Question about Gerald Wallace

[HailBlazers]

Who else did you want playing the 4 last night?

In time, (maybe Camby is not 100% yet), LMA at the 4 and Camby at 5, will be/should be the starting lineup or first unit.

 

[Pinwheel1]

In time, (maybe Camby is not 100% yet), LMA at the 4 and Camby at 5, will be/should be the starting lineup or first unit.

True. And Camby did start last night. But Wallace has to play the back up 4 because we have no-one else especially against teams who have PF's that hang out on the perimeter and shoots 3's pretty well. Batum can guard some as well, but obviously Wallace is better suited as he is a better rebounder and is more physical.

Bottom line it is not ridiculous to play him as our back up PF. IMO it is a good idea. (Depending on the match-up)

 

[LittleAlex]

Nate is the only coach in the entire NBA that would bring a former all star and first team all defense player off the bench in favor of a dude that isn't now, nor is likely to ever be, either of those things.

This notion that the team needs better outside shooting in the starting unit is great and all, except in half the games Batum's 3 point shooting is only marginally better then Wallace and Batum does absolutely nothing else even close to as well as Wallace.

I would prefer to have all the guys who play hard every play start.
That isn't Batum right now, even according to Batum himself.

Miller does, Mathews does, LMA does and Camby does.
But none of them play as hard as Wallace.
Not even close.

 

[HailBlazers]

Nate is the only coach in the entire NBA that would bring a former all star and first team all defense player off the bench in favor of a dude that isn't now, nor is likely to ever be, either of those things.

What a testament to the amount of Respect Nate gets from his players. It's so refreshing in today's NBA to have players buy into a team first approach. It's clear in every interview these guys will do whatever it takes to put the team first.

That being said, depending on the match-up, I expect to see G start fairly soon.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm with Nate (Bishop, not Mac!). Give him an off-season to get integrated with his teammates and a starting role (where he belongs) and I think alot of these frowns get turned upside down regarding his play and fit so far -- this comment is strictly limited to his role on offense. Defensively, he's been pretty great. He's an instinctive in the passing lanes, he's strong as an ox, quick, rebounds great and injects a heavy dose of toughness into, what is often-times, a milquetoast team.

 

[Nikolokolus]

What a testament to the amount of Respect Nate gets from his players. It's so refreshing in today's NBA to have players buy into a team first approach. It's clear in every interview these guys will do whatever it takes to put the team first.

That being said, depending on the match-up, I expect to see G start fairly soon.

The only thing that's a testament to is Nate's rigidity ...

 

[HailBlazers]

The only thing that's a testament to is ...

If that's your view, than that's all your gonna see.

 

[MickZagger]

The thing that makes Wallace so great to me is the fact that he doesn't need his number called at all to make a huge impact on the game. Thats a very underrated trait in the NBA.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Anyone want to criticize Wallace tonight?

 

[Pinwheel1]

Anyone want to criticize Wallace tonight?

Not me. Keep him coming off the Bench. Even if he comes in after a few minutes. He gives us the spark we need.

 

[KingSpeed]

Wallace is fucking awesome.

 

[MickZagger]

I knew Wallace would fit this team like a glove.

 

[EGame]

Anyone want to criticize Wallace tonight?

Yeah he should have scored more and not sucked as much. Horrible play by him on what was a great night for everyone else.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah he should have scored more and not sucked as much. Horrible play by him on what was a great night for everyone else.

TROLL!

 

[Shooter]

I didn't get to watch the game, but Wallace's stat line looks great. Glad to see it. Maybe he's finally getting the hang of our offense. What a great win tonight!

 

[Blazinaway]

all questions answered. gerald wallace is a stud and fits this team like a glove, likely a seminal event for this team, this season, winnin this game tonight

 

[MickZagger]

I didn't get to watch the game, but Wallace's stat line looks great. Glad to see it. Maybe he's finally getting the hang of our offense. What a great win tonight!

Finally! Finally he's getting a hang of it!

 

[Natebishop3]

I didn't get to watch the game, but Wallace's stat line looks great. Glad to see it. Maybe he's finally getting the hang of our offense. What a great win tonight!

And this is why you made this thread in the first place. Stop looking at stat sheets are start paying attention to what the guy is actually doing on the court.

