Outlaw and Roy close

[Driew]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/01/wait_is_over_for_outlaw.html

Funny read about Outlaw being the center of attention after the Bulls game

Love this team and their personality

 

[timmay]

The 33 points are three off Outlaw's career high, set in last season's finale against Golden State.

Wasn't last season's finale against Phoenix?

 

[Darkwebs]

Wasn't last season's finale against Phoenix?

You're right and like usual, Quick is not so quick with facts. LOL!

He must've been thinking about the 2006-2007 Season finale, when Travis scored 36 against GS.

 

[KingSpeed]

When I was in New Orleans, Roy and Outlaw were staying on my floor. I caught them walking down the hall together and talked briefly to them. They're cool guys, especially Travis.

 

[BengalDuck]

Wasn't last season's finale against Memphis?

EDIT - No it was against Phoenix... the Memphis game was the home finale and the one that secured a non-losing record.

 

[Darkwebs]

Wasn't last season's finale against Memphis?

Last season's home finale was against Memphis, but the final game of the season was played in Phoenix against the Suns. Jack got thrown outta the game, remember?

 

[Shooter]

I'm happy for Outlaw and the Blazers, but Roy sure looked out of it tonight. He seems to have slipped back into his passive mode of play, at least temporarily.

 

[THE HCP]

Who cares! We won!

 

[Darkwebs]

I'm happy for Outlaw and the Blazers, but Roy sure looked out of it tonight. He seems to have slipped back into his passive mode of play, at least temporarily.

I'm not worried about Roy yet. His poor play tonight was very likely the result of him missing 4 games in 2 weeks and being rusty. And because his shot wasn't falling, he did the wise thing by trusting his teammates and passing it to the hot hands tonight, whether it was Outlaw or Blake. That's why he was passive tonight.

 

[blue32]

his shot was short, probably tired legs, or sore hamstring, or the finger was bothering him.
no big deal, we still whopped ass, the biggest thing here is ODEN!
damn he produced and hardly got into foul trouble.....

 

[alex42083]

Being able to win with Roy having an off night on the road, is a very good thing.. Those four games without him probably came at the right time since we were relying too damn much on him.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'm happy for Outlaw and the Blazers, but Roy sure looked out of it tonight. He seems to have slipped back into his passive mode of play, at least temporarily.

I didn't see that tonight. Some nights I can see it, but tonight it just looked like he knew he didn't have it. He even eluded to that in the article. Hos shot was off and he didn't have the handles he normally does.

I also think the entire team is going to need to go through an adhustment period because they need to start throwing the ball inside on every possession.

Oden won't be as good as he was last night every time, but they need to go through the low post. He and Aldridge both can either score or pass out. With Roy, Blake and either Rudy, Batum, TO or Bayless I would dare the other team to double our post players.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Was Oden really, really, really tired? Because he should have played at least 30+ minutes, imo. If he isn't in foul trouble, you should use that time to help him further his game... and he was playing very well.

17 and 13 and 1 in 25 minutes is amazing.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Was Oden really, really, really tired? Because he should have played at least 30+ minutes, imo. If he isn't in foul trouble, you should use that time to help him further his game... and he was playing very well.

17 and 13 and 1 in 25 minutes is amazing.

He had a great game, but why play him if they don't need him? Towards the end Chicago needed to score quickly which normally means taking 3's Oden doesn't help that, and we didn't seem to be having any trouble scoring.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

With all this trade talk always including Outlaw, one thing is certain if Outlaw is traded:

many players will be sad, and many fans will be sad . . . TO is a unique person on and off the court.

 

[Mediocre Man]

With all this trade talk always including Outlaw, one thing is certain if Outlaw is traded:

many players will be sad, and many fans will be sad . . . TO is a unique person on and off the court.

Great point. I really think this is something KP struggles with.

Outlaw is best friends with Portland's two best players.

Sergio is best friends with Aldridge and Rudy

 

[BlazersBlood]

With all this trade talk always including Outlaw, one thing is certain if Outlaw is traded:

many players will be sad, and many fans will be sad . . . TO is a unique person on and off the court.

Yeah disrupting team chemistry in the middle of the season could spell disaster. But if Outlaw went to a team where he became the main focus, or at least a #2 option and was starting, maybe Brandon could feel happy for him, but losing your BFF is a hard pill to swallow.

 

[BrianFromWA]

unless, of course, your BFF is mike Conley, and everyone says to stop being such a baby if it disrupts your play.

Oh, wait...chemistry issues only count if they're TEAM chemistry issues, not personal ones.

So what were we talking about again?

