I've been on the fence about Nate, sometimes I think he is what the team has needed to give them some discipline before letting them loose, but I don't think he will ever let them loose.
There seems to be no strategy nor do the players seem to have an idea as to what they should do. As has been mentioned, Nate seems guard obsessed and seems to fall back into favorites. Mind you, with as pathetic as our offense has been this year, at least Travis is giving us points (most of the time). He has weaknesses elsewhere but with our lack of offensive production, we appear to be needing his offensive output - otherwise we may be in much worse shape.
Depending on your point of view (and I'm slowing climbing off the fence), the plus side to the Blazers pathetic exhibition thus far this year is that if this continues for another couple months (I don't know that they'd let it go too long), we may be in for a new coach.
To me, it seems that the players who best adjust to Nate play - not necessarily the most talented players, but those who fit Nate and with whom he has a comfort level.
Just as we complain about refs having prejudices against certain players, I'd say Nate does as well and with things obviously being problematic thus far, why not go back to pre-season mode and give some of the other guys (i.e., Bayless) some time and let's see if they can bring anything to the table. It may be that Bayless would burn out again just as he did last year or it may be that he proves to have grown and will earn consistent minutes.
I have long been a Blake fan - not as a starter but as a backup but he has, for the most part, stunk it up this year and I'm thinking that if we're going to have someone stinking it up, why not let it be someone with more energy and speed and give Bayless burn rather rather than letting someone who is obviously not getting any better continue?
Ah, the joys of being a Blazer fan....full of unrequited optimism.
Gramps...
