Sad but true. If Batum's out, Rudy= key to series

[KingSpeed]

We're stuck with him. Nate has to talk to him and the team has to work to get him scoring opportunities. With no Brandon or Nic, we simply must get 15-20 points out of Rudy. Someone needs to tell him that and his teammates have to work to make it happen.

 

[OddEnormous]

We're stuck with him. Nate has to talk to him and the team has to work to get him scoring opportunities. With no Brandon or Nic, we simply must get 15-20 points out of Rudy. Someone needs to tell him that and his teammates have to work to make it happen.

IMO Rudy always was the key, even with Nic.

Portland will never win this series unless he starts getting off.

 

[LameR]

Webster.

 

[KingSpeed]

Webster is having a great series and he should play 48 mpg the rest of the way, but we still need Rudy to score too.

 

[EGame]

Bayless and Webster have to pick up the slack Rudy will not bring. Rudy is the key, but I am afraid this series will be over for us if we have to depend on him at all.

 

[KingSpeed]

Bayless and Webster have to pick up the slack Rudy will not bring. Rudy is the key, but I am afraid this series will be over for us if we have to depend on him at all.

When Batum was healthy, I thought we could play Webster at SG but now, with Batum out, Rudy is forced to play SOME SG and he must produce.

OR

Bring back Brandon.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Rudy can do damage (or at least not cause as much) against Dragic/Barbosa. But to punish them for having Nash on the court, we need production (or at least the threat of it) from the 1, 2 and 3. Webster's playing out of his shell. Miller can torch them if they keep Nash on him. Bayless can get his. Rudy?

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't know...you could go a rotation of Miller/JB/Webster starting and bring Rudy in for spot minutes with DC come in at the 3 in a lineup with Webster or Bayless at the 2. It can be done. It makes for a short rotation, but would anyone here care if DC's getting some of Rudy's minutes right now?

 

[TripTango]

Bring back Brandon.

Yeah -- what were we thinking by not playing him these last two games?

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know...you could go a rotation of Miller/JB/Webster starting and bring Rudy in for spot minutes with DC come in at the 3 in a lineup with Webster or Bayless at the 2. It can be done. It makes for a short rotation, but would anyone here care if DC's getting some of Rudy's minutes right now?

nope

 

[EGame]

Even though Rudy is useless, just think how useless our bench would really be if Webster now replaces Batum and Bayless starts ahead of Rudy. You have Rudy/Howard/Cunningham. I like Bayless so much more compared to Rudy, but I still think he should come off the bench (very early I might add) and be the spark plug for points. Our bench would just kill us even more than it already does.

 

[KingSpeed]

Even though Rudy is useless, just think how useless our bench would really be if Webster now replaces Batum and Bayless starts ahead of Rudy. You have Rudy/Howard/Cunningham. I like Bayless so much more compared to Rudy, but I still think he should come off the bench (very early I might add) and be the spark plug for points. Our bench would just kill us even more than it already does.

And Pendergraph and Mills, both of whom looked good tonight.

 

[TripTango]

Did anyone else barely raise an eyebrow when Batum went down? Seriously -- all the injuries are starting to blur together for me...

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Rudy is the key to the series, then it's time to start thinking about draft parties, trades and our mid-level exception.

 

[MARIS61]

We're stuck with him. Nate has to talk to him and the team has to work to get him scoring opportunities. With no Brandon or Nic, we simply must get 15-20 points out of Rudy. Someone needs to tell him that and his teammates have to work to make it happen.

I agree he's our best chance of winning.

As young and ignored as he is, he has played far more playoff games than any other active player on the team, and won far more titles, championships, gold and silver medals.

But you seem to be indicating that Nate should take the dramatic leap of actually running a real play for him in a game?

It's never been done before. It's crazy enough that it just might work.

 

[craigehlo]

If Rudy is the key to the series, then it's time to start thinking about draft parties, trades and our mid-level exception.

