How to Use Gerald Wallace

[BBert]

I just think we need to be patient and let the guy find his niche. It's only been... 3 games?

Let Gerald find his niche? More like pray for Nate McMillan to find a niche for Gerald within the offense. Somehow, I don't see Nate changing his basic offensive system to satisfy one player not named Brandon Roy.

 

[MIXUM]

if batum is james jones.... im michael jordon

 

[anonymous gambler]

if batum is james jones.... im michael jordon

As long as you're not Jordan...

 

[LameR]

Is it so hard for small forwards to generate offense by crashing the offensive boards? What about players who can find the open space to receive a pass, after teammates like Andre Miller or LaMarcus Aldridge attract more than one defender?

I thought that Gerald Wallace was the kind of player who "didn't need plays run for him"?

I don't mean to let McMillan off the hook - he should find better ways to use his newest player, but does anyone think Nate is telling Wallace to nail his feet to the three-point line and stay there? I don't.

I think you're right, but I'm also curious (and have no idea) if he's supposed to hangout on the three point line like Batum. I'd love to see him make some cuts, which he did a couple of times in the 4th because I think that puts him in a better position to score. Even if he doesn't get the ball, it creates some more movement, and causes the defense to adjust. I genuinely don't know if that's on Wallace for not doing, or Nate for not instructing/emphasizing.

 

[mgb]

I don't think Wallace should just sit at the 3 point line, but do you think he starts there for spacing until he knows the team better and then makes moves from there?

 

[julius]

How can anyone who claims to be a fan of the Blazers (or hell, the NBA...or fuck, sports in general) misspell Michael Fucking Jordan's last name?!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

How can anyone who claims to be a fan of the Blazers (or hell, the NBA...or fuck, sports in general) misspell Michael Fucking Jordan's last name?!

You misspelled his middle name...

 

[julius]

You misspelled his middle name...

there are three accepted ways of spelling his middle name. Jeffrey, Geoffrey and Fucking.

 

[Kaydow]

I just think we need to be patient and let the guy find his niche. It's only been... 3 games?

I agree with this, but I saw something that bothered me last night. In the post game interview, Gerald Wallace looked like he was going to cry. Granted, it must have been hard for him to play against the franchise that he was poster child for 9 days earlier. His body language was terrible, and he just looked totally depressed and out of his element. He tried to say all the right things like "it's tough, but at least we got the win", but it looked like he was on autopilot - just saying the things he knows he's supposed to say. Not trying to overreact, but he was not happy. I don't if it has more to do with playing the Bobs, or not. But I have a feeling he doesn't like how he's being used. Nate has said that he prefers to keep GW coming off the bench as the 2nd unit "go-to-guy". I don't think GW wants anything to do with that. He's just too much of a nice guy to complain about it . . . yet.

 

[handiman]

I agree with this, but I saw something that bothered me last night. In the post game interview, Gerald Wallace looked like he was going to cry. Granted, it must have been hard for him to play against the franchise that he was poster child for 9 days earlier. His body language was terrible, and he just looked totally depressed and out of his element. He tried to say all the right things like "it's tough, but at least we got the win", but it looked like he was on autopilot - just saying the things he knows he's supposed to say. Not trying to overreact, but he was not happy. I don't if it has more to do with playing the Bobs, or not. But I have a feeling he doesn't like how he's being used. Nate has said that he prefers to keep GW coming off the bench as the 2nd unit "go-to-guy". I don't think GW wants anything to do with that. He's just too much of a nice guy to complain about it . . . yet.

I didn't see the interview, but from what I have seen of him in that element, he seems to be very stoic/stiff/expressionless. He takes his time picking the right words but gives little visual indication of how he feels, much like McMillan.

 

[BrianFromWA]

if batum is james jones.... im michael jordon

that explains your scouting skills and decision-making! We have a winner!

 

[BrianFromWA]

BTW, how did it go 40 posts without "not like this f&$#(%# mess!"

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

START HIM and play him 35 min!