Mr. Pritchard, if you're reading this

[mook]

We'll be really good when we have better options so that Outlaw, Blake and Przybilla each play less than 22 mpg. Assuming they're still on the roster.

 

[MAS RipCity]

so because he had one bad series, people want to trade away a player who got some 1st pace votes for 6th man of the year? some of you fans are sickening..

 

[Haakzilla]

I have been saying it since last year sometime and I will keep saying it until it FINALLY happens; TO must GO [like zBO]!!!

 

[PapaG]

I'll point out that I totally called who would be this season's scapegoat prior to the first game of the year.

 

[Wheels]

I'll point out that I totally called who would be this season's scapegoat prior to the first game of the year.

its unfortunate that Travis' play didnt really warrant the people to not want him gone though.

 

[andalusian]

I am disappointed in Travis's performance - but what we have all got to remember is that Travis is a very slow starter. Everything he is facing a new situation - it takes him a long time to get what he needs to do - but when he does - he is valuable.

What this tells me is that if there is a clear upgrade available for him - you go for it - if not - you remember that he will get better - while he is a 6 years veteran - he was a playoffs rookie like most of the rest of the team - I do expect him to have better playoffs performances down the line - if it is here - great, if not - I trust KP knows what he is doing and who he is dealing or keeping.

 

[LittleAlex]

They relied on him because their other, future scoring options (Oden, Rudy, Bayless, Batum) were all rookies and not yet ready to be consistent top scoring options.

So, they "relied" on him due to lack of other options. If your remedy is "get more talented," I don't think that qualifies as an actionable plan. Every team would like to get more talented. Portland has several players who could/should move past Outlaw on the scoring option totem pole. If none of them do, then the team will fail due to a lack of talent, not because they chose to rely on Outlaw.

I don't recall mentioning any remedy other then "rely on Outlaw less next year".

I don't agree that Portland couldn't have used someone else in the role they gave Outlaw. Rudy is perfectly capable of being wildly inconsistent as Outlaw.

What about Nate makes you think he trusted Outlaw more then other players for any other reason then he knew Outlaw better? Outside of Roy and LaMarcus anyone else the featured on offense was a choice, since there were all equally limited.

They don't need to get more talented next season, they need to get more consistent. That typically IS a function of time in the league. That Outlaw is still not there after 6 years tells me he never will get there. It is entirely possible that one of the guys you mentioned above steps up next season.

 

[Minstrel]

I don't recall mentioning any remedy other then "rely on Outlaw less next year".

They will if they have better scoring options. If they don't (as they didn't this season), they'll have to rely on him as they did this year. Hobson's choice.

I don't agree that Portland couldn't have used someone else in the role they gave Outlaw. Rudy is perfectly capable of being wildly inconsistent as Outlaw.

How is that better, swapping out one wildly inconsistent player for another? If there wasn't a better option, why criticize giving Outlaw the minutes?

They don't need to get more talented next season, they need to get more consistent. That typically IS a function of time in the league. That Outlaw is still not there after 6 years tells me he never will get there.

They need to get better, basically. Talent doesn't change among individuals, but getting more consistent would be improving. I agree that Outlaw isn't likely to become much better. His minutes (and the team's reliance on him) will decrease as other players surpass him.

I have no problem with the team relying less on Outlaw. In fact, I greatly hope they do, because that will mean other Blazers got better. I just think the criticism of Outlaw is overdone. He is what he is, a talented but inconsistent scorer. If he were consistent, he'd be a starter. As a reserve, making what he does, he's a valuable asset. That he plays so many minutes is ultimately on Pritchard, to build a team with enough good players that Outlaw isn't the third-best scorer. I think he has, once the rookies develop. Hopefully, they fulfill their promise and push Outlaw to fifth- or sixth-best scorer on the team.

 

[Ed O]

Some thoughts:

1. I'm not a big Outlaw fan. I haven't been for at least a couple of years. I think that his shot selection is terrible, I think that he's a player that lacks general awareness on the court, and I think that he's probably not going to improve in his non-core competency areas much over where he is now.

2. Outlaw has been overhyped by some Blazers fans because of his willingness to take big shots and his ability to occasionally make them.

3. I think that Portland should have packaged Outlaw for other value, including RLEC for a starting 3 upgrade, for example. I am not 100% sure that this was available, of course, but I would have loved to see it.

4. Outlaw, for all his faults, is still a useful piece and player. He is a streaky scorer and makes a big difference in a game when he's shooting well.

5. Even with the return of Webster and Batum, unless we add a veteran forward (either a 3 or a 4) I think that Outlaw will be an important piece of the rotation next year.

6. Giving Outlaw away or letting him walk for no value would be a mistake. We have assets and a lot of guys with promising futures, but there's no reason to dump one of them just because he isn't as good as we'd all like him to be.

Ed O.

