Jason Quick on Courtside

[ucatchtrout]

Here is what I just saw on Courtside.

Apologies for typing, spelling, or grammar errors... and to the guys on Courtside if I screwed anything up. You guys talk faster than I type.



Jason talked to both Nate McMillian and Brandon Roy after practice today.

BW
what can you tell us about the meetings that took place after practice

JQ
There was a meeting called today for the end of practice for Greg, LaMarcus and Brandon...and it was held in Nates office with Nate there. I don't know how long they met. The jist of it was to get them all on the same page, and to talk about how to make all three work offensively. As we all know the offense has struggled as of late, and I think the three guys are all struggling with roles, and with just how they fit in and where they're supposed to get their shots and when they are supposed to get them. And as Brandon said before the meeting, "I think we need to establish a pecking order". I talked with Nate McMillian after the meeting, he really didn't want to get into specifics and he really didn't want it publicised that they did meet. But he basically said, "look these guys have to figure this out, I don't know when they will, but they will, they have to". And he emphasized that these are not selfish players here, and I think thats the hardest thing for everyone to get a grasp on when they hear all thats been said and all thats been going on. And I do think its true that these guys aren't selfish but they are going thru a weird time where they all signed these big contracts and Greg has a big time...is looking for that big contract, and they want to get theirs, and yet I still think everyone has the teams interest at heart and they have to balance that with getting theirs.

MR
It sounds like when you put it that way like Alan Iverson, or somebody like Artest talking about you know, I need to do more for this team to win...does it come across to you that way?

JQ
It doesn't, but, you see, the hard thing with Brandon, you know I think the world of Brandon, but he is so dang honest and he will answer every question that he is asked and a lot of these other guys will dance around topics and not really tell you what they are feeling. Brandon is so danged honest and he puts his feelings out there. And I think sometimes it comes across as being selfish...and maybe it is a little bit. As Brandon said today, and you know we were talking about egos and he said we all do have egos and thats why we are where we are at. And, so, I don't think he is being like an Alan Iverson. Brandon, his struggles are, you know, like he feels like he is the one doing the most sacrificing. And now that might sound a little weird coming from the guy who gathered everyone together before the season started and stressed how important it was for everyone to sacrifice. He still feels that way, but he feels like in the first nineteen games of the season he has sacrificed more than anyone on the team and he doesn't feel like the star should have to sacrifice the most.

MR
Do you think he is worried about the AllStar game?

JQ
I think probably a little bit, yeah...I think uh, stats and accomplishments are important to him. I think he feels like he made a huge sacrifice to this team when he went for nine games to the small forward position without a peep. He feels like more than anyone on offense he has had the ball taken out of his hands, has had some shots taken away. He is still leading the team in shots. He's not, doesn't have as many shots per minute as last year, but he just feels like its not in the best interests of the team to have him doing this. And he equates this to Dwayne Wade of Miami, who we will see tomorrow night. He says that the way the play calling is going now they will call two plays for Oden, a play for Aldridge, and on neither of those plays is Brandon involved. He is not initiating anything, he's not doing anything, and he'll go three minutes without even touching the ball. And he says, if Dwayne Wade goes three minutes without touching the ball, what a break for the Blazers. You know, you're helping them out. And the Blazers are doing that with Roy on a nightly basis he'll go two or three times, he'll go long stretches without touching it...and he said during the Memphis game on Friday night in Portland, OJ Mayo said, "whats goin on man, are you takin a back seat on this team"? He was goin whew, I'm not having to guard you man, this is great. And I think this is where Brandon is coming from....I have a little more to offer this team than that. I have more to give. I understand that LaMarcus is a great talent, and I understand that Greg is this great new force for us and we need that, but I don't think that I should be taking the greatest sacrifices of anyone.

MB
Well, Jason is it more to do with Greg and trying to establish him? Are they going to him more early in the season to see if they can go to him? And it just seems like the lines of communication for whatever reason haven't been as good.

MR
Greg is only averaging seven shots per game.

MB
Well, and we've seen things that have been not Brandonlike. The end of the quarter in the Memphis game and not knowing the clock, and he obviously was embarrassed about that, I told him before the Utah game, just go out and have some fun and he was like, "I know", he knows that hasn't been the case where its been a freewheeling situation... Brandons had trouble with the dribble at times and you can tell there is a lot going on between the ears that maybe hasn't been before, but again, being nineteen games in and having a chance to rest and having a chance to practic, do you think thats going to have a lot to do with turning this back around?

