad time man!

I'll be honest, I was being mostly rhetorical ... I have definite opinions on what should be happening.

 

[blue32]

Start the best 5 players you have (at their position).

 

[RR7]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns. I'm not necessarily calling out Nate's play calling ability (though I'm sure an argument could be made that he's not done the most bang up job of devising an offensive system) but how can a team push the pace if they are always looking over to the sideline to get whatever set Nate wants to run? Two things appear to happen: 1) the defense gets more time to get set, and 2) because of scouting the defense probably has a pretty good idea about what is coming.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to me that a huge part of an offenses ability to succeed hinges on the ability to confuse a defense; that can't happen with the current system.

I agree with this. A lot of the times, I feel we run our offense similar to the way I used to run my team when I played NBA Live 95 on my Genesis. It was pretty easy to score when you wanted, and I knew I woudl win, so my concern was making sure all of my guys looked good stats wise. So one trip down would be Player A's turn to shoot, then B, then A, then C, etc. There was no fluidity to my calls. I'd run a play for this guy, then this guy, then this guy. Everyone taking turns basically. The offense itself was fine. I was able to score. But it wasn't a team offense, it was plays designed around one player. This is the same way i see Nate's ofefnse. I don't feel like I have a huge issue with the actual looks from the offense. I think the sets are designed well enough to put us in position to score. It's just that, one turn down, it's Aldridge. Then Oden. Then Roy. Then we'll run Martell off of a screen, designed specifically for him to shoot, etc. So it's easy to see where Roy's complaints come from. If it's strictly calling out, ok, this one is LMA's turn, this is Oden's, etc., then I can see a problem with that. And I can see why Brandon would get annoyed about his number not being called that often if that's the way it's going to run.
I don't necessarily see Roy as our PG of the future, but I think an interesting experiment would be to eliminate the playcalling from the bench, and as opposed to Miller, allow Roy to call the plays as he sees fit. If he's our leader, he needs to see when guys are hot, see where a guy needs to get the ball, etc. Will he call his number 10 times in a row, will he even things out?

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns. I'm not necessarily calling out Nate's play calling ability (though I'm sure an argument could be made that he's not done the most bang up job of devising an offensive system) but how can a team push the pace if they are always looking over to the sideline to get whatever set Nate wants to run? Two things appear to happen: 1) the defense gets more time to get set, and 2) because of scouting the defense probably has a pretty good idea about what is coming.

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to me that a huge part of an offenses ability to succeed hinges on the ability to confuse a defense; that can't happen with the current system.

The instincts of a true point guard. If anyone has it, this Kat does. We know Nate never had it during his career. But Andre just by nature if not bogged down will get the ball to the right guys at the right time.

Interesting points

 

[BBert]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns.

Yes. Yes it would. And it has. In fact, that's the exact meaning of my sig. The best I've seen the team perform this year is when that has happened. All two times.

 

[Idog1976]

I absolutely agree that we ought to let Brandon and/or Miller run the team. Nate's control freakery on that end and his robotic sub patterns are what drive me nuts the most.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

It's written by Quick... didnt get past the title... move along, nothing to see here.

 

[MARIS61]

After reading that I can't help but wonder if Andre Miller inserted into the starting lineup and allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo would alleviate a lot of these concerns.

The same is true if Steve Blake was allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo, and would have been true if Sergio and Jerryd had been allowed to call plays on the fly and push tempo.

There was never any need to bring in Andre Miller. He's simply an older, chubbier, slower, less motivated version of the guys we already had.

We can bring in 10 more PG's with the same result.

 

[MARIS61]

Start the best 5 players you have (at their position).

Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Fernandez, Webster.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Fernandez, Webster.

Rudy is the best player at his position?

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Rudy is the best player at his position?

Assuming Roy's the best PG we have, then Rudy's the best SG we have.

 

[MARIS61]

The instincts of a true point guard. If anyone has it, this Kat does. We know Nate never had it during his career.

Spoken like someone who never saw Nate play.

I'm fairly certain this is the very first time I've ever heard a negative statement about Nate as a player.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Rudy is the best player at his position?

...of castanets.

 

[MARIS61]

Assuming Roy's the best PG we have, then Rudy's the best SG we have.

And vice versa.

 

[hasoos]

Roy, Oden, Aldridge, Fernandez, Webster.

Agreed. See Maris, we can agree sometimes!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And vice versa.

