Roy says he didn't do much... nate differs From Columbian A good basketball player practices his fakes, no doubt. But does he also fake his practices? While there are no official accusations or implications here, the conflicting reports regarding Brandon Roy's level of participation in today's Blazers practice were a tad bit perplexing. Recently diagnosed with an arthritic left knee, Roy sat out Portland's past three games in hopes that the rest would revitalize the nettling joint. He'd like to return to the lineup for the Blazers' next game against New Orleans Friday, but has put no percentages on the chances of him coming back by then. So what constituted his workout today? Did it move him any closer to a return in four days? "I just did some 3-man weave. Mostly stuff with the weight room. I didn't do much with the team. Did some shooting with the guards," said Roy in sweat-drenched T-shirt. "I'll talk to the doctor and hopefully he gives me clearance to practice Wednesday, and if he does that, then I'll feel much better about Friday." OK. Sounds right. Roy's clearly been in pain, doesn't want to put any unnecessary strain on the knee, and is wisely waiting on team doctor Don Roberts' approval for rigorous activity. Except...how come when Blazers coach Nate McMillan was asked about Roy's practice Monday, he said this? "He went through most of the practice, some scrimmaging," he said. "He went through some live... He looked OK." McMillan's description confused some reporters, who had trouble reconciling how a player still waiting for a doctor's clearance would partake in live drills. When pressed as to whether Roy's workout included contact, McMillan repeated: "He got some work in." The ostensibly divergent stories may very well be the byproduct of misinterpretation and not deception. McMillan said Roy only went live in half-court sets, and perhaps Roy didn't think that was enough to be considered actually practicing. Or, is it possible Roy just wants to minimize expectations pertaining to his return and level of play upon coming back?
It was a day of mixed messages Monday at Trail Blazers’ practice, where the player most closely tied to the team’s immediate and long-term success said one thing about his widely-debated health and coach Nate McMillan said another. After the Blazers broke huddle following a roughly two-hour workout, Brandon Roy — who has been shut down with a sore left knee since limping off the court Nov. 13 in a game at New Orleans — said he spent most of the practice in the weight and training rooms, going through rehabilitation and conditioning exercises. The All-Star guard, who’s practice shirt was soaked front and back with sweat, said he did only a little light shooting and non-contact drills and continues to wait for team orthopedist Dr. Don Roberts to evaluate his knee and give him medical clearance to return to practice. “I watched a lot,” Roy said, “did some three-man weaves, stuff like that. Lot of no-contact. (The knee) is fine right now. It’s fine after doing a little bit of running and shooting. I shot a little bit and did some weaves, did a couple little drills with the team, shooting and stuff, and it felt pretty good.” But minutes later, when asked what Roy did in practice, McMillan relayed something entirely different. “He went through most of the practice, some scrimmaging,” McMillan said. “He did some shooting. He went though some live (contact work). He looked OK.” When told that Roy had a different message, McMillan didn’t budge, saying that Roy played in “live” halfcourt scrimmages with contact and in other shooting and running drills. “He went through some work,” McMillan said. “You asked me (if he went through contact). I said, ‘Yeah.’” While Roy and McMillan provided different versions of practice, they agreed on this much: Roy officially is listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the New Orleans Hornets at the Rose Garden. Roy said he hopes Roberts can examine his left knee Tuesday or Wednesday, at which time the two will determine when Roy will able to return to practice full-time. The Blazers, in the midst of a much-needed five-day break from games, will not practice Tuesday and McMillan said he would gage Roy’s progress in practices on Wednesday and Thursday to determine his status for Friday’s game. Regardless of what Roy did Monday, the weeklong break apparently has been good for Roy’s ailing knee. “My biggest thing is I feel like I’m getting better, so that’s a positive thing for me,” Roy said. “I feel like I’m getting better. And that’s good because I’m trying to hurry up and get back on the court as soon as possible.”
All i want him to do is workout/ lift, and take shots, works for me. All we need from him really is to sub in for offense and out for defense!
Mole hill the size of a mountain. I think it's a case of a glass half-full guy (Nate) saying one thing, and a "managing expectations" guy (Brandon) saying another. From what both of them said, I would conclude the same thing - that Roy is going to play on Friday.
Talked to him when Utah was in town. Says he's doin' great out in SLC........ No I didn't ask him how his WIVES are doing.
Hey HCP is Roy going to get his teammates fired up including Joel when the team takes on the Hornets? I mean the clippers just took out the hornets on monday night in LA.
YOU ASS FACE!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm watching the LA/NOLA game right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1:41 to go in the 4th....... NOLA-93 LA-91!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simple. McMillan doesn't want the next opponent (Monty Williams) to know our weaknesses, to throw off the Hornets. He forgot to tell Roy. Of course, now that the best team in the league just lost their first game, and to the Clippers (embarrassing), we don't have a chance. Roy better just rest.