JQ
Yeah, there is alot I want to hit on there Mike. First of all, Odens only getting seven shots a game thats true, but a lot of plays are being called for him. Brandon feels like the majority of the plays are being called for the bigs...their 5-4 series, but a lot of the sets are being called for them and a lot of those sets do not involve Brandon, and Brandon doesn't have anything to do at all, and he feels like he is doing a lot of standing around. As far as the line of communication, I have professed that Brandon and Nate have the best star coach relationship in the league. And I still belive that. And thats something I asked him today, you guys are having this meeting today, why has it taken you so long to do that? He said just the way the season has been, they've been on planes, they've been on busses, and the timing has never afforded time to exhale and have a productive meeting. They've had little one on ones, but you know they planned this meeting so they could get everything out. So part of it has been the schedule. I think Brandon and Nate are still good, I know that Brandon has probably been as pointed, not probably, he has been as pointed in comments towards Nate as he ever has been. Brandon said earlier this season I've never trusted a coach or had a better relationship with a coach ever in my life than with Nate. And I think this is a sign of how much Brandon is struggleing. There was a time today in our conversation where we were talking about the sacrificing issue and I said Brandon, you were the one talking about sacrificing, and he was like, I know, I know. I want to sacrifice I want to sacrifice, but then he let out this big sigh.... I know I need to do it, but its just not working. So there is an incredible amount of frustration there for Brandon and I think he is wrestling with it. But I think the thing everyone should be concerned with is that he has the teams best interests at heart, he really does. He really wants to do the right thing for the team, I think this meeting should help...should help him get that off his chest. He said, you know I am done pointing fingers and worrying about who is getting touches and what that means. Tomorrow night against Miami I am just going to go out there and play and play hard and see where that gets me.

BW
Last question. Talking about Brandon...people have said things about him that I never thought I'd hear them say, fans, critics, whatever, Ive been puzzled by it, I don't think he can figure out where he became a bad guy, how much do you think that stuff has weighed on him as well?

JQ
Its really weighed on him, I had a long talk with him before the Utah game. He feels like he can't do anything right. Some of the comments that have gotten back to him saddens him. He feels the weight of the world on him. I think that as much as its going to suck for us writers and the media he is going to just shut himself off from us and play and play hard, I think he needs to play angry. Nate told him today they need him to be more aggressive. In the first half against Utah he had only four shots. Just go and take the team. play selfishly almost. Just play really aggresively. They want to see more out of Brandon. Im really excited to see the Miami game, I know Brandon will be excited cause he gets to play D Wade, I think we're going to find out a lot about this team in the next two games.

 

[MIXUM]

first.. nice job on the recap.

But, wow thats disturbing on so many levels. this season just keeps getting worse.

To make matters worse... utah just KILLED the grizz and dallas pulled out a close one vs the 76ers. Look slike 3rd place has our names all over it until OKC passes us.



(only good news is... the pats got their asses handed to them.)

 

[B-Roy]

JQ
Yeah, there is alot I want to hit on there Mike. First of all, Odens only getting seven shots a game thats true, but a lot of plays are being called for him. Brandon feels like the majority of the plays are being called for the bigs...their 5-4 series, but a lot of the sets are being called for them and a lot of those sets do not involve Brandon

That doesn't seem to be what the fans are saying.

 

[Eastoff]

this is a good read (citation) thank you! It is a confusing situation. I think a lot of people will agree that the Blazers would be more consistent if they were in the post more. While I agree Roy is very good, it was clear he needed help out. I think he needs to realize he is a superstar, but not our only star. That means he does need to step back a little. But it doesn't need to be a HUGE step backwards. That balance should be solved by Nate, the general, not Nate, the buddy.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Thank you SO much for the recap, definite rep there.

I have to agree that this has been Brandon's toughest year by far. He finally has some legit talent around him with Miller and the emergence of Greg to deal with, then he gets thrown under the bus by Canzano for the whole National Anthem fiasco. There's a lot of adjustments that this team has to go through before it can really break through to the next level and a lot of that IS going to have to start with Brandon Roy.

Whether or not that happens in the near future is up in the air, but I still have faith that we'll see a red hot team down the line that nobody's going to want to face. Book it.

 

[Ed O]

Thanks for posting this.

I think, personally, that Roy should worry less about Wade and James and Kobe and just be himself. He was a pretty good player before he worried about pecking orders.

Ed O.

 

[illmatic99]

Thanks for the recap.

I didn't think BRoy was this selfish. He's too concerned with getting his right now, and I think that has a lot to do with him trying to justify that max deal. He needs some guidance.

 

[alex42083]

I thought one of the more interesting things in the Quick thing was Mayo going up to Roy the other night and asking him what's up, and asking him if he's taking a back seat. For any basketball player or anyone who's played.. that kind of stuff takes a big hit to your ego. We'll see what comes with this.

Nice job on the recap!

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Can someone rep trout for me? I still have to spread more around. Gracias!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I kind of feel for Brandon (as much as I possibly can for a 25 year old guy about to make 14 million dollars a year anyway) this adjustment hasn't been kind to him and I sort of wondered how he'd deal with the confluence of a lot of different things changing all at once.

