Pritchard Defends Outlaw

[RudyFor3]

Despite Outlaw's disappointing performance, Pritchard and the Blazers are focusing on a six-year resume that includes tremendous growth, clutch fourth-quarter play, versatility and firepower off the bench.

"It was totally a learning experience for him," Pritchard said of the postseason. "I feel like he needed to go through a playoff experience to see what it's like. If you make decisions on four or five or six games, it could come back to bite you. He has the potential to win basketball games. He's a shot-maker, and when he does that we're a different team."

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/05/pritchard_the_puzzle_master.html#more

Brandon Roy also alluded to the fact that this was Outlaws first playoff experience. Outlaw is a VERY valuable member of this team and he will actually play more minutes next season. People have to remember he is actually still very young and came straight out of high school. If we trade Outlaw, it can come back to bite us.

 

[ehizzy3]

more minutes? ugggggggggh

 

[Tince]

KP is dead on that you shouldn't judge a guy on one series. Obviously some people don't like what he does throughout the year, but if you want to trade him for playing poorly in one series, that's not too bright.

 

[Further]

KP would be a pretty stupid GM if he said anything different. He has to defend Outlaw for two main reasons. 1, keep his value as high as possible and not let other GM's think there is a fire sale so KP can get as much as possible in a trade if Outlaw is traded. 2, If Outlaw ends up not being traded, KP is keeping him happy and feeling like a valued member of the team. Saying anything else would set Outlaw back, or set trades back. This is just GM talk.

 

[crandc]

KP also avoids publicly attacking any of the players so I'm not surprised.

 

[MAS RipCity]

well shoot, our GM knows more than internet arm-chair gm's...who would have thunk it?

 

[B-Roy]

Why would he speak bad about his players? Not only is it bad PR, but it also shows the GMs of the league that "this guy can be had for cheap".

 

[Deebag]

I don't want to ship him because of his performance in the playoffs. I want him shipped because of his performance throughout the year.

 

[Natebishop3]

whatever... this isn't an "experience" thing. This is a basketball IQ thing. That isn't going to change.

 

[RudyFor3]

If Pritchard does trade Outlaw, I hope he gets more in return than what he got for Randolph. We got Frye but he's useless and will be released this off-season.

 

[andalusian]

If Pritchard does trade Outlaw, I hope he gets more in return than what he got for Randolph. We got Frye but he's useless and will be released this off-season.

We got Rudy for Zach. That's quite a catch. If he can get more than Rudy for Outlaw - it sounds like a really sweet deal.

 

[Natebishop3]

We got Rudy for Zach. That's quite a catch. If he can get more than Rudy for Outlaw - it sounds like a really sweet deal.

And James Jones, although he didn't stick around.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So anyone want to take bets on who next year's Jerret Jack/Travis Outlaw is going to be? My vote is for Bayless if he struggles or maybe LaMarcus if he doesn't become an all-star.

I'm not a huge Travis supporter, but I do find it kind of amusing how it seems like the end of each season needs a whipping boy -- tons of guys played inconsistently in the regular season and/or like shit in the playoffs, but we seem to home in on one guy. Is this because he's used up all of his ceiling and now what you see is what you get?

 

[C_note]

So anyone want to take bets on who next year's Jerret Jack/Travis Outlaw is going to be? My vote is for Bayless if he struggles or maybe LaMarcus if he doesn't become an all-star.

I'm not a huge Travis supporter, but I do find it kind of amusing how it seems like the end of each season needs a whipping boy -- tons of guys played inconsistently in the regular season and/or like shit in the playoffs, but we seem to home in on one guy. Is this because he's used up all of his ceiling and now what you see is what you get?

No, it's just the fair-weather bandwagon fans venting...

 

[Natebishop3]

So anyone want to take bets on who next year's Jerret Jack/Travis Outlaw is going to be? My vote is for Bayless if he struggles or maybe LaMarcus if he doesn't become an all-star.

I'm not a huge Travis supporter, but I do find it kind of amusing how it seems like the end of each season needs a whipping boy -- tons of guys played inconsistently in the regular season and/or like shit in the playoffs, but we seem to home in on one guy. Is this because he's used up all of his ceiling and now what you see is what you get?

I just can't stand players who consistently make bad decisions. Blake made some bad decisions in the playoffs, but overall he's usually a very steady guy. Travis is not. Jack was not. Sergio is not.

 

[Nikolokolus]

]I just can't stand players who consistently make bad decisions[/B]. Blake made some bad decisions in the playoffs, but overall he's usually a very steady guy. Travis is not. Jack was not. Sergio is not.

I concur, but I expect this will be remedied one way or another. either A) Travis is going to be traded or waived or B) better third options will be added to the roster (or emerge organically), in either case I won't hold it against Travis that he's done remarkably well for a 27th overall pick that gets by on his athleticism and shooting. If he ends up being an 8th man vs. a 6th man on this team it's hard to complain about what he gives you at such a low price. I can think of lot worse players making double and even triple what he does.

 

[RayDavies]

Yeah, I don't get the Outlaw/Anti-Outlaw obsession. The only reason to hate him is if your expectations are out of whack. I can see why he is (at times) a fan favorite, with his laid back attitude and lack of fear taking big shots... but to expect a super high level of play on a regular basis from Trav seems foolish.

