A lot of you bitch all season about the style of basketball he coaches, but it's paying off now. The style of basketball changes in the playoffs. KP and Nate know this. Every possession becomes more important. So they have built a team and coached it to play playoff basketball all season long. Come playoff time, we're better at it than any other team in the league. Phoenix has their fun scoring 110 ppg during the season but that shit doesn't take you far in the playoffs. You have to take care of the ball, rebound, defend, and execute in a halfcourt offense. We've done this all season long against the Suns and the rest of the league. It bears repeating that we are 13-3 against the Suns, Spurs, Mavs, Lakers, and Thunder. 13-3. We completely lucked out that we avoided Utah and Denver's bracket. We have a real chance to reach the Finals this season. Especially if Roy comes back. The Cleveland team I watched last night can be beaten. Once again, LeBron's teammates are disappearing in the playoffs and he's having to carry the whole load. I know we can beat Orlando too. The teams I'd be most worried about are Boston and Atlanta. Boston's defense is phenomenal. They're performance in Game 1 against the Heat was amazing. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And Atlanta is just sooooo talented. They give us trouble at every single position and Jamal Crawford is better than anyone on our bench. As I mentioned in another thread, they are the only team in the NBA besides us that had 4 players in the PER top 50 during the regular season and one of our players missed most of the season. So there's my analysis. Go Blazers
Agreed. No matter how good we are, it's tough to beat any team 4 times in the playoffs. I hope we pull it out.
No doubt KS. Nate has sold a defensive mindset to his players and that's not easy to do in this era of the NBA. His grind em out style offense has also not been easy to hone either or for some fans to be able to stand, but it goes hand in hand with the defense we play. Nate is the bold leader of this organization and allot of the credit for the Blazers remaining steadfast this year must go to him. The best system is the one that everyone knows is coming but nobody can handle. A la Lebron James.
As a team-builder Nate's been more than great, but that doesn't excuse the dismal about-face he did in last year's playoffs that cost us the series. He completely threw out the uptempo style of play that got us there, and dis-respected several of the players (by benching them or eliminating plays run for them) who were key in dragging us out of the cellar. The team and fans were the ones who paid the price for his arrogance. Hopefully he learned much from that disastrous betrayal.
I find it funny that people complain about Nate-ball because I find it a great game to watch. I love seeing a the grind, forcing players to take bad shots, causing turnovers, and just making the other teams frustrated. I love it.
We are winning because we have very smart seasoned vets in Andre Miller, Howard and Camby! Do not confuse that with a coach that still thinks 1 on 5 offensive clearouts work well. Nate has been blessed with great talent and high IQ players and that's the ONLY reason that man has a job!
KP on BFT Nate's character and professional demeanor is so high that just his presence demands the same from his players. This is THE reason he has his job and will keep it in the future.
Look at how our youngsters play defense. That comes from the coach as much or more than from the vets. I would also like to see the offense open up a bit, but the Blazer D is a direct result Nate. Do you really think that Nelly would have Webster, Batum, Bayless, Cunningham, Pendergraph and even Rudy playing half as good on D as they do.
THIS And Nate is the one dictating tempo here, not Miller, Camby, and Howard. Nate is an excellent game planner and he's the one who has the team ready to play.
Nate has his issues (like just about any coach in the league) - but what he has is a system he believes in and the work ethic to keep going at it, as slow as it seems at times. He is probably not the best coach in the league - but he is clearly, and definitely a very a good NBA coach. He also seems like a real good guy - so, personally, I am delighted he is guiding this team.
Are there many teams that win with primarily stupid young players? Or low talent, stupid players? How many low talent, stupid teams has Phil, Pop, Sloan, etc. coached?
I really like how he called time-outs whenever the Suns were looking to make a run. It may not seem like much, but it keeps the players calm, makes the already quiet Suns fans even quieter, and we keep thing in balance. I am sure we will do it again tonight.
Give me a break! Defensive team? Have you watched how many uncontested layups and dunks this team has been destroyed with. LA, RUDY and Brandon play NOOOOO defense. If it weren't for Camby, Oden when he was healthy and Pryz this team would be a layup/dunk highlight reel for other teams and has for the most part on ESPN! Thank God we have Nick too. Watch tonight and see how many times Amare put the ball right through LA and how easy it looks, not to mention no brainer freakin layups! To many rose colored glasses on this board, it's our vets that are carrying us right now,not NATE. When I see an offensive scheme anyone can call or a defense that doesn't rely solely on player talent, than I'll give NATE and ounce of credit, but as of now, he's just a guy walking the sidelines to me and being well payed to look lost for most it! Go get um MR. SONIC!!! hahahahaha
Except he allowed his team to go to Blake in crunch time. He should have gone away from that. Blake had some shots late in games that absolutely KILLED us.
The Best In The West. The Blazers held their opponents to less points in the regular season than any other team in the Western Playoffs. It's the truth. Did you miss the fact that the 110 ppg Suns were held to 100 points on Sunday night? We're the best defensive team in the West.
I know. I'm making fun of all of the Suns players and fans who say Game 1 was an aberration and that they just overlooked us.
