Starting lineup

[Natebishop3]

Does changing the starting lineup fix anything at this point? Or do our problems run much deeper than that?

 

[Buzz Killington]

Miller starting over Blake would fix everything.

 

[julius]

It can't hurt. But only if he actually takes Blake out of the starting 5 and puts in Miller.

Blake is a great backup combo guard, who can't run a team.

 

[julius]

Miller starting over Blake would fix everything.

I wouldn't say everything, but it could be a step in the right direction. Playing defense would be a nice change too.

And not having a predictable offense would probably benefit the team greatly.

 

[B-Roy]

Miller starting over Blake would fix everything.

He certainly didn't do what people thought he was so good at. Namely, feed it repeatedly to Oden or push the temp.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Blake would be better suited in the 2nd lineup. With Martell and his 3 point shooting, don't really need Blake out there since they just compete for shot after shot. Miller would be more apt at setting the tone early feeding the post.

 

[Minstrel]

He certainly didn't do what people thought he was so good at. Namely, feed it repeatedly to Oden or push the temp.

I don't think he's given license to push the tempo. I think he's generally been good at getting the ball to Oden, even if he missed a couple of opportunities tonight.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Well, tonight it seemed that Brandon was content to take outside jumpers, so let Miller drive and dish if Roy isn't going to...

 

[B-Roy]

I don't think he's given license to push the tempo. I think he's generally been good at getting the ball to Oden, even if he missed a couple of opportunities tonight.

Well, I don't know about that tonight. Nate was practically screaming on the sidelines in the 4th to push the ball, but he still trotted it up.

 

[julius]

Well, I don't know about that tonight. Nate was practically screaming on the sidelines in the 4th to push the ball, but he still trotted it up.

For all the talk Nate has about "pushing the ball' and "running", how the team plays sure seems to directly and absolutely contradict that.

If he wants them to push, why does he start mr anti-fastbreak himself, Steve Blake?

 

[Natebishop3]

I would love to hear Nate throughout a game. It would answer a lot of questions about whether he wants us to push the tempo, feed the post, etc. Maybe we could mic him.

 

[B-Roy]

For all the talk Nate has about "pushing the ball' and "running", how the team plays sure seems to directly and absolutely contradict that.

If he wants them to push, why does he start mr anti-fastbreak himself, Steve Blake?

I was talking specifically about the 4th quarter, where Nate was screaming on the sidelines. Since some people seem to think all Nate has to say is "Push the ball" and we suddenly become a fast break team.

 

[julius]

I was talking specifically about the 4th quarter, where Nate was screaming on the sidelines. Since some people seem to think all Nate has to say is "Push the ball" and we suddenly become a fast break team.

The team, KP and Nate, have been pushing the fallacy that Nate wants to be a running team for 5 years now.

Why do people think he wants to have a running team is beyond me.

I just wish the franchise would stop pissing on my leg and telling me it's raining. Nate is not a fast-break coach, and it's not because of the players who are here.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Brian Smith "tweeted" tonight that Nate has considered inserting Miller in the starting lineup for Steve Blake ... while he's at it can he also make Bayless the backup point guard too?

It's just not acceptable to have a starting point guard in the NBA enter the final 4 minutes of a game with 0-2, with 2 assists in 20 minutes of play. He did hit some end of the game shots when the game was all but over to cut the lead, but at that point is there really any pressure on him to hit?

Whatever, I can hardly even bring myself to care at this point, Nate loves to control the game from the sidelines and Steve is no threat to upset that balance, so he stays in.

The difficulty Andre has with making jumpers in the half-court is a problem, but it could be mitigated if this team made a genuine effort to push the tempo after stops and also if they had some on the ball defenders who could stay in front of their man and/or get some steals.

The worst kind of team in the league is a half-court team that doesn't play defense. KP has either got to get players who can play perimeter D or he needs a coach that wants to push the pace, this in-between shit is killing me.

 

[Natebishop3]

Roy is a big part of the reason why we don't run. It's not just Blake. When your best player, and more importantly he happens to be a wing, does run you're pretty much going to suck on the break.

Roy is a great one-on-one player (not recently), but he really suck at playing off the ball and pushing the tempo.

