http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/12/portland_102_indiana_91_a_retu.html Look at these quotes. Subtext: life is easier without Greg in the offense: "They showed tonight they are our go-to guys. I don't like going back to last year, but that's how we won last year -- them putting us on their shoulders." - Joel Przybilla "Tonight, it kind of went back to last year. It was like we took turns. We used to always joke that I get it going in the first (quarter), then he gets it in the fourth." - LaMarcus Aldridge
And from Roy at NBA.com: "Me and him, we definitely are starting to get into our old rhythm that we had last year."
I'm probably the biggest Oden defender out there, but I honestly think Roy and LMA can with a championship together, without Oden. Of course we'd need all the other guys, and a healthy Oden probably translates into MORE titles.
Of course it's easier without Oden. They're used to playing without Oden. It's difficