GrandpaBlaze
Predictions Game Master
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2008
- Messages
- 8,175
- Likes
- 9,242
- Points
- 113
IMO the Blazers are a team in search of an identity right now. Roy with his various skills have been center to the Blazers identity the past several years.
The Roy we have this year is a far cry from who he's been in the past. He cannot create and explode as in the past which means defenders can play him tighter for a jump shot because the respect for his others skills is gone. Also without those other skills, defenses can focus on the other players on the team more as Roy demands less attention.
We've seem others step up to a degree, Batum playing a bigger role, LMA seeming to have stepped up, Miller is playing a bigger role, etc. It is all part of the team searching for their new identity. It is one thing for Roy to get hurt during the season and have to take time off, etc. but to have had the summer of and to come back a shadow of his former self, it shakes up the team.
The players aren't dumb. They knew long before we did that things weren't right. If the leader can't lead, it means that everyone has to adjust, i.e., the team has to search for a new identity.
As part of that search/adjustment, there will be pains (as we have witnessed) but that doesn't necessarily mean the team will be worse in the end. I occasionally see hopes that we'll become more of a running team. With Roy playing a smaller part of the overall offense, that may be allowed to happen.
The biggest impediment to change in my opinion is Nate. He's had decent success the past few years with a "Roy" team. He will take time to adjust hoping that this player, in whom he has great trust, will still be able to lead the team.
It may not be fun, but it will be interesting to see how the team (players and coaches) change and adjust.
Gramps...
The Roy we have this year is a far cry from who he's been in the past. He cannot create and explode as in the past which means defenders can play him tighter for a jump shot because the respect for his others skills is gone. Also without those other skills, defenses can focus on the other players on the team more as Roy demands less attention.
We've seem others step up to a degree, Batum playing a bigger role, LMA seeming to have stepped up, Miller is playing a bigger role, etc. It is all part of the team searching for their new identity. It is one thing for Roy to get hurt during the season and have to take time off, etc. but to have had the summer of and to come back a shadow of his former self, it shakes up the team.
The players aren't dumb. They knew long before we did that things weren't right. If the leader can't lead, it means that everyone has to adjust, i.e., the team has to search for a new identity.
As part of that search/adjustment, there will be pains (as we have witnessed) but that doesn't necessarily mean the team will be worse in the end. I occasionally see hopes that we'll become more of a running team. With Roy playing a smaller part of the overall offense, that may be allowed to happen.
The biggest impediment to change in my opinion is Nate. He's had decent success the past few years with a "Roy" team. He will take time to adjust hoping that this player, in whom he has great trust, will still be able to lead the team.
It may not be fun, but it will be interesting to see how the team (players and coaches) change and adjust.
Gramps...
