Roy saw this coming

[Shooter]

Now we know why Brandon Roy called two players-only meetings even before the season began. He obviously saw trouble on the horizon, and wanted to correct it. But it's clearly gotten out of hand, and this team is misfiring in a big way.

What was the problem Roy saw? My guess is lack of defensive intensity. We have a hard time stopping anyone, and our players don't seem to really care. Outlaw is a big culprit in this area.

Another problem I see is too much one-on-one play. It comes from Roy himself, as well as Outlaw and Aldridge. This team has got to start passing the ball and playing like a well-oiled unit, or it's going to be a very long season.

 

[Minstrel]

Now we know why Brandon Roy called two players-only meetings even before the season began. He obviously saw trouble on the horizon, and wanted to correct it. But it's clearly gotten out of hand, and this team is misfiring in a big way.

What was the problem Roy saw? My guess is lack of defensive intensity. We have a hard time stopping anyone, and our players don't seem to really care. Outlaw is a big culprit in this area.

As is Roy, so I'd be surprised if his problem with the team was lack of defensive intensity. Unless his desire is for the team to do what he, himself, won't.

 

[KingSpeed]

I see three problems:

1) Oden. He hurts us more than he helps us. Turns the ball over more than he blocks shots. Fouls like crazy, can't stay in the game, can't hold on the basketball.

2) Our point guards. Blake had one good game (against OKC) and Miller had one decent game (tonight) but overall, we're not very effective at the PG position. They both look confused and out of sorts and have done more harm than good this season.

3) Roy's defense. No one wants to talk about this much but his man is lighting him up this season.

 

[Wheels]

I see three problems:

1) Oden. He hurts us more than he helps us. Turns the ball over more than he blocks shots. Fouls like crazy, can't stay in the game, can't hold on the basketball.

2) Our point guards. Blake had one good game (against OKC) and Miller had one decent game (tonight) but overall, we're not very effective at the PG position. They both look confused and out of sorts and have done more harm than good this season.

3) Roy's defense. No one wants to talk about this much but his man is lighting him up this season.

LOL @ you thinking Oden hurts more than he helps!

 

[alex42083]

Without Greg, we probably would've lost by 10+ points. The Outlaw/Aldridge frontcourt was brutal defensively.

 

[B-Roy]

I see three problems:

1) Oden. He hurts us more than he helps us. Turns the ball over more than he blocks shots. Fouls like crazy, can't stay in the game, can't hold on the basketball.

This is a contradictory statement. If he hurts us more than he helps us, then not being able to stay in the game shouldn't matter. (Or should be a positive)

 

[rocketeer]

I see three problems:

1) Oden. He hurts us more than he helps us. Turns the ball over more than he blocks shots. Fouls like crazy, can't stay in the game, can't hold on the basketball.

if he hurts more than he helps, not being able to stay in the game is a good thing, right?

damn b-roy beat me to it.

 

[KingSpeed]

This is a contradictory statement. If he hurts us more than he helps us, then not being able to stay in the game shouldn't matter. (Or should be a positive)

His going in and out of the game hurts us, prevents the team from getting into any kind of rhythm. "Here comes Greg Oden.... and now he's back to the bench."

 

[B-Roy]

His going in and out of the game hurts us, prevents the team from getting into any kind of rhythm. "Here comes Greg Oden.... and now he's back to the bench."

So I guess you should be lobbying for us to trade/not play Oden at all.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Joel's done a fine job.

 

[rocketeer]

His going in and out of the game hurts us, prevents the team from getting into any kind of rhythm. "Here comes Greg Oden.... and now he's back to the bench."

so why not just keep him out there? that's where having a good backup center helps. that's one thing i really don't understand with nate. you have two solid centers. stop worrying so much about foul trouble. let oden play through it. if it gets worse, you've got a starting caliber center coming off the bench anyway.

 

[KingSpeed]

if he hurts more than he helps, not being able to stay in the game is a good thing, right?
.

Nope. Having our starting center coming in and out of the game breaks any kind of flow. Honestly, if we went back to starting Joel and playing Oden in limited back up minutes, we'd be better off the in the short term. Of course, in the long run, we need Oden to play through all of this, learn the game, and become a force in this league.

 

[KingSpeed]

so why not just keep him out there? that's where having a good backup center helps. that's one thing i really don't understand with nate. you have two solid centers. stop worrying so much about foul trouble. let oden play through it. if it gets worse, you've got a starting caliber center coming off the bench anyway.

If Nate "left him out there", he would've fouled out in the 2nd quarter.

 

[B-Roy]

Nope. Having our starting center coming in and out of the game breaks any kind of flow. Honestly, if we went back to starting Joel and playing Oden in limited back up minutes, we'd be better off the in the short term. Of course, in the long run, we need Oden to play through all of this, learn the game, and become a force in this league.

You are asking for the impossible. You can't just not play a guy and expect him to develop into an all-star. Get your head out of your ass.

 

[B-Roy]

If Nate "left him out there", he would've fouled out in the 2nd quarter.

Great, it's better than leaving minutes on the table.

 

[KingSpeed]

So I guess you should be lobbying for us to trade/not play Oden at all.

