Fixing the Blazers Part 1 & II (1 Viewer)

cmeese47 · Mar 12, 2014

rasheedfan2005 said:
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.

Strenuus · Mar 12, 2014

cmeese47 said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 12, 2014

rasheedfan2005 said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 12, 2014

Strenuus said:
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.

rasheedfan2005 · Mar 12, 2014

cmeese47 said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 12, 2014

rasheedfan2005 said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 12, 2014

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.

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

Taking a vote who should I write part three on

Blazinaway · Mar 13, 2014

cmeese47 said:
Taking a vote who should I write part three on

Slypokerdog

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

Did not realize he was back from the d league already

HailBlazers · Mar 13, 2014

cmeese47 said:
Taking a vote who should I write part three on

Allan Crabbe, scratch that Wesley Mathews.

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

Matthews would be a good choice anyone else got a suggestion.

riverman · Mar 13, 2014

Dorell Wright

riverman · Mar 13, 2014

cmeese47 said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

riverman said:
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.

Strenuus · Mar 13, 2014

cmeese47 said:
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.

riverman · Mar 13, 2014

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.

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

riverman said:
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.

cmeese47 · Mar 13, 2014

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.

cmeese47 · Mar 14, 2014

Going to be Wesley then Lillard then Lopez

cmeese47 · Mar 15, 2014

Strenuus said:
He's aggressive about 20% of the time it seems.... That's 80% frustrating.

Thank you for talking basketball

cmeese47 · Mar 15, 2014

riverman said:
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

cmeese47 · Mar 15, 2014