I thought Charles Barkley had some interesting observations about Phoenix and the players that D'Antoni's system produces, basically he thinks most of the guys on that team have had their stats inflated over the years. Personally I think Nash is still a pretty good point, and Amare has real talent, but they are starting to show their warts in Terry Porter's style of play.
I think RW was saying that in 2 years time, Bayless would be better for the Blazers than Nash would be, not that Bayless in 2 years will be better than Nash was when he won the MVP's or now.
I doubt Suns are going to trade Nash or Shaq. They're going to let both of them expire and then go at it in free agency. It's be nice if Steve Kerr did a sweetheart deal with John Paxson to send Amare Stoudemire to the Bulls, because there is no way Amare is re-signing there.
OK. How is Nash now? How was he before. Solid #'s but nothing spectacular. Not MVP worthy. How is Chris Duhon? He has Nash #'s with Mike D’Antoni's system. Should we trade for him? Give me a break with Nash. Has he won anything in his life? (MVP doesn't count, voted by byes media)
Nash is one of the worst defenders in league history and would not fit in on this team at all. Nash has been publicly complaining and whining about Terry Porter's slow, half court system and that is not the kind of leadership the young Blazers need to learn from. He wouldn't fit in this system at all, would cost too much to acquire and will likely retire in a couple years.
*edited: No personal attacks* Let's talk about what Nash is...the fifth best shooter in league history (basketball-reference.com), and a guy who would be incredible in our offense. I know it's trendy for idiots to say Nash can't work in a team that plays half-court AT ALL. But it's a bunch of crap. It's true that running does inflate stats, but it's also true that if a player has nice court vision in the full court, they'll have it in the half-court too. Phoenix was a great team OFFENSIVELY in the half-court too under Dantoni. They ran a ton of pick n rolls with Amare, and Nash got his teammates a ton of easy buckets in the paint. We are terrible at getting easy points in the paint, and there's no good reason with Brandon, Lamarcus, and Oden. The reason is Steve Blake, he's simply a bad passer. His best asset is shooting (which is streaky) and Nash is a better shooter. Nash is a bad defender, but not a terrible one (he can pester a lot), and Blake isn't any good either. The benefits we'd grab in easy buckets would be well worth the small amount we'd lose on defense. Nash is good at feeding bigs (that are willing to move) he's just not that great when all he does is drop it to the post and stand around. Players in a system like that who benefit are the big guy they dump it to and the main cutter (ala Penny, Kobe, Wade) while the other three become spot shooters. While Nash could get us a ton of easy buckets, he is also such a good shooter that he could be a threat off the ball (w/Roy) and open up space on the court just as blake is doing now. Nash isn't going to want to drive to the hoop forever (he's getting older) and could extend his career playing a little more off ball on a deep team. When he was playing very well in Phoenix (and Dallas) they were running a ton of pick n roll, this is Nate's favorite play also. We're also creating a lot of running opportunities with our superb defense. If we got Nash Oden and Aldridge's numbers would skyrocket (so long as we continued to rebound as we do now). The fact is our offense now is structured much more like Phoenix's was (w/o running on makes) than Phoenix's current offense is, Nash would do better here than there. The last fact blazer fans need to understand is that while it's whimsical to want to keep everyone and have them all be happy, a bunch of guys entering their prime want to play and earn contracts. There is not enough room for at least one of Outlaw or Frye and Sergio, Blake, and Frye. No matter if you don't want to trade for spare parts or not, the fact is we already have some (whether we've chosen who they are or not). I think Phoenix should try to win it all, Kerr wants to hedge his bet to Shaq to make his legacy, rather than go down with a sinking ship he didn't build. I think once the Nets are out of contention back east (they're playing well and still not selling tickets) or get cheap Phoenix should look to grab Carter (and the nets have no use for Nash. VC would fit perfect next to Shaq as the next (hardaway/kobe/wade) along with Amare! That is a contender far better than they are now. This is where we could capitilize: POR trades: Blake/Bayless/Outlaw/Raef/1st rounder POR receives: Nash/Swift NJ trades: Carter/Swift NJ receives: Raef/Bell/Outlaw/Bayless/POR 1st PHX trades: Nash/Bell PHX receives: Carter/Blake this year Nash/Sergio Roy/Fernandez Webster/Batum Aldridge/Frye Oden/Pryzbilla we're still left with a ton of firepower, and Nash is given a ton of people to feed, while playing a little more passively than the last couple of years. Lamarcus', Frye, Rudy, Webster, Batum and Oden's games would blossom playing w/Nash, while Roy's would take an initial step back, he'd just have to learn to play a little more off the ball (not a ton because nash can shoot too) which he already is and should (playing with good post guys). It's a leap Lebron and Wade have already made, w/much less players that deserve to have the ball around them than Roy. Next year we'd bring in Koponen and Freeland for some added depth/guys to develop and re-sign Frye to say 3 years MLE, and we'd be set for a championship!
