Nate you are an idiot!

[PapaG]

Nate is definitely running out of bullets. His guards mostly can't shoot, mostly can't be relied on to generate a high percentage shot (either for themselves or others) and guessing that he's thinking "isolation" when he says "finishing," he's rght, there aren't a lot of people capable of of consistently producing in these kinds of situations.

I agree with some of this, put Portland is 11th in the NBA is ASST%. Scoring opportunities are being created. Minnesota, with everybody's hero Rick Adelman, is 27th in the NBA in ASST%.

But to blame offensive problems on consistency when he consistently keep his best shooter off the floor for 20-25 minutes a night, baffles me. He's not going to be able to work miracles by juggling lineups because there's a talent deficiency and the pieces don't fit together all that great, but it would be nice to see him at least toy with the idea of moving Wesley to the bench in favor of a Nic who should be able to do two things at a higher level -- shooting from the perimeter which creates space for LaMarcus and making a post entry pass (with at least roughly the same level of defense).

Nate's also the guy who started Nic for most of Nic's rookie year, so it's not like Nate's never played him. Could it be that there are things about Nic's game, that don't show up in the stats, that limit his playing time, and also made the Blazer front office not offer him a legitimate extension?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Portland is 12th in offensive efficiency and 4th in defensive efficiency.

I guess I'm a "Nate apologist", because I guess I don't see the reason for panic. The team is in the top 40% offensively, and the top 15% defensively.

This reminds me of the NFL a couple of years ago, when the Chargers were #1 in offense, #1 in defense, and missed the play-offs because they had the worst special teams on the planet. In the Blazers case, the achilles heel is execution late in close games. (what are they now - 1-9 in close games?)

Part of that may be bad luck.....but part of it is bad play.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The last three seasons, Portland was 29th, 30th, and 30th in pace. They were a playoff team.

This year, Portland is 9th in pace, and are a full 5 points higher at 95.4 than they were in any of the three playoff years.

I know, I know. I'm sure I'm just misusing stats again.

Last year the Blazers had a point guard who posted an 18 PER, this year it's hovering around 11 ... The year before that they had Brandon Roy who's PER was well North of 20. Coincidence? Probably.

Inefficient basketball doesn't produce a ton of success no matter what pace a team plays at.

 

[RoyToy]

I agree with some of this, put Portland is 11th in the NBA is ASST%. Scoring opportunities are being created. Minnesota, with everybody's hero Rick Adelman, is 27th in the NBA in ASST%.



Nate's also the guy who started Nic for most of Nic's rookie year, so it's not like Nate's never played him. Could it be that there are things about Nic's game, that don't show up in the stats, that limit his playing time, and also made the Blazer front office not offer him a legitimate extension?

Absolutely. He sleeps through half the game too many times to just let it go.

Two main things:

He'll ball-watch and lose his man on defense.

He'll turn his head and let his man grab the offensive rebound.

Combine that with his overall lack of aggressiveness and it's just frustrating to watch.

 

[PapaG]

This reminds me of the NFL a couple of years ago, when the Chargers were #1 in offense, #1 in defense, and missed the play-offs because they had the worst special teams on the planet. In the Blazers case, the achilles heel is execution late in close games. (what are they now - 1-9 in close games?)

Part of that may be bad luck.....but part of it is bad play.

How do you rectify late game efficiency? By playing rookies? I don't think so. At some point, players have to execute. Think of it this way. The starting backcourt of Felton and Matthews is statistically the worst in the NBA, yet Portland still is a top-half team in terms of efficiency (with an elevated pace) and in record.

Again, I'm not sure how this is all Nate's fault. He's obviously adjusted his coaching to fit this team, regardless of what BNM posted early. The players aren't performing. I still think they will perform, though. Maybe my own advancing age is making me more patient in terms of short-term, day to day results.. I think the real problem lives in Seattle, but there is already a thread about him.

 

[B-Roy]

He'll ball-watch and lose his man on defense.

He'll turn his head and let his man grab the offensive rebound.

And who's in front of him? Matthews who can't defend and forgos rebounding altogether.

 

[PapaG]

Last year the Blazers had a point guard who posted an 18 PER, this year it's hovering around 11 ... The year before that they had Brandon Roy who's PER was well North of 20. Coincidence? Probably.

Inefficient basketball doesn't produce a ton of success no matter what pace a team plays at.

The Blazers are 12th in efficiency, though, with Mr. 11 PER. Last year's team, with Mr. 18 PER, was 11th.

The primary difference is that this year's team is 4th in DEF EFF, while last year's with Mr. 18 PER was 14th.

Roy's teams were much higher, though. Yet that still didn't keep the same crowd from whining.

 

[RoyToy]

And who's in front of him? Matthews who can't defend and forgos rebounding altogether.

Gerald Wallace is in front of him.

 

[B-Roy]

Gerald Wallace is in front of him.