I'm just frustrated. If we're going to get anything out of Oden in the future, if he is going to become a decent and maybe an All Star center, we are going to have to play him and deal with his shortcomings. But it's hurting our short term success.

 

[Minstrel]

If Nate "left him out there", he would've fouled out in the 2nd quarter.

Overlooking the exaggeration, from your point of view how is that bad? You don't think he helps and if he played his minutes on normal rotation there wouldn't be any "breaking the rhythm" issues (an effect which I'm doubtful has major impact, in any case).

 

[KingSpeed]

Great, it's better than leaving minutes on the table.

Dude, you can't let your starting center foul out in the second quarter. PLUS, the more fouls he picks up, the less aggressive he can be. What's better? Play him with 5 fouls in the 2nd quarter or play him with 4 fouls in the middle of the 4th quarter? The latter gives him a chance to be productive without worrying about committing his last foul with the game on the line.

 

[B-Roy]

I'm just frustrated. If we're going to get anything out of Oden in the future, if he is going to become a decent and maybe an All Star center, we are going to have to play him and deal with his shortcomings. But it's hurting our short term success.

What's more important, short term or long term?

 

[B-Roy]

Dude, you can't let your starting center foul out in the second quarter. PLUS, the more fouls he picks up, the les aggressive he can be. What's better? Play him with 5 fouls in the 2nd quarter or play him with 4 fouls in the middle of the 4th quarter? The latter gives him a chance to be productive without worrying about committing his last foul with the game on the line.

Why can't you let him foul out? What can possibly be wrong with letting him foul out if you aren't even going to use him later anyways.

 

[KingSpeed]

Look folks. I'm frustrated. He's not playing up to expectations. I'm disappointed. That's it. Call me names or attack me but that won't make him play better. Goodnight.

 

[B-Roy]

Look folks. I'm frustrated. He's not playing up to expectations. I'm disappointed. That's it. Call me names or attack me but that won't make him play better. Goodnight.

I think it's fine to be disappointed, but basically calling him a liability against all reason and statistical analysis is ignorant.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

I'm just frustrated. If we're going to get anything out of Oden in the future, if he is going to become a decent and maybe an All Star center, we are going to have to play him and deal with his shortcomings. But it's hurting our short term success.

Maybe we can trade him for one of your personal faves.

SHEEEEEEEEEED!

 

[Blazer Freak]

His going in and out of the game hurts us, prevents the team from getting into any kind of rhythm. "Here comes Greg Oden.... and now he's back to the bench."

Honestly why even post? You've become as annoying as the one that shall not be named.

 

[handiman]

Now we know why Brandon Roy called two players-only meetings even before the season began. He obviously saw trouble on the horizon, and wanted to correct it. But it's clearly gotten out of hand, and this team is misfiring in a big way.

What was the problem Roy saw? My guess is lack of defensive intensity. We have a hard time stopping anyone, and our players don't seem to really care. Outlaw is a big culprit in this area.

Another problem I see is too much one-on-one play. It comes from Roy himself, as well as Outlaw and Aldridge. This team has got to start passing the ball and playing like a well-oiled unit, or it's going to be a very long season.

1) This speaks to Doc Rivers' comment that player's only meetings never accomplish anything but blowing smoke. Sure hasn't made much of a difference in our play...

2) I think Roy is as much at fault as anyone. He's long struck me as someone who is a yapper more than a leader, and as such, it's only a matter of time before teammates start tuning him out. I've got a bad feeling that's partly what we're seeing.

 

[hasoos]

Lead by example. The team is not playing hard now. That needs to come from the top down. Right now the same thing is happening to Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge as happened to Chris Paul. At a certain point of the game, Chris Paul become frustrated and tries to start scoring every posession. Roy and Aldridge do the same, because they see their team struggling, and they do what they know how do do, they try to score. But what they really need to do is bring toughness and intensity to the team. They need to get up in the guy they are guarding jock, make them uncomfortable, throw them around, rough them up, hit the floor for loose balls and hustle back on defense rather than yap with the ref like Zbo would. Guard their guy for the whole distance of the court and make them work. Effort is what wins ball games.

 

[magnifier661]

When I feel like this I have to go back to what works,

Roy said.

And that's working. We have to go back to work.

I Like the sound of it.

 

[Webster's Dictionary]

Very much so. As much as I like Roy, his comment about the team lacking in defensive intensity makes him a complete ass. His defense is fucking atrocious so far.

So BRoy isn't part of the team now? Or did he say, "The rest of the team needs to step up the defensive intensity to the level that I'm at right now."

 

[magnifier661]

So BRoy isn't part of the team now? Or did he say, "The rest of the team needs to step up the defensive intensity to the level that I'm at right now."

Yep I agree. I don't know, the last quote I saw from Roy was really putting himself down. Then he made a statement that all of them have to work hard. That's not even selfish. In fact, that's taking the blame for the team like a good leader should.

 

[PapaG]

So BRoy isn't part of the team now? Or did he say, "The rest of the team needs to step up the defensive intensity to the level that I'm at right now."

Shh, stop it. You're ruining the latest example of Blazer fans' love/hate relationship with All-Star players.

Roy is apparently now not a character guy. This seems to be the latest out-of-the-blue meme concocted by the know-it-alls.