I thought Nate wanted to run more?

[Mediocre Man]

Miller said that idea is fine, but during the preseason he never felt an emphasis or the ability to run much. Instead, Miller said McMillan "pretty much controls how the game goes from the bench."

"The same type of style they play here, I played in Philly, but we wanted to get the ball out in transition, whereas (in Portland) it's more of a controlled tempo," Miller said. "You know, play late in the shot clock. We can (fast-break) here, but that's not the style they want to play. I played this style in college for four years, so I think I can adjust to any style, it's just going to take a bit. Then everything will be all right."

For all of you that keep saying Nate hasn't run because of personel, suck it.

 

[ABM]

For all of you that keep saying Nate hasn't run because of personel, suck it.

I wonder what Andre means by they "can" fast-break?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

They can fastbreak because the roster is full of players who really should be in an uptempo system.

I'm glad Nate only signs one-year contracts. Time to find the right coach for this team.

 

[ABM]

Time to find the right coach for this team.

Why? He's met/exceeded expectations the last few years. As it stands, I don't see any reason to expect anything different this coming season.

I sure hope this thread doesn't end up wending down one of those Chicken Little paths.

 

[Natebishop3]

Why? He's met/exceeded expectations the last few years. As it stands, I don't see any reason to expect anything different this coming season.

I sure hope this thread doesn't end up wending down one of those Chicken Little paths.

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

 

[andalusian]

Have you guys noticed how many turn-overs this team had so far this pre-season?

Maybe holding them back until they start showing they can take care of the ball better is a good idea?

Color me surprised however that some have already staked their claim in the ground before the season even started...

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

That exact quote stuck out at me when I read that article the other day. I think it may be time to (finally!) loosen the reins.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

I agree with you Nate. I can see this team digressing some. But it wont be this year IMO.

When they do digress. That's when coach will be looked at hard for the job he has done. And might be replaced. I just don't see him as the long term fixture here.

 

[ABM]

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

Call me ignorant, but if Nate is that bad, then why has he been an ast. on the USA team the past number of years??

 

[illmatic99]

I agree with you Nate. I can see this team digressing some. But it wont be this year IMO.

When they do digress. That's when coach will be looked at hard for the job he has done. And might be replaced. I just don't see him as the long term fixture here.

digress?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Call me ignorant, but if Nate is that bad, then why has he been an ast. on the USA team the past number of years??

Nate has been the "defensive" coach on those teams. I also don't think anyone, including a huge Nate hater like myself, would argue that he isn't a fantastic assistant coach. Nate is wonderful at motivation, but not that skilled in the "in-game" aspects of the game. His players are the primary reason this team has done as well as it has. Mike Brown is an example of a coach who is not nearly as good as his record suggests. He won coach of the year this past season, and was rumored to be on the hot seat. Doc Rivers was on the hot seat as well before 3 potential HOFers were joined on his team. Nate was almost fired in Seattle until he had 1 good season.

 

[ABM]

Nate has been the "defensive" coach on those teams. I also don't think anyone, including a huge Nate hater like myself, would argue that he isn't a fantastic assistant coach. Nate is wonderful at motivation, but not that skilled in the "in-game" aspects of the game. His players are the primary reason this team has done as well as it has. Mike Brown is an example of a coach who is not nearly as good as his record suggests. He won coach of the year this past season, and was rumored to be on the hot seat. Doc Rivers was on the hot seat as well before 3 potential HOFers were joined on his team. Nate was almost fired in Seattle until he had 1 good season.

Like I said, this team has improved at a more than decent clip the past few years. If you attribute that purely to player talent, then so be it. However, I'm gonna still take a sit back and see approach until demonstrated otherwise.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Like I said, this team has improved at a more than decent clip the past few years. If you attribute that purely to player talent, then so be it. However, I'm gonna still take a sit back and see approach until demonstrated otherwise.

And I get that.

Mike Brown went from 45 to 66 wins in one year. Would you want him as coach?

Doc Rivers went from 24 to 66 wins in one year. Was it his coaching that got better?



I think Nate's record has improved because his talent level has improved. In his first full season as head coach of the Sonics, Nate's team won 45 games. Then 40, then 37. Then all of a sudden, his team won 52. Did he suck as a coach, and then all of a sudden figure it out OR did his team just get better? Our team started to improve at the exact same time as 2nd team all NBA player, Brandon Roy arrived. I just don't think that is a coincidence.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

And I get that.

Mike Brown went from 45 to 66 wins in one year. Would you want him as coach?

Doc Rivers went from 24 to 66 wins in one year. Was it his coaching that got better?



I think Nate's record has improved because his talent level has improved. In his first full season as head coach of the Sonics, Nate's team won 45 games. Then 40, then 37. Then all of a sudden, his team won 52. Did he suck as a coach, and then all of a sudden figure it out OR did his team just get better? Our team started to improve at the exact same time as 2nd team all NBA player, Brandon Roy arrived. I just don't think that is a coincidence.

I think Doc is underrated. His coaching didn't lose them anything. Look at Dunleavy and the resources he had at his disposal back in 99-02. Did he make good out of them?