- No more Nic to take the toughest wing on defense (though Martell has done OK at times)
- Trying to at once live up to his new contract and at the same time sacrifice (ie. give up shots/touches/control)
- The addition of a real point guard who plays a very different brand of basketball
- his usual suspect back-court mate Steve, falling off dramatically from the year before

These guys will get it ... it may take until the end of the season or possibly even until next season before we really see them meshing, but I'd give up the post season this year if it meant that down the road these three guys learn to merge their varied (and prodigious) talents.

Here's to hoping that process starts sooner rather than later

 

[julius]

I've been a little confused by the lack of using Brandon. Although I think we can still use Brandon as the 1 and Oden as the 2 and LMA as the 2a, and still have good averages for all 3.

In a way, Brandon is being ignored as if he's Pete Meyers who was replacing Jordan, only to see Jordan come back and be put on the back burner.

 

[MIXUM]

like i said ... this started in the summer with roy. ego exploded and is slowly ruining his game.

Major League 2. Roy is playing Rick Vaughn, LA is playing Hayes. A young team that overachieved the previous season that comes crashing back to earth... to make a hollywood run at the world series. The end is very hollywood like. Our ending doesnt appear to be.

 

[RoyToy]

I think Roy has a point when he says when does Wade not touch the ball for 3min. That would be doing the other team a favor. There's no denying Roy has been the best playmaker on the team since he's been on it. And no Maris, not Sergio.

 

[STOMP]

first.. nice job on the recap.

But, wow thats disturbing on so many levels. this season just keeps getting worse.

Quick takes viewed through a Mixum filter... disturbing is what to expect

if Roy really feels he has sacrificed the most on the club, he's being silly.

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

Thanks for the recap.

I didn't think BRoy was this selfish. He's too concerned with getting his right now, and I think that has a lot to do with him trying to justify that max deal. He needs some guidance.

Don't you see the built-in contradiction there -- or at least the built-in no-win situation? If Brandon plays too passively and defers too much he stops putting up the all-NBA numbers and it looks like he's coasting. If he's trying to justify the contract it's almost inevitable that the first thing he'll look to do is to increase his presence on the court. For a team's #1 offensive option that means taking more shots, and filling up the stat sheet.

This is a turdburger of a situation he's in (and it only gets compounded with the horseshit dogpiling that Canzano has been doing).

 

[blazerboy30]

Thanks for posting this.

I think, personally, that Roy should worry less about Wade and James and Kobe and just be himself. He was a pretty good player before he worried about pecking orders.

Ed O.

Agreed. I'm getting a little tired of him bringing up Wade, Kobe and Lebron.

 

[PapaG]

and he said during the Memphis game on Friday night in Portland, OJ Mayo said, "whats goin on man, are you takin a back seat on this team"? He was goin whew, I'm not having to guard you man, this is great. And I think this is where Brandon is coming from

The season in a nutshell. Dump Andre Miller ASAP. He's poison to this team.

 

[B-Roy]

Don't you see the built-in contradiction there -- or at least the built-in no-win situation? If Brandon plays too passively and defers too much he stops putting up the all-NBA numbers and it looks like he's coasting.

Oh, but I thought that was what he was already doing.

 

[illmatic99]

Don't you see the built-in contradiction there -- or at least the built-in no-win situation? If Brandon plays too passively and defers too much he stops putting up the all-NBA numbers and it looks like he's coasting. If he's trying to justify the contract it's almost inevitable that the first thing he'll look to do is to increase his presence on the court. For a team's #1 offensive option that means taking more shots, and filling up the stat sheet.

This is a turdburger of a situation he's in (and it only gets compounded with the horseshit dogpiling that Canzano has been doing).

Sure. I can see that. I'm still wondering what exactly Nate is doing to alleviate this concerns. How about some new plays? How about pushing the pace? Baffling to me how he keeps throwing out that "they've got to figure it out" bullshit while doing nothing to help the cause.

But still, Roy has most definitely NOT sacrificed the most on this team. If anyone, it's Oden and Miller.

 

[RoyToy]

The season in a nutshell. Dump Andre Miller ASAP. He's poison to this team.

Like I posted above, Roy brings up a very good point with not touching the ball as much. That really is just doing the other team a favor.

 

[Ed O]

I think Roy has a point when he says when does Wade not touch the ball for 3min. That would be doing the other team a favor. There's no denying Roy has been the best playmaker on the team since he's been on it. And no Maris, not Sergio.

#1: Wade is significantly better than Roy, and
#2: Wade doesn't play with two other offensive players as good as Aldridge and Oden.

I don't buy the Wade comparison for a minute.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

That doesn't seem to be what the fans are saying.

The experts here know everything. Acknowledge this, and move on.

 

[PapaG]

Thanks for the recap.

