This one's on Roy

[Shooter]

This game was not lost in the fourth quarter; it was lost at the beginning of the second period. And it's Brandon Roy's fault.

At the start of the second period, Yao Ming and Battier were both on the bench. That meant that Houston had no one over 6'9 to defend against Aldridge, Pryzbilla, and Oden. Roy should have gathered his team together and said, "Let's go to the hoop, guys. Drive it hard and make them try to block your shot."

Instead, Roy kept settling for jump shots (and missing), and never tried to force the ball inside or dish it off to someone else. Houston jumped out to a 15 pt. lead with several of its reserves on the court, and the Blazers were never able to make up the difference.

This one is on Roy. As the leader of the team, he has to learn to take advantage of the other team's weakness when he sees it, and take it to them. He can't just save it all for the fourth quarter.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Agreed - B-Roy not only couldn't shoot tonight; his decision making (normally very good) was bad as well.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

This was lost in the first half.

 

[Natebishop3]

What I don't understand is why we couldn't take advantage of Roy being doubled. If there's two guys on Roy, someone has to be open. It's simple math. We have one of the worst offenses at finding the open man. We haven't handled the double team well all season. It's like we lose our minds when Roy is doubled. Rather than pass it around the perimeter, Roy tries to force it up with three guys around him. It's stupid basketball.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

What I don't understand is why we couldn't take advantage of Roy being doubled. If there's two guys on Roy, someone has to be open. It's simple math. We have one of the worst offenses at finding the open man. We haven't handled the double team well all season. It's like we lose our minds when Roy is doubled. Rather than pass it around the perimeter, Roy tries to force it up with three guys around him. It's stupid basketball.

TROUT and Blakey did the same shit bad in the first half. going one on one...pissed me off to no end. SELFISH basketball.

 

[jwhoops11]

Ahhh, win some and lose some I guess. Roy has certainly won his fair share, I'm comfortable with him losing a few also. One might also say that 6-15 from Lamarcus was equally as destructive to our chances.

 

[Natebishop3]

Ahhh, win some and lose some I guess. Roy has certainly won his fair share, I'm comfortable with him losing a few also. One might also say that 6-15 from Lamarcus was equally as destructive to our chances.

That really was the thing that lost the game for us.... forget Blake.... forget Outlaw.... forget the refs..... if LMA has a great game, we win. It's so crucial for him to play well. He takes pressure off Brandon when he plays well. Unfortunately, LMA layed an egg tonight and we lost.

 

[mook]

That's just dumb to say it's Roy's fault. Great players have bad nights. Roy's entitled to, after being the only guy to show up in game 1, and carrying the team with Aldridge in game two.

This one is on McMillan. Late in the fourth he kept Fernandez out of the game for about 3 minutes, despite the fact that he was on fire all night and killing three point shots. Instead he leaves in Outlaw, who is have a miserable series. You put Fernandez back in there and I think we win it.

If you want a scapegoat, it's on McMillan.

If you want two scapegoats, look to Aldridge. The guy vanished for much of the night, and played pretty lousy defense on Scola. If Aldridge just has an average night, or Outlaw shows up at all for this series, or McMillan keeps Fernandez in there throughout the fourth quarter, we'd be up 2-1 right now.

That's the playoffs for you, though.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's just dumb to say it's Roy's fault. Great players have bad nights. Roy's entitled to, after being the only guy to show up in game 1, and carrying the team with Aldridge in game two.

This one is on McMillan. Late in the fourth he kept Fernandez out of the game for about 3 minutes, despite the fact that he was on fire all night and killing three point shots. Instead he leaves in Outlaw, who is have a miserable series. You put Fernandez back in there and I think we win it.

If you want a scapegoat, it's on McMillan.

If you want two scapegoats, look to Aldridge. The guy vanished for much of the night, and played pretty lousy defense on Scola. If Aldridge just has an average night, or Outlaw shows up at all for this series, or McMillan keeps Fernandez in there throughout the fourth quarter, we'd be up 2-1 right now.

That's the playoffs for you, though.

Well, I think we're really seeing who stays and who goes. I think Travis is gone after this season (I'm hoping).

 

[Shooter]

One might also say that 6-15 from Lamarcus was equally as destructive to our chances.

Aldridge also had a poor showing, but Roy should have told him to get down on the block at the start of the second period and he would get him the ball. He should have INSISTED on it, and DEMANDED it. This rests on Roy, in my opinion, because Roy is the leader of the team and the guy who sets the pace. He completely missed a golden opportunity at the start of the second period.