 

[MIXUM]

im getting the sense that outlaw will be our backup pf when webster comes back which eliminates us going after a pf. i still would like lee but its doesnt look like its gonna happen. we need a vet pg or sf.

anyhow....this is a buisness and you cant hold players hands. sergio needs to go. did you see that look on his face last night. he is clearly sulking.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Yeah disrupting team chemistry in the middle of the season could spell disaster. But if Outlaw went to a team where he became the main focus, or at least a #2 option and was starting, maybe Brandon could feel happy for him, but losing your BFF is a hard pill to swallow.

And seriously, do we need to trade him when he offers us this occasionally? Also, I noticed Nate's tightening his rotation a little, from 10 with significant (10+) minutes to 7 or 8 with significant minutes. In fact, I don't think we had a full bench out on the floor last night. This bodes well for guys like Outlaw and Bayless who can play two positions. They become more valuable in a tight, playoff-style rotation.

 

[mook]

Was Oden really, really, really tired? Because he should have played at least 30+ minutes, imo. If he isn't in foul trouble, you should use that time to help him further his game... and he was playing very well.

17 and 13 and 1 in 25 minutes is amazing.

Midway throught the third quarter they zoomed in on Oden waiting for somebody to take a free throw, and he looked like Shaq after running three laps. Dude was seriously breathing hard, and the ball had been dead for about 30 seconds.

Oden still has a lot of conditioning to get done before he's able to pull off that kind of play for 35 mpg.

 

[mgb]

I think what they were doing was working for the Blazers so they didn't put Oden back in, but he could have played I think without a problem. Nice stat from that article, Oden now has a team-leading 11 double doubles.

I do think Roy and Outlaw being such good friends make it less likely Outlaw is traded. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I think Roy can influence someone being traded as well as not.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Nate took Greg out at the right time. He looked tired. i expected him back in the 4th, but it made sense to stay with the smaller lineup down the stretch. On offense they spread the floor out, and on D they were able to cover the perimeter better.

Which reminds me they did a great job defensively against our two biggest weaknesses. (according to some) The 3 pt shot and PG penetration. (Until the last 60 seconds where we gave up two layin's when the game was over)

I watched Rose torch Utah twice this year. But both times against the Blazers he looked like a rookie.

 

[alex42083]

I watched Rose torch Utah twice this year. But both times against the Blazers he looked like a rookie.

Yeah, I've noticed that, too. I remember Rose just dominate Utah in Utah this season, and am shocked to see how well we've been able to defend him in the two games.
Chicago is like a mini-version of Miami, and those two teams have looked completely different against us than when I see them play other teams, and look actually somewhat decent.

 

[handiman]

Chicago started attacking Oden (probably once they saw he was winded), trying to get him in foul trouble. I think Nate was saving him for the end of the game just in case a big play or two was needed, but it never got to that point so Oden got to rest up for the remainder of the road trip.

 

[hasoos]

Chicago started attacking Oden (probably once they saw he was winded), trying to get him in foul trouble. I think Nate was saving him for the end of the game just in case a big play or two was needed, but it never got to that point so Oden got to rest up for the remainder of the road trip.

I would prefer it to give Oden the minutes and get him more experience on the floor. He is young. He has a day off between games. So why do that?

 

[handiman]

I agree, I wanted to see him back in, but I was okay with the decision, given the flow of the game. Oden's health has been good since the opener, but it's still a work in progress just how much he can take of extended burn. I'd rather not be too ambitious at this stage.

 

[PapaG]

With all this trade talk always including Outlaw, one thing is certain if Outlaw is traded:

many players will be sad, and many fans will be sad . . . TO is a unique person on and off the court.

Outlaw is playing his best ball of the season. 7 out of the last 8 in double figures, shooting well, and active as can be. If the team does trade him, another certainty is this. Whether it be Martell, Batum, or the player that comes in via trade, the scrutiny on what was Outlaw's role will increase.

I understand trading high, but very few bench players in the league can do what Travis does offensively. I'd hate to let him go now that he is attacking the rim occasionally instead of lalways aunching 21 foot shoots.

 

[PapaG]

I would prefer it to give Oden the minutes and get him more experience on the floor. He is young. He has a day off between games. So why do that?

Because he's coming off of major surgery and the game was in hand?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't think it is just Roy who TO has a postive effect on. Someone already mentioned Aldridge . . . TO just seems to have that non-threatening, soft demeanor, low ego personality that would be easy to get along with.

I like watching the TO/Oden dynamic. I think Oden is very guarded on who he lets into his small "circle of trust" and doesn't have the same observable signs of bonding with teamamtes (I'm sure he does bond with them, it just doesn't manifiest itself the way other players show it).

But I do think GO is very confortable with TO. I notice when TO makes a tough shot here or there that Oden is there to congratulate him and I even saw a rub of the head (way to go) that Oden did when TO hit a big shot. I'm just guessing here . . . but I think Oden really likes Travis.