Check it out. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/trail_blazers_practice_coach_m.html Some highlights: Good to see Nate talking about "scrappy" play Outstanding. Nate hasn't talked about how to run an inside-out game since he had meetings with Roy, Aldridge and Oden at his house two times during the past two off-seasons ... awesome, just awesome. There's more inside if you can bear to read it.
I read this article, and I got the feeling Nate was on the defensive about his calls again, just the way he talked. Some of the questions were really good though and put him under the gun to a certain extent, but they were not as tough as they needed to be.
"now we’ve got to work out playing with a big who’s been in the post. We haven’t had that.” Wrong! During Roy and Aldridge's rookie year they played with ZBo who got a HELL of a lot more touches in the low post than Oden gets. And, Aldridge and Roy both played GREAT during the month of March when Aldridge finally moved into the starting line-up at center next to Zach at PF. If Roy and Aldridge can flourish playing with a black hole like Zach, why can't they flourish next to Greg Oden, who is a much more efficient scorer who demands fewer shots? Sounds to me like yet another excuse for an unimaginative, plodding offense led by a PG who can't/won't make a decent entry pass and can't push the pace to save his life. Oden, Aldridge and Roy aren't the problem. Blake is. Miller needs to start and he needs to start with Roy at SG and Webster at SF. Note to Nate: Start your best five players at their natural positions and it will make things a lot easier for everyone. BNM
Geezum, you make it sound like the end of the world. If you read the article it's not that bad. He talks about Oden being a cornerstone and guys getting used to having a new cornerstone there. He directly addresses Roy not getting enough touches. It's like wtf do you want the guy to say?
Yea I would like to see that too. And not asked in a nice way. Kind of more in the spirit of "Why the fuck are you doing this you dumb fuck?"
I want him to say: "I will bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller at PG because he can actually make an entry pass into the low post and will push the pace, getting more shots for everyone." There, problem solved, And, it really wasn't that hard. BNM
So none of the other information he provided makes a difference? I understand some of you are zero-sum game, you must have all or nothing. I agree that Nate has shortcomings. But for all of the bazillion complaints that people have because Nate doesn't call them secretly in the middle of the night asking for coaching advice, you'd think he'd at least get some credit for talking about wanting Oden to be a cornerstone, getting Oden his touches, and definitely going to Oden when it's 1v1.
There seem to be a lot of "single-issue voters" around here, if you'll allow my stretch of the term. It's impossible for a player or a coach to win in that situation if their game or their style doesn't fit in 100% with the "voter" and his/her issue.
I just feel bad for Miller because he said the Blazers were his #1 team he wanted to sign with after hearing there were some talks to acquire him around the trade deadline last year. It's a shame he's being used like this.
Talks is cheap. I want to see Nate act on his words. If he wants to get Greg more touches, the answer is simple - bench Steve Blake and start Andre Miller. Otherwise, Greg is a total non-factor in the first half. As I posted in another thread, in the last two games Greg has played a grand total of 1 minute with Andre in the first half. The results: zero 1st half points for Oden and a 29 point deficit to overcome against Memphis and four points and a 27 point deficit against Utah. Right now, Oden, Roy and Aldridge are ALL being under utilized. None of them are getting enough shots. Why, because we play at a glacial pace with a starting PG who can't make entry pass to an unguarded 7-foot 270 lb center. A faster pace means more shots for everyone. Miller hits Aldridge on the fast break for quick, easy baskets and feeds Oden the ball in the low post. Blake does neither. BNM
I thought Nate answered the loaded questions quite completely and clearly. He's the coach, the players are adults being paid millions to listen to him and do as he says. He really shouldn't ever have to repeat himself. How did Roy ever graduate from college without basic comprehension skills, that's the mystery here.
I'm not sure Roy has his degree yet. I remember reading sometime back that he was going back during the summers for classes.
I must be the only one that finds it odd how much Nate talks about needing so badly to incorporate Oden into the offense. Didn't he just get done saying at the start of the season that Oden just needed to focus on rebounding and defense and he didn't need to be involved in the offense? This is comical. You can't have both Nate.
I think I figured it out. Nate is a very literal guy. He wants Greg Oden to be a cornerstone of our offense. He wants him to sit in the corner and act like a stone on offense so he can save his energy for rebounding and defense. See, there is nothing inconsistent in Nate's statements. BNM
It's just a mostly terrible interview. Maybe it's just the way questions were phrased that turned me off, but I thought Nate came across as somewhat myopic and not particularly "in tune" with what appears to be going on. Then again, maybe he's just playing his cards close to his vest, or he's just super defensive about the way things are going right now.