I didn't think BRoy was this selfish. He's too concerned with getting his right now, and I think that has a lot to do with him trying to justify that max deal. He needs some guidance.

The team sucks right now. Opposing players are wondering why Roy isn't involved. I agree with Roy and the opposing players.

 

[B-Roy]

Sure. I can see that. I'm still wondering what exactly Nate is doing to alleviate this concerns. How about some new plays?

Sure, how about a play where Brandon and LaMarcus both have the ball in their hands and shoot a "double" jumper.

 

[Ed O]

I thought one of the more interesting things in the Quick thing was Mayo going up to Roy the other night and asking him what's up, and asking him if he's taking a back seat. For any basketball player or anyone who's played.. that kind of stuff takes a big hit to your ego. We'll see what comes with this.

I think if OJ Mayo, of all people, is going to be a guiding influence on Roy, then this team has spent way too much money on Brandon.

If I get a vote, only players with average PERs or higher should be able to make him feel inferior. Maybe someday Mayo will crack 15.0, but until that day Roy would probably be better served to ignore him.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

The team sucks right now. Opposing players are wondering why Roy isn't involved. I agree with Roy and the opposing players.

Yes, I'm sure that Roy looked over at the bench, where Miller was probably seated, and blamed him for taking a back seat.

Ed O.

 

[illmatic99]

Sure, how about a play where Brandon and LaMarcus both have the ball in their hands and shoot a "double" jumper.

That's quite a failed attempt at sarcasm. And nice snipping of my pace comment.

Roy has mentioned before that this confusions is not due to shot attempts. Here's an excerpt from Quick's piece today:

Although the Blazers are 12-7 this season, the foundation of their success has been defense, which has pulled them through some woeful offensive nights. The struggles are largely because the team's offense has changed from last season. What was once a pick-and-roll dominated attack of Roy and Aldridge now includes post-entry passes to Oden, who has improved greatly this season to become a legitimate offensive weapon.

But the offensive improvement of Oden has come with a price. At the moment, neither Roy nor Aldridge have comfortably adjusted to the change in playing style.

Roy's familiar forays into the lane have become few-and-far-between, usually because Oden and his man are in the key, presenting a detour. Also, most of Oden's post plays do not involve Roy at all, leaving him standing on the perimeter.

For Aldridge, Roy's reduced penetration has cut down on one of the duo's favorite weapons – the drive and kick – while also limiting the space inside when Aldridge does decide to post.

You don't think it's Nate's responsibility to come up with better plays to cater to his star's needs?

 

[STOMP]

You don't think it's Nate's responsibility to come up with better plays to cater to his star's needs?

star's or stars? I'm for the later

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

Sure. I can see that. I'm still wondering what exactly Nate is doing to alleviate this concerns. How about some new plays? How about pushing the pace? Baffling to me how he keeps throwing out that "they've got to figure it out" bullshit while doing nothing to help the cause.

But still, Roy has most definitely NOT sacrificed the most on this team. If anyone, it's Oden and Miller.

I totally agree. I've been pretty clear that I'm not really blaming players for the way things have been going lately. It's a coaches job to create a system that maximizes his player's strength, rather what we've got is a coach who apparently tries to mold players to fit a system (of course there's always some give and take there) and GM who apparently decided that the best course of action would be to stock this roster with guys who are primarily offensive minded and young enough to not really know what kind of players they are in the NBA -- there are some notable exceptions in Blake, Miller and Przy (Howard too I guess) but with guys like Rudy, Bayless, Martell all still on rookie deals and apparently eager to prove that they are multi-faceted threats (lots of ball handling, lots of one-on-one) it dillutes the number of touches that Brandon, LaMarcus and Greg are getting.

One option is to play at a faster pace which increases touches for all, or you need to play half-court ball and make sure that of the 75 or so shots this team averages a night 17 need to go to Roy, 15 need to go to LaMarcus and Greg needs probably a bare minimum of 12 at the amount of minutes he's getting (or able to get as the case may be), the rest of these guys need to shoot when wide open or pass the ball, this 5-10 seconds of dribbling and then throwing up a jumpshot at the rim crap needs to end (Blake, Martell, and Rudy being the biggest offenders -- Miller's taking too many "flaming bag, end of the clock, shots" too, and probably could cut down on the number of jumpers he's taking).

 

[RoyToy]

#1: Wade is significantly better than Roy, and
#2: Wade doesn't play with two other offensive players as good as Aldridge and Oden.

I don't buy the Wade comparison for a minute.

Ed O.

Wade is definitely better, but not significantly better.

Jermaine O'Neal is better at creating offense than Oden.
Beasley is putting up pretty much the same numbers as Aldridge as far as FGA and pts go.

On top of all of this, Roy is the Blazers best and most complete offensive player. Not involving your best offensive player for long stretches is helping the other team out.