It's Now A 10-Game "Trial" Period

[Mediocre Man]

I can't really tell if you're being sarcastic.

That's some sad stuff, Nate.

LOL I was thinking the same thing

 

[Mediocre Man]

So wait, that's the Blazers offense with the reigns taken off!?

LOL

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Surely. But the amount of turnovers they had last night says they were forcing the issue. There is a difference. Also remember you have to work with what you bring to the table. Several players on this team have never been good decision makers in fast break situations. Thats just the facts. Work with what you are given.

Is it because they've never been decision makers in fast break situations naturally, or because Nate doesn't practice it enough and let them develop the skills in game situations enough to be comfortable with it?

I think that is a legitimate question that should be asked of Nate. Like MM said I don't think anyone here wants to be the Warriors or Suns (outside of perhaps Maris) but we're dead last with a lot of young athletic guys who run the floor (LaMarcus is possibly the fastest big in the league); that's just really sad and not taking advantage of the natural abilities of the team.

It's like how Nate said we don't need Greg to score because we scored last year just fine and this year we'll score just fine as well. Yeah, we score fine in the regular season because we have a lot of jump shooters and if they're not falling we can go to BRoy iso drives; but that ended up failing us in the playoffs because our jump shooters started failing, and BRoy was getting double and triple teamed by aggressive playoff defense. We should be working on developing Greg in the low post for playoff circumstances because he has the size and strength to get other bigs in foul trouble.

We might score just fine now without him because of a variety of reasons, but if we don't get him developed we're going to be hurting for easy and vital buckets in the post season. It'll probably cost us playoff wins.

 

[Idog1976]

and 4 of those were fouls that were not called.

I thought the travel play was definitely a foul on hayes. It looked like he grabbed Oden's arm when he was off balance causing Oden to take steps.

 

[hasoos]

Is it because they've never been decision makers in fast break situations naturally, or because Nate doesn't practice it enough and let them develop the skills in game situations enough to be comfortable with it?

I think that is a legitimate question that should be asked of Nate. Like MM said I don't think anyone here wants to be the Warriors or Suns (outside of perhaps Maris) but we're dead last with a lot of young athletic guys who run the floor (LaMarcus is possibly the fastest big in the league); that's just really sad and not taking advantage of the natural abilities of the team.

It's like how Nate said we don't need Greg to score because we scored last year just fine and this year we'll score just fine as well. Yeah, we score fine in the regular season because we have a lot of jump shooters and if they're not falling we can go to BRoy iso drives; but that ended up failing us in the playoffs because our jump shooters started failing, and BRoy was getting double and triple teamed by aggressive playoff defense. We should be working on developing Greg in the low post for playoff circumstances because he has the size and strength to get other bigs in foul trouble.

We might score just fine now without him because of a variety of reasons, but if we don't get him developed we're going to be hurting for easy and vital buckets in the post season. It'll probably cost us playoff wins.

It could be a little of both, but I can tell you from what I have seen, Steve Blake will never be a good decision maker on the fast break, the only role he can fill is the spot up shooter. He just cannot handle the speed at which things happen, and he can't finish so everybody knows he will pass. Its just a matter of when. The same for Outlaw. He is ok if he is out in front of everybody on the break. But if there is defensive pressure there, not so good.

But there is an upside. Last night I saw Miller actually looking for Aldridge on the break like I have been screaming about the last 2 years. Nobody throws to Aldridge although he is a 6'11" forward who tends to get out in front of everybody on the break, and you can lob to him. Miller tried it but threw an errant pass. That is the type of stuff that will improve. Maybe guys like Blake turn into you trailer who hits the 3 so he isn't making decisions.

The key with fast breaking, is to have players who can make good decisions and handle the ball run the show. Those same players have to make the decision of when not to run, that can be as critical for not wasting a posession as cashing in on a fast break. If they make bad decisions, you are in for a 27 turnover night. If they make good decisions, about half that.

 

[andalusian]

It could be a little of both, but I can tell you from what I have seen, Steve Blake will never be a good decision maker on the fast break, the only role he can fill is the spot up shooter. He just cannot handle the speed at which things happen, and he can't finish so everybody knows he will pass. Its just a matter of when.

Absolutely on the money. We have the data to back it up. Look at Blake's TOV% when he played in Denver. It was Jarret Jack like (in his last year in Portland).

Not good.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Uh ... wow. That's all I've got to say. Running broke the game open and the team continually turned the ball over in the half-court with illegal screens, travelling, bad passes, getting stripped and he points to running being the issue ... wow.

