Fixing the Blazers Part 1 & II (1 Viewer)

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Because trolls need a losing streak as ammo

Question is this team 64-0? No they are not which means this team is not perfect and therefore there must be ways in which the team can improve. I analyzed and wrote two detailed sections offering advice on what I believe Lamarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum could do in order to help the team improve. Last I checked when someone is struggling that is usually a good time to reach out and offer them a hand. Discussing basketball on a basketball forum is the furthest thing from trolling there is, making a short off topic, non basketball related comment in the middle of a thread on the other hand seems like something different.
 
It is hard for people whether it be players or fans to accept advice when things are going well. Honestly, at the time I was trying to enjoy the team exceeding expectations but I was always cautious the team needed to make adjustments. Come on I was so concerned with the way this team defends that I suggested trading my two favorite Blazers in Lillard and Matthews for Conley and Allen. At a certain time just making the playoffs is no longer enough. This year getting there is an important step but the team will need to make some serious adjustments this summer in order to make sure they can take the next step towards winning a title.

I still wouldn't do this trade.
 
Perhaps we could trade our entire team for Miami's entire team, fire stotts and hire spoulstra.

Why Miami does it: because it helps them clear cap space

Why blazers do it: so they can make a title run.

Read the thread and then offer your brilliant insight. I have certainly not suggested trading either Batum or Aldridge both of whom the thread is about, in fact I suggested that doing so would not be beneficial to the team. Will a trade come up in the conversation down the road it is possible but the purpose of this thread is to help the teams current players improve so that Portland can become a more serious title threat not to discuss tearing down the foundation of a team that has to this point exceeded most expectations.
 
I still wouldn't do this trade.

That is completely reasonable and understandable. It was not easy for me to suggest that trade. Personally, I let my expectations get out of control, rather than being content with making the playoffs and improving next year, I wanted instant gratification. Generally speaking trading an all star in the middle of a rookie scale contract is a bad idea. Portland still needs better defense but they cannot sacrifice the core of the teams offensive identity to do so.

Still love Mike Conley and Tony Allen though.
 
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Question is this team 64-0? No they are not which means this team is not perfect and therefore there must be ways in which the team can improve. I analyzed and wrote two detailed sections offering advice on what I believe Lamarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum could do in order to help the team improve. Last I checked when someone is struggling that is usually a good time to reach out and offer them a hand. Discussing basketball on a basketball forum is the furthest thing from trolling there is, making a short off topic, non basketball related comment in the middle of a thread on the other hand seems like something different.

I like to talk and play basketball, I leave the front office crap to the front office.

We need guys who want to win. They wanted to win early, they've lost the mojo. They just need the mojo back. It's not going to come from reading cmeese posts on s2. Someone on the team will emerge as a leader and fire up his teammates. My money is on rolo or lillard.
 
I like to talk and play basketball, I leave the front office crap to the front office.

We need guys who want to win. They wanted to win early, they've lost the mojo. They just need the mojo back. It's not going to come from reading cmeese posts on s2. Someone on the team will emerge as a leader and fire up his teammates. My money is on rolo or lillard.

You never know where someone might get some inspiration.
 
Since this kind of got buried when the threads merged here is Part II again

Part II- Utilizing Nicolas Batum

Poor Nicolas Batum, the guy just cannot catch a break. Under Nate, Batum was asked to be a 3 and D guy, work hard on defense and stand in the corner for spacing. Batum was actually pretty efficient in that role, but it was obvious to anyone who watched the Blazers that he had more in him than what Nate was getting out of him. In Stotts’ system, Batum has been asked to be more a facilitator playing a much more all around style of basketball. To his credit, Batum has taken to the role becoming a triple double threat and averaging over 5 assists per contest. Unfortunately, this new style of ball has hurt Batum as much as it has helped him.

Nicolas needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot. He should be shooting around 15 times a game. Batum by aggressively looking for his shot will make his life as a secondary ball handler much easier, by attempting more shots Batum’s man will be forced to play up on him allowing Batum a better chance to beat the defender off the dribble, and it will pull his man out of the passing lane, making it easier for Batum to get the ball inside. Additionally, by shooting more Batum will feel less pressure to be the facilitator and that should cut down on several errant pass turnovers that Batum has become known for. Without the ball, Batum would be smart to make hard aggressive cuts to the basket; a few highlight worthy ally oops will back off his defender allowing Batum more open looks from the 3 point line. Portland should run hard double screens for Matthews and Batum both along the baseline. This should provide each additional opportunities to catch and shoot uncontested corner threes. Additionally, the extra movement will pull focus off of LA and Lopez, potentially allowing each a better shot at establishing position or cutting back door for lay ups or alley oops.

Defensively, Stotts has done a pretty good job with Batum. Nicolas like LA struggles in team defense, he rotates late and then struggles to get back and close out on his man. In addition, when Batum plays off the ball he tends to fall asleep defensively at times becoming lazy and giving up some easy buckets. With his length and agility Batum is ideal for guarding the ball handler. Furthermore, Batum’s finesse style defense is much better suited for guarding SG and PG’s than it is for him guarding more physical SF’s. When Batum is not guarding the ball, allowing him to be more aggressive defensively would be beneficial with a wingspan of 7’3”-7’4” Batum is the perfect candidate to jump passing lanes. Portland needs to force more turnovers per game and letting Batum play a free safety style position off the ball might help the team achieve that.