Batum could easily play over Matthews instead.

 

[RoyToy]

Batum could easily play over Matthews instead.

If you to play players out of position I guess.

 

[PapaG]

Batum could easily play over Matthews instead.

Could he? I'm not sure about that, at least at SG.

 

[B-Roy]

Could he? I'm not sure about that, at least at SG.

Reasons? What exactly does Matthews do at SG that Batum can't? Guard? Batum's already asked to guard just about every player in the league. Shoot? Batum shoots a lot better than Matthews. Handle the ball? For goodness sakes, I can't remember a Blazer in recent memory with worse handles than Matthews.

So tell me, what is this mystical advantage of being labeled a shooting guard as opposed to a small forward?

It's not like I'm saying to put Batum there for all of his minutes, just switch their roles. Batum starts and plays 33-36 minutes, Matthews comes off the bench for 25-27 minutes.

 

[Boise Blazer]

Reasons? What exactly does Matthews do at SG that Batum can't? Guard? Batum's already asked to guard just about every player in the league. Shoot? Batum shoots a lot better than Matthews. Handle the ball? For goodness sakes, I can't remember a Blazer in recent memory with worse handles than Matthews.

So tell me, what is this mystical advantage of being labeled a shooting guard as opposed to a small forward?

It's not like I'm saying to put Batum there for all of his minutes, just switch their roles. Batum starts and plays 33-36 minutes, Matthews comes off the bench for 25-27 minutes.

Well obviously what we are doing right now is woring out so well why mess with it right?

 

[MickZagger]

If Paul George and Landry Fields can be an effective shooting guard, Batum can too.

 

[THE HCP]

Exactly!

Batum is one of the most frustrating Blazers. He plays so soft at times. He needs to play aggressive and show some fire. Nobody is going to get on him for taking shots, but they will get on him for NOT taking shots.

Once again!!!!!!!! A rookie NOT reading the S2 handbook before posting! This drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RoyToy]

If Paul George and Landry Fields can be an effective shooting guard, Batum can too.

Well I guess that settles it.

 

[MickZagger]

Batum is tied with 6th best PER in the league for a SF. He doesn't even start. "SMH"

 

[RoyToy]

Is Batum better than Rudy Gay?

 

[MickZagger]

Is Batum better than Rudy Gay?

Yes. Gay has a TS% of just 50% and a TO ratio of 12.3 with a USG rate 23.4

Batum has TS% of nearly 60% with a TO ratio of 9.2 and USG rate of 17.8

 

[RoyToy]

SMH....

 

[MickZagger]

SMH....

Shake your head all you want. Numbers don't lie.

 

[RoyToy]

Watching Batum try to get his shot off in the ways Rudy Gay has the ability to do would be a little comical.

Batum only takes the highest % of shots, thus resulting in good shooting %'s (although Gay's FG% is still better than Nic's.)

Not really close, bro

MAYBE in the future, but that's looking less likely with each passing game.

 

[MickZagger]

Watching Batum try to get his shot off in the ways Rudy Gay has the ability to do would be a little comical.

Batum only takes the highest % of shots, thus resulting in good shooting %'s (although Gay's FG% is still better than Nic's.)

Not really close, bro

MAYBE in the future, but that's looking less likely with each passing game.

Style points are cute, but don't really matter in real life. Keep throwing shit at the wall though, its funny

 

[RoyToy]

SMH....

Some people just don't get it. Those people think Love is better than Aldridge because of numbers, while clearly not seeing the talent disparity between the two

This is just like that

SMH....

 

[MickZagger]

SMH....

Some people just don't get it. Those people think Love is better than Aldridge because of numbers, while clearly not seeing the talent disparity between the two

This is just like that

SMH....

Talent disparity?

Both are among the best PF's in the league. One rebounds like his life depends on it, the other has a slightly better offensive repertoire. Not by much though. I'd say they're even considering how many times Love gets to the line. He's mastered the lost art of drawing a foul.

One's been to 2 AS games, the other has been to 1. Both play in a small market.

Quite the disparity.

 

[Boob-No-More]

This seems silly considering the team was running a lot early in the year, and is still playing at a much faster pace, than in seasons' past.

Portland is 9th in pace so far this year.

All the posters who whined for years about pace are now getting their wish, yet they're still whining because the pace isn't producing wins. Maybe it wasn't pace after all, but rather a reason to whine?

Seems to me Nate should go back to his comfort zone and start winning games instead of trying to push pace with a team full of turnover machines.

EDIT - Portland is 5th best in the NBA in TO%. I pwned myself on that stat because I was just going with my gut.

Blah, blah, blah... Typical strawman argument. Why the fuck did you quote my post and then go off on some unrelated tangent about pace? I didn't mention the word pace once in my entire post. I was referring specifically to his rigid substitution patterns and refusal to exploit mismatches.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Again, I'm not sure how this is all Nate's fault. He's obviously adjusted his coaching to fit this team, regardless of what BNM posted early.

