Interesting to see the confidence in predictions game players on the win/loss predictions. Here are the percentage of predictors who picked the Blazers to win through the first five games (game five for predictions thus far): Game 1 vs. Lakers: 45.8% Game 2 vs. Spurs: 52% Game 3 vs. Suns: 51% Game 4 vs. Jazz: 59.1% Game 5 vs. Rockets: 22.2% I think last night's game had a HUGE impact on the fan confidence factor. The Rockets are not that much better than the other teams so it is not the team, it is the confidence we have in our team. I didn't calculate the average margin of victory/defeat for those games but at least in the early running, not only are significantly more people predicting against the Blazers, there also seems to be a notably larger margin of defeat in those predictions. Sure missing Oden and Webster makes a difference and having a rough beginning schedule makes a difference but I think there is more than that. These more experienced and "better" teams are exposing the Blazers weaknesses; our defense is marginal at best, with rare exception we are a soft team, we are generally not an aggressive, attacking team, but rather a passive, jump-shooting team. We have the talent, or at least we'd like to think so, but for all his verbal "defensive" coach blather, the Blazers are NOT a defensive team nor do they exhibit the characteristics of becoming one. The offense is a predictable and non-threatening. The Jazz likewise have a predictable offense but they run it with precision and skill. Unfortunately, either the coaching staff doesn't know how to coach offensive execution or they haven't yet designed an effective offensive strategy for this group of players. However, as the group of players has changed notably over the past three years but the offense hasn't, it would appear that the coaching staff is not adjusting things to match the players, but rather, trying to force the players to adapt to what the coaching staff's demonstrably inept offense. I've never been a Nate apologist but neither have I really been a Nate detractor. However, after looking at the team to start the year, I don't think Nate has them prepared nor really has a plan for getting them to function properly. Rather than altering the offensive strategies to fit the players we DO have, Nate keeps changing lineups to try to find a combination of players that can play an offense not necessarily designed for them. In the end, it will lead to occasional wins but no significant or lasting success and ultimately result in frustration on the part of fans and possibly the players. Gramps...
While he's had some unexpected challenges (but what coach doesn't?) I think that anyone would be hard-pressed to look at the season so far and think that Nate has coached well. Doesn't mean we lost because of him, but... he hasn't pulled any rabbits out of the hat, either. Ed O.
Nate's just stubborn and loyal. Sometimes these are good qualities. Right now it's not. I'm excited because I'm sensing that we'll see more Batum against the Rockets tonight. That's a start in the right direction.
Ok. More predictions in and I also calculated the average margin of predicted victory/loss: Lakers: 45.8% pick Blazers to win with a net predicted loss by 1.7 points Spurs: 52.0% pick Blazers to win with a net predicted loss by 2.8 points Suns: 51.0% pick Blazers to win with a net predicted loss by 2.3 points Jazz: 59.1% pick Blazers to win with a net predicted win by 0.6 points Rockets: 28.1% pick Blazers to win with a net predicted loss by 6.8 points Confidence against the Rockets is down hugely and the size of the loss is likewise increased greatly. Gramps...
I disagree. If Nate truly believes that these are the right things to do - changing them willy-nilly around a young team is the worst thing he can do. He needs to continue and show them he believes in them - while working their ass-off on not taking a play-off. Of course, it is hard for me to judge, as a Direct-TV customer I get my recent Blazers game evaluation second-hand...
I think that's spot on; as much as I'd like to see Batum get heavy minutes over Travis, there is no doubt that Outlaw earned some cred with Nate and this team based on last year's performance and should be given opportunities to play through rough patches and show what he can do ... that's true for Travis and other guys with something of a record on this team. They need a chance to show what they can and can't do.
Nate usually does not take advantage of his bench in back to backs, instead he plays the same tired guys both nights past the point of usefulness. Maybe he'll adjust after it was so obvious last time.
