For a good laugh ...

[Nikolokolus]

Check it out.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/trail_blazers_practice_coach_m.html

Some highlights:

Were you guys running new plays there at the end of the practice?
“No. Basically just working on our sets. The basics is where we have to get back to on both ends of the floor. Defensively, talking on D. Weakside has to be tight, we have to help. Offensively, setting screens, using screens. Just the basics.”

That’s the stuff that you think has been missing the last couple of games?
“It has been missing, along with just scrapping. We have to scrap. There always has to be that scrappy play and that sense of urgency; but also being connected and (having) execution on both ends of the floor.”

Good to see Nate talking about "scrappy" play

Did you guys have the conversation about the offense recently?
“We’ve talked about it a couple times.”

Since the last game?
“No. This was part of the meeting that we’ve had the last two years at my house. So it’s not …”

Anything new?
“No. This is what those meetings were about. I thought we would get to this last year and we didn’t because Greg got injured and ended up coming off the bench. And we talked about it this year, again, that’s what those meetings were about. This is not something that’s all of a sudden happened.”

Outstanding. Nate hasn't talked about how to run an inside-out game since he had meetings with Roy, Aldridge and Oden at his house two times during the past two off-seasons ... awesome, just awesome.

There's more inside if you can bear to read it.

 

[B-Roy]

So you’ve seen this coming?
“It’s not seen it coming. It’s what’s going to happen. It’s just, you’ve got three options and you’ve got three young guys who are trying to establish themselves and learn to play together. And that doesn’t just happen overnight.”

Is there a positive in this?
“The positive is that we do have Greg Oden healthy and playing and now we’ve got to work out playing with a big who’s been in the post. We haven’t had that.”

Does going through this now set you up for the long term?
“Of course it has to. It has to. Because those three … OK, we could put it this way: Probably the balance would have been Greg coming off the bench, where now you can get everybody touches. In my mind, that can’t happen, simply because that’s your No. 1 pick, that’s your center of the future. LaMarcus and Brandon, those three are the future. We needed that last year. We didn’t get it. And we got it this year and now we have to work through it.”

That's the most positive part of the interview.

 

[hasoos]

I read this article, and I got the feeling Nate was on the defensive about his calls again, just the way he talked. Some of the questions were really good though and put him under the gun to a certain extent, but they were not as tough as they needed to be.

 

[cdub503]

wish someone would just ask nate why blake starts.... that would be a good fuckin question

 

[Boob-No-More]

"now we’ve got to work out playing with a big who’s been in the post. We haven’t had that.”

Wrong! During Roy and Aldridge's rookie year they played with ZBo who got a HELL of a lot more touches in the low post than Oden gets. And, Aldridge and Roy both played GREAT during the month of March when Aldridge finally moved into the starting line-up at center next to Zach at PF.

If Roy and Aldridge can flourish playing with a black hole like Zach, why can't they flourish next to Greg Oden, who is a much more efficient scorer who demands fewer shots? Sounds to me like yet another excuse for an unimaginative, plodding offense led by a PG who can't/won't make a decent entry pass and can't push the pace to save his life.

Oden, Aldridge and Roy aren't the problem. Blake is. Miller needs to start and he needs to start with Roy at SG and Webster at SF.

Note to Nate: Start your best five players at their natural positions and it will make things a lot easier for everyone.

BNM

 

[yakbladder]

There's more inside if you can bear to read it.

Geezum, you make it sound like the end of the world.

If you read the article it's not that bad. He talks about Oden being a cornerstone and guys getting used to having a new cornerstone there. He directly addresses Roy not getting enough touches. It's like wtf do you want the guy to say?

 

[hasoos]

wish someone would just ask nate why blake starts.... that would be a good fuckin question

Yea I would like to see that too. And not asked in a nice way. Kind of more in the spirit of "Why the fuck are you doing this you dumb fuck?"

 

[Boob-No-More]

He directly addresses Roy not getting enough touches. It's like wtf do you want the guy to say?