 

[Natebishop3]

Aldridge also had a poor showing, but Roy should have told him to get down on the block at the start of the second period and he would get him the ball. He should have INSISTED on it, and DEMANDED it. This rests on Roy, in my opinion, because Roy is the leader of the team and the guy who sets the pace. He completely missed a golden opportunity at the start of the second period.

But why can't McMillan do that? This is McMillan's team, no? He calls the plays, no? Sometimes I feel like we have Maurice Cheeks back on the bench.

 

[Shooter]

That's just dumb to say it's Roy's fault. Great players have bad nights.

This is not about having "a bad night." It's about failing to recognize a golden opportunity. I'm not even talking about Roy's shooting percentage, which was pretty bad. I'm only talking about not seeing the mismatch on the court that was there for the taking.

 

[Shooter]

But why can't McMillan do that? This is McMillan's team, no? He calls the plays, no? Sometimes I feel like we have Maurice Cheeks back on the bench.

Agreed. McMillan should have insisted on it. But Roy is the playmaker and the leader, and he has to recognize these kinds of situations himself.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I guess I'm not too upset because you've got to take the occasional bad with the very frequent good.

I just keep repeating to myself that "this is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is a learning experience ..." It's hard to watch, but I can't think of a better baptism by fire with regards to their opponent. Is there another team that would present so many challenges and matchup problems for their offense? If they can somehow figure this out and solve this puzzle (or at least stay competitive throughout the rest of their games) it's going to pay some serious dividends either in the next round(s) or next year when (if?) they make it back to the playoffs.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Agreed. McMillan should have insisted on it. But Roy is the playmaker and the leader, and he has to recognize these kinds of situations himself.

So, since Nate obviously didn't insist on it, you are saying we lost tonight because Roy didn't blow off his coach?

 

[mook]

This is not about having "a bad night." It's about failing to recognize a golden opportunity. I'm not even talking about Roy's shooting percentage, which was pretty bad. I'm only talking about not seeing the mismatch on the court that was there for the taking.

You're an idiot. Teams go through lulls. Roy is playing balls-out three straight games against arguably the two very best perimeter defenders in the league. He's the only one consistently showing heart and leadership, even in that thorough ass-kicking we received in game one.

He overdribbled a little tonight, but he sensed the same thing I could see--the team was starting to choke a little. He tried to do a little too much.

That failing doesn't compare to the giant turd Outlaw has laid in this series, or the incredibly bad decision McMillan made to play Outlaw 30 minutes to Rudy's 22 tonight. Or Aldridge playing like a scared bitch.

Just because you are the leader doesn't mean everything bad that happens is your fault. Sometimes the people you are leading just fuck up. Especially with a young team in their first playoff experience.

 

[Shooter]

I guess I'm not too upset because you've got to take the occasional bad with the very frequent good.

I just keep repeating to myself that "this is a learning experience, this is a learning experience, this is a learning experience ..." It's hard to watch, but I can't think of a better baptism by fire with regards to their opponent. Is there another team that would present so many challenges and matchup problems for their offense? If they can somehow figure this out and solve this puzzle (or at least stay competitive throughout the rest of their games) it's going to pay some serious dividends either in the next round(s) or next year when (if?) they make it back to the playoffs.

I agree with everything you say. Tremendous learning experience. And look how close the score was at the end!!

The Blazers are figuring this out as they go, and I think they can still win the series. I honestly didn't expect a game this close in Houston, after we were blown out in Game 1, but we had a chance to win this thing in the last 2 minutes. That's a very good sign for the rest of the series.

 

[MARIS61]

This game was not lost in the fourth quarter; it was lost at the beginning of the second period. And it's Brandon Roy's fault.

At the start of the second period, Yao Ming and Battier were both on the bench. That meant that Houston had no one over 6'9 to defend against Aldridge, Pryzbilla, and Oden. Roy should have gathered his team together and said, "Let's go to the hoop, guys. Drive it hard and make them try to block your shot."

Instead, Roy kept settling for jump shots (and missing), and never tried to force the ball inside or dish it off to someone else. Houston jumped out to a 15 pt. lead with several of its reserves on the court, and the Blazers were never able to make up the difference.

This one is on Roy. As the leader of the team, he has to learn to take advantage of the other team's weakness when he sees it, and take it to them. He can't just save it all for the fourth quarter.

Don't blame Brandon. He's never been in that spot before, leading the bench. He didn't know what to do nor does he have the necessary skills to do what needed to be done.

That's Sergio's job, and he's eminently qualified.

So blame Nate. He blew it.