 

[Masbee]

Please do everything in your power to send Travis Outlaw packing this offseason. I don't care what you get back for him. Any subtraction of Outlaw comes with a net PLUS for this team.

Overeact much?

Calm down. KP shouldn't and won't dump Outlaw for table scraps. He will shop him and move him if a good deal comes along.

We need to thin the SF ranks anywho. KP wants to hang on to Batum. Webster doesn't have much trade value at this point. That makes Outlaw the odd man out in KP's efforts to swing deals. KP will always throw Outlaw's name in the ring first. You will get your wish by default.

He absolutely FADED and WILTED in what was the biggest series of games for the Blazers in six years.

I'm done with the "freakishly athletic" and "unrealized potential" talk. The guy is one of the most experienced players on the team. He's been here six years, and all he's added to his game is a more realiable perimeter shot, which largely negates his athleticism anyway. He can't finish near the basket on a regular basis. He fades away from, rather than in to, contact, giving the defender the advantage on most occasions. His rebounding averages are atrocious for a player of his size and jumping ability. And he couldn't defend a chair.

Yep. But, I have been in favor of moving Travis in the right deal for years now - and for all these very reasons. Thus, I have no emotional reaction to his problems. Didn't expect much. Was disappointed that he didn't even reach that low bar.

Please don't go to Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge to ask them what they think. They are Travis' best friends and will advocate for him staying until the cows come home. They'll put their friendship with him above what's best for the team. I love their loyalty, but sometimes you have to make a decision that upsets a few guys for the betterment of the team.

-Pop

Brandon to Travis: We are going to come back stronger than ever. (I didn't say you would be on the team too) Next year is going to be great. We are both going to have awesome years. (True. Whoever trades for Outlaw will feature him in the offense).

KP to Brandon: Travis looks to be the odd man out. He has good trade value and we need to make a package work for a better starting unit. I am sorry.

Brandon to KP: I would hate to see Travis go. He is my best buddy. But business is business. After going up against the Rockets I know we need help to match up with the big boys. You do what is best for the team. Travis will be fine.

 

[donkiez]

Looks like TO is the scapegoat in this series. TO can be cause mismatch nightmares for some other coaches when he is hot but I think he was clearly overmatched against Houston's defenders. If we had got SA or NO in the first round then TO would have been more successful. I was amazed at how much playing time TO got when he was having such a hard time. So TO's success or lack of falls more on Nate's shoulders.

 

[andalusian]

Looks like TO is the scapegoat in this series. TO can be cause mismatch nightmares for some other coaches when he is hot but I think he was clearly overmatched against Houston's defenders. If we had got SA or NO in the first round then TO would have been more successful. I was amazed at how much playing time TO got when he was having such a hard time. So TO's success or lack of falls more on Nate's shoulders.

If you look at this serie from an offensive point of view - we had one consistent contributor (Roy), one semi-consistent (LMA) and pretty much a mostly miss across the board from there on. Who else could we play more? Nicolas was just as outmatched against Battier/Artest, Rudy had one good game, Greg had maybe 4 pick and rolls run for him and the only time we went to him offensively was in the first game, Blake was hot and cold.

If someone else was there to be hot and Nate did not run in for Travis - this argument would make sense - but unfortunately, there was no one like that.

A shame that we could not see Bayless going hard to the rim against Brooks - but we pretty much relegated him to the bench in favor of Sergio during the season when Blake came back from injury - and that's all she wrote...

 

[Uther TheGardener]

travis is the team's veteran player as sad as that sound he plays like a 2nd year player so in 3 years he will play like a 3rd year player then in by his 12 year in the league he will be a 4th year player! the oldest youngest player in league history.

Outlaw is what he will be nothing more....infact he will start to go down hill soon best to trade him.

sure the hornets might want someone as cheap as him and he would be close to home too!!!!!!1

 

[julius]

Travis Outlaw would have gotten us--along with RLEC--that third option that was missing from the Blazers this series. I hope Brandon Roy is happy; he fucked himself with his loyalty to TrOut.

and the name of that player is...

 

[STOMP]

Assuming full health for next season, Martell.

yeah, thats a guy who has met every challenge and never wilted under pressure

STOMP

 

[oldguy]

I'll point out that I totally called who would be this season's scapegoat prior to the first game of the year.

Which one?

 

[MARIS61]

KP, thanks for a great team!

Just ignore the pepsi kid and hang on to these guys, especially TO and the Spanish Armada!

Without those 3 guys this would be a pretty boring team. Love their pressure D and jammin' on the break.

BAKE IT!

PS: About time to hand the reins to Sergio don't you think?

 

[Nikolokolus]

KP, thanks for a great team!

Just ignore the pepsi kid and hang on to these guys, especially TO and the Spanish Armada!

Without those 3 guys this would be a pretty boring team. Love their pressure D and jammin' on the break.

BAKE IT!

PS: About time to hand the reins to Sergio don't you think?

Is it that time already?
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