Funny how when we meet Nate's strict "ball-loss-prevention" standards, it fails to equate to a win. Obsessive care to prevent turnovers requires almost constant hesitation of action, and eliminates any advantage you may have had numbers-wise. It's a fools folly.
So if Greg hits two free throws to put us up one with less than five seconds and Denver misses the final shot, is the ball protection strategy still a bad one? Because in that realistic scenario, we win the game playing the same style. We lost by three playing 5 on 8. Stop looking for reasons to hate on Nate.
No, folly is believing the two games were at the same level. Last nights game was a playoff intensity, physical, slow down game. The game against Houston was a walk in the park compared to it. Both teams last night knew a lot was on the line later this season, and played like it. The difference was, Denver having gone to the Western Conference Finals, had composure to get the win. That is the confidence I hope the Blazers get this year by breaking out of the first round. Denver has it. We want it.
seriously??? we are going to blame that loss on the refs now? stop, just stop with that bs. we missed free throws and didn't exectue down the stretch. the stripes had nothing to do with it (in fact nene's 6th wasn't even a foul)
I don't see why McMillan can't experiment with the fast break in the first 3 quarters against the worst teams like Sacramento. If it puts us way behind, he can revert to the usual in the 4th quarter, ball control with Roy controlling. I think the reason is that McMillan just doesn't have a clue about how to loosen up and uptempo it. He never coached that way in Seattle, and never played that way, which is why he averaged close to zero points per game while doing everything else well. So the reason is, he's just not capable of speeding it up. I noticed last season that when Boston and Cleveland wanted to turn on the fast break on us, we didn't know how to watch for the long outlet pass, or how to get down there in an organized fashion. When you don't practice that way on offense, you also don't practice that way on defense. That's because in scrimmages, for half the team to practice defending it, the other half must be playing it on offense. So even if McMillan doesn't want it on offense, he needs to put such an offense into scrimmages so that half the team can get practice in defending it. But like I say, I don't think he can.
Were you watching the same game I was? Both Carmelo and Chauncey got every benefit when they got sent to the line. I can think of, off the top of my head, at least half a dozen times where they were bailed out with a whistle. Not to mention both Joel and Greg were in early foul trouble because of the touch fouls. B-Roy, on the other hand, was mauled in the first half and got no justice. I will admit he got calls in the second half.
I figured our game plan last night would be to run them out of the gym knowing they got in at 4:30 in the morning. I'm not a Nate basher but some of his decisions lately have me questioning him 1. not double teaming Carmello 2. not having the team run last night on a team that was exhausted. 3. not starting the best PG
If I had to actually point to one thing that caused us to lose...it was definitely defensive rebounding down the stretch, no question about it.
Realistic? Just the opposite, since we know for a fact it didn't happen. We lost. Stop looking for excuses.
did u see the game where we missed 5 ft's down the stretch, couldn't stop melo (i don't know, maybe run a double team at him), couldn't get that big defensive rebound and got a phantom 6th foul on nene? stop with the 5 on 8 bullshit.
It can be. However, if a team is running the triangle offense, that also is a system that minimizes turnovers. That said, I prefer an up tempo game with the depth we have and not worry about turnovers.
