Just some thoughts through 4 games....

[MIXUM]

Watching this team through 4 games hasn't been easy as im sure most of you know.

1. Roy still hasn't found his shot and we are going into game #5. Hes been very average. This why we so badly need a 3rd scoring option. Which is why i begged for us to get Carter, Wallace or Jefferson. But we couldnt trade Batum. Oh No lol.

2. Outlaw gets more painful to watch every season. He actually has gotten worse on defense.

3. Webster has looked pretty solid for the most part. Remember all the bashing I took cause i said he should start over batum? Webster is a better player and its a no brainer.

4. If LA is out all week... we will be lucky to beat Minny on Sunday. Only reason we beat OKC is cause they played a worse game then us. We both would have lost to many NBA teams on Sunday night.

5. Hate to say it, but im thinking Miller was a waste. really good player... but i dont think he fits here. You can see it when hes playing. Maybe he or we will adjust. But blake was a big reason we beat OKC. Problem is.... we still havent upgraded at PG if Blake has to start. Westbrook abused him as did Billups and Brooks. Its still early but its looking like a bad call.
I loved Miller coming here and i will admit i think i was wrong on that one.

6. Oden still is lost on offense but his defense looks petty solid. But if im being honest, really isn't all that different from last year.... least not from what ive see.

7. Rudy has gotta learn to stay under control. He either makes a big play or a stupid one. Also too many wild shots. Looks like outlaw sometimes....

8. Pryz is in mid season form. God we need to resign this guy.

9. Howard was flat out terrible vs OKC. If hes LAs replacement.. we are losing some games.
Honestly Frye might be a better fit. hes an LA clone as far as jumps shots go. Problem is frye sets his feet and cant move with the ball. Hes really a 1 trick pony.

10. Heres my biggest problem with the 4 games. FOULS FOULS FOULS. I dont know if i can blame the blazers cause it seems like the REFS are killing them. Of course they aren't perfect but every game seems like they get whistled for breathing wrong. Its unreal. The Rockets game on SAT was a disgrace. Even last night... i couldnt get over the fouls called. but this has to change or we are in trouble. Nobody can win consistently with all those foul calls.

Oh and BTW... can the thunder pick some new colors? It feels like they are NBA DL team. I mean that light blue and mcdonalds yellow just doesnt look pro.

 

[Sug]

Deleted.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Roy's been very average huh? Through 4 games his PER is 25.8 ... try again.

You think Greg looks no different but Joel is in mid-season form? Wow, I don't even know where to go with that.

 

[B-Roy]

Joel looks worse actually. He's allowing some Orebs and trying to create on offense. (Bad idea)

 

[MIXUM]

Listen, Oden is a LITTLE better but i really dont think he looks like a "different" guy out there. Just being fair. You want me to get excited cause he had a decent game vs kristic? How about when Chuck Hayes shut him down twice?

And as far as Roy... you wanna tell me... that hes shooting well? Are you kidding? H had 1 good game vs the Nuggets. He looks like he has fallen in love with that jumper/3 ball. Not many easy shots for roy at all this year. Believe me hes the least of my worries.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Listen, Oden is a LITTLE better but i really dont think he looks like a "different" guy out there. Just being fair. You want me to get excited cause he had a decent game vs kristic? How about when Chuck Hayes shut him down twice?

And as far as Roy... you wanna tell me... that hes shooting well? Are you kidding? H had 1 good game vs the Nuggets. He looks like he has fallen in love with that jumper/3 ball. Not many easy shots for roy at all this year. Believe me hes the least of my worries.

First of all Chuck Hayes gives everybody fits on the low block, secondly I never said Brandon's shot looks good, I'm just saying that if you think he looks average overall you're high.

 

[Wheels]

Would anyone here think we could pry Hinrich away with Miller and Outlaw and a pick? maybe before the season started.. but not with their value now.. unless Mmiller ups his value before the 15th of December.

 

[B-Roy]

They won't go for that. Hinrich doubles as a combo guard for them. Miller can only play point. Plus he and Rose are redundant.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

First of all Chuck Hayes gives everybody fits on the low block, secondly I never said Brandon's shot looks good, I'm just saying that if you think he looks average overall you're high.

What is he shooting from three point land? I didn't realize he was struggling either.

 

[Nikolokolus]

What is he shooting from three point land? I didn't realize he was struggling either.

40% from the field and 40% from distance ... turrible

 

[Wheels]

They won't go for that. Hinrich doubles as a combo guard for them. Miller can only play point. Plus he and Rose are redundant.

youre probably right... dang it. Thats probably the reason he wasnt shipped here in the off-season either. But his Defense and Shooting would be pretty nice.