I want him to say:

"I will bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller at PG because he can actually make an entry pass into the low post and will push the pace, getting more shots for everyone."

There, problem solved, And, it really wasn't that hard.

BNM

 

[B-Roy]

I want him to say:

"I will bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller at PG because he can actually make an entry pass into the low post and will push the pace, getting more shots for everyone."

There, problem solved, And, it really wasn't that hard.

BNM

Yup, I say "push the pace" and all of a sudden we now have a fast offense.

Geez, who needs D'Antoni?

 

[yakbladder]

I want him to say:

"I will bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller at PG because he can actually make an entry pass into the low post and will push the pace, getting more shots for everyone."

There, problem solved, And, it really wasn't that hard.

BNM

So none of the other information he provided makes a difference? I understand some of you are zero-sum game, you must have all or nothing. I agree that Nate has shortcomings. But for all of the bazillion complaints that people have because Nate doesn't call them secretly in the middle of the night asking for coaching advice, you'd think he'd at least get some credit for talking about wanting Oden to be a cornerstone, getting Oden his touches, and definitely going to Oden when it's 1v1.

 

[illmatic99]

@ SCRAPPY.

I don't think Nate has ever gone through an interview without saying that word.

 

[PapaG]

So none of the other information he provided makes a difference? I understand some of you are zero-sum game, you must have all or nothing. I agree that Nate has shortcomings. But for all of the bazillion complaints that people have because Nate doesn't call them secretly in the middle of the night asking for coaching advice, you'd think he'd at least get some credit for talking about wanting Oden to be a cornerstone, getting Oden his touches, and definitely going to Oden when it's 1v1.

There seem to be a lot of "single-issue voters" around here, if you'll allow my stretch of the term. It's impossible for a player or a coach to win in that situation if their game or their style doesn't fit in 100% with the "voter" and his/her issue.

 

[RoyToy]

I just feel bad for Miller because he said the Blazers were his #1 team he wanted to sign with after hearing there were some talks to acquire him around the trade deadline last year. It's a shame he's being used like this.

 

[Boob-No-More]

So none of the other information he provided makes a difference? I understand some of you are zero-sum game, you must have all or nothing. I agree that Nate has shortcomings. But for all of the bazillion complaints that people have because Nate doesn't call them secretly in the middle of the night asking for coaching advice, you'd think he'd at least get some credit for talking about wanting Oden to be a cornerstone, getting Oden his touches, and definitely going to Oden when it's 1v1.

Talks is cheap. I want to see Nate act on his words. If he wants to get Greg more touches, the answer is simple - bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller. Otherwise, Greg is a total non-factor in the first half.

As I posted in another thread, in the last two games Greg has played a grand total of 1 minute with Andre in the first half. The results: zero 1st half points for Oden and a 29 point deficit to overcome against Memphis and four points and a 27 point deficit against Utah.

Right now, Oden, Roy and Aldridge are ALL being under utilized. None of them are getting enough shots. Why, because we play at a glacial pace with a starting PG who can't make entry pass to an unguarded 7-foot 270 lb center.

A faster pace means more shots for everyone. Miller hits Aldridge on the fast break for quick, easy baskets and feeds Oden the ball in the low post. Blake does neither.

BNM

 

[MARIS61]

Check it out.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/trail_blazers_practice_coach_m.html


Outstanding. Nate hasn't talked about how to run an inside-out game since he had meetings with Roy, Aldridge and Oden at his house two times during the past two off-seasons ... awesome, just awesome.

I thought Nate answered the loaded questions quite completely and clearly.

He's the coach, the players are adults being paid millions to listen to him and do as he says.

He really shouldn't ever have to repeat himself.

How did Roy ever graduate from college without basic comprehension skills, that's the mystery here.

 

[PapaG]

Talks is cheap. I want to see Nate act on his words. If he wants to get Greg more touches, the answer is simple - bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller. Otherwise, Greg is a total non-factor in the first half.