Agreed. Roy has openly admitted that he likes to play at his own pace. He has said that coaches have implored him to run in the past, but he doesn't like to speed up. Roy isn't a runner. He's a half-court guy. I wouldn't blame it all on Roy, but I think he is a major factor in our pace.

 

[WillG]

Nate especially pissed me off with the minutes he gave to Blake and the lack thereof for Bayless.
3 minutes. . . honestly WTF??

 

[julius]

Thing is, it's not all about running or fast breaks. It's about easy baskets, cuts and passes, give and go's, PnR's, backdoor cuts, inside->out, and screens.

When was the last time this team scored consistently on any of those kinds of plays?

 

[WillG]

Agreed. Roy has openly admitted that he likes to play at his own pace. He has said that coaches have implored him to run in the past, but he doesn't like to speed up. Roy isn't a runner. He's a half-court guy. I wouldn't blame it all on Roy, but I think he is a major factor in our pace.

For 80 fridgin' MILLION dollars, you'd think he'd be somewhat adaptable?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

For 80 fridgin' MILLION dollars, you'd think he'd be somewhat adaptable?

Well they did sign him for 80 million dollars as the player that he is and always has been. I don't see how him getting a bunch of money for being one type of player should make him want to try to be a different type of player..

 

[alex42083]

It's gotta come soon, and Brandon will just have to learn to play with Andre. We just can't take Blake bricking shot after shot. Let him sit for awhile and see if he can be effective off the bench when there's not as much pressure, and maybe he can regain that spot. Blake is killing us.

 

[Natebishop3]

It would be amusing if Nate benches GO for Joel. Then if that doesn't work, he benches LaMarcus for Dante/Howard. Would be hilarious. Disturbingly enough, I could see Nate benches both LaMarcus and GO before he put Blake where he belongs... on the bench.

It's actually pretty amusing now. I'm beyond getting pissed or irritated. Now I just think it's funny

 

[KingSpeed]

Either start Andre or get him outta here. While it would be interesting and possibly beneficial to start him and let him actually run the team, I think the best option is to ship him away. Roy doesn't want to play with him and the PG position is really not an issue on our team (Blake and Bayless are perfectly serviceable next to Roy). We need another scorer. Someone who is going to make up for the loss of Outlaw, either to start in Webster's place or come off the bench. After December 15th, we should trade Miller for this guy. Someone who won't need the ball in his hands constantly to be effective. Let Roy handpick the guy. So much gets solved this way:

1) Blake can relax and know that the PG position is his. He doesn't have to look over his shoulder. He'll play better.

2) Bayless finally gets real minutes at backup PG. With Sergio being sent out, Bayless was ready to take on that role and then suddenly, we bring in Miller like a slap in the face to all of Bayless' hard work.

3) Brandon Roy is finally happy, can take charge of the team, and control the pace of the game, something that was considered one of his strengths from coaches and players around the league earlier in his career (y'know, back when he was winning Player of the Week awards?)

4) New player takes some scoring pressure off Roy when needed. Essentially, this new player is the new Travis Outlaw.

5) Finally, it begins to feel like "last year" again. And we get out of the first round this time because LMA & Roy are more experienced and Oden has improved. Plus, New Player delivers that extra punch of scoring that Travis failed to last spring.

And there. Everything's back to normal in Blazer land. No worries. Blake has shown that he can get the ball to Oden. In fact, it is Blake who has set up Oden for more wide open dunks than any other player on the team including Miller.

This would make me happy. Thoughts?

 

[Natebishop3]

Either start Andre or get him outta here. While it would be interesting and possibly beneficial to start him and let him actually run the team, I think the best option is to ship him away. Roy doesn't want to play with him and the PG position is really not an issue on our team (Blake and Bayless are perfectly serviceable next to Roy). We need another scorer. Someone who is going to make up for the loss of Outlaw, either to start in Webster's place or come off the bench. After December 15th, we should trade Miller for this guy. Someone who won't need the ball in his hands constantly to be effective. Let Roy handpick the guy. So much gets solved this way:

1) Blake can relax and know that the PG position is his. He doesn't have to look over his shoulder. He'll play better.

