Why can't these guys shoot anymore?

[Kaydow]

24th out of 30 in the NBA FG%. Another bad effort against the Hawks tonight offensively - 35% from the floor. Andre 0-8, Rudy 1-6 on 3s, Nic 2-8, Wallace 1-5? Nic and Rudy have basically been in a year-long slump. I don't understand. The same looks that these guys knocked down the last 2 years now clank more nights than not. Even Wallace is shooting 39% as a Blazer. And is Rudy ever going to return to form? 37% FG for the year? That's worse than bad. Clearly, he's not the same guy who broke the rookie record for 3s in a season and shot 40% beyond the arc. LA can't get 35 every night! These guys have to start making shots. What is it? The offense, the personnel isn't that much different now (with everybody healthy) than it was in '09 when they were 8th in the league in FG%. And that was PRE "Post Presence" LA. You'd think that would help, no?

 

[HailBlazers]

Up, Down, Up Down, Up, Down that's the life of a Blazer fan.

The shooting has been pretty atrocious this year to years past but so has the offense a lot of the time. I would venture to guess the two are directly correlated. It seems the flow has been really on and off this year. I'm not gonna make excuses as too why that is but I do believe they'll get it together with the stretch of tough games coming up. This team always strives under adversity. .v

 

[maxiep]

I think long range shooting will be the 2nd highest priority of this offseason, after a backup PF that can rebound. If we had a distance shooter with any reliability, we'd have another 5-7 wins this season.

 

[Kaydow]

I think long range shooting will be the 2nd highest priority of this offseason, after a backup PF that can rebound. If we had a distance shooter with any reliability, we'd have another 5-7 wins this season.

Exactly. I guess you have to chalk Rudy's Rookie season up as a fluke. Remember when he was consistent? I think he still holds the rookie record for most consecutive games with at least one 3 ball? And Nic has been up and down too. You can live with one or two inconsistent shooters. But when ALL of your "shooters" (Rudy/Wesley/Nic/Patty) are so up/down, it's tough. Question is what "consistent" shooter will we be able to grab this offseason, assuming there isn't a lockout? I love Andre Miller, but his lack of shooting range is really exposed when the guys he's playing with can't hit the broad side of a barn. It's just ugly some nights.

 

[HailBlazers]

You guys are right on there but I'd say we've been taking way to many three's in the first place. I think if you execute the short game first the long range will come, we fail to get in a rythm and then rely on the three. We need to create some good shots, attack the basket, and get in a groove before we start bombing away.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think long range shooting will be the 2nd highest priority of this offseason, after a backup PF that can rebound. If we had a distance shooter with any reliability, we'd have another 5-7 wins this season.

Wallace is playing backup PF and he's rebounding. I think that position is filled unless we trade Batum.

 

[handiman]

I blame the three goggles. No one should be drawing attention to their shooting when it's amongst the worst in the league.

 

[bodyman5001]

It is the beer goggles they use before the games, but anyone who has been a blazer fan for long knew they would lose at least one of the last two.

 

[BlayZa]

take. it. to. the. rim. ffs.

 

[jlprk]

When a player comes here, he must radically change his game.

McMillan's slowdown game limits shots. Players of other teams can get their momentum going with the quantity of shots, but ours must be so selective that they shoot perfectly from the getgo.

His system swings it from inside to outside. That further decreases our shooting percentage.

It was really, really stupid to extend him. You ask who can we get who is better? Any experienced NBA coach.

 

[B-Roy]

take. it. to. the. rim. ffs.

All of our wings sans Andre Miller and Brandon Roy are limited ballhandlers who have trouble driving into anything other than an open lane. Wallace can get to the rim, but he seems to airball a lot of layups. I dunno.

Everyone just looks completely confused on offense. It's hard to describe. They know what to do out of timeouts, but after a few possessions it's just random players taking random shots. It's probably counterproductive in the long run, but maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go back to the offense where Aldridge was option 1, 2 and 3 for awhile.

 

[mgb]

You guys are right on there but I'd say we've been taking way to many three's in the first place. I think if you execute the short game first the long range will come, we fail to get in a rythm and then rely on the three. We need to create some good shots, attack the basket, and get in a groove before we start bombing away.

I agree and we need to play better D since that'll give us easier baskets. We haven't had the intensity in the last two games as we did in the first two.

 

[craigehlo]

I agree and we need to play better D since that'll give us easier baskets. We haven't had the intensity in the last two games as we did in the first two.

They had a lot of opportunities to score off of forced turnovers last night and looked awful in transition. I don't necessarily think defense is the only answer. We need more scoring off of picks and screens IMHO. There's too much passing around the perimeter for the 3 ball these days.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Scoring on fast breaks are usually layups which are very high percentage. So if a team has few fast breaks that will negatively affect shooting percentage. I just read that we are last in the league in fast breaks even though we are near the top in forcing turnovers, wow! I can't believe that our personnel is so incapable of this, so it seems it has to be a coaching issue.

 

[MIXUM]

u just noticed they cant shoot now??????????

 

[TripTango]

They had a lot of opportunities to score off of forced turnovers last night and looked awful in transition.

This is what really stood out to me last night; guys were missing point blank put-backs, fastbreaks with paths to the hoop, and open jumpers that should be money every time. I agree that there are some flaws in the overall gameplan that need addressing, but some of those misses were just inexplicable, whatever the offense. There's got to be at least some underlying comfort/chemistry issues going on, imo.

 

[HailBlazers]

They had a lot of opportunities to score off of forced turnovers last night and looked awful in transition. I don't necessarily think defense is the only answer. We need more scoring off of picks and screens IMHO. There's too much passing around the perimeter for the 3 ball these days.