 

[Shooter]

Just because you are the leader doesn't mean everything bad that happens is your fault.

Of course not. I never said it did. But when Yao Ming goes to the bench and our best player keeps lofting up jump shots instead of delivering the ball inside to his big men, that's just stupid. And tonight it cost us the game.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Don't blame Brandon. He's never been in that spot before, leading the bench. He didn't know what to do nor does he have the necessary skills to do what needed to be done.

That's Sergio's job, and he's eminently qualified.

So blame Nate. He blew it.

Brandon doesn't have the necessary skills? And Sergio does?

This thread is getting very, very confusing.

 

[illmatic99]

You're an idiot. Teams go through lulls. Roy is playing balls-out three straight games against arguably the two very best perimeter defenders in the league. He's the only one consistently showing heart and leadership, even in that thorough ass-kicking we received in game one.

He overdribbled a little tonight, but he sensed the same thing I could see--the team was starting to choke a little. He tried to do a little too much.

That failing doesn't compare to the giant turd Outlaw has laid in this series, or the incredibly bad decision McMillan made to play Outlaw 30 minutes to Rudy's 22 tonight. Or Aldridge playing like a scared bitch.

Just because you are the leader doesn't mean everything bad that happens is your fault. Sometimes the people you are leading just fuck up. Especially with a young team in their first playoff experience.

Excellent post.

 

[Shooter]

Don't blame Brandon. He's never been in that spot before, leading the bench. He didn't know what to do nor does he have the necessary skills to do what needed to be done.

That's Sergio's job, and he's eminently qualified.

You're joking, right? Excuse me, because sometimes I can't tell.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Yea, it's all Roy's fault. Ineptitude from the coach, to all his forwards, to his starting point guard, and it's all his fault? Alright.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I'm pretty positive we can blame this on lack of offensive sets from McMillan, Outlaw not showing up for any game this series in any way shape or form at all, and Steve's random brain loss in the final minute.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You're joking, right? Excuse me, because sometimes I can't tell.

I usually enjoy arguing with him, but that's mostly because it's sort of like playing whack-a-mole (the same statements keep popping up in one form or another, you just have to swat em when they poke their heads up) The trolling act is starting to get pretty thin though, it's not even fun any more.

 

[TripTango]

Fire Roy!

 

[Shooter]

Yea, it's all Roy's fault. Ineptitude from the coach, to all his forwards, to his starting point guard, and it's all his fault? Alright.

I don't know what plays McMillan told them to run in the second quarter, so I don't know if it's his fault. All I know is what I saw on the court, and that was Roy taking jump shots and Aldridge hanging out at the free throw line. As the team leader and the the best player, it is up to Roy to marshall his forces and use them in the best way. If Aldridge is not under the boards, Roy has to tell him to get there. And if Aldridge refuses to do it, then Roy has to find someone else to do it, or do it himself. That's what comes with being a leader.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I don't know what plays McMillan told them to run in the second quarter, so I don't know if it's his fault.

It must have been the Knicks players' faults when they wouldn't even show up to Coach Thomas' practices. Sounds a lot like this. If the coach can't get his team to follow his instructions, that is a coaching problem. While I agree Roy could have played better, it can't be squarely on him. With the exception of one other player, Roy single handedly won us game 2. It shouldn't have to be like that. We have way too many weapons on the offensive end to rely completely on Brandon Roy to will us to victory.

 

[Shooter]

It must have been the Knicks players' faults when they wouldn't even show up to Coach Thomas' practices. Sounds a lot like this. If the coach can't get his team to follow his instructions, that is a coaching problem. While I agree Roy could have played better, it can't be squarely on him. With the exception of one other player, Roy single handedly won us game 2. It shouldn't have to be like that. We have way too many weapons on the offensive end to rely completely on Brandon Roy to will us to victory.

This seems pointless. Roy doesn't have to carry us to victory all by himself. He just needs to take advantage of the Blazer's height advantage over the Rockets when Yao isn't in there. Period.

I'm out.

 

[Tince]

It must have been the Knicks players' faults when they wouldn't even show up to Coach Thomas' practices. Sounds a lot like this. If the coach can't get his team to follow his instructions, that is a coaching problem. While I agree Roy could have played better, it can't be squarely on him. With the exception of one other player, Roy single handedly won us game 2. It shouldn't have to be like that. We have way too many weapons on the offensive end to rely completely on Brandon Roy to will us to victory.

I think Nate can't find 5 guys who are ready to handle playoff pressure basketball, but I don't see how that is Nate's fault.