Study what Mike D'Antoni did to bring out the best from Felton, and try to incorporate it into our offense. Figure out how to utilize the talents of Wallace and Batum better in our offense. Draw up a plan for teaching defensive fundamentals. Devise a training exercise that actually forces the Blazers to fast break. If Nate doesn't want to do these things, start looking for his replacement; at the rate these guys work, they need to start early.
I can answer all of your questions for you quickly. Nate will NEVER be capable of optimizing his players' offensive skills because that's not part of his coaching philosophy. And Nate has stacks of incriminating photos of PA and farm animals in compromising positions, so he's NEVER leaving until Allen kicks the bucket or sells the team.
Never? Sure seems to get a lot out of a lot of players. Outlaw sure looked like shit in NJ, looked much better with nate getting a lot out of him. Hardly anyone thought Roy would be the player he was here. Blake's had his best years here, when everyone was certain he'd be an ideal PG for the triangle. Did so much better for Nate. We all knew Sergio would thrive once he got away from nate and got to run, right? Oh. But, none of that matters, I suppose.
Nate's system is designed to make one-trick ponies like Outlaw and Blake look half-way decent because all they were asked to do is catch and shoot from behind the arc, but if we're going to talk about complexity and maximizing the offensive talent of his most gifted and versatile players then forget about it.
You know MM if Allen does end up selling the team at least we have a pretty good shot at getting rid of Nate.
Not only this, but Outlaw was also permitted to take those horrendous just inside the arc off the dribble sideways shots and not rebound and completely forget his defensive assignments and still get a good chunk of playing time. Avery Johnson was not so keen on this play style and didn't let Travis get away with it in New Jersey, and thus they got Travis without his scoring and his regular dose of everything (aka nothing) else.
Avery Johnson didn't let him get away with it to the tune of starting him 55 games, and giving him a higher MPG than he ever had? Makes plenty of sense. With less rebounding, steals and blocks he got under Nate? Maybe it was because Avery tried to force him in at SF, where he isn't good, and Nate "maximized his abilities" as a stretch 4.
What about Roy? Before his knees went out Nate's system seemed to maximize his potential. Some may argue that it was at the expense of the team but we constantly exceeded expectations (injurys considered) and he was our premier and most gifted offensive talent.
You think designing an offense around isolation basketball takes an offensive guru? Nate had in hand one of the best (if slow) one-on-one scorers in the game before his knees went to hell and he ran everything through him. But as you pointed out in the part I bolded, yes it made Roy look very good and it added some regular season victories, but it also stunted LMA's growth, Nic's growth, etc. Roy-ball was an ultimately "high-floor, low-ceiling" approach designed mostly for grinding out regular season victories against inferior and average opponents, but one that also had no real shot of getting this team very far into the playoffs. Good teams (ie. playoff teams) know how to take away what you do best and force ancillary players to beat them. If Nate had ever spent any serious time trying to get guys to play cohesively as a unit with balanced scoring, ball-movement and player movement it would have made it much more difficult for a good defensive team to key on one player and completely upset the game plan. Nate's been coach for what, six years? Does anybody seriously believe he's suddenly going to stop playing snail-ball, predicated on isolation? Even LaMarcus was mostly playing in isolation from the post last year with Brandon out. It's a bad brand of basketball, we deserve better.
Greg Oden's agent, Mike Conley, says Oden is still not cleared for scrimmaging and basketball-related activities that have any contact.
In no particular order: upgrade the center, PG and SG position. Matthews is just a placeholder; Camby and Felton barely qualify as even that. This team needs a dramatic influx of talent.
Btw, I think we could put together a solid offer: * Nicolas Batum's stint in Europe surely has helped his stock. * Joel Freeland is probably the best all-around PF/C in Europe right now, and only 24 years old. * Gerald Wallace EC * Marcus Camby EC * Wesley Matthews * Ray Felton
Wholeheartedly agree with Niks post above. Some fans eyes will be opened once we are running a different brand of basketball. They'll look back and finally see the McMillan system shortcomings. I rejoiced upon hearing we were finally going to have a season, and unfortunately it was dampened once I remembered who will be running the show. Still, pupmped to finally see Greg back on the court.
As always, different outlooks produce different perceived needs, unlike most you guys ^, I think we'll be more than fine. To-Do a. Get everyone 100% b. Get in Shape (Gonna be a long fast season) c. Get some more beef ( Real PF, and/or another C ) Accomplish those things, and this Team will be solid. Felton/Smith/Roy Mathews/Batum/Roy Wallace/Batum LMA / Camby / (Laundry, Powe, ? ) Oden / Camby / (Przybilla, Chandler, Dalembert) Defiantly up on the to-do list, but can only happen in time. I'm betting that Smith will surprise everyone, thanks to his incredible work ethic and maturity. However, still up in the air as if he can play point. Should be interesting to see though, I think he could be a Brandon Roy like dark horse. Would have never said that before the summer, but after what I've seen and heard my perspective has changed. Maybe... As I see it, once the front-court is solidified (Oden and Crew), LMA can focus on Offense (Tim Duncan-esque), and the isolation will work. Bout Damn time we figured out that LMA is the go-to guy and not Roy. Ever notice how Timmy often takes the defense side of the court off? Well that's the key to him being so sharp all the time, and that's what LMA, our Portland superstar, needs most. Last year he played the second most minutes in the NBA, as a F/C! That's amazing. Imagine if he could focus all that energy on offense = unstoppable, no matter how predictable. AND, the rotations/ball movement will come thanks to the ever demanding double teams on Lamarcus and Greg. Furthermore, if the burden of defense is taken off LMA, I can see us getting a lot more rebounds, steals and fast-breaks to push the tempo.
