Nate after practice vis Brian Smith at the Columbian (1 Viewer)

[Sug]

Coach Nate
http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/bl...mcmillan-speaks-with-the-media-following-sun/

Brandon
http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/bl...roy-speaks-with-the-media-following-sundays-/

Practice Notes

By Brian T. Smith (Columbian Staff)
April 25, 2010
Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy said his knee felt fine while running through a Sunday morning practice at the team's workout facility in Tualatin, Ore.

Roy expects to come off the bench for Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns, while Jerryd Bayless will start. But Roy said he could see himself lobbying Blazers coach Nate McMillan to start as game time approaches.

McMillan said he has yet to make a decision whether Roy or Bayless will start.

Bayless said he is fine starting or coming off the bench.

McMillan said the Blazers have taken issue with two high, hard elbows thrown by Suns forward Amare Stoudemire at Portland forward Nicolas Batum during the series. The Blazers have brought the issue up with the NBA.

McMillan said Batum's injured right shoulder is holding up fine.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Great news!

 

[Sedatedfork]

This is very good news. If Roy doesn't start game 5, I am guessing he starts game 6. I think game 5 could be a coin flip. Home court doesn't mean a whole lot in this series based on the road team winning half of the games. Roy playing in game 5 is a good sign. I would feel confident if I were the Blazers, but I am hoping they can come up with a better high pick and roll defense than the constant switching I saw in Game 4. I don't want to see La Marcus trying to guard Steve Nash on the perimeter. They can't really go under the pick, Nash will make them pay, but they can try and double before the pick and get the ball out of Nash's hands. I want to see them mix up their pick and roll defense in game 5 so that there are a bunch of different looks.

 

[Sug]

This is very good news. If Roy doesn't start game 5, I am guessing he starts game 6. I think game 5 could be a coin flip. Home court doesn't mean a whole lot in this series based on the road team winning half of the games. Roy playing in game 5 is a good sign. I would feel confident if I were the Blazers, but I am hoping they can come up with a better high pick and roll defense than the constant switching I saw in Game 4. I don't want to see La Marcus trying to guard Steve Nash on the perimeter. They can't really go under the pick, Nash will make them pay, but they can try and double before the pick and get the ball out of Nash's hands. I want to see them mix up their pick and roll defense in game 5 so that there are a bunch of different looks.

Interesting point on this because this is where Nash said it has totally taken them out of the game plan because it takes so long to execute the offense when Portland switches. I am interested in knowing(how to find out, I don't know) if we went away from the switching in games 2 & 3.

 

[Sedatedfork]

Interesting point on this because this is where Nash said it has totally taken them out of the game plan because it takes so long to execute the offense when Portland switches. I am interested in knowing(how to find out, I don't know) if we went away from the switching in games 2 & 3.

It was somewhat effective in game 4, but I am guessing that Gentry tries to make us pay if we keep switching in game 5. To me it just seems to create major mismatches that make me cringe. Hopefully we take an early lead in game 5 and the suns lose their patience on offense.