Ah, so now we're back to the "Roy's REALLY a point guard" discussion. Gotcha

 

[BBert]

Ah, so now we're back to the "Roy's REALLY a point guard" discussion. Gotcha

I don't think he's "really" a point guard. But if he has to have the ball in his hands to be fulfilled, and if Roy's fulfillment is the "team's" primary goal, that's one way to do it.

By the way, there is no "Pecking Order" in "Team."

 

[blue32]

Ah, so now we're back to the "Roy's REALLY a point guard" discussion. Gotcha

Well after reading how much he wants the ball, and how much he wants to dictate. I can see why alot of people would propose this idea...

It makes sense if you're allowing Roy to do all of that, otherwise we have a wasted position, which I think we do now, w/Blake in there.

EDIT: BBERT beat me to it.

 

[MARIS61]

Ah, so now we're back to the "Roy's REALLY a point guard" discussion. Gotcha

Actually, I think Rudy and Brandon combined needs no designated PG or SG. They both have such an array of skills and talent that they could just have whomever is closest to the ball take it upcourt which would automatically give us a jump on offense. Both know how to read the defense, both are excellent passers, both have shooting range...

 

[hasoos]

Assuming Roy's the best PG we have, then Rudy's the best SG we have.

Which is the truth. Roy is the best PG on the team. When the team realizes that and organizes around that, they will move on. As long as they keep trying to keep below average players happy, they will not. I can't even understand why they are trying to do what they are doing. Put in your best 5, and let them play together, get chemistry, and figure out how to win games together. The rest will fall into place.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Actually, I think Rudy and Brandon combined needs no designated PG or SG. They both have such an array of skills and talent that they could just have whomever is closest to the ball take it upcourt which would automatically give us a jump on offense. Both know how to read the defense, both are excellent passers, both have shooting range...

I don't think you've thought this through. We know you much prefer the high-flying, up-and-down style that Roy seems to despise. How could you watch the Blazers with Roy at point?

 

[blue32]

I don't think you've thought this through. We know you much prefer the high-flying, up-and-down style that Roy seems to despise. How could you watch the Blazers with Roy at point?

What?? He already plays "point" for the majority of the game, lol.....

 

[noknobs]

I had already read the article and didn't find it disturbing and didn't come away thinking Roy doesn't get "it". What I do feel though, is that Nate doesn't get "it".

"It's going to take those guys some time," McMillan said. "This is not going to happen overnight."

... First, they had the majority of last year to work on this. I never understood why he had Oden come off the bench so much last year because it stunted their growth as a unit. It was almost like he was just trying to postpone the inevitable. I'm well aware Oden wasn't a world-beater last year, but they still needed to get use to playing with each other.

Second, Nate has since had the entire off-season, training camp, the entire pre-season, and almost 1/4 of the regular season to figure out an offense that gets all three involved. So Nate, nobody expected it "to happen overnight", but you've already had "some time".

It is not rocket science to create an offense that gets three players a lot of touches. The problem is Nate's offense. When half the offense is nothing more than an isolation one-on-one play, or watching Blake try to dump the ball down to Oden for 10 seconds so Oden can then try to back his way under the basket, clearly there's not going to be any ball movement... meaning guys won't be involved half the time. Not to mention it's extremely easy to defend and extremely predictable. The result:

There has been a rash of hurried attempts to beat the shot clock, and far too many stagnant, lifeless possessions that ultimately end in a low-percentage jump shot.

So as much as I respect Nate as a coach, he unfortunately hasn't shown he can create an offense that is anything more than this. So Nate, I'll make it real easy for you - Go watch the Lakers offense and see how they successfully get Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum involved. Then do that. It's called ball movement, moving away from the ball and getting the ball on the move. Figure it out.

"Part of it is me calling plays, and having that balance," McMillan said. "And maybe we do move guys around, work on the rotation. We will make adjustments."

No, you calling plays isn't part of it. You changing your entire offensive philosophy is all of it.

 

[hasoos]

I actually view the fact they were getting together to meet and discusss differences as a positive step forward. What I would be more worried about is if the communication had stopped, and the players had separated into "cliques". Right now that does not appear to have happened, but what we do have is frustration from players and coaches. Out of all my worries, my biggest worry is that Nate isn't open minded enough.

We will know we have serious trouble if they continue to skid and have to have a team meeting. A second team meeting of that sort is a kiss of death.