Yea I've noticed the transition offense has been sour all season long, it seems like if were lucky we get fouled and go to the line. Definitely something they need to practice, Practice!?! Or maybe it's just a chemistry thing, IDK.

Your right on with the picks, screens, and rolls. They are the key to offensive movement and getting good looks. Our shooters could really benefit from more of this. It's obvious shooting one three after another is not what gets them in a groove.

u just noticed they cant shoot now?

In the end I think it boils down to the quality of the shots, not the shooters.

 

[Blazinaway]

I blame the three goggles. No one should be drawing attention to their shooting when it's amongst the worst in the league.

funny I said that 6 weeks ago and got a ration, and I still think it's a joke as you say when their shooting absolutely stinks

 

[hasoos]

funny I said that 6 weeks ago and got a ration, and I still think it's a joke as you say when their shooting absolutely stinks

Nope you are right on the money. I think it is the stupidest thing there is. Rudy shoots such a bad percentage he shouldn't even be in the league. Miller should never be taking outside shots, and if he is, then you know you are in for a rough night, because it means he isn't playing hard or they have a defensive lockdown on him so he is settling for the jumper. Mathews is our best shooter, and he is considered pretty streaky.

 

[maxiep]

Nope you are right on the money. I think it is the stupidest thing there is. Rudy shoots such a bad percentage he shouldn't even be in the league. Miller should never be taking outside shots, and if he is, then you know you are in for a rough night, because it means he isn't playing hard or they have a defensive lockdown on him so he is settling for the jumper. Mathews is our best shooter, and he is considered pretty streaky.

All our long range guys are streak shooters. Rudy and Wes run hot and cold. Rudy's been more cold than hot as of late. And if Miller is shooting long range, then chances are there's less than two second left on the clock and it's a busted play.

My hope for next year is that Brandon does nothing but work on his three ball all summer long and during the lockout. I think he can become the long-range shooter this team so badly needs. My guess was that management hoped Babbitt would have been that guy.

 

[Kaydow]

All our long range guys are streak shooters. Rudy and Wes run hot and cold. Rudy's been more cold than hot as of late. And if Miller is shooting long range, then chances are there's less than two second left on the clock and it's a busted play.

My hope for next year is that Brandon does nothing but work on his three ball all summer long and during the lockout. I think he can become the long-range shooter this team so badly needs. My guess was that management hoped Babbitt would have been that guy.

I thought Babbitt would be "that guy". One of the more surprising developments of the year has been his inability to even see the floor. I watched him play in the NCAAs, and thought he was really coordinated for a guy his size. Smooth stroke, could post up a little, could face up and shoot/go the basket, or he could sit out on the wing and catch/shoot. Then I read his scouting report on nbadraft.net (see link below), and I thought this is no Luke Jackson. Combine results: 4th overall in vertical, 4th in agility, did well in strength testing. Dude seemed to have the athletic ability to go along with his size and coordination. I expected an immediate impact guy in the Travis Outlaw mold. He hasn't looked good when he's gotten PT, but then again he hasn't gotten enough PT to show us anything. We're left to assume he's just not that good. If he were, surely Nate would have played him more, especially when you think about how thin our rotation was. Wasted pick I guess. He's just been a total non-factor. Can't blame it on Nate not playing rooks either. Over the last 2 seasons we saw 2nd Rounders Cunningham & Pendy log meaningful minutes. When you watch Luke shoot the ball on Youtube highlights, and you look at his college % (50% FG/40% 3Pt FG, 90% FT) you wonder why he hasn't even gotten a sniff. I've assumed that his defense must be just atrocious. For a team that has been near the bottom of the league all season in FG/3Pt FG Percentage, why wouldn't you give a guy with his credentials a look?




http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/perplexing-luke-babbit

 

[hasoos]

All our long range guys are streak shooters. Rudy and Wes run hot and cold. Rudy's been more cold than hot as of late. And if Miller is shooting long range, then chances are there's less than two second left on the clock and it's a busted play.

My hope for next year is that Brandon does nothing but work on his three ball all summer long and during the lockout. I think he can become the long-range shooter this team so badly needs. My guess was that management hoped Babbitt would have been that guy.

Yes I know they are streaky. But the point I am making is, streaky isn't considered good in the world of outside shooting. Streaky means you have to get lucky to get anything from the outside from these guys. Do you want a team built to get lucky, or a team that knows it is going to get it done?

 

[Kaydow]

Yes I know they are streaky. But the point I am making is, streaky isn't considered good in the world of outside shooting. Streaky means you have to get lucky to get anything from the outside from these guys. Do you want a team built to get lucky, or a team that knows it is going to get it done?

And if all of your "shooters" are streaky, then you need a WHOLE LOTTA luck. Bad shooting is contagious, especially for our up/down guys.

 

[magnifier661]

We can't shoot because the game is coming hard for us. If you noticed the "miami game" you saw that we were able to get the paint scoring going from the start to finish. Also, bad shooting is contagious. If we only have Aldridge as the inside player, then when he has an off-night, the entire team suffers. We need to get Wallace to work in the post, or at least cut to the basket more. Maybe have like 3-5 different ways to establish the paint early in the game. Once we get these easy buckets, the outside shots will fall.

I do agree this is seriously frustrating. Watching the last game was embarrassing. We couldn't make a shot if our life depended on it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I expected an immediate impact guy in the Travis Outlaw mold.

Travis Outlaw, immediate impact? Outlaw played a total of 19 minutes and scored 8 points in 8 games his rookie season.

So far, Babbit has played 100 minutes and scored 23 points in 21 games as a rookie. If anything, Babbit has had a bigger immediate "impact" than Outlaw did.

Maybe Babbit will eventually breakout and becomne a decent NBA bench player, like Outlaw did, but neither player had an immediate impact as rookies.

BNM