inside info

[KingSpeed]

Talked to someone very close to the team. Two things:

1) They're very happy with Oden. Just need to keep him out of foul trouble.

2) Andre Miller has ruined the chemistry.

Hmm... trade in December?

 

[hasoos]

DEAL COMING SOON!

 

[andalusian]

Talked to someone very close to the team.

Damn. I wish I had that kind of access to "THE" someone very close to the team.

 

[B-Roy]

Talked to someone very close to the team. Two things:

1) They're very happy with Oden. Just need to keep him out of foul trouble.

What? But I was under the impression that Oden was hurting the team...

 

[hasoos]

Damn. I wish I had that kind of access to "THE" someone very close to the team.

Don't you sit in the lower bowl area? That is much closer to the team, than I am in the 300 level! Maybe if you talked to somebody sitting behind the bench, you could talk to somebody "close" to the team too!

 

[andalusian]

Don't you sit in the lower bowl area? That is much closer to the team, than I am in the 300 level! Maybe if you talked to somebody sitting behind the bench, you could talk to somebody "close" to the team too!

Nope, not me. I am mostly at the 300 level as well. I had tickets to 100 level seats last year for a couple of games - and quite honestly - I enjoy the 300 level better. People are very polite and well dressed at the 100 level - but they are loud and passionate at the 300 - which, for me, is part of the appeal.

I think I have a couple of 200 level seats for this year, but most of the games I go to are at the 300 level.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Well, he was plan D.

-Hedo
-Milsap
-Lee
-Miller

Not trading RLEC was a brilliant move.

 

[Paxil]

That is a bad sign when players are blaming their poor performance on someone else. You see players do that with coaches sometimes... where they play lazy and like shit... blame the coach... have the coach canned and then they play their asses off. Was it the coach?

I think the Blazers may be looking at something to point the finger at right now... but until they all point it back at themselves nothing will change.

 

[BBert]

Talked to someone very close to the team. Two things:

2) Andre Miller has ruined the chemistry.

Who's fault is that? Miller? Roy? Other? Nobody's fault, it's just a natural result of trying to integrate a new player with a dominant style?

Is this finger pointing or just a general statement?

 

[Buzz Killington]

Remember that this Imaginary Cap Space was supposed to put us over the top.

TOM PENN IS A GENIUS!!!!

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Well, he was plan D.

-Hedo
-Milsap
-Lee
-Miller

Not trading RLEC was a brilliant move.

I second the fact that keeping RLEC was awesome, and set the foundation for the championship

 

[oldguy]

Talked to someone very close to the team. Two things:

1) They're very happy with Oden. Just need to keep him out of foul trouble.

2) Andre Miller has ruined the chemistry.

Hmm... trade in December?

So, do you still think Oden is hurting the team more than he helps?

 

[MIXUM]

we need a trade sooner... by then it might be too late. cant fall that far behind

 

[Shapecity]

Miller becomes eligible to be traded in 39 days, on Dec. 15.

 

[maxiep]

The chemistry has been disrupted, but it's not like Miller is a cancer. He's just trying to figure out his role. Roy hasn't exactly embraced him. If you're going to be a leader of a team, you have to take responsibility for the team chemistry.

 

[magnifier661]

Wow, it freaking amazes me that one player has ruined everything. I'm not saying it can't happen, since I remembered in 2000-01 season we changed Brian Grant and Jermaine Oneal (didn't get too many minutes) into Dale Davis and Shawn Kemp. We all know what happened after that.

I guess I'm so floored because it almost seems like the same damn pattern as that year. We have good strides, almost ready for that next level. BOOM we make trades to get technically better, yet it screws up all the chemistry.

 

[magnifier661]

The chemistry has been disrupted, but it's not like Miller is a cancer. He's just trying to figure out his role. Roy hasn't exactly embraced him. If you're going to be a leader of a team, you have to take responsibility for the team chemistry.

I agree. It's not like you hear Miller demanding minutes or being an 'off court' distraction. I think the chemistry problem, if there is one, has more to do with the entire team, not an individual. Could possibly be Miller as the reason, and the team not embracing him the why.

 

[RR7]

Curious when anyone else has "inside info" why they get demands for links, sources, etc.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Curious when anyone else has "inside info" why they get demands for links, sources, etc.

They don't. When someone says it is inside info from a course close to the team, you assume they cant name the source and you either take them at their word, or you don't.