 

[MIXUM]

the only teams that will want outlaw will want his expiring contract. hopefully thats the bobcats. we can throw in batum bayless.... whoever they want.

we need a legit 3rd scorer to beat the top teams.

right now we look like a team that has been figured out by the league

 

[Nikolokolus]

the only teams that will want outlaw will want his expiring contract. hopefully thats the bobcats. we can throw in batum bayless.... whoever they want.

we need a legit 3rd scorer to beat the top teams.

right now we look like a team that has been figured out by the league

Interesting. I was thinking they look like a team that hasn't figured themselves out.

 

[Wheels]

the only teams that will want outlaw will want his expiring contract. hopefully thats the bobcats. we can throw in batum bayless.... whoever they want.

we need a legit 3rd scorer to beat the top teams.

right now we look like a team that has been figured out by the league

With the emergence of Webster I'm ok with him being the 3.. I'd hope for someone like Hinrich and not a Wallace.

 

[MIXUM]

or how about for all those "pre season means nothing guys"

we are 500. just like the pre season.... and simmons prediction of 41-41 looks closer every day.


its scary

 

[SodaPopinski]

God this Laker troll is fucking clueless.

 

[BBert]

1. Agree Roy is rusty on offense and average on defense. Free throws seem to be saving him, like with most all stars (gee, imagine). He'll get it going.

2. Outlaw has his hot streaks and hot games, and even more cold streaks and cold games. Through it all I agree his defense is not good and it is maddening that throwing the ball to Outlaw means the end of the offense. I'd rather replace him with a banger PF, but after Nico gets back. Maybe next year.

3. Webster is just what we need from his position. After only 4 games, I'm feeling vindicated, whether he becomes a true starter or 'merely' a very good sub.

4. Minny game will be interesting. We will win.

5. I agree Miller is a waste on this team if Nate isn't going to let him do what he does well. I disagree he isn't an upgrade simply if he doesn't do better than Blake -- either way we have vastly upgraded the backup PG position, and once Miller starts, the starting PG position as well.

6. I don't think Greg is "lost" on offense and certainly not on defense. A little clumsy and inexperienced, sure. Victimized by the refs and often not rewarded by his teammates for getting position, yeah. But he knows what's going on and has good court vision. I'm really looking forward to seeing Greg play for a coach who will take advantage of his passing ability.

7. Rudy is Rudy. He has a certain style and a certain rythm to his game to be effective. I'll take him the way he is.

8. Joel has looked better. He's still the best backup Center in the league. We need him desperately (unless we trade for a quality backup C/PF ).

9. Frye is one on a list of players who look terrible trying to fit with Nate. Howard has lost most of him game but he's a good vet and works well with the team and with Nate.

10. Fouls. It sucks.

Just my 2 pesos.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Watching this team through 4 games hasn't been easy as im sure most of you know.

1. Roy still hasn't found his shot and we are going into game #5. Hes been very average. This why we so badly need a 3rd scoring option. Which is why i begged for us to get Carter, Wallace or Jefferson. But we couldnt trade Batum. Oh No lol.

2. Outlaw gets more painful to watch every season. He actually has gotten worse on defense.

3. Webster has looked pretty solid for the most part. Remember all the bashing I took cause i said he should start over batum? Webster is a better player and its a no brainer.

4. If LA is out all week... we will be lucky to beat Minny on Sunday. Only reason we beat OKC is cause they played a worse game then us. We both would have lost to many NBA teams on Sunday night.

5. Hate to say it, but im thinking Miller was a waste. really good player... but i dont think he fits here. You can see it when hes playing. Maybe he or we will adjust. But blake was a big reason we beat OKC. Problem is.... we still havent upgraded at PG if Blake has to start. Westbrook abused him as did Billups and Brooks. Its still early but its looking like a bad call.
I loved Miller coming here and i will admit i think i was wrong on that one.

6. Oden still is lost on offense but his defense looks petty solid. But if im being honest, really isn't all that different from last year.... least not from what ive see.

7. Rudy has gotta learn to stay under control. He either makes a big play or a stupid one. Also too many wild shots. Looks like outlaw sometimes....

8. Pryz is in mid season form. God we need to resign this guy.

9. Howard was flat out terrible vs OKC. If hes LAs replacement.. we are losing some games.
Honestly Frye might be a better fit. hes an LA clone as far as jumps shots go. Problem is frye sets his feet and cant move with the ball. Hes really a 1 trick pony.

10. Heres my biggest problem with the 4 games. FOULS FOULS FOULS. I dont know if i can blame the blazers cause it seems like the REFS are killing them. Of course they aren't perfect but every game seems like they get whistled for breathing wrong. Its unreal. The Rockets game on SAT was a disgrace. Even last night... i couldnt get over the fouls called. but this has to change or we are in trouble. Nobody can win consistently with all those foul calls.