 

[Natebishop3]

Nate is really showing himself to be completely clueless.

 

[Tince]

Well like I said in the O-live forum. I was so "pro-Nate" for the last 5 years until the end of last season. Then I started questioning his coaching ability. I'm still curious if Nate has any post plays designed?

Right now it seems more like "Hey toss the ball in the post and see what happens" instead of "God dammit you idiots let's post the damn ball!"

I can think of 3 off the top of my head that we run on a regular basis.

 

[Tince]

The amount of people that think they know more than Nate is comical to me. Luckily, our GM appears to have a lot more faith in him than people on this board. I guess that's what makes KP the professional and us fans.

 

[MARIS61]

This team no longer has any point guard capable of running a decent fast break.

Rudy would come the closest. Blake and Miller don't have a "fast" setting on their speed control.

 

[ABM]

This team no longer has any point guard capable of running a decent fast break.

Rudy would come the closest. Blake and Miller don't have a "fast" setting on their speed control.

That's why Patty was signed.

 

[MARIS61]

That you think Nate knows more than a dozen or so message board posters know is comical to me. Unfortunately, Nate appears to have some dirt on KP, so KP goes along with his snailball act. I guess that's what makes KP less professional than us fans.

 

[Natebishop3]

This team no longer has any point guard capable of running a decent fast break.

Rudy would come the closest. Blake and Miller don't have a "fast" setting on their speed control.

You're right. Their dial only has numbers. Not words.

 

[MARIS61]

According to Wheels today, Nate was/is very unhappy with the game 1 turnovers and has effectively given this team a 10-game trial period in which to reasonably get them under control.

If not, he'll then clamp down on the reins and reduce/eliminate the fast-break, running game.

Rather than do his job, part of which is to teach to players all the facets of the game, including transitions?

 

[magnifier661]

I can think of 3 off the top of my head that we run on a regular basis.

Not to a level of a team stressing to establishing a low post offense. Back picks, double picks, switch and penetration for a nice lob, get the damn ball to our big guys in the paint. The sooner we establish this, the easier the game will be for Roy to do most his damage.

Fact is, we are still very "one dimensional" as a team. I want teams to fear our inside game. Have them trade, sign or draft players to specifically match up to us. We have the talent t get it done, we just need to design way more plays than just the 3 you think of. Oh and BTW, tossing it in the post from the three point area is a basic play. I'm talking about technical plays that are more than tossing it to the post from a three point player.

 

[BBert]

Are you sure Nate didn't say the team would stop using the half-court last seven seconds of the shot clock offense if the turnovers didn't go down?

 

[Ed O]

So wait, that's the Blazers offense with the reigns taken off!?

This is exactly what I was thinking as I read this thread.

I don't have any doubt that Nate knows a million times more about coaching than I do, and that he's at least as million times better a coach than I would be.

But is he better than other coaches at getting the most out of his players? I still have my doubts, and I have even MORE doubts about whether he would ever let this team be up-tempo or anything resembling it.

Ed O.

 

[Idog1976]

This is exactly what I was thinking as I read this thread.

I don't have any doubt that Nate knows a million times more about coaching than I do, and that he's at least as million times better a coach than I would be.

But is he better than other coaches at getting the most out of his players? I still have my doubts, and I have even MORE doubts about whether he would ever let this team be up-tempo or anything resembling it.

Ed O.

Well said. Thanks for busting down the "You aren't an NBA level coach so you can't criticize or compare Nate to other coachs" fallacy. That one drives me nuts. Besides if we can't talk about the coach because we aren't coaches , we certainly can't talk about the GM, or the President, or even the players themselves unless we are ourselves NBA players. It's just ridiculous and if the mod's enforced that as a rule the board would be as silent as David Stern's mausoleum ...I mean bedroom.

 

[ABM]

Well said. Thanks for busting down the "You aren't an NBA level coach so you can't criticize or compare Nate to other coachs" fallacy. That one drives me nuts. Besides if we can't talk about the coach because we aren't coaches , we certainly can't talk about the GM, or the President, or even the players themselves unless we are ourselves NBA players. It's just ridiculous and if the mod's enforced that as a rule the board would be as silent as David Stern's mausoleum ...I mean bedroom.

OTOH, we can also conclude that, comparatively speaking, Nate has been quite successful here....and looks to continue in that success. He may not run the style of basketball that some like, but what he runs, has worked to a large extent. Plus, he has the close ear of the top player on the team. That helps a bunch, as well.

