I believe one of the main reasons for Sergio's lack of playing time (and Blake's abundance) is the presence of Roy in the game. While I'm a huge fan of his, he needs the ball to be effective, and I think it's kind of a waste of many easy buckets. Blake's biggest asset is staying out of Roy's way, and this is another reason Travis isn't all that effective with Roy. Serigo can't hit open shots consistently and thus gets no time with Roy. But I believe our team would be much better off, and Lamarcus and GO in specific will develop much better if Roy learns to move w/o the ball. Is it so unreasonable to expect Roy to develop a little bit of an off-ball game? I mean the guy can shoot it, and is a master at ballhandling and cutting w/ the ball, why can't he do it w/o at all. With big Greg and Lamarcus down low he can score a lot of points this year w/o Sergio in the game, why can't we occasionaly see Sergio/Rudy/Roy as a unit with Roy getting the ball if we haven't scored and there's 8 secs left on the clock. This would make Roy more durable and get some easy buckets, and like I said SERGIO OR NOT Roy needs to learn to play off the ball cutting, it will get him 8 easy points a game. So instead of a hard fought 16 a game, he can get a hard fought 12 and 8 easy resulting in a more rested, productive, and active Roy. Kobe and Wade moved w/o the ball when playing with Shaq, and many "star" guards learn to not "need the ball". This isn't a playing style, it's part of a lack of versatility. And I love Roy, he's tough, versatile, money in the clutch, and a good defender, BUT the next step is to learn to contribute on offense w/o the ball in his hands. Remember when he used to post up smaller guards on the block his rookie year while fat-Bo held the ball? He was money when he got it in the post and looked like Hakeem. Those skills have dwindled as he's become "the man" and his FG% has gone down too. If he doesn't get open looks like moving w/o the ball it's not bad for us, it means the defense is focusing on him, and leaving other guys open. Roy learning to move a little without the ball is better for the blazers with or without Sergio.
Great post. Roy is the type of player you want to have the ball in his hands at the end of the game but can constrict the offense during the rest of the game. He mentioned that he needed to improve this off season on his play without the ball. Hopefully Websters been paying attention to how Rudy is always moving and comes off screens ready to shoot.
Good post. Roy has become The Blazers "Iverson" in that he takes the rest of the team out of the flow by monopolizing the ball, slowing down the pace, and preferring to go 1 on 1 rather than move and pass. Last time I looked, AI had no rings.
I agree (and therefore "good post!"). Now, Roy CAN move without the ball (or play as a more typical SG) as he showed in the All-Star game playing alongside Chris Paul. And supposedly that was the thing he was working on most in the off-season. Does he move on the rare occasions when he doesn't have the ball? I do notice that when he gets the ball he does tend to hold it rather than move it (which Rudy is good at).
Come on now, it's one thing knocking our premier player but comparing him to Iverson is a little overboard. Roy dictates tempo for us which at times I would prefer to be a little quicker but come playoff time it will be exactly what we need. Just curious is there any Blazers on the team you actually like. So far in your post I've seen you rip on our two best players even mentioning they need to be benched so we could play uptempo.........
Hey! We agree! This is also my only knock on Roy. If he could become a bit more of a slasher he could open a whole new avenue for scoring.
Is this post some sort of joke? Look folks, the Blazers just played the toughest first 5 games in History, and they are now 4 and 3. As far as I am concerned, Roy can handle the ball as much, and for as long, as he likes. I would prefer he decide what happens on the court more then anyone else, espcially Sergio. As far as the AI comparison, I can't believe you would make it. One guy (Roy) does whatever the team requires. The other guy (AI) does whatever he wants regardless of the team. Besides which, if Roy is as shitty as a sure fire first ballot hall of famer then I can live with it. After all, AI took an absolutely horrid Philly team to the finals. Posts like these make me wonder if some Blazer fans even like their team.
It's all about the role. Roy's role isn't to be a guy moving off the ball. His role is to make the decision. It's Rudy's role to move off the ball, and he does a hell of a job doing it. You will note that, it is Rudy who has really taken Sergios time on the floor, not Roy.
The role players need to adjust to the stars, not the other way around. Unfortunately, some people think Sergio is a star and Roy is the role player.