 

[ABM]

I think Nate's record has improved because his talent level has improved. In his first full season as head coach of the Sonics, Nate's team won 45 games. Then 40, then 37. Then all of a sudden, his team won 52. Did he suck as a coach, and then all of a sudden figure it out OR did his team just get better? Our team started to improve at the exact same time as 2nd team all NBA player, Brandon Roy arrived. I just don't think that is a coincidence.

And I get that.

That said, I think you've been rather harsh on Nate the coach. IMO, he's done nothing here in Portland to indicate that he's doing a poor coaching job. In fact, he's been lauded in quite a few circles (players, other coaches, other team's management, and media alike) as being a heck of a coach.

So, just because he appears to be too controlling to you, you want to write him off as a coaching failure?

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

And I get that.

That said, I think you've been rather harsh on Nate the coach. IMO, he's done nothing here in Portland to indicate that he's doing a poor coaching job. In fact, he's been lauded in quite a few circles (players, other coaches, other team's management, and media alike) as being a heck of a coach.

So, just because he appears to be too controlling to you, you want to write him off as a coaching failure?

It might be something below the surface that you yourself and many other fans aren't seeing.

 

[ABM]

It might be something below the surface that you yourself and many other fans aren't seeing.

Yeah, uh huh.

 

[B-Roy]

Yeah, Nate sucks! I hate Nate!

I want the team to lose so everyone will know Nate sucks!

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

No part of me hopes the Blazers will fail...regardless of whether it proves me right or not...

 

[drexlersdad]

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

That sucks man. That really sucks. Ass.

 

[rocketeer]

For all of you that keep saying Nate hasn't run because of personel, suck it.

why are so many people here obsessed with the idea of running?

 

[rocketeer]

Part of me hopes the team implodes this season, so people will see that Nate is NOT the reason this team has been winning.

and you really call yourself a blazer fan? no one thinks nate is the reason portland has done well, but he obviously isn't doing a bad overall job. hoping the team you're supposed to be a fan of fails so you can "prove" some point you have about the coach is just ridiculous.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

and you really call yourself a blazer fan? no one thinks nate is the reason portland has done well, but he obviously isn't doing a bad overall job. hoping the team you're supposed to be a fan of fails so you can "prove" some point you have about the coach is just ridiculous.

I hope the man becomes the greatest thing since Greg Poppavich. But I don't think that is going to happen.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm not on the Nate-hate wagon -- yet -- but I do see MM's main point (and Fez's & Nate's) that this team is mostly loaded with players who would crush it if they played in a more free flowing offense, and regardless of what Nate was able to do with a young team, there always comes a time when a coach needs to release a little control and let his players dictate the flow of the game through their own ability to read and react, instead of constantly going into set plays. Is that time now? Is the team ready for that yet? I'm not sure, but I have a hunch it's pretty close.

The real rub, is Nate going to be able to grow as a coach as his team grows, or is he mostly the guy you bring in to help restore order and rebuild -- I don't think anybody knows the answer right now, but if things stagnate at some point I think there's a very real chance Nate decides to move on in the near future or the team will decide to go in a different direction.

 

[Ed O]

I feel like I have to support Mediocre Man in this thread even though I am not a pro-running team guy...

Wanting to run and thinking Nate WANTS to run are two separate things.

I want to win, and I don't care if we run or not (although since I have three Blazers on my fantasy team, I could use the increased stats)... but some people around here seem to ACTUALLY think that Nate's willing to let the team run, in spite of years and years of evidence to the contrary.

Ed O.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

i dont care if we run or not as long as our defense is elite.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Sounds like Miller wants a more uptempo style, if so he needs to go into Nate's office and tell him so. And maybe take some other players with him who also want to run.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I wouldn't say "running" per se, I would say that we are among the league's worst in two of the three most efficient shots in the offense:

Layups/dunks
Free throws
Open Threes

while relying heavily on the most inefficient shot in basketball, the long two-point jumper. Whether or not we "run" more is irrelevant to me, so long as we get more dunks and free throws. Usually, that comes with running. But if Nate can figure out a way to do it without running, I'm ok with that.

 

[ABM]

I wouldn't say "running" per se, I would say that we are among the league's worst in two of the three most efficient shots in the offense:

(a) Layups/dunks
(b) Free throws
(c) Open Threes

while relying heavily on the most inefficient shot in basketball, the long two-point jumper. Whether or not we "run" more is irrelevant to me, so long as we get more dunks and free throws. Usually, that comes with running. But if Nate can figure out a way to do it without running, I'm ok with that.

IMO, The more attention Greg commands, the greater the opportunities of a, b, and c.

 

[LittleAlex]

IMO, The more attention Greg commands, the greater the opportunities of a, b, and c.

Bingo!

Oden and Miller both will increase the number of free throws and inside points by themselves. Miller has an excellent post game that I am hoping Portland exploits.

As for running; no team coached by Nate will run. Period. I don't think there is much correlation between pace and winning percentage. I could be wrong about that, though. It just seems to me that the most successful teams of the last 10 years were fairly slow paced. The Spurs and Detroit being the extreme example.

I just hope Portland doesn't pass up the occational easy scoring opportunity like they did last year. 10 fast break points a game is where I think they should end up this year.