 

[Idog1976]

OTOH, we can also conclude that, comparatively speaking, Nate has been quite successful here....and looks to continue in that success. He may not run the style of basketball that some like, but what he runs, has worked to a large extent. Plus, he has the close ear of the top player on the team. That helps a bunch, as well.

I don't disagree with any of that. I just am baffled by certain decisions he makes. Maybe while the visible result would seem to be problematic there is something important I'm missing. That wouldn't surprise me in the least to be honest.

 

[ABM]

I don't disagree with any of that. I just am baffled by certain decisions he makes.

I wish I had a dime for every time that's been said about a successful NBA coach.

 

[Tince]

I wish I had a dime for every time that's been said about a successful NBA coach.

Exactly.

What specific decisions are baffling people? I can't think of one decision Nate has made that baffles me.

Sure there are some things Nate does that I question or wonder about, but I'm not going to spout off like I know what's right and he doesn't.

I guess as long as we keep improving, winning, everyone can continue they know how to win better or more often.

 

[yakbladder]

OTOH, we can also conclude that, comparatively speaking, Nate has been quite successful here....and looks to continue in that success. He may not run the style of basketball that some like, but what he runs, has worked to a large extent. Plus, he has the close ear of the top player on the team. That helps a bunch, as well.

Si. It's like if Nate doesn't win the championship every year people are calling for his head. You think Nate wasn't disappointed by last year's playoffs?

I'm not saying he's perfect by any means, but can we please put the effigy dolls back in the closet until at least the third game in?????

 

[KingSpeed]

I guess Nate and I were watching different games. It looked to me as if the half-court offense was the part that was out-of-sync.

Yep. Most of the turnovers were Oden getting stripped, offensive fouls, a 3 second violation, etc.

 

[KingSpeed]

The running actually looked really good when Andre was handling the ball, but when any one else was it was humorous and facepalm worthy. Travis trying to throw the ball of Andre's head on the break was a moment where I didn't know whether to laugh, be shocked, cry, or shake my head.

How about that play where Travis Outlaw chased down the loose ball and dunked it?

Also, guess who had the least turnovers of anyone on the team? Travis. Only 1 turnover. Everyone else, EVERYONE else, had at least 2.

 

[KingSpeed]

The Travis ones

Ones?? Plural? He had one turnover. Took care of the ball better than anyone on the team.

 

[KingSpeed]

Is it because they've never been decision makers in fast break situations naturally, or because Nate doesn't practice it enough and let them develop the skills in game situations enough to be comfortable with it?

I think that is a legitimate question that should be asked of Nate. Like MM said I don't think anyone here wants to be the Warriors or Suns (outside of perhaps Maris) but we're dead last with a lot of young athletic guys who run the floor (LaMarcus is possibly the fastest big in the league); that's just really sad and not taking advantage of the natural abilities of the team.

It's like how Nate said we don't need Greg to score because we scored last year just fine and this year we'll score just fine as well. Yeah, we score fine in the regular season because we have a lot of jump shooters and if they're not falling we can go to BRoy iso drives; but that ended up failing us in the playoffs because our jump shooters started failing, and BRoy was getting double and triple teamed by aggressive playoff defense. We should be working on developing Greg in the low post for playoff circumstances because he has the size and strength to get other bigs in foul trouble.

We might score just fine now without him because of a variety of reasons, but if we don't get him developed we're going to be hurting for easy and vital buckets in the post season. It'll probably cost us playoff wins.

I agree with this.

 

[KingSpeed]

Nate is really showing himself to be completely clueless.

To be fair... we don't actually know what Nate said and in what context he said it. This is all hearsay.

 

[alex42083]

You mean the running where we went from tied to ahead by 13?

Yeah, that run in the second quarter was tremendous and had Houston playing catch-up the rest of the game. Of course, you need stops to fast break and I think that's what Nate wants this team to focus on -- defense first, and then leak out if it's there.

The one issue I see is we have good fast-break finishers, but our fast-break initiators are mediocre outside Andre. Last season, Sergio was our best player at running the break and making the right decision, but he wasn't good at anything else really.

Blake can't run a break to save his life as he'd rather stop and pop the 3. Rudy stops a lot at the 3-point line looking for the long ball rather than an easy layup, and Brandon certainly isn't a fast-break player unless he's finishing it.

If Andre's not running the break, then I can see how Nate would rather have this team hold it up. But it is frustrating with the athletes we have and the finishers we have that we can't run a bit more at the right time. It gets the crowd involved, it deflates the other team and it pumps up the players.