Agreed. Even when Rudy is scoring (seems like a distant memory), he's blowing defensive assignments and not fighting through picks on the other end of the court. For as inconsistent as Bayless is, at least he tries to stop his man.

Forget Rudy. We need to go bigger and play more Dante at SF and move Martell to SG.

 

[J_Ray]

What happened to Batum?

 

[Nikolokolus]

What happened to Batum?

Shoulder strain (on the one that he had surgically repaired last October) MRI scheduled for tomorrow.

 

[illmatic99]

If Batum is out, we're fucked.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Batum is out, we're fucked.

 

[LittleAlex]

I don't know...you could go a rotation of Miller/JB/Webster starting and bring Rudy in for spot minutes with DC come in at the 3 in a lineup with Webster or Bayless at the 2. It can be done. It makes for a short rotation, but would anyone here care if DC's getting some of Rudy's minutes right now?

It would only bother me in that Rudy would still be getting some minutes.

Right now Rudy is killing the Blazers. He needs to step it up at the start of the next game or he shouldn't see the court again until next season.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

Rudy needs to get traded ASAP! Maybe for a 2nd rounder in this years draft. I gave him slack all year and now he playing even worse when it matters the most. Where the Rudy from 2 years ago? Go back to Europe Rudy!! Sad...mark him down as another Euro who just to pussy to play in the NBA.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rudy needs to get traded ASAP! Maybe for a 2nd rounder in this years draft. I gave him slack all year and now he playing even worse when it matters the most. Where the Rudy from 2 years ago? Go back to Europe Rudy!! Sad...mark him down as another Euro who just to pussy to play in the NBA.

I'd trade him for Quincy Pondexter straight up ... that is if any team would do that deal (Pon is slotted at around 28th in the draft btw).

 

[hasoos]

I am not so sure that is the case. To me, the key to the series is actually on the other team, and his name is Jason Richardson. When Richardson has to work to guard somebody, his offensive game get's thrown off. Check out PHX record when Richardson scores well vs when he doesn't score well. They get their ass kicked when he doesn't score well. The way to get to PHX is to attack Richardson and make him defend.

That will not happen with Rudy "The Matador" Fernandez playing. We need a player out on the floor who is going to put their head down and attack the rim.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I am not so sure that is the case. To me, the key to the series is actually on the other team, and his name is Jason Richardson. When Richardson has to work to guard somebody, his offensive game get's thrown off. Check out PHX record when Richardson scores well vs when he doesn't score well. They get their ass kicked when he doesn't score well. The way to get to PHX is to attack Richardson and make him defend.

That will not happen with Rudy "The Matador" Fernandez playing. We need a player out on the floor who is going to put their head down and attack the rim.

I thought Martell did a passable job at this ... I'd say Bayless could, but it's so hard to tell what he'll give you on any particular night, and I don't trust his jump shot at all.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

I'd trade him for Quincy Pondexter straight up ... that is if any team would do that deal (Pon is slotted at around 28th in the draft btw).

I would love to have Quincy Pondexter on this team. We would have to bundle Rudy with Cash and/or a late 2nd round pick to get him. I think he going to be drafted higher than 28th though.


Edit- Dang how sad I'm already talking about possible draft trades when we are still in the playoffs. The game really did a number on me!

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'd trade him for Quincy Pondexter straight up ... that is if any team would do that deal (Pon is slotted at around 28th in the draft btw).

I've seen him as high as 18, and I agree. Rudy may have more talent and/or flair, but the Coupon would fit Mr. Sonic's system like a glove.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I thought Martell did a passable job at this ... I'd say Bayless could, but it's so hard to tell what he'll give you on any particular night, and I don't trust his jump shot at all.

I think Webster could do it against Richardson or Nash or Frye on a switch, but I don't necessarily trust his handles against Hill or Amare.

I don't like Bayless shooting when our bigs aren't established in the post. I don't mind him jacking up an open shot if LMA and Camby are down there, but he doesn't have the Ray Allen touch enough for me to say "jack away when you want!"