WARNING TO HOMERS... dont read...Dwight Jaynes article... I don’t think this win is anything to get too fired up about. Sorry, don’t mean to be a downer, but Portland didn’t play very well — it’s just that the Sonics/Thunder played worse. And Kevin Durant? Look, I give Martell Webster all the credit in the world for hustling around and doing his best. Webster’s effort level this season has been among the best on the team. But Durant was awful. He missed a ton of shots he’s usually going to make. He was just out of kilter. I loved the way Portland came out of the chute in this game. They ran halfcourt motion and moved the ball. They moved bodies. Heck, the Blazers even once scored when Steve Blake made a backdoor cut and got the ball for a layup — the first such thing I can remember this season. Wow — actually a basket out of an offensive set, rather than from someone going one-on-one! Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there. Oh well — a lot of coaches do that. When you have a long bench full of guys who need to play, such things happen. It was a win and in the NBA you shouldn’t complain about wins. But as I said earlier this young season, don’t always confuse poor shooting by an opponent with good defense. Some nights, they just miss shots. I was shocked, actually, at how poorly the Thunder played. Its funny i said basically the same thing long befor ethis was written but called a "F!#@king laker troll."
No, the Blazers are 2-1 vs. 3 non-playoff teams. The Blazers are 0-1 v playoff teams. I'll admit that the Blazers should have won the game against Denver . . . if they hit thier free throws at the end they would have. Lucky it is early in the season and no reason to give up this early.
This was my favorite. Greg Oden was getting the ball early, feeling a part of things and it all looked great. But coach Nate McMillan, apparently following a predetermined substitution plan, lifted Oden and Blake at the six-minute mark and it kind of went south from there.
AHAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 4 games in and you think 41-41 looks closer every day? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! There's something "scary" in here, but it's not their 2 and 2 start
yah... nates a also an issue i mean we were playing so well in the first qtr... and nate makes changes. thats why nate drives ya nuts. with that said... i think if la plays... we win by 15 at least
Which part is your favorite? That Nate started Blake or that he took him out automatically at the 6 min mark. I thought you would be all for pulling Blake out of the game no matter how he is playing to get Miller his minutes.
He is a not a troll at all. I, and other people in here, actually agree with a lot of his points. Cause he is emotional about his opinions he's a troll? Gimme a break.
I'm getting tired of the whole "this guy just doesn't fit our team" bullshit. Nate McMillan is the coach and he's killing the potential of our players. Look what Frye is doing now. Look what Von Wafer was doing the Rockets last season. This is a coach who wants to play how he wants to play and doesn't mold his coaching around the skills of his players. Greg Oden is being wasted away, as is Rudy Fernandez and Andre Miller. We can talk about roster change all day, but this coach is never going to be able to full utilize the talents of his players.
It seems obvious to me that MM believes that Oden should have stayed in since he was playing well. What he quotes gives some evidence that supports that belief. Ed O.
Nikolokolus... whats are record? simmoms said 500. thats what we have averaged through 10 games including pre season. you might not be laughing in april. do you really think this blazer team is winning 54? no chance after what ive seen so far. infact playoffs seem like a challenge. suns are better which means 1 0f the 8 teams could be out that made it last year. whos that gonna be ace?
AmirIcon is 100% correct. guys who leave us do well cause they are forced to play a different game when they play for portland. the best coaches in any sport adjust to their players imo... put them in situations to succeed. nate does the exact opposite. you cant make a player something hes not. never works. look at bayless... hes not a pg. hes an undersized sg. in the nfl this drives me nuts tooo... its like dont draft a safety who has played ss his whole career and then ask him to be a linrbacker. IT NEVER WORKS
That is because you are so much smarter than me. MM has strong feelings about Blake and Oden, so when seeing a quote about both from MM, my simple mind got confused. Thanks for clarifying.
and btw... that Joe Freeman article about the blazers feeling good about their defense was a joke. the blazers are feeling good???? LMAO... they should be feeling lucky. lucky the thunder didnt come to play and shot like shit. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/portland_83_oklahoma_city_74_t.html that relief they felt was all the clanks from Durant
Blake was playing well. No need to take out either of them. I don't think Blakey should start, but when he has good games, then ride him. It's simple basketball really.
looks like espn agrees with what i said about roy. wheres nik? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2010&week=1
I promise it isn't that simple. You may simpfy it in your mind, but to many others, they will factor things like fouls, what quarter they are in, who is on the bench, who is coming in, who plays well with who, did they play last night, do they tend to commit fouls when getting tired . . . so many more factors that I'm glad most coaches don't sit there and simply say . . . "he is playing well, I'll leave him out there until he doesn't because it's that simple. I will say your coaching philosophy is simple and it would be easy to coach . . . but I think it would be bad coaching.
Most coaches have no problem letting a player get some extra run when they have things going. There is a big difference between making basketball simple, and having the team run simple plays.