 

[hasoos]

Aaah hell it doesn't matter. I mean, the world ends in 2012 anyhow right?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Is the inside source Anotonio Harvey . . . he has been claiming Miller would be bad for chemistry before Miller even arrived.

 

[RR7]

They don't. When someone says it is inside info from a course close to the team, you assume they cant name the source and you either take them at their word, or you don't.

Yes they do. Every time I have ever seen someone mention a source on here, for one, at least one person will ask "Link?", and many others will chime in asking about the info.

 

[Blaze01]

IF some of you think that if Miller was suddenly gone that this team would go back to playing what it was like last year then your delusional....

It isn't Miller...it is POR offense people, other teams have figured out this simplistic offense....POR offense of "get the ball to Roy!" flew under the radar last year, but as the season wore on and certainly in the playoffs teams figured it out and started double teaming him as soon as he got the ball with 8-10 seconds left and if possible they tried to trap him above\at the top of the key...this forces Roy either to make a difficult play vs 2+ defenders or pass the ball away and guys like Blake\Outlaw\Webster to make a play.

To Roy's credit and ability he was able to make some unbelievable plays when double teamed or when the defense was trying to stop\get the ball out of his hands....but he isn't Kobe\LeBron (and even they cannot win games CONSISTENTLY by themselves...particularly against good teams)...and it isn't working so far this year, and good teams that play defense are closing out on guys like Blake\Outlaw\Webster forcing them to put the ball on the floor and make a play, usually with very little time (2-5sec) on the shot clock....and then people wonder why the offense is struggling....

Where have Rudy & Miller been late in games? Often times on the bench or shuttled in\out of the game...and even if they are in the game, they are so poorly utilized that it negates thier PLAYMAKING capabilites.

What good is it to have Rudy on the floor if you just have him stand at the 3pt line waiting for a Roy bailout pass? It is ridiculous, put the ball in his hands and let him create a play for himself, ROY, or another player. You think defenses are going to double team him at the top of the key?

What good is it to have Miller in the game if you have him standing around, watching Roy go 1v1 or 1v2, and be there as a kick out for a jumpshot? Is that Miller's forte? Give the ball to Miller and let him create for himself (he got to the line 550 times last year), ROY or another player.

This isn't rocket science, and the whole notion of Roy NEEDS the ball in his hands is a ridiculous one...Why can't the team run ROY off a pick\screen (like they do for Rudy on too few occassions) to free him from a defender and THEN he can make his move\cut to the basket or take a jumper.

Having the offense stand around, watching to see what Roy does (shoot\pass) when they REALLY NEED a basket is not an effective offense, and BTW, very easy to scheme for, no matter how great the player is. They have other playmakers in Rudy & Miller, Nate\Roy need to put some trust in them and allow them to create\put some pressure on opposing defenses. It doesn't preclude Roy from taking the meaningful shots that need to be made, it just means that instead of him INITIATING the offense, he ends up as a finisher...is that a bad thing? I can't fathom how it would be, and BTW it makes POR offense more hard to scheme for\defend, and isn't that the whole point?

Obviously, management saw this when they pursued Hedo Turkoglu, a player who can create with the ball in his hands, but now it is as if they either have gotten cold feet, developed amnesia, or are struggling with getting Roy to buy into this concept. As soon as Roy\Nate figure this out, and utilize Rudy\Miller more effectively (in minutes and letting them share some of the burden in creating\initiating the offense) the better the team will play and the results will follow.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Talked to someone very close to the team. Two things:

1) They're very happy with Oden. Just need to keep him out of foul trouble.

2) Andre Miller has ruined the chemistry.

Hmm... trade in December?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........................................................

My insider tells me that they love Miller and can't stand Oden's fouls.

 

[Paxil]

I agree... Miller isn't the problem. I am not even sure if there is a 'problem.' In my opinion I thought we played a bit over our heads last year based on out talent. I was a bit worried that we would come back down to earth this year... and I think we have... but we are still a playoff team.

The sky isn't falling. Last year we beat a lot of teams because we brought 100% effort the whole game. This year they are playing like they should be handed a win. That won't happen.

 

[blue32]

LOL @ Kingspeed. No offense, but why the fuck would you even post this shit? Like really?? lol

 

[crowTrobot]

don't trust zack addy!