Oh and BTW... can the thunder pick some new colors? It feels like they are NBA DL team. I mean that light blue and mcdonalds yellow just doesnt look pro.

For the most part, I agree with your assessment.

 

[Ed O]

God this Laker troll is fucking clueless.

Yes, he's clearly a troll in this thread. Never mind that most people seem to agree with him at some level, and ignore that the team is merely .500 in spite of playing three games against likely non-playoff teams.

He must be trolling. No other possible explanation.

Ed O.

 

[MIXUM]

ed-o is 100% right. we are 2-2 vs 3 non playoff teams yet guys here dont wanna admit that.

will we get better? i hope. but right now (esp with aldridge injury) i see a looooong week coming up for us.

 

[MIXUM]

WARNING TO HOMERS... dont read...Dwight Jaynes article...

I don’t think this win is anything to get too fired up about. Sorry, don’t mean to be a downer, but Portland didn’t play very well — it’s just that the Sonics/Thunder played worse.

And Kevin Durant? Look, I give Martell Webster all the credit in the world for hustling around and doing his best. Webster’s effort level this season has been among the best on the team. But Durant was awful. He missed a ton of shots he’s usually going to make. He was just out of kilter.

I loved the way Portland came out of the chute in this game. They ran halfcourt motion and moved the ball. They moved bodies. Heck, the Blazers even once scored when Steve Blake made a backdoor cut and got the ball for a layup — the first such thing I can remember this season. Wow — actually a basket out of an offensive set, rather than from someone going one-on-one!

Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there. Oh well — a lot of coaches do that. When you have a long bench full of guys who need to play, such things happen.

It was a win and in the NBA you shouldn’t complain about wins. But as I said earlier this young season, don’t always confuse poor shooting by an opponent with good defense. Some nights, they just miss shots. I was shocked, actually, at how poorly the Thunder played.


Its funny i said basically the same thing long befor ethis was written but called a "F!#@king laker troll."

 

[The_Lillard_King]

ed-o is 100% right. we are 2-2 vs 3 non playoff teams yet guys here dont wanna admit that.

will we get better? i hope. but right now (esp with aldridge injury) i see a looooong week coming up for us.

No, the Blazers are 2-1 vs. 3 non-playoff teams.

The Blazers are 0-1 v playoff teams.

I'll admit that the Blazers should have won the game against Denver . . . if they hit thier free throws at the end they would have. Lucky it is early in the season and no reason to give up this early.

 

[Mediocre Man]

This was my favorite.
Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there.

 

[Nikolokolus]

or how about for all those "pre season means nothing guys"

we are 500. just like the pre season.... and simmons prediction of 41-41 looks closer every day.


its scary

AHAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

4 games in and you think 41-41 looks closer every day?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

There's something "scary" in here, but it's not their 2 and 2 start

 

[MIXUM]

yah... nates a also an issue

i mean we were playing so well in the first qtr... and nate makes changes. thats why nate drives ya nuts.

with that said... i think if la plays... we win by 15 at least

 

[Mediocre Man]

AHAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

4 games in and you think 41-41 looks closer every day?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

There's something "scary" in here, but it's not their 2 and 2 start

Technically he's right ya know?


41-41 looks closer after 2-2 than it did after 1-1

 

[The_Lillard_King]

This was my favorite.
Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there.

Which part is your favorite? That Nate started Blake or that he took him out automatically at the 6 min mark. I thought you would be all for pulling Blake out of the game no matter how he is playing to get Miller his minutes.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

God this Laker troll is fucking clueless.

He is a not a troll at all. I, and other people in here, actually agree with a lot of his points. Cause he is emotional about his opinions he's a troll? Gimme a break.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I'm getting tired of the whole "this guy just doesn't fit our team" bullshit. Nate McMillan is the coach and he's killing the potential of our players. Look what Frye is doing now. Look what Von Wafer was doing the Rockets last season. This is a coach who wants to play how he wants to play and doesn't mold his coaching around the skills of his players. Greg Oden is being wasted away, as is Rudy Fernandez and Andre Miller. We can talk about roster change all day, but this coach is never going to be able to full utilize the talents of his players.

 

[Ed O]

Which part is your favorite? That Nate started Blake or that he took him out automatically at the 6 min mark. I thought you would be all for pulling Blake out of the game no matter how he is playing to get Miller his minutes.

It seems obvious to me that MM believes that Oden should have stayed in since he was playing well. What he quotes gives some evidence that supports that belief.

Ed O.