I'm there. What again is the issue? Do we not think that in 2 years we'll have a decent point guard around if Nash is decrepit? And by then our team will have had 2 years of fantastic play?
old nash with excellent vision, shooting, and helping our guys get easy buckets who we're only commited to for two years, and what PG wouldn't want to sign on with us in two years to feed our guys? We'll also have Roy and Fernandez demanding a lot of playing time and Sergio and Koponen should provide something. You don't trust that KP could work out something in two years? Stro-show is filler, nothing more. I like this heading into 2010: Nash/Sergio/Koponen/AMiles (cheap young guy, local, vet experience, tearing it up in Europe) Roy/Fernandez Webster/Batum Aldridge/Frye Oden/Pryzbilla/Freeland with two roster spots for KP to get minimum salary experienced vets or high potential prospects (we have four seconds next year)
History doesn't help the Blazers. The Blazers have plenty of great shooters now. Are you calling Steve Nash an idiot? Because he himself has complained plenty about the system and how it's a bad fit for him. He hasn't been incredible in Terry Porters system, which is very smilier to Portland's. Not only has his play been down, but he's been a cancer, complaining to the media about the style of play and how HE thinks they should be running more. Nash is one of the single worst defenders in the history of the game. He's as bad as any 2nd string PG in the league defensively. Defense wins Championships and Nash is more about selfish offensive play. Steve Nash will never win a team a Championship, he doesn't have the skills for it. His play is all flash, but has a negative impact on true NBA Championship team play. This is the worst trade proposal I've ever seen in my life. That is not an exaggeration, worst trade EVER!
*edited: No personal attacks* You're right the blazers have plenty of great shooters, and they need a good passer to feed them. When Sergio comes in the game players move around, it's no coincidence. It's also a fact that teams with mobile big men normally get a lot of easy buckets (as do almost every contender ever) we get almost no easy baskets, Steve Nash teams always get a lot. It's also a fact that Portland wants to run more but Blake holds them up. Many times this year in the huddle Nate's been saying to run more and we get a ton of rebounds and blocks so it's very possible. Nate believes in getting an easy basket early or a smart basket late, Nash could run the break and a quick pick n roll, and Roy can iso and kick at the end of the shot clock, that would work well. Nash has always worked very well in pick n rolls, which has been Phoenix's main play the last couple of years, they run almost zero pick n rolls now. Phoenix doesn't run hardly at all. We (if Nash came) would be a ton more like Phoenix a couple years ago than Phoenix is currently structured.
Huh? Blake is very quick, and he loves to run. I've never seen him "holding the Blazers up." However, the idea of acquiring Nash is an interesting one. I wouldn't be surprised if Pritchard tried to pull it off.
anybody think we might use a vet presence to lead our offense after last night? I'm not saying trade half the team or I'm mad or anything like that, but we need to find a way to get easy buckets, because everything we get comes hard or is open long jumpers. When teams play with playoff intensity against that we're gonna need to grab some easy buckets somewhere more in rhythm. And BTW I've never heard Blake described as fast or quick, he is average speed and below average handle for a PG. Blake's biggest strength is that he really doesn't play outside of his capabilities (which is a good thing) which leads to less mistakes, but he is not fast, quick, or even proficient on the break. Don't delude yourself. And I hate Garnett!
Steve Nash can't make Greg Oden make a dunk. The team will start getting inside scoring when Oden develops into the player he's supposed to be. Okay, everything you just posted is the complete opposite of the truth and/or an outright lie. The Blazers do not want to run more, Nate has always been (and will always be) a slow-it-down, half-court, defensive minded, slow paced coach. Anyone who claims to be a Blazer fan should know this simple and fundamental concept. The very reason Sergio has had such a hard time getting playing time is because he always plays up-tempo, when Nate wants him to slow down. And thank you for your insights into the Blazers time-out conversations, what position do you play? Why would the Blazers want to be like the Suns of a couple years ago? They didn't do anything. No team in the history of the NBA that has played a style similar to Phoenix and won anything. Why do you want the Blazers to play a style that is 100% guaranteed to keep you from an NBA Championship.
I don't care that much if the Blazers run or don't run, honestly. I just want them to get easy baskets... running will help us do so, which is why I think lots of people would like to see it. I do think we should try to rework our offense a bit, and get the right rotation to play the way we want. We should be dictating what pace we want to play, and that will come as our team gets better. We are going to be great.
