http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/portland_minnesota.html I now this has been mentioned to some degree or another in other threads, but thought this deserved a topic all it's own. Although Miller has been playing fairly well (except for shooting), looks like Roy dropped the hammer and Nate relented. I understand he (Roy) is the superstar and cornerstone, but should he have this kind of power and is that fair to the rest of the team? The question is, did Roy (Nate) give Miller enough time to make things work or was the out-of-position scenarios of the 3-guard line-up too much for Roy and Blake to handle? Both were not playing well lately. Also, should the team have atleast tried to start Miller and have Blake come off the bench to see how things would have worked? Also, looks like starting Rudy was not really an option, since Roy really didn't want to play SF anyway.
Probably, but then Nate may not have then "totally" given the team back to Roy. I'm convinced that last night's starting lineup was exactly just the way Brandon had ordered it.
The next time Oden is open inside, and Roy refuses to pass him the ball, remember this. Zach, Jack, Miller.....for a "nice guy", Roybe is sure wracking up the body count.
Commented in the other thread, but I am disappointed that Roy feels he can't play with Miller. From Nate's perspective, I get bringing in Miller with the second unit. This is more a statement about Blake and him not be able to get the second unit to gel. But accordig to Nate, he is doing this to give the team back to Roy . . . I just don't like it. But I do like the Blazers and hope Roy steps up to show this works and Miller handles this with class . . . I still think Miller will be starting by seasons end. Props to Blake for getting Oden involved more lately which makes it easier for Nte to do this.
I think it silly to even suggest this has anything to do with Blake and the 2nd unit, of which he rarely plays with. If you read the published stories, its clear the issue is Roy not wanting to play with Miller. That in no way is blaming Miller. However, clearly Roy wants the ball and control of the offense. With that, what role would Miller then have? Whats kind of funny is that I actually thought any success from the 3-guard unit was most likely because Miller & Blake learned to play well together. Finally, the irony of Blake playing well with Oden is that Roy might get upset again and have Blake replaced!
Zach was history the day we decided to blow up the team. Jack and Miller were/are misfits that took away from our flow. Thank goodness we have Roy to speak up.
You do know that Roy was behind the Sergio trade? 2 birds with 1 stone. Get rid of one rival (Sergio) while psychologically destroying the other (Rudy).
I disagree that Miller has been playing well. He's been playing poorly, IMO, and the team has won games in spite of him. Both Blake and Miller have been disappointing so far, but as the "distributer", Miller's poor play has been puzzling. . How long does a person need to see that square pegs won't fit into round holes? I could try it all day, every day, and the result is going to be the same. Well, that's a possibility, but it does nothing to alleviate that disconnect between the games of Roy and Miller. Replacing Blake with Rudy or Webster leaves the same problem between the games of Miller and Roy.
My mom was even saying Roy is coming off as selfish to her. She is a Blazer fan since 1977, more so since the Clyde and Terry days. My mom is pretty nice person, and quite a judge of people. I found it interesting that she thought that as well. My father also is baffled by why we don't look to Oden more. He is especially concerned with Roy not passing to Oden when he is open in the lane or near the block (no assist possible?). I tend to think both of those views have merit. I'm all for this being Roy's team, as long as he understands that Oden is who will get us to the Finals. Oden may also end up being a bigger star. If Roy can't handle that we have a big problem, and need to look to trade Roy for Paul or something akin to that. I worry that Roy doesn't want Oden to overshadow him. Frankly, if Roy cares more about his numbers and MVP's then rings, I don't want him on the team. Period.
Roy is shooting less, assisting the same, and playing out of position offensively while also defending out of position. He's selfish!!
I can't help that you don't understand people and psychology papag. Basketball involves people and their interaction. In addition to the sports related activities there are psychological interactions occurring. If you can't see that, well I feel sorry for you, but it would explain ALOT of your posts. By the way Roy has been complaining about all the things you just mentioned. So there you go.
This type of assumption is one of many things wrong with this board. Idog is now an expert in psychology, and I'm just a dummy who can't read Roy's mind. A worthless post. Now we have pseudo-shrinks on the board.
As to your inability to understand interactions of people...I'm basing it on your body of work. Perhaps your represent yourself poorly?
I list some of the unselfish things that Roy has done so far this season to try and incorporate Miller into the starting unit. You use your Mom and some scattered pseudo-psychobabble to justify your postion, while also taking a barely veiled swipe at my intellect, yet I'm the one representing myself poorly.
Hey guess what. You can bitch all you want about Roy needing to adapt and that his comments are coming off as "me first" and that it would be nice if he could learn to play off the ball more, but Nate is dead right. Roy is a max guy, this is in fact his team and they are only going to go as far as he can carry them playing at his best. Of course the hope is that some other guys step up for the inevitable double teaming Roy is going to face the rest of the year and finally in the playoffs but it was slightly encouraging to see Brandon try to feed Oden the rock last night in particular and if that continues (LMA and Oden becoming bigger parts of the O) then I have no complaints.
I was merely musing about some things my parents said in reference to the OP and you gave the crazy emoticon. As usual you are quick to criticize posters and not add much to the conversation. Also amazingly you have gotten me to do the same by responding to you. I won't make that mistake anymore...responding to you that is.
I absolutely agree with this. I noticed that Roy tended to only pass when Oden was in obvious scoring position. Roy repeatedly refusing to feed Oden on the block is one of the main reasons I've wondered if Roy hasn't been willing to help Oden succeed. I wonder what percentage of Roy passes to Oden are obvious assist passes vs. those that would yield no assist, such as Oden with one foot in the paint where his dribble would rob Roy of an assist. That is one of the main reasons I have been concerned that Roy might be becoming selfish. That and his media interactions.
