It's clear what we're missing

[Fez Hammersticks]

And that is a legit third option on offense.

Greg isn't that guy and probably wont be for a while.

Travis Outlaw shouldn't be that guy. He's just a spark off the bench. His lack of basketball IQ prevents him from even being that option.

Rudy has the skills but he's stuck behind Roy and often has to play out of position. The guy is not a PG or SF.

But, I've said it all summer, KP is too buddy-buddy with this roster to do anything major.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Oh, and a coach...

 

[Buzz Killington]

Martell could be that guy.

 

[RoyToy]

That legit third option is Andre Miller. Too bad Nate is a fucking idiot.

 

[illmatic99]

That legit third option is Andre Miller. Too bad Nate is a fucking idiot.

Absolutely correct.

 

[B-Roy]

That legit third option is Andre Miller. Too bad Nate is a fucking idiot.

Have you been watching the games? Miller is taking a bunch of shots. Problem is, he's shooting way too many jumpers, and missing them all.

 

[Buzz Killington]

His jumper is atrocious. He's good at posting, penetrating (kind of) and getting boards...I don't want him shooting jumpers.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Miller isn't that guy. I'd like to see him facilitate more than score. He led the league in lob passes last year and with this roster he should be throwing lobs all freaking game. But, Nate's system totally takes him out of his game. It's all about ISO's late in the clock.

 

[RoyToy]

15pts on 4-9 shooting and 7-9 from the FT.

What's that, another player that gets to the FT line consistently other than Brandon Roy?

Andre Miller should play 30+ minutes every single game. It's a complete joke that he isn't.

 

[B-Roy]

Oh, and don't give me the excuse that it's "Nate's Offense". The jumpers he's taking are ones he doesn't need to be taking at all. (They aren't even open)

 

[Buzz Killington]

Miller needs to start. that's for damn sure.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Martell could be that guy.

Uh, no. He doesn't create his own shot well enough.

 

[illmatic99]

I think Miller will start tomorrow. Blake looked a bit gimpy there at the end.

It's uncanny.

07-08- Jack starts three games before Blake starts over him. Record: 1-2 (edit: shit. it was 0-3)
08-09- Outlaw starts three games before Batum starts over him. Record: 1-2
09-10- Blake starts three games before Miller starts over him?? Record: 1-2

 

[julius]

I think Andre is taking outside shots because thats what the offense runs him as.

It's like they're trying to play him as Steve Blake sometimes.

The fact he's shot as many 3 pointers as he has seems to suggest that.

And I just don't get how they can't take advantage of Oden's inside presence. No driving and dishing, no PnR's with him, nothing.

It's like watching a team that sucks, and has 1 or 2 players they have to depend on to score. Our offense is predictable and not good. The teams defense makes the offense look great.

Plus, we allow players who have no business shooting, shoot. If Travis is 1-7, he should not have an isolated play called for him, nor should he try to go 1 on anyone.

 

[julius]

I think Miller will start tomorrow. Blake looked a bit gimpy there at the end.

It's uncanny.

07-08- Jack starts three games before Blake starts over him. Record: 1-2
08-09- Outlaw starts three games before Batum starts over him. Record: 1-2
09-10- Blake starts three games before Miller starts over him?? Record: 1-2

Very solid observation. Obviously the slow start didn't kill the team in the end (well, the 08 team just sucked). But so far, Nate's preferred starting 5 for 3 straight years hasn't actually started off seasons strong.

I sense a pattern.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Uh, no. He doesn't create his own shot well enough.

he can learn. ray allen time!

 

[illmatic99]

Very solid observation. Obviously the slow start didn't kill the team in the end (well, the 08 team just sucked). But so far, Nate's preferred starting 5 for 3 straight years hasn't actually started off seasons strong.

I sense a pattern.

I'm not that worried about this slow start. I mean, Dallas lost their first four games in the 06 season and still won 67 on the year. I'm just concerned that we're not taking advantage of a relatively favorable schedule because our coach is too dense to understand and exploit his players' strengths.

 

[roydezlaw]

And that is a legit third option on offense.

Greg isn't that guy and probably wont be for a while.