 

[Idog1976]

IF some of you think that if Miller was suddenly gone that this team would go back to playing what it was like last year then your delusional....

It isn't Miller...it is POR offense people, other teams have figured out this simplistic offense....POR offense of "get the ball to Roy!" flew under the radar last year, but as the season wore on and certainly in the playoffs teams figured it out and started double teaming him as soon as he got the ball with 8-10 seconds left and if possible they tried to trap him above\at the top of the key...this forces Roy either to make a difficult play vs 2+ defenders or pass the ball away and guys like Blake\Outlaw\Webster to make a play.

To Roy's credit and ability he was able to make some unbelievable plays when double teamed or when the defense was trying to stop\get the ball out of his hands....but he isn't Kobe\LeBron (and even they cannot win games CONSISTENTLY by themselves...particularly against good teams)...and it isn't working so far this year, and good teams that play defense are closing out on guys like Blake\Outlaw\Webster forcing them to put the ball on the floor and make a play, usually with very little time (2-5sec) on the shot clock....and then people wonder why the offense is struggling....

Where have Rudy & Miller been late in games? Often times on the bench or shuttled in\out of the game...and even if they are in the game, they are so poorly utilized that it negates thier PLAYMAKING capabilites.

What good is it to have Rudy on the floor if you just have him stand at the 3pt line waiting for a Roy bailout pass? It is ridiculous, put the ball in his hands and let him create a play for himself, ROY, or another player. You think defenses are going to double team him at the top of the key?

What good is it to have Miller in the game if you have him standing around, watching Roy go 1v1 or 1v2, and be there as a kick out for a jumpshot? Is that Miller's forte? Give the ball to Miller and let him create for himself (he got to the line 550 times last year), ROY or another player.

This isn't rocket science, and the whole notion of Roy NEEDS the ball in his hands is a ridiculous one...Why can't the team run ROY off a pick\screen (like they do for Rudy on too few occassions) to free him from a defender and THEN he can make his move\cut to the basket or take a jumper.

Having the offense stand around, watching to see what Roy does (shoot\pass) when they REALLY NEED a basket is not an effective offense, and BTW, very easy to scheme for, no matter how great the player is. They have other playmakers in Rudy & Miller, Nate\Roy need to put some trust in them and allow them to create\put some pressure on opposing defenses. It doesn't preclude Roy from taking the meaningful shots that need to be made, it just means that instead of him INITIATING the offense, he ends up as a finisher...is that a bad thing? I can't fathom how it would be, and BTW it makes POR offense more hard to scheme for\defend, and isn't that the whole point?

Obviously, management saw this when they pursued Hedo Turkoglu, a player who can create with the ball in his hands, but now it is as if they either have gotten cold feet, developed amnesia, or are struggling with getting Roy to buy into this concept. As soon as Roy\Nate figure this out, and utilize Rudy\Miller more effectively (in minutes and letting them share some of the burden in creating\initiating the offense) the better the team will play and the results will follow.

Absolutely! +1000. The problem is Nate is a terrible coach and was bailed out in 2007/08 when Roy concluded "I need the ball in my hands more." It worked great until, as you said, other teams figured it out. The fact is Nate is just a horrible, horrible offensive coach who happens to have a few extremely talented offensive players who bailed him out the past couple of years. His inability to sort this out falls squarely on his shoulders. Blaming Oden for foul trouble when we have such porous perimiter defense is as ludicrous as blaming Miller for not hitting a three ball. It's all about coaching along with some huge flaws in our perimiter defense. When I see LMA settling for 18 foot jumpers and virtually no points in the paint in the 2nd half with virtually EVERY play called from the bench, I find it difficult to conclude it's the players fault.

Nate and Roy both need to adjust. If Roy wants to be considered a Superstar he needs to start adjusting his game. Melo can score by penetration, post up, mid-range, long range as a cutter and from the line. Roy needs to start cutting to the hoop or trailing Andre's penetration and to keep his trap shut about defense until he commits. The only three players I've seen play defense in the regular season are Joel, Oden and Martell. That's a big problem.

 

[Ed O]

I believe that winning breeds chemistry, and (except in EXTREME cases) chemistry has very little to do with winning.

I don't think that chemistry is making us miss free throws or causing our guys to get into foul trouble.

Ed O.

 

[BlazerFanForLife]

Trade Idea.. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yhoaguz