Q&A with Number 7

[B-Roy]

http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplayPlaceholder/tabid/192/ItemID/1599/Default.aspx

Some highlights:

What do you think of the signing of Wesley Matthews?

Roy: "I think he's going to help our team. I was a little concerned with losing Martell and not bringing Travis back. I was like 'We're getting thin on that wing.' Getting Wes -- he wants to be called Wesley -- getting Wesley was huge. That was somebody I was looking forward to playing against for the rest of my career and now he's my teammate. I'm excited about it. He's kind of like in that mold of Nicolas; they do whatever it takes to help the team win. Defend, he can score, knock down the shot. There's a number of things I'm going to talk to coach about in putting me in different postions so that way we can go bigger and put maybe Nicolas and Welsey out there together. It should be fun."

...

It's been a turbulent offseason. What do you think about the way things are with that situation?

Roy: "I think the biggest thing as players is we have to have confidence in our owner and our president that they're going to do the best thing to make this team get better. I heard a lot of rumors and things like that but I didn't get involved in it.

"I still have a relationship with KP. I talked to him today actually. I see Coach Dean and ran and gave him a hug. Those guys I'm going to miss but everybody keeps telling me that's just the NBA. Guys you came in with four years later may be gone. That's somewhat what's happening, but as long as we continue to get better and I think that's what Mr. Allen wants, that's what Larry Mille wants, we've got to trust it and I have to continue to worry about myself and get these guys ready.}

...

What do you think about the way the roster is? You've got Rudy, you've got Wesley, you, Bayless, Miller, a lot of guys who play the same position.

Roy: "I think they're saying they want to make moves. I've heard some rumors that Rudy didn't want to be in Portland and I was a little disappointed about that. I would love to have another season to play with Rudy. I think he does help this basketball team, so I'm not too quick to give him up. We'll see. We definatley need some scoring off the bench and I think if we can get, along with Andre, a point guard that can somewhat get (Fernandez) off -- I think he needs that -- he'd be more happy about staying. Until they somewhat show that then I think he'll continue to get away."

...

Have you talked to any of the other guys lately?

Roy: "I talked to LaMarcus earlier today. We were kind of joking around. He has a birthday coming up then mine is later in the week. I was asking seeing what he was doing. He thought about coming out here but he said he didn't want to fly. I didn't want to fly either but Tiana (Roy's fiance) kind of pushed me to leave."

 

[LameR]

Nice. Thanks for the link.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Very good interview, and fairly candid. As down as people are on Rudy (and I think he will be traded) I think he's a lot more of a player than he showed last year. But then again I thought that about Sergio a few years in a row, too.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

So Roy...

Feels great, got a personal trainer.

He's trying to learn to play off the ball but he says he's better with the ball in his hands.

Likes a lineup of him, Matthews and Batum.

Thinks if 'dre comes off the bench that will help Rudy.

Best part of the interview, "Big Joel?"


It would be interesting to hear from Roy who he thinks would be the ideal pg for him to play with. Bet he doesn't say Chris Paul, lol. But it is nice to hear that he is working on his sg game. I thought the Andre Miller comment was interesting.

 

[mgb]

He didn't say the Blazers had a PG that would be good for Rudy. Afterall, Rudy comes off the bench so unless you think Rudy would play better with Miller it doesn't make a lot of sense him coming off the bench too?

 

[hasoos]

Man I hope he talks Nate into running that big lineup. There are couple of weird large lineups that I think could cause some major problems for other teams providing the Blazers can execute:

1. Roy, Mathews, Batum, Camby and Oden. Good luck scoring against that lineup.

2. Batum, Roy, Aldridge, Camby and Oden. Talk about massive size on the court. So what if somebody gets past LA on the wing. We got 2 more guys waiting to block the shot, and you know Batum will find a way into the play defensively.

 

[Mediocre Man]

In other words, I don't like playing along side Miller.

I am best in an ISO offense



Why is the best part "big Joel"? He also said "big Greg"

 

[RoyToy]

In other words, I don't like playing along side Miller.

I am best in an ISO offense





Why is the best part "big Joel"? He also said "big Greg"

Why are you ignoring him saying he's practicing getting better off the ball?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Why is the best part "big Joel"? He also said "big Greg"

I just got the feeling that Roy was smiling the most when he was talking about Joel. Roy thinks he's a little quirky but he respects him greatly.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So Roy...

Feels great, got a personal trainer.

He's trying to learn to play off the ball but he says he's better with the ball in his hands.

Likes a lineup of him, Matthews and Batum.

Thinks if 'dre comes off the bench that will help Rudy.

Best part of the interview, "Big Joel?"


It would be interesting to hear from Roy who he thinks would be the ideal pg for him to play with. Bet he doesn't say Chris Paul, lol. But it is nice to hear that he is working on his sg game. I thought the Andre Miller comment was interesting.

Re-read the interview, he didn't say Dre' should come off the bench.

think if we can get, along with Andre, a point guard that can somewhat get (Fernandez) off -- I think he needs that -- he'd be more happy about staying. Until they somewhat show that then I think he'll continue to get away."

He's pretty clearly saying he thinks the team needs another distributor at the point guard position. If anything I'd say he doesn't see Bayless being the best idea as a backup 1.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why are you ignoring him saying he's practicing getting better off the ball?

He absolutely said that. He said it twice, I think, but then qualified it both times with mentioning his strength was playing with the ball. Was even hoping Nate runs him, Nic and Matthews together.

 

[B-Roy]

He absolutely said that. He said it twice, I think, but then qualified it both times with mentioning his strength was playing with the ball. Was even hoping Nate runs him, Nic and Matthews together.

Because it's true? Brandon Roy's abilities with the ball will ALWAYS trump his abilities without the ball. That's just the type of player he is. I can't see any scenario where he turns into a Rip Hamilton type player. (Nor would I want to)

 

[RoyToy]

He absolutely said that. He said it twice, I think, but then qualified it both times with mentioning his strength was playing with the ball. Was even hoping Nate runs him, Nic and Matthews together.

That would be a good combination at the end of games if you ask me.

Roy with the ball in his hands is not some terrible thing. He's arguably a top 10 player when he's right and healthy and it's a big advantage for the Blazers.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Re-read the interview, he didn't say Dre' should come off the bench.



He's pretty clearly saying he thinks the team needs another distributor at the point guard position. If anything I'd say he doesn't see Bayless being the best idea as a backup 1.

LOL! Dork!

 

[Nikolokolus]

LOL! Dork!

huh?

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I think Roy is saying that he wants to talk with coach about becoming the PG, with Wesley and Nic as his wings. This is how I read into it.

 

[tlongII]

I think Roy is looking to play more PG as well. The problem is that it would likely wear him down.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think Roy is saying that he wants to talk with coach about becoming the PG, with Wesley and Nic as his wings. This is how I read into it.

I'm not sure Brandon is the right kind of distributor for PG. He passes well, but only when his option has been sealed. I don't think that's a bad thing for a 2 guard though. And can Matthews come close to staying with a PG on defense?

 

[MARIS61]

Ha ha...I saw this question "How is everything going? Word is you've been working out at the PF quite a bit"... and thought hmmm...that could actually work against some teams for short stretches...then realized they were talking about location, not position.

 

[Idog1976]

I'm not sure Brandon is the right kind of distributor for PG. He passes well, but only when his option has been sealed. I don't think that's a bad thing for a 2 guard though. And can Matthews come close to staying with a PG on defense?

I've long thought Roy COULD be a PG. I just am not sure he can. I remember ages ago thinking how nice it would be if he could master the point at 6 foot 6". We'll see, it's possible, I'm just not sure he would like it.