Travis Outlaw shouldn't be that guy. He's just a spark off the bench. His lack of basketball IQ prevents him from even being that option.

Rudy has the skills but he's stuck behind Roy and often has to play out of position. The guy is not a PG or SF.

But, I've said it all summer, KP is too buddy-buddy with this roster to do anything major.

It has to be Blake or Travis because other than LA, they are the only ones Roy consistantly give up the ball to

 

[oldmangrouch]

Now we know why KP wanted Hedo.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

This was actually the same argument a lot of fans made after the 1st round exit last season.

I think KP has tried the last two seasons but couldn't get a deal done. Part of that, IMO, was his unwillingness to give up a few certain players. Friendship > Business, apparently.

His past targets:

-Devin Harris
-Danny Granger

We need somebody like that. At least he was aiming high.

 

[KingSpeed]

Turkoglu was supposed to be that third scorer.

Durant could've been that third scorer.

But we're stuck with Outlaw whether you guys like it or not. We lost Game 6 last season because Outlaw had a bad game. We go as Outlaw goes.

Look at the season so far. The one game we won is the one where Outlaw had a good game. Rudy could be that guy too and that's why we almost won the game against the Nuggets. Tonight, neither had it going and so we lost. Miller is NOT that guy nor do we want him to be that guy. He needs to be distributing the ball like he did back in Cleveland, but he's done playing like that at this point in his career. He's past his prime. I guess he's better than Sergio.

 

[Shooter]

Miller is taking a bunch of shots. Problem is, he's shooting way too many jumpers, and missing them all.

Ain't that the truth. Miller can't hit the broad side of a barn. It's pretty pathetic.

 

[azsun67]

It is clear to me that Portland is missing defense. If they fix that it will all be fine.

 

[durvasa]

Third option should be Webster or Fernandez, IMO. Both have strong offensive skills.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I don't feel we need a third option. Depending on who's on the floor we have a few of those.

I have always maintained that a team plays best with starters & reserves. Baring fouls or injury, the starters play 32 minutes + and the reserves back them up. If the reserves don't like it, they can ask to be traded.

I'd start Miller in place of Blake and then let the team jell playing together.

I know I'm just a fan, but I think Nate tinkers too much with lineups.

 

[ABM]

I'd start Miller in place of Blake and then let the team jell playing together.

I agree with that. IMO, Greg and Martell would initially be the biggest beneficiaries of that move. In fact, with that, one of them might very well develop into that third option.

 

[hasoos]

A lot of folks say the Blazers are deep. I say they are actually the opposite. For the last few weeks I have been saying Portland is a 3 horse team. They might actually be a 2 horse team. Besides that, they have a bunch of guys where the 4th guy has problems separating himself in talent from the 12th guy.

I am assuming at this point if things don't start to turn around, Nate will start turning to guys not in the rotation now to see if they want it more than the guys that are in there. I know Dante Cunningham can defend. I know Bayless can defend. You know Bayless motor is always going to be running, he won't lack for effort.

 

[ABM]

A lot of folks say the Blazers are deep. I say they are actually the opposite. For the last few weeks I have been saying Portland is a 3 horse team. They might actually be a 2 horse team. Besides that, they have a bunch of guys where the 4th guy has problems separating himself in talent from the 12th guy.

I am assuming at this point if things don't start to turn around, Nate will start turning to guys not in the rotation now to see if they want it more than the guys that are in there. I know Dante Cunningham can defend. I know Bayless can defend. You know Bayless motor is always going to be running, he won't lack for effort.

I've said it before....this will be the season that KP ends up making an in-season trade. Just not sure who.........or for whom. Gerald Wallace has a nice ring to it.

 

[hasoos]

I've said it before....this will be the season that KP ends up making an in-season trade. Just not sure who.........or for whom. Gerald Wallace has a nice ring to it.

Yes, Gerald Wallace has a lovely ring to it.

 

[Bosco]

That legit third option is Andre Miller. Too bad Nate is a fucking idiot.

ding ding ding we have a winner. That and Roy and Miller need to be duct taped together for the next month until they can play nice together.