The problem is clear

[1 Eye Jack]

With that lineup, how do you get Batum on the floor? And that's my point. Everyone seems to want all our players on the court at the end of games, but we're only allowed 5.

Agree the best way to get Rudy on the floor is to make Roy the PG.

 

[gatorpops]

I did not get to see the game last night. So I have a question: How many points did outlaw get and how did his defense look in the fourth?

Also if Batum had been in the game instead of Outlaw would his defense have compensted for Outlaw's absense?

What if Batum had made say one or two shots and tipped the ball and rebounded and maybe been in the right place at the right time for a pass on offense, would he have accounted for?

We only lost by seven. And we could easily have played Batum and Rudy and Roy together. Let Rudy run the offense on some of the sets.

g

 

[Mediocre Man]

I did not get to see the game last night. So I have a question: How many points did outlaw get and how did his defense look in the fourth?

Also if Batum had been in the game instead of Outlaw would his defense have compensted for Outlaw's absense?

What if Batum had made say one or two shots and tipped the ball and rebounded and maybe been in the right place at the right time for a pass on offense, would he have accounted for?

We only lost by seven. And we could easily have played Batum and Rudy and Roy together. Let Rudy run the offense on some of the sets.

g

I think Travis had 3 points in the 4th, on a 3 pointer. He could have had more, but I don't remember
His defense was awful
Batum's defense is light years ahead of Outlaw's. Not to mention his rebounding and overall court awareness

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I don't necessarily think the problem is we need a different PG or SF or anything player related. I think the problem is that it seems we don't have any kind of cohesive offensive strategy that takes advantage of our various players. We have youth and speed yet we play like the Pat Riley Knicks - slow it down and grind it out.

Such an offensive strategy obviates some of the advantages we have of being both youthful and deep. It also appears to carry over into the defensive game, you play a lackluster offensive game and the defensive game tends to become more passive as well. Both offense and defense feed off each other and the energy works both ways. With a slow-it-down, passive, no-energy offense, it is difficult to imagine the Blazers having an aggressive, overpowering defense.

Yeah, we could switch some players and improve our opportunities but I believe the largest impediment to the Blazers success sits on the bench and wears a suit.

Gramps...

 

[BrianFromWA]

I think Travis had 3 points in the 4th, on a 3 pointer. He could have had more, but I don't remember
His defense was awful
Batum's defense is light years ahead of Outlaw's. Not to mention his rebounding and overall court awareness

Don't let the 7 points fool you. We were down 3 with 24 seconds left, with the ball in Rudy's hands for a game-tying 3. He missed. the closest Blazer to the rebound was Rudy, following his own shot in. No one else was more than 4 feet inside the 3 pt line, except Roy the penetrator who was out of bounds.

Travis did well from 3 last night. He also lost his man at least 3 times that I saw (granted, I was watching late on DVR), and wasn't going hard to the glass. LMA wasn't either. Frye, well, I'm not even going there.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't necessarily think the problem is we need a different PG or SF or anything player related. I think the problem is that it seems we don't have any kind of cohesive offensive strategy that takes advantage of our various players. We have youth and speed yet we play like the Pat Riley Knicks - slow it down and grind it out.

Such an offensive strategy obviates some of the advantages we have of being both youthful and deep. It also appears to carry over into the defensive game, you play a lackluster offensive game and the defensive game tends to become more passive as well. Both offense and defense feed off each other and the energy works both ways. With a slow-it-down, passive, no-energy offense, it is difficult to imagine the Blazers having an aggressive, overpowering defense.

Yeah, we could switch some players and improve our opportunities but I believe the largest impediment to the Blazers success sits on the bench and wears a suit.

Gramps...

Gramps, I've brought up a couple times what I think: that until Nate has a veteran PG that he knows is better than Nate was as a PG, he's going to micromanage. He's going to slow it down, he's going to bench for turnover mistakes, and he's going to run whatever "offense" he thinks is least risk-averse. J-Kidd or Nash would have free rein, because Nate understands that they know what they're doing and are relatively competent. (IMO)

 

[STOMP]

I think Travis had 3 points in the 4th, on a 3 pointer. He could have had more, but I don't remember

He also made a free throw.

His defense was awful.

apparently you didn't remember his 4th quarter block and steal as well... both on Kililenko. The Blazers started the 4th with the lead but gave it up early on in the quarter with Travis on the bench. The Jazz were the beneficiaries of several questionable calls on LA early and were in the penalty for most of the quarter. Aldridge had to take a seat and promptly fouled out with a few minutes left when he did come back in for the stretch.

Travis's D is nothing great and I don't think he had a good game by his standards, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you're painting it. That 3 he hit was their first bucket of the quarter and it came with about 6 minutes left... or... it was a team loss.

btw... he's shooting 58% from 3 pnt. range so far this year.

Batum's defense is light years ahead of Outlaw's. Not to mention his rebounding and overall court awareness

I like NB

STOMP

 

[hasoos]

He also made a free throw.

apparently you didn't remember his 4th quarter block and steal as well... both on Kililenko. The Blazers started the 4th with the lead but gave it up early on in the quarter with Travis on the bench. The Jazz were the beneficiaries of several questionable calls on LA early and were in the penalty for most of the quarter. Aldridge had to take a seat and promptly fouled out with a few minutes left when he did come back in for the stretch.