Have you watched a single Blazers game this season? Seriously, how could anyone be so clueless, unless it's just some bizarre act to get attention. The team is 1-9 in close games for one very simple reason - Nate McMillan has not yet realized Jamaal Crawford is NOT Brandon Roy. The Roy ISO only worked when we had a healthy Brandon Roy. Roy is long gone, but we STILL get the same tired, easily defended, unimaginative 4th quarter ISO based offense with sadly predictable results; loss after loss, after loss. Tell us again how Nate has adjusted his coaching to fit this team. When the game is on the line, Nate reverts back to what used to work, and even though it's obviously not working, he's failed and failed miserably to even try anything new. 1-9 in close games. That's just flat out pathetic. I've NEVER seen any team so bad at executing with the game on the line. Yeah, Felton, Matthews and Crawford suck. That's obvious. So, why the fuck does the coach have them taking all the shots with the game on the line?

Are we going to have to wait for them to be 1-19 in close games before he even attempts to make an adjustment? And now he's preaching about needing consistency. I've got news for you Nate, this team is as consistent as all fuck. Losing 90% of your close games is about as consistent as you can get. With the game on the line they suck more consistently than any team in the league. If it's consistency you want, congratulations, that's exactly what you're getting and will continue to get until you TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. You're 1-9 in close games. Don't you think it's time to mix things up a little?

BNM

 

[Sinobas]

They fail in crunch time, but to me, it looks like they are actually trying to run some kind of play and failing. They are not running the designed ISO like they did for Roy. The Roy ISO was plain as day. Roy would hold the ball outside the 3pt line, the team would spread out, he'd wait till 6 seconds then make his move for the last shot. We're not doing that with Crawford, but rather, Crawford at times has had to force up some despearte crap because the play didn't work.

 

[PapaG]

Have you watched a single Blazers game this season? Seriously, how could anyone be so clueless, unless it's just some bizarre act to get attention. The team is 1-9 in close games for one very simple reason - Nate McMillan has not yet realized Jamaal Crawford is NOT Brandon Roy. The Roy ISO only worked when we had a healthy Brandon Roy. Roy is long gone, but we STILL get the same tired, easily defended, unimaginative 4th quarter ISO based offense with sadly predictable results; loss after loss, after loss. Tell us again how Nate has adjusted his coaching to fit this team. When the game is on the line, Nate reverts back to what used to work, and even though it's obviously not working, he's failed and failed miserably to even try anything new. 1-9 in close games. That's just flat out pathetic. I've NEVER seen any team so bad at executing with the game on the line. Yeah, Felton, Matthews and Crawford suck. That's obvious. So, why the fuck does the coach have them taking all the shots with the game on the line?

Are we going to have to wait for them to be 1-19 in close games before he even attempts to make an adjustment? And now he's preaching about needing consistency. I've got news for you Nate, this team is as consistent as all fuck. Losing 90% of your close games is about as consistent as you can get. With the game on the line they suck more consistently than any team in the league. If it's consistency you want, congratulations, that's exactly what you're getting and will continue to get until you TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. You're 1-9 in close games. Don't you think it's time to mix things up a little?

BNM

So it's an accident that a Nate team, which is typically last in the NBA at pace (89-90is), is suddenly Top 10 at 95.5? You posted that Nate would not change his style of coaching to fit players. Clearly he's done so this year. Just two weeks ago, I posted a quote by Marcus Camby where he said Nate is still beseeching them to run, but that none of them have the legs to do it, and also aren't rebounding consistently enough.

Am I supposed to believe Nate hasn't changed a thing just because you posted it? Or, can I look at the available data, and see that clearly the offense has changed to try and utilize the players he has now. It's not Nate's fault that the team can't finish a fast break, is it?

 

[PapaG]

Blah, blah, blah... Typical strawman argument. Why the fuck did you quote my post and then go off on some unrelated tangent about pace? I didn't mention the word pace once in my entire post. I was referring specifically to his rigid substitution patterns and refusal to exploit mismatches.

BNM

Not sure if you've noticed, but Crawford is typically playing point now at the end of games, and Felton is an afterthought. Also, you mentioned Nate not adjusting, and clearly he has adjusted his offense to allow for a faster "pace". If your claim is that he's still running ISO-ball, well, that's simply not the case.

In other words, it seems like you just made a bunch of things up based on your own biases, typed in ALL CAPS!! once in a while for emphasis, and then thought you could dismiss any challenges to your post by saying things like "do you even watch the games??".

Argue with the stats, or continue to call them strawmen. Either way, I'm comfortable in what the stats show, which is that Nate has changed his coaching philosophy. Throw in comments by the players, and I'm wondering why your opinion should be taken seriously at all.