Quick on Game

Being a more creative passer doesn't automatically make you a better passer overall. Nelson averages 6 assists per/36 minutes on his career, with a usage rate of 22.4%. Rudy by comparison, averages half the amount of assists with a usage rate of 18.4%. I'd like to mention though, that during Nelson's best season assisting (07-08), he only had a usage rate of 19.0%.

 

Thanks, man.

 

What's "usage rate" and how is it calculated (and by whom)?

 

Super easy. Why have a coach? Seems like we're paying double for that, when we have those two around!
Hopefully you don't bring up a statement from me from 4 years ago to counter this post.

 

From Hollinger:

 

Because it's not effective to put Roy and LMA in that position.

Your argument makes sense in a world where everything is considered equal and where all players have balanced and complimentary skill sets. But the reality is they don't. You put crap on a stick out there in the second unit and your first unit is going to run themselves ragged trying to regain what the second unit blew apart.

Here's even a better question - why the heck do you care if the team wins games?

I don't think anyone..Nate included (though I know it's hard for you to believe) anticipates Oden being on the bench the rest of his career or even the rest of this season. But there could be a multitude of reasons why he starts on the bench at the beginning of the year. Maybe the big guy's mindset is so fragile Nate doesn't want him breaking down again till he establishes success in something other than pre-season games? Maybe Nate wants to have Miller figure out the plays completely before bringing him up w/ Oden to the first unit? Maybe Nate has been told there is a consolidation trade in the works? Maybe maybe maybe...

First rule is to wait to see what actually happens before you blow your aorta. No, scratch that. First rule of fight club is don't talk about fight club. Same with the second rule. But the third rule I'm pretty certain is wait to see what actually happens.

 

I love Rudy - but I think that the above is pretty much on the money. Nelson is a pretty effective PG when all is said and done - and Rudy, to be fair, is just not. On the other hand - I have no doubt that a Miller/Rudy ball-handling/creating combo has the ability to be pretty close to the Nelson/Turk combo - I fully expect to see Rudy being used more to create this year - so a 2nd unit that has Miller/Rudy, 2 jump shooters and a big, burly center will probably be just fine.

 

I hope you are correct....but my gut reaction is that I would rather see Outlaw or Webster sent to the end of the bench, and put Howard on the floor. At the risk of sounding cold-blooded, I feel as if we have seen what Outlaw/Webster can do, and the focus needs to be on developing Rudy and Oden. If nothing else, Howard will actually try to defend people, and help keep Oden out of foul trouble.

 

HCP you know that starting lineup doesn't give us our most effective rotations!

Roy, Blake, Batum, LA and Pryz went 27-11 last year. Roy and LA should get any and all shots that they want, no reason to have Greg, Dre and Martell out there when they aren't getting shots.

Dre and Greg need to play together, period.

Dre is the best lob passer in the league and on a unit with Greg, Martell, and Rudy there are plenty of lobs to go around. I agree Miller should play 30 minutes but it should be coming off the bench.

Blake should be playing similar to Batum last year, get the start but play 15-20 minutes a night. Blake is the ultimate compliment to Roy and no doubt is more valuable in our offense than any other in the league. He just fits and allows Brandon to do what he does best.

Same with Greg, 30 minutes a night but be coming off the bench.

I absolutely believe Brandon and Dre can play well together but to be the most effective over 48 minutes, their minutes should be staggered as much as possible. When the offense isn't all about Brandon and LA, it should be Andre and Greg.

I love all of the idiots on here calling for Nate's head. All he has done is taken this franchise from the worst in the league and 21 wins to 54 in 3 years. Team's do not win in this league without role players and chemistry which can be much more valuable than talent. Let Nate bake his damn cake!!!!! If it doesn't work 20 games into the season then start bitching and tell me you told me so, in the mean time Go Blazers.

 

Do you envision Greg coming off the bench his entire career?

No?

Then why not have him start building some chemistry with the two other players we know for sure will be here a few years down the road? The entire roster could be different in a few short years, but one thing will (should) stay the same-- Roy, LMA and Oden.

 

While reassuring they could play 1.5 quarters together, I'd just assume see Oden on the floor to start. That's where he will ultimately be, and he's been outplaying Przybilla thus far.

 

Ultimately yes, but Miller is going to help Greg more this year than any other single player on our team will. And yes he will be on the floor with Brandon and LA as well but it doesn't need to be all at once.

 

Seems nobody on the team's crazy about him.

 

When I started reading this post I thought I would be the only one supporting Nate's decision. Glad to see we got a lot of well thought out responses also supporting.

HCP made a good point that this starting unit won 54 games last year and they did it with a pretty weak 2nd unit. How much better could they be with a strong 2nd unit?

Also several posters pointed out that starting doesn't mean they will be playing the majority of minutes, especially in the case of Blake and Pryzbilla. Miller and Oden will probably play the majority of minutes. Everyone will play the majority of their individual minutes with units that they feel comfortable with and can be most effective with.

I disagree with posters who think Roy needs to reinvent his game to mesh with Miller. Have the Lakers ever brought in a point guard and told Kobe he needs to change to mesh with him? Do you want to reduce Roy to an offball guard? I'm not sure he could even be effective at that, it's possible he can't get into a good scoring rhythm.

As far as Oden's confidence, I don't think it will be a problem. McMillan may actually feel there will be less pressure on him on the 2nd unit and he therefore may play with more looseness and confidence.

 

Yes, because clearly outplaying Przybilla in the preseason thus far only to still remain on the bench will increase his confidence ten fold.

 

[video=youtube;-9FXTZ5lyZA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9FXTZ5lyZA[/video]

 

I don't think it's so much reinvent himself to fit with Miller, although being flexible enough to play with anyone is always good. It's changing it up a bit to be able to play with Oden that is the biggest issue. If we are forced to play him off the bench, just so he can get touches...I dunno.

 

A.) If you are comparing Oden's abilities to generate more shots and score effeciently to Iverson and Randolf, you are high. Have you even seen Greg play this season?

B.) I hated Stat-Bo with every fiber of my being. Lazy ball hog pile of horse shit. It is insulting to Greg to even compare the two.

C.) No evidence, yet. If Portland is 20 games into the season and playing .500 ball with this starting line-up then I will. BTW, in last nights game Portland fell behind in the first quarter. Again. Came up short, too. I wonder if having more offensive threats on the floor would have helped?

D.) I would say that Oden has played better then Joel by a wide margin. During the games I watched, he did every single thing Joel did. Plus he could score and the other team had to guard him.

E.) If you believe that playing the last 3 quarters of every game from behind is a reciepe for success I have no way of convincing you otherwise. My take is that the best teams get ahead early then don't let the other team back in the game.

Also, I would direct you to Portlands road record versus West Coast playoff teams last season. IIRC, it was 2 and 11, with one win only coming because CP3 got hurt at the begining of the 3rd quarter. Not exactly an awesome winning percentage. Could it be possible that falling behind to start the game had some sort of role in this horrific win/loss record? I would say yes.

Since the only teams Portland will face in the playoffs are the best teams and scoring slows down in the playoffs, it stands to reason they don't want to establish a playing style that requires that Portland get behind before giving it their all.

If they continue to do so this season, expect another first round exit.

The bottom line to me is that Portland played well enough to beat bad teams by coming from behind. That strategy doesn't work for shit against a good team. If Portland wants to become a contender they are going to have to figure out how to get the jump on the opponent. If that requires Joel start, so be it. However, we have nearly 60 games of evidence that suggests last years starting lineup couldn't get it done.

To continue to do the exact same thing over and over again expecting radically different results is foolish/boarderline insane.