Nicolas Batum is the kind of well rounded player you can build around. The guy can do a little of everything on the court and for the most part he can do it well. He just needs to find the right balance in his game and when he does Portland should have a 3rd player worth all-star consideration.
 
Did not realize he was back from the d league already
 
Matthews would be a good choice anyone else got a suggestion.
 
Taking a vote who should I write part three on

cmeese that's the most positive post about Batum I've ever read from you! Interesting points in both sections. Maybe some of my Batum support over all the years finally had an effect..any case, good to see you writing about basketball again.
 
cmeese that's the most positive post about Batum I've ever read from you! Interesting points in both sections. Maybe some of my Batum support over all the years finally had an effect..any case, good to see you writing about basketball again.

If you ever noticed most of the time when I tried to trade the whole team I tended to keep Batum. He frustrates me, he is often over rated but his tools are diverse enough and advanced enough that I would be foolish to disregard him. I have always loved aggressive Batum, liked balanced Batum and hated 4 shot 2 point passive Batum.
 
If you ever noticed most of the time when I tried to trade the whole team I tended to keep Batum. He frustrates me, he is often over rated but his tools are diverse enough and advanced enough that I would be foolish to disregard him. I have always loved aggressive Batum, liked balanced Batum and hated 4 shot 2 point passive Batum.

He's aggressive about 20% of the time it seems.... That's 80% frustrating.
 
Defending great players takes energy and Nic has one of the toughest night to night matchups in the league. Fixing two things that have been major contributions to the last 4 losses.....make 4th qtr freethrows and make layups. My other observation is that Barton should have all of McCulloms minutes until he stops looking like Nolan Smith on the court. He had one good game and in my opinion he hasn't beaten Will for a rotation spot.
 
Defending great players takes energy and Nic has one of the toughest night to night matchups in the league. Fixing two things that have been major contributions to the last 4 losses.....make 4th qtr freethrows and make layups. My other observation is that Barton should have all of McCulloms minutes until he stops looking like Nolan Smith on the court. He had one good game and in my opinion he hasn't beaten Will for a rotation spot.

Will is wild and cocky but the guy is aggressive and Portland needs that. It is the kind of effort that makes watching Robinson so much fun, why it was so fun watching Hickson and why Paul George has become a top 5 player in this league. It is a lot easier to cheer for a player who busts his ass every second he is on the court even if he is not very good. It becomes harder to cheer for someone with lots of talent but they get outworked and by scrubs and we struggle as a team. Batum has been that guy at times, same with Wesley albeit far less often and LA.
 
I think I am going to write about Wesley next I am just having a hard time he is pretty much who he is so offering him advice is a little harder. I will work something out though just will take a little time.
 
Defending great players takes energy and Nic has one of the toughest night to night matchups in the league. Fixing two things that have been major contributions to the last 4 losses.....make 4th qtr freethrows and make layups. My other observation is that Barton should have all of McCulloms minutes until he stops looking like Nolan Smith on the court. He had one good game and in my opinion he hasn't beaten Will for a rotation spot.

Thank you for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

You know, I agree. If LMA is going to shoot jumpers he should really take one step back and shoot a 3 instead. Shooting 2s makes him a very inefficient scorer, but the chance to get 50% more points out of essentially the same shot would make him more efficient, but would do even more for the team aside from the extra points. Currently teams don't defend him on the pick/pop - they know that LMA shooting 18' jumpers will rarely beat them. So they give them to him. What this does is throw Lillard - the guy with the ball - into a double-team every single time he runs off of a LMA screen. So you've got your two best players shooting low-percentage jumpers or getting jammed with two defenders. BUT - if LMA is shooting 3s at anything close to the percentage he's shooting on his long-2s then the opponent can't afford to swarm Lillard with two defenders on every pick. This puts Lillard in single coverage, where he's freer to maneuver, pass, and score.

Thank you for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

Last I saw basketball is a team game. Aldridge really isn't playing any different than he was early in the season when the Blazers where hot. Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith always warned us about jump shooting teams. They also said the Blazers would slip as the season went on. I don't think Aldridge is the only one to blame here. Part two better be about Stotts or Lillard.

Thanks for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

Teams will give LA all the mid range turn around fade aways he wants. It's not a good shot. Portland was better off without him. Have they won a game since he returned?

Thanks for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

Aldridge continues to regress and become a less and less efficient shooter every season lately. Sadly, he is becoming a volume, shooter who is not converting very well from an effective FG% rate at all.

There was an article done earlier in the year pointing out this exact thing but the writer took a lot of flak for it from this and other forums. It turns out as the season goes on, that particular take is becoming more and more true.

LaMarcus needs to get to the basket more and spend more time in the deep post. Fadeaway jumpers as the season goes on and the legs get tired are just not a dependable shot.

:matrix:

Thanks for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

Our best player refuses to play his position, PF, because he's a natural C. His bad attitude sets an example to other big men like Batum and Leonard to play soft. The mental core of the team is pudding.

Thanks for talking basketball
 
Re: Fixing the Blazers Part 1

well I think this is certainly a huge part of this discussion, will a 30-33 year old LMA be worth the money shown? or is it better to trade him, get value, and move on?

Thanks for talking basketball
 
To everyone who I thanked thanks once again for contributing but since there seems a lack of interest in this thread I will not be finishing the series.

This ends the basketball section of the forum please go back to trolling, fighting and posting stupid gif's.
 

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