I am pretty happy so far with the team. We have lost a couple and we have won a bunch. There is alot of negativity on here but the team really has not been bad. I like the coach and all the players it seems we could benefit from a mid season trade after everything is evaluated.
I wouldn't say I'm unhappy, but I'm definitely not happy either. I see a couple of emerging trends that stretch all the way back to training camp that have me more than a little worried about how they're going to play this year. - There seems to be a real tug-of-war going on between Roy and a couple of players (Oden and Miller) and I haven't seen him adapting all that well to the new look Blazers - LaMarcus is severly underperforming his new contract and we need him to start playing up to his potential if this team is going to take another step forward. - Nate seems pretty inflexible with his in-game adjustments -- he's always kind of been a "sleep on it" kind of coach and that's laudable, but I'm not so sure he realizes how much of a blind spot he seems to have when it comes to style of play and Steve Blake. - KP hasn't done much to inspire faith that he's got a long term vision for what this team will look like. He's still got time, but I'm starting to worry he's got a little John Paxson syndrome. Clearly nothing is insurmountable at this point, but looking out over the next month or so sure seems to have a lot of obstacles, and right now the biggest of them seems to be team chemistry -- that aint good.
Team management doesn't think in season trades are good for team chemistry. They had RLEC (a valuable entity) and they didn't do anything with it last year. Don't bet on a mid season trade this year.
But, in all seriousness, who can argue? Look how long it's taking for Roy to embrace and play with Miller.
I'm not worried. It's still the beginning of the season. There are things I may become concerned with in the future, but I'm fine for now.
That seems to be more of a Brandon problem than a management problem (unless KP completely misjudged the ability of his all-star shooting guard to play with a real point guard?).
But what I'm sayin is Kp has been reluctant to make moves during the season due to chemistry reasons. Due you think Roy has helped his thoughts on this matter with how he has handled the Miller transaction?
I know what you mean: there has been a disproportionate amount of negativity given our record. Mixumitis seems to be catching. My symptoms: * I can't really enjoy the way the team plays. It seems slow and ugly and I want me more Oden. * Roy is annoying me. He's still playing SO SLOWLY, but unlike last year, he doesn't seem able to just take over and get a layup any time he wants. * Why do we get outscored in the paint EVERY SINGLE GAME? * Laker envy: whenever they're getting kicked around it seems like PJ will give some scrub extended minutes and it always pays off (this dates back to the deciding game of the '91 finals, and of course, the deciding game of the 2000 Western finals). Meanwhile Nate grinds it out with the regulars and even Rudy struggles to get in a game.
Not really. Chemistry isn't as strong as it used to be. Players are unsure of their roles. KP refuses to let go of his man-crush on Blake/Outlaw. We definitely do not look improved from last years squad. Steve Blake starts. There are issues I see with this team that will prevent this team from going far in the playoffs. Another one-and-done appearance unless KP gets proactive about improving this roster/balance instead of waiting for draft night to make his deals.
I'm unhappy with certain dynamics on the team. They are dynamics that have been pretty much constant for the last couple years. Until those dynamics change I can't fully be happy with the team. Mainly because as a fan, I'm for looking for growth and until those change, I don't see much growth in the future.
Still looking for this team to define itself. I think the relatively easy schedule (in terms of competition, not in terms of # of games) has made the Blazers look like a better defensive team than it is, and has masked its lack of rhythm on offense. When a team like the Grizzlies shows up, and the Blazers have to start making plays, there are execution problems (as Brandon Roy pointed out in his post-game comments last night), and there are defensive intensity questions (as Nate pointed out). With young teams, often one can lead to the other. I'm still hoping that'll happen - and please happen before the Rockets' game next Saturday (when I have tickets!).
Perhaps if they were actually allowed to start together in the backcourt, at their natural SG and PG positions, the adjustment period would accelerate. Pretty hard for them to get used to each other when the only time they've started together one of them was forced to play out of position at small forward. BNM
Who knows? And that may be part of the problem. Nate is the coach, not Brandon. If Nate doesn't have the balls to stand up to Brandon and make the decisions on who plays and when, he no longer deserves to coach this team. BNM
Couldn't agree more. It's about managing the agendas, egos and personalities on the team. But you're right, Nate needs to make a decision on the matter and stick with it. If Roy has issues than Nate needs to exercise his power as head coach and manage the problem. I don't see where he has done this which is why the whole Andre/Brandon thing is still an issue today.
Then again, if the chemistry is judged to be bad at midseason, KP may be more willing to make a trade. barfo
The offseason was unsettling. It almost seemed as "nothing" went right. Of course, it could have been worse, but I was hoping for so, so much more. I wanted a consolidation trade. Thought is was LONG overdue. Didn't get my wish. I wanted more than just Dre' with our cap space. Golden ticket my ass. I don't like (and haven't liked) our roster as currently contructed. It is a work in progress, and this summer was like adding a cover over the patio, and doing some framing work on a Pool House. You know, nice, but a marginal improvement. I have always felt the "bake it" mantra was horseshit. I didn't want Roy and Aldridge to be extended at Full Price after dickering with them. Either pay them top dollar right away, or take a sensible, but firm stance that you will pay mid-market and no more and stick to it. Dickering and then caving in the end, which is what the Blazers did is STUPID. The pre-season was crap, and it just kept building. Guys getting hurt. Dre didn't fit in. Roy has been an ASS. McMillan suddenly looks clueless and confused. And so, before the season started I have been in full fret mode. This team doesn't feel like a winner. I really wanted to get out of the gate this season strong. The schedule is SUPER SOFT early, with some brutal stretches later in the season. We needed to build a BIG lead in the conference so we could drop games later and still be in the top 4. So far, the season has confirmed some of my fears. Sure, we are winning against this soft schedule. That is indeed better than losing against a soft schedule, which would have Nate on the chopping block right now. The team has way too much talent to lose a bunch of games. But, the team doesn't look good. We get some moments. We get some good individual performances. We don't have a lot of consistency. We don't have a lot of excellent 5 man basketball. Until we get that - or until Roy starts playing like a top 5 player again (which he currently is not) - good teams will feast on our mediocrity. Winning games is not the same thing as being a contending team. This Blazer team is not a good team. It is a team with a lot of talent. Until this talent comes together as a team, a good TEAM like the Rockets last season will thump us in a playoff series.
Maybe. But what if "chemistry" isn't the real issue? What if the bigger issue is that you just don't have the stomach to trade away young talent? Who knows, maybe there is a "Gasol" trade out there to be had but that is pretty unreliable. You have to give to get, which of course might mean parting with a guy who you see in 3 years potentially being very good. That is why that RLEC was so valuable. It was the one time you could pry a good player w/o having to lose much in return, and that didn't happen. So why would this year be any different?
