It got so bad tonight, Dave from Blazersedge.com felt compelled to write this up at the end of the first quarter and I coudn''t agree more. http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/2/6/752059/it-s-time Something has to give right? You can't just insert Przy for Oden though, that first unit would be left with 2 guys who are consistent enough to score in Brandon and LaMarcus which isn't going to put enough pressure on an opposing defense. My idea is go with this lineup to start and see what happens. Bayless Roy Batum LMA Przy 3 guys who can provide offense and 3 guys who (supposedly?) can provide defense. The bench becomes: Sergio Rudy Travis Greg
Greg just looks lost out there. Perhaps it's the rookie wall, perhaps it's the fact he's virtually being frozen out of the offense. I'd be fine with it. However, I also think that starting Jerryd may help the second unit, as Sergio plays better with those guys and Brandon can run the first unit offense.
He's not on the court enough minutes to be hitting a rookie wall IMO, as for him having trouble getting going because he's "frozen" out of the offense, that might be, but that doesn't quite explain repeating the same dumb fouls on the perimeter and failing to show any energy on defense ... which is the primary reason he was drafted. I like Greg, and I still think he's barely scratched the surface of his potential, but his psyche worries me; dominant athletes are usually dominant because they possess both elite athleticism and a killer instinct. I hope there's a monster lurking beneath the surface of Greg's placid features, because if there isn't then ...
You nailed it. Oden just doesn't seem to have a very strong competitive instinct. Sometimes you want to slap him and say, "Wake up!!! Get your butt in gear and get after it!!"
Admittedly, I missed the first 10 minutes of the 3rd quarter. But Oden actually came out a bit more motivated then usual. He didn't get to a lot of offensive boards, but he was the only player on the court working for boards and keeping balls alive.
This is one of the few games I missed, but what happened tonight that is causing such knee-jerk reactions. The game writeup said that when Oden went out in the first it was tied 14-14, then with Przybilla in, we got outscored by 12. Obviously there was more to that than that, so that's what I'm asking... The fire Nate stuff is comical. Most of you were the same people wanting to fire our previous coaches too. Youngest team in the league, in 5th place in the Western Conference, improving each of the last 3 years; let's fire the coach and it will solve all our problems! We should fire the GM who hired the coach, and run the owner out of town who helped hire the GM. It's not the players fault, it's everyone else who doesn't play.
Well we did fire the GM who hired him. And the president too for that matter (although I guess technically one had his option declined by the team and the other declined his own option/resigned).
LOL yes, let's blame the guy who never gets the ball. Our slow starts are the direct cause of coaching.
Well you might as well just trade Oden then. What is the frigging point of even having him on the roster? You don't play him, or if you do you give him zero shot attempts in the first half against Nick fucking Collison. You don't play him, and if you do, you don't use him. May as well trade him.
i agree its looking more and more like the coach the head coach....clearer and clearer maybe its a good thing that he wont take about extends maybe he wants to move on and so do the blazers
All you have to do is look at Gregs face. It says it all! I think there is 0% chance Greg will resign with Portland unless the coach is gone. Nate has destroyed his first real year. I know if Phil or Pop or Doc or even Stan Van Gundy got a hold of Greg we would all be saying there's the next coming of Bill R. Nate has shown that he can't, or more correctly wont run the offense through Greg. 4 points last night against a scrub center is crazy! I've said playoffs are less important than developing Greg and the future of this team. A well oiled Brandon, LA, Oden connection is so important. Game after game I see Sergio, Bayless and Blake only looking for Roy and LA. Greg often is just standing there lost. Greg "DOES" need to get better positioning in the low post but I think he feels he'll not get the ball so he lags way to far out to be effective. Having some plays solely for him early in the game would really help! Last night our team got crushed in the paint by a team that wont sniff the playoffs and Greg watched from the bench. Nate is supposed to be a defensive coach and this team simply is awful on what he's supposed to be best at doing. I guess the real question is...... Who would you rather lose? Nate or Greg?
Has anyone been keeping track of Oden's fumbles as he starts a shot this season? How many times has he gotten the ball smacked away by some 6'5" defender as he goes into motion? There is a big reason for him not getting the ball consistently in the low post -- he still can't consistently handle it! Until he can, of COURSE he will not be getting a ton of looks. Sheesh... some of you are acting like he's automatic points as soon as he gets the ball -- the truth is far from it. And no, this is not a "rag on Oden" post -- I am thrilled with his progress so far, and I think he's gonna be fine over the long term. I think it's hilarious how quickly some fans forget where he is and where he was expected to be at this point. Fire Nate because Greg is not getting enough opportunities to lose the ball out of bounds? Greg doesn't seem fired up, so he's clearly leaving town in three years? You have the right concerns, but you are taking your conclusions about 10 miles past the reasonable ones.
I think starting Bayless would have a much bigger impact on how Portland starts the game than starting Pryz would.