2) Bayless finally gets real minutes at backup PG. With Sergio being sent out, Bayless was ready to take on that role and then suddenly, we bring in Miller like a slap in the face to all of Bayless' hard work.

3) Brandon Roy is finally happy, can take charge of the team, and control the pace of the game, something that was considered one of his strengths from coaches and players around the league earlier in his career (y'know, back when he was winning Player of the Week awards?)

4) New player takes some scoring pressure off Roy when needed. Essentially, this new player is the new Travis Outlaw.

5) Finally, it begins to feel like "last year" again. And we get out of the first round this time because LMA & Roy are more experienced and Oden has improved. Plus, New Player delivers that extra punch of scoring that Travis failed to last spring.

And there. Everything's back to normal in Blazer land. No worries. Blake has shown that he can get the ball to Oden. In fact, it is Blake who has set up Oden for more wide open dunks than any other player on the team including Miller.

This would make me happy. Thoughts?

Ship him out for what?

If Miller goes, I'm in favor of starting Roy at point guard and moving Rudy into the starting five. Blake doesn't deserve to start right now.

 

[KingSpeed]

Ship him out for what?.

Any available scorer. Fuckin Turkoglu would be really great to have now, but ah well. Who else could we get? Work the phones, KP. Get us the guy who will restore chemistry.

 

[Natebishop3]

Any available scorer. Fuckin Turkoglu would be really great to have now, but ah well. Who else could we get? Work the phones, KP. Get us the guy who will restore chemistry.

Turky is gettin paid too much.

I would love to see if we could work something for Caron Butler, Gerald Wallace, or Shane Battier.

Battier and Miller make almost the same money. It would be an easy trade.

 

[KingSpeed]

If Miller goes, I'm in favor of starting Roy at point guard and moving Rudy into the starting five. Blake doesn't deserve to start right now.

I disagree. Let Roy and Blake redevelop their chemistry from last season. Also- let it be said that only two players had a + tonight. Blake and Oden.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not opposed to trading Miller (or anyone) for the right deal, but this isn't the way to go. It's basically placing all our problems on Miller. Miller is not responsible for Roy not being able to get around his man anymore. Miller is not the reason for Blake bricking shots after shots. If the reason Blake is bricking shots is because he's looking over his shoulders, then that's on Blake.

Getting rid of Miller ain't going to solve shit. How 'bout Nate taking his head out of his ass and play the better players more minutes? And get rid of the idiotic 2 fouls rule.

Repped.

 

[alex42083]

This would make me happy. Thoughts?

I wouldn't be against trading Andre if it ends up being that he is not the right fit here. But the guy just has been so misused since he's stepped onto the team.

In and out of the starting lineup, 30 minutes one night and 6 minutes another. He just hasn't been given the same opportunity that Blake has gotten to prove himself.

We still have not seen a lineup of Miller/Roy/Webster/LA/Oden yet. I'd love to see how that lineup would do over 10-15 games or so. And if you trade Andre, you better make sure you've found out everything he's got to give. And Brandon just has to man up and realize that Blake is hurting the team right now, and the dude won't be his sidekick in the backcourt forever.

 

[alex42083]

It would be amusing if Nate benches GO for Joel. Then if that doesn't work, he benches LaMarcus for Dante/Howard. Would be hilarious. Disturbingly enough, I could see Nate benches both LaMarcus and GO before he put Blake where he belongs... on the bench.

Unfortunately, that's probably true.. It's going to take something drastic to see Blake moved to the bench. Argh..

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm not opposed to trading Miller (or anyone) for the right deal, but this isn't the way to go. It's basically placing all our problems on Miller. Miller is not responsible for Roy not being able to get around his man anymore. Miller is not the reason for Blake bricking shots after shots. If the reason Blake is bricking shots is because he's looking over his shoulders, then that's on Blake.

Getting rid of Miller ain't going to solve shit.

Actually... the right chemistry can change everything. Make shots go in. Make players play harder on defense. All of that. It's true. If getting rid of Miller makes certain players happier (Blake, Roy, Bayless), that can change the whole feel of the team and then everyone plays better.