 

[Shooter]

And this is why you made this thread in the first place. Stop looking at stat sheets are start paying attention to what the guy is actually doing on the court.

Oh, I've been watching him on the court, and he's been stinking it up offensively. Tonight was a different story, thank goodness.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Yeah, his first few games were rough, but tonight it seemed to just click. He may be streaky, I dunno, but tonight was gold.

 

[handiman]

Tonight, he drove a few times and dished off, finally looking like he had a clear idea where his teammates would be. Seemed much more under control as a result. Those blocks on Mike Miller were sick.

 

[mgb]

He also stole a pass to a teammate and got another pass deflected to him meant for someone else. Keep that up!!

 

[Rhal]

Yeah, his first few games were rough, but tonight it seemed to just click. He may be streaky, I dunno, but tonight was gold.

Wallace is a streaky offensive player. The guy is a best when he can mix up his game from slashing/shooting but teams have had GREAT success when they stop his slashing and make him take jumpers. If he has to rely on his jumper usually he has a bad scoring game.

 

[MickZagger]

Wallace is a streaky offensive player. The guy is a best when he can mix up his game from slashing/shooting but teams have had GREAT success when they stop his slashing and make him take jumpers. If he has to rely on his jumper usually he has a bad scoring game.

He was also the focal point of the offense in Charlotte. We have much more options here, so they can't key in on his stoping his slashing game.

 

[crandc]

He looks to me like the Buck Williams tough blue colllar guy the Blazers have been looking for. LMA is not it; he's Sheed without the attitude. And that's not a knock at all, Sheed was a hell of a player when his head was in the game. Wesley has some of that but he's still a guard, not a big guy. Man, the Blazers management are fucking geniuses.

 

[mook]

He's easily the most physical wing player we've had since Ruben Patterson. Big physical threes like LeBron and Carmello and Artest always seemed to feast against our team, with us getting little in return going the other direction. Batum and Matthews just seem overpowered against those guys.

Wallace changes the whole complexion of the team against those kinds of guys. He can handle defending them one-on-one, and still have energy to do the intangibles on team defense and the balls to score right at them on offense.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Quick is also making the point on the radio right now that because he's been coming off the bench, he seems fresh late in games--something he probably hasn't experienced in years. Especially considering his injury history, I think Nate's been making the right call here.

 

[Kaydow]

Quick is also making the point on the radio right now that because he's been coming off the bench, he seems fresh late in games--something he probably hasn't experienced in years. Especially considering his injury history, I think Nate's been making the right call here.

As long as egos are checked at the door, I think you're right. You can't help but wonder if Roy will eventually want a bigger role if he continues to stay healthy. And if he's given one, how will Matthews and Rudy respond? I hope for everyone's sake that Brandon sees the value in a reduced role, at least for the rest of this season. The odds of him starting, playing 35+ minutes/game, and staying healthy can't be very good. Not to mention the confusing dynamic of "who is our go-to guy?" for the rest of the team. I think we saw last night now Brandon can help the team this season. They don't need him to score 20/game anymore. I hope he gets that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

As long as egos are checked at the door, I think you're right. You can't help but wonder if Roy will eventually want a bigger role if he continues to stay healthy. And if he's given one, how will Matthews and Rudy respond? I hope for everyone's sake that Brandon sees the value in a reduced role, at least for the rest of this season. The odds of him starting, playing 35+ minutes/game, and staying healthy can't be very good. Not to mention the confusing dynamic of "who is our go-to guy?" for the rest of the team. I think we saw last night now Brandon can help the team this season. They don't need him to score 20/game anymore. I hope he gets that.

If Roy stays healthy, Rudy will be the one that suffers and the most likely to be un-happy. But there is no other option. We always need the depth to survive a whole year. So if everyone is healthy, someone sits too much. But the alternative is worse. NO DEPTH.
Nate can only play his best 9-10.

 

[andalusian]

He's easily the most physical wing player we've had since Ruben Patterson. Big physical threes like LeBron and Carmello and Artest always seemed to feast against our team, with us getting little in return going the other direction. Batum and Matthews just seem overpowered against those guys.

Wallace changes the whole complexion of the team against those kinds of guys. He can handle defending them one-on-one, and still have energy to do the intangibles on team defense and the balls to score right at them on offense.

Very good observation. Wrepped.