Wallace can start at SF if you all think it is necessary. But he is still the back up PF as well. There is no-one else. I don't recall Dante taking many 3's or standing in the corner, he often cut to the basket. So i don't see the current similarities. Wallace's role on the offense end will evolve.
exactly. The next best option for backup PF minutes is Batum and they rightfully prefer to keep him defending guards and wings because of his lack of bulk. Offensively the Cunningham comparison seems pretty apt, GW just needs to find a comfort level with his new team/teammates playing off the ball STOMP
Interesting quote from Wallace ""I worked so hard to be a starter in this league that I’m looking forward to (getting back to) that.’’ " I really hope this doesn't turn into another Dre situation.
I think it's a common feeling amongst veterans who are still in their prime. The guy was an All-Star last year. First team All-NBA defense. Those kinds of guys paid their dues. They deserve to start. I realize that Nic has a lot of potential, and he's playing pretty good ball this year, but he's young and he take take another year or two off the bench.
Is it so hard for small forwards to generate offense by crashing the offensive boards? What about players who can find the open space to receive a pass, after teammates like Andre Miller or LaMarcus Aldridge attract more than one defender? I thought that Gerald Wallace was the kind of player who "didn't need plays run for him"? I don't mean to let McMillan off the hook - he should find better ways to use his newest player, but does anyone think Nate is telling Wallace to nail his feet to the three-point line and stay there? I don't.
I agree that it's well past time to start Wallace- he's just better than Batum. I also think that Wallace's placement at the three point line is part of the spacing planned by our coach- it isn't Wallace's idea to do that. But it's been 4 games, let's see what Nate does with a little more time.
Nate's trying to make Batum into James Jones, and it isn't working. He wanted Martell to be James Jones, too. That didn't work either. Ime Udoka worked OK, relatively speaking, as the Pre-Jones. Babbitt might be our next James Jones, in a couple of years. Gerald Wallace is no James Jones. Face it: As pumped as I was to acquire Gerald Wallace, as others have argued before me, Nate's offense may not necessarily be the best fit for G-3. Come on McMillan: Prove me wrong!
Let Gerald find his niche? More like pray for Nate McMillan to find a niche for Gerald within the offense. Somehow, I don't see Nate changing his basic offensive system to satisfy one player not named Brandon Roy.
I think you're right, but I'm also curious (and have no idea) if he's supposed to hangout on the three point line like Batum. I'd love to see him make some cuts, which he did a couple of times in the 4th because I think that puts him in a better position to score. Even if he doesn't get the ball, it creates some more movement, and causes the defense to adjust. I genuinely don't know if that's on Wallace for not doing, or Nate for not instructing/emphasizing.
I don't think Wallace should just sit at the 3 point line, but do you think he starts there for spacing until he knows the team better and then makes moves from there?
How can anyone who claims to be a fan of the Blazers (or hell, the NBA...or fuck, sports in general) misspell Michael Fucking Jordan's last name?!
I agree with this, but I saw something that bothered me last night. In the post game interview, Gerald Wallace looked like he was going to cry. Granted, it must have been hard for him to play against the franchise that he was poster child for 9 days earlier. His body language was terrible, and he just looked totally depressed and out of his element. He tried to say all the right things like "it's tough, but at least we got the win", but it looked like he was on autopilot - just saying the things he knows he's supposed to say. Not trying to overreact, but he was not happy. I don't if it has more to do with playing the Bobs, or not. But I have a feeling he doesn't like how he's being used. Nate has said that he prefers to keep GW coming off the bench as the 2nd unit "go-to-guy". I don't think GW wants anything to do with that. He's just too much of a nice guy to complain about it . . . yet.
I didn't see the interview, but from what I have seen of him in that element, he seems to be very stoic/stiff/expressionless. He takes his time picking the right words but gives little visual indication of how he feels, much like McMillan.