As I posted in another thread, in the last two games Greg has played a grand total of 1 minute with Andre in the first half. The results: zero 1st half points for Oden and a 29 point deficit to overcome against Memphis and four points and a 27 point deficit against Utah.

Right now, Oden, Roy and Aldridge are ALL being under utilized. None of them are getting enough shots. Why, because we play at a glacial pace with a starting PG who can't make entry pass to an unguarded 7-foot 270 lb center.

A faster pace means more shots for everyone. Miller hits Aldridge on the fast break for quick, easy baskets and feeds Oden the ball in the low post. Blake does neither.

BNM

A flat-out lie. Seriously, why make stuff up to argue your POV?

 

[illmatic99]

How did Roy ever graduate from college without basic comprehension skills, that's the mystery here.

I'm not sure Roy has his degree yet. I remember reading sometime back that he was going back during the summers for classes.

 

[toutlaw25]

Where do you think the team’s at right now? Still searching for identity?
“It is an adjustment. We have two guys (Martell Webster and Greg Oden) who weren’t starters last year in the starting lineup. And we have a guy (Oden) who wasn’t a huge part of the offense last year being a huge part. So it’s going to take some time for that adjustment because we’re playing a different way with a different group and we’re missing some guys and that takes a little time.”

Is there a balance as a coach to take the long-term perspective and worry about the now?
“We don’t have a choice. We have to. We have to take the long-term perspective if that’s what you want to call it. Because Greg is going to be there and LaMarcus (Aldridge) and Brandon (Roy), those are the cornerstones of this organization. So that development has got to happen. We’re probably a year or two behind on it, but it’s got to happen.”

I must be the only one that finds it odd how much Nate talks about needing so badly to incorporate Oden into the offense. Didn't he just get done saying at the start of the season that Oden just needed to focus on rebounding and defense and he didn't need to be involved in the offense? This is comical. You can't have both Nate.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think I figured it out. Nate is a very literal guy. He wants Greg Oden to be a cornerstone of our offense. He wants him to sit in the corner and act like a stone on offense so he can save his energy for rebounding and defense. See, there is nothing inconsistent in Nate's statements.

BNM

 

[Nikolokolus]

Geezum, you make it sound like the end of the world.

If you read the article it's not that bad. He talks about Oden being a cornerstone and guys getting used to having a new cornerstone there. He directly addresses Roy not getting enough touches. It's like wtf do you want the guy to say?

It's just a mostly terrible interview. Maybe it's just the way questions were phrased that turned me off, but I thought Nate came across as somewhat myopic and not particularly "in tune" with what appears to be going on. Then again, maybe he's just playing his cards close to his vest, or he's just super defensive about the way things are going right now.

 

[yakbladder]

It's just a mostly terrible interview. Maybe it's just the way questions were phrased that turned me off, but I thought Nate came across as somewhat myopic and not particularly "in tune" with what appears to be going on. Then again, maybe he's just playing his cards close to his vest, or he's just super defensive about the way things are going right now.

Well why don't we just go up to him and ask?

 

[Mediocre Man]

 

[C_note]

Nate is really starting to piss me off. He never takes accountability for anything but instead just thrusts blame on the players by claiming "lack of execution", "lack of scrappy play"...bullshit.
Over and Over.

FIRE NATE

 

[Rodolfo]

@ SCRAPPY.

I don't think Nate has ever gone through an interview without saying that word.

 

[Eastoff]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2009/11/blazers_getting_back_to_basics.html

Video here, basically saying the same stuff.

 

[jlprk]

As I posted in another thread, in the last two games Greg has played a grand total of 1 minute with Andre in the first half.

Miller only got 6 minutes in the whole of last game.

 

[jlprk]

This thread could be merged with this one, since both are premised on the same interview link in their opening posts.

http://sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150540

 

[boatsandstars]

Hrm. Is Nate past his sell-by date? He did us well in his time, but do we need to move on?