 

[Minstrel]

Yeah, I don't get the Outlaw/Anti-Outlaw obsession. The only reason to hate him is if your expectations are out of whack.

Exactly. Outlaw is a reserve who makes around $4 million. Is he really the linchpin, for good or ill? The obsession with him is very odd. He plays because, right now, there's no one who's consistently better than him beyond Roy and Aldridge. That's the entirety of it, really. You could blame Pritchard for that "lack of talent," except most of the non-Roy/Aldridge talent is still developing. If none of Oden/Bayless/Rudy/Batum surpass Outlaw as reliable players, that's Pritchard's fault, not Outlaw's.

He's just a bench player. There's no reason at all to get rid of him unless it's in a deal to get back a better player.

 

[Ed O]

I just can't stand players who consistently make bad decisions. Blake made some bad decisions in the playoffs, but overall he's usually a very steady guy. Travis is not. Jack was not. Sergio is not.

Yes... this is my main beef with him.

Even when he has good results, he doesn't have good process. He takes many many bad shots: fading away, or long two pointers. He helps the team when he's hitting the shots that he forces up, but he doesn't do anything else that helps if they're not.

I'd prefer to get a guy who can contribute more consistently with solid defense, rebounding, getting to the free throw line, etc., than go with Outlaw--whether it's in the starting lineup or off the bench.

With all of that said, I agree with KP's position that moving any player based on a single playoff series would be silly.

Ed O.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yes... this is my main beef with him.

Even when he has good results, he doesn't have good process. He takes many many bad shots: fading away, or long two pointers. He helps the team when he's hitting the shots that he forces up, but he doesn't do anything else that helps if they're not.

I'd prefer to get a guy who can contribute more consistently with solid defense, rebounding, getting to the free throw line, etc., than go with Outlaw--whether it's in the starting lineup or off the bench.

With all of that said, I agree with KP's position that moving any player based on a single playoff series would be silly.

Ed O.

I would like Outlaw a lot better if he would actually attack the rim more often. We almost never see him elevate and try to throw it down. The guy has insane hops to go along with that 6'9 frame, yet he never really tries to slash.

 

[Sug]

Yes... this is my main beef with him.

Even when he has good results, he doesn't have good process. He takes many many bad shots: fading away, or long two pointers. He helps the team when he's hitting the shots that he forces up, but he doesn't do anything else that helps if they're not.

I'd prefer to get a guy who can contribute more consistently with solid defense, rebounding, getting to the free throw line, etc., than go with Outlaw--whether it's in the starting lineup or off the bench.

With all of that said, I agree with KP's position that moving any player based on a single playoff series would be silly.

Ed O.

Where did LMA stand in regards to decision making after last season?

 

[Ed O]

Where did LMA stand in regards to decision making after last season?

What?

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Where did LMA stand in regards to decision making after last season?

What about LMA's decision making? Are suggesting you think LaMarcus has a poor hoops IQ or poor court awareness on par with Trout's?

 

[Minstrel]

I think he's trying to say that LMA's decision-making was poor last year and he improved a lot this year, so it's reasonable to expect Outlaw to improve his decision-making.

Not that I agree. Aldridge's decision-making was never particularly poor and he was also in only his second season last year. Outlaw's decision-making is much worse and he completed his sixth season. Outlaw is likely quite close to a finished product. He's not even that young anymore. He'll be 25 next year, and a player's prime generally starts at age 26. Being so near his prime, it's unlikely he has much upside left.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think he's trying to say that LMA's decision-making was poor last year and he improved a lot this year, so it's reasonable to expect Outlaw to improve his decision-making.

Not that I agree. Aldridge's decision-making was never particularly poor and he was also in only his second season last year. Outlaw's decision-making is much worse and he completed his sixth season. Outlaw is likely quite close to a finished product. He's not even that young anymore. He'll be 25 next year, and a player's prime generally starts at age 26. Being so near his prime, it's unlikely he has much upside left.

Bingo. That's what I've been trying to say all season. This is the Travis we're going to see.

 

[Minstrel]

Bingo. That's what I've been trying to say all season. This is the Travis we're going to see.

I agree completely. But the Outlaw we see has productive value and is only paid $4 million. He's not overpaid for what he produces and you're not going to ever end up with 12-15 players better than him. So he's not a waste of money or a roster spot.

If you can trade him for a better player, great. If not, why get rid of him?

 

[The Sebastian Express]

No, it's just the fair-weather bandwagon fans venting...

Wow that comment couldn't be more wrong.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I would like Outlaw a lot better if he would actually attack the rim more often. We almost never see him elevate and try to throw it down. The guy has insane hops to go along with that 6'9 frame, yet he never really tries to slash.

If he has to take more than one dribble in traffic, he is likely to turn it over anyway!

Actually, I am just fine with Travis as our 8th or 9th man. He is very cost effective in that role. But when he is your 6th man (and often your 3rd best option on offense), he is overexposed.

 

[andalusian]

Actually, I am just fine with Travis as our 8th or 9th man. He is very cost effective in that role. But when he is your 6th man (and often your 3rd best option on offense), he is overexposed.

I agree - but this is not Travis's fault. It is just where the team is.

 

[Blaze01]

If you can trade him for a better player, great. If not, why get rid of him?

because he isn't that good of a player?