There was a bit on the broadcast where Mike and Mike were talking about Nate implementing a new system for the offense. I'm not entirely sure what was said because I was cooking at the time but I think it said shots are being taken under 20 seconds or something and it showed stats that our PPG, FG%, and Assists went way up. It's apparently been in for the past 4 games, coincidentally enough were all blowout wins. Anyone know any more about it?
Nate wants the team to get over the half court line within 4 seconds of gaining posession of the ball. So that would give them 20 seconds to find a good shot.
I've noticed that he doesn't sub out both Roy and Aldridge together as much anymore. That was always a pet peeve for me. Seems like he's starting to go away from "the white team" and instead going with "subs + stud", which is really a smarter move. You have 35+ minutes of Roy and Aldridge. You might as well leave one of them out on the court all the time.
All players have to be across half court by 20 on the shot clock. The Blazers had been getting across at around 18 before. The extra two seconds allows for an extra screen, an extra bit of time to post up, find the backdoor cut, etc. They're like clockwork when they have a full 20 seconds to run the offense.
I'm surprise more teams don't go to a full court pressure against the Blazers since that has worked in the past.
I also remember Roy saying that we played too safe, that we needed to go for more riskier passes. We have definitely been doing that. Blake has been hooking up LMA and Roy for dunks we were not getting before.
Honestly the way LMA runs the lane, it's not a bad idea to play at a faster tempo. Use defense and rebounds to create quick opportunities. I think it's a very entertaining style of basketball to watch. Unfortunately most of the teams that have RUN in the past have been considered poor defensive teams (Phoenix and GSW). Imagine that sort of offensive firepower with an above average defense (not just in causing turnovers but limiting opponent's FG% and second chance opportunities). I would buy that in a heartbeat.
Now that the team has really been demonstrating a commitment to transition defense (and defending the paint) in the past month or so I think Nate is finally letting them take the training wheels off a little bit; they are solid enough that if something does break down and they commit a turnover it's less likely to bite them in the arse like it would have when the Blazers defense leaked like a sieve. I said it awhile back, but I really have been wondering for awhile now if Nate has given this team the "Daniel-san" treatment (wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off ...) for the past two years -- drilling fundamentals and playing slowed down ball control offense so they can learn to grind out low mistake possessions, and then loosening up and letting them be a little more dynamic and free flowing once they showed they could master the basics. I guess we'll see if this newfound wrinkle to the offense lasts.
Interesting point. It wouldn't surprise me if that's the case, though getting into a third season before letting the reins loose is being quite patient. I love our new up-tempo style. It's a lot more fun to watch, and it's just nice to watch us use our young legs and athleticism to our advantage and not play like we're a team of 35-year-olds.
Yes both the Offense and the defense have improved. I was very excited to see how they started off the game on D. They were really doing the little things to make sure there was no replay of the previous game in OKC. They realy seem to be more physical out on the perimeter. (Fighting through screens) Once again Batum looked good. I would keep him in a Blazer uniform for the next 10 years just to guard Durant alone!
Interesting point. You look at a guy like Amare Stoudemire and you wonder what kind of defensive monster he would've been if he'd spent his first several seasons in the league under a coach like McMillan. At this point, though, Amare is who he is, a decent shot blocker but overall somebody who just doesn't try hard most of the time on that end of the court. Myself, I don't think transitioning to a faster-paced game was part of some sort of master plan. It just seems to me that time after time Aldridge was beating his defender down court and so he was being "guarded" by some 6'2 guy. You show any coach that opportunity repeatedly and eventually he's bound to think to himself, "If we just get the ball down there quickly, those are easy points." Added to that is that Batum is so much better at running in a fast break than Webster or Outlaw. He's got a vastly superior handle, and he can make the quick outlet pass to a breaking point guard without the guard having to break stride. And he's just more competent at finishing--how often does he blow a dunk? How often does Outlaw? Most teams see the move to upping the tempo based on either the coach or the guards. The funny thing about this team is that it seems to be our forwards who are driving it more than anything else.
I have to say this again.... McMillan has done such a great job this year. He has fucked up at certain times, but overall he is definitley a high quality coach and among the better coaches in the league. I do hope he is our coach for a long time.
I couldn't help but think of this when I was reading Hoopshype this morning about all the re-tread coaches that are being considered for the soon to be open coaching positions. Most aren't bad, but certainly nothing to get excited about.
Yea I have noticed the offense changed quite a bit. The one play I love the most, is the one where they make it look like a pick and roll on the side, and then right as it would initiate, both of the guys on a pick and roll head to the hoop, and also an additional cutter cuts at exactly the same time, giving 3 guys busting to the hoop. It usually causes so much confusion (because you usually double team somebody on a pick and roll) that it is an easy bucket almost every time. Time to give some Kudos to Nate. He has this team playing inspired ball, and at the right time.
In the recent past maybe. The Lakers and Celtics teams in the 1980's ran like crazy and played good D. Heck, so did Portland from 1989 to 1993. Those two teams have used their offensive game plans as an excuse to not play defense.