Travis's D is nothing great and I don't think he had a good game by his standards, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you're painting it. That 3 he hit was their first bucket of the quarter and it came with about 6 minutes left... or... it was a team loss.

btw... he's shooting 58% from 3 pnt. range so far this year.

I like NB

STOMP

Travis had a good stretch for about 3 minutes in the 4th quarter. Besides jacking some 3's and making them, he didn't do anything else. Look at the boxscore and look at +/-. When Batum, and defender and intangibles guy was in the game, the Blazers were up big. When Outlaw and Rudy were in, they were down big.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Last nights' game:

Batum: +12
Outlaw: -17

 

[Mediocre Man]

He also made a free throw.

apparently you didn't remember his 4th quarter block and steal as well... both on Kililenko. The Blazers started the 4th with the lead but gave it up early on in the quarter with Travis on the bench. The Jazz were the beneficiaries of several questionable calls on LA early and were in the penalty for most of the quarter. Aldridge had to take a seat and promptly fouled out with a few minutes left when he did come back in for the stretch.

Travis's D is nothing great and I don't think he had a good game by his standards, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you're painting it. That 3 he hit was their first bucket of the quarter and it came with about 6 minutes left... or... it was a team loss.

btw... he's shooting 58% from 3 pnt. range so far this year.

I like NB

STOMP

I know stat geeks everywhere will cringe at this, but blocks and steals do not tell even a fraction of the story on defense.

Batum makes it hard for the other team to run their offense. He gets to places he is supposed to get to to interupt the flow of the other teams offense. Travis tries to stay in front of his man

 

[CaptNapalm]

Last nights' game:

Batum: +12
Outlaw: -17

This is the source of the problems, TO needs a change of teams.

 

[hasoos]

Last nights' game:

Batum: +12
Outlaw: -17

Also note, as I pointed out Rudy was on the floor during that period as well, and had a big negative. The difference is, I watched the game and know what Rudy did, he played well offensivly but defensivly,so so at best. I guess what I am saying is, look how many points Outlaw and Rudy scored. Then look at how many points the Blazers lost while they were in. That can only be attributed to a few things, the first, being defense. The second, being effort.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Also, please note that Steve Blake, who played well in the 1st half, was a ghost in the second half.

First half: 16 pts 3 assists
Second half: 0 pts 0 assists

Sergio did what Sergio does - decent passing, atrocious defense. Our PG position is a huge problem right now.

We can also scratch Hinrich off the list as it looks like he could be going to Golden State for Al Harrington.

 

[STOMP]

I know stat geeks everywhere will cringe at this, but blocks and steals do not tell even a fraction of the story on defense.

Strawman... no one said they were. But both the block and steal were nice plays on defense and are perfectly relevant responses to someone who only said he was "awful" on D in the 4th. The block saved a score and the steal provided an extra possession. He made a couple bad plays as well, but overall he wasn't awful on D in the 4th.

Batum makes it hard for the other team to run their offense. He gets to places he is supposed to get to to interupt the flow of the other teams offense. Travis tries to stay in front of his man

thanks for informing me... but then I was lobbying for him at #13 (my 2nd choice after Randolph) as I view Travis and Martell as subpar starters at the 3. Believe me I'm happy NB is on the club and doing well.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

Also note, as I pointed out Rudy was on the floor during that period as well, and had a big negative. The difference is, I watched the game and know what Rudy did, he played well offensivly but defensivly,so so at best. I guess what I am saying is, look how many points Outlaw and Rudy scored. Then look at how many points the Blazers lost while they were in. That can only be attributed to a few things, the first, being defense. The second, being effort.

it could also be attributed to other guys on Utah hitting shots while they were in... guys who those two were not necessarily guarding.

For instance, was it Travis and Rudy's fault that Utah was in the penalty for most of the 4th? Every single foul down the stretch had the Jazz shooting FTs. So when Joel clumsily ran over AK on the baseline, those two FTs count against Rudy and Travis's +/- even though neither their D or effort was an issue. Portland losing points while they were in can also be partially the result of other Blazers not hitting their shots.

Plus minus isn't a stat I take much stock in, especially in a single game.

STOMP

 

[hasoos]

Also, please note that Steve Blake, who played well in the 1st half, was a ghost in the second half.

First half: 16 pts 3 assists
Second half: 0 pts 0 assists

Sergio did what Sergio does - decent passing, atrocious defense. Our PG position is a huge problem right now.

We can also scratch Hinrich off the list as it looks like he could be going to Golden State for Al Harrington.

At the same time, that has been the definition of Steve Blake his whole career.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

We can also scratch Hinrich off the list as it looks like he could be going to Golden State for Al Harrington.

Where did you read this? Not that I'm doubting you, but I want to know more and I couldn't find anything with a quick search. This would seriously screw up my fantastic mood for today.

 

[LittleAlex]

Yep. Look what has happened to the Hawks since they got Bibby.

Of course, the Celtics proved last season that you don't need a vet PG to win it all.

You don't need a vet point guard when the rest of the team is all veterans and 3 are all stars.

You do need a vet point guard when the rest of the team are all young and we don't have any all stars.



And yes, I realize that LA and Roy could be all stars, but they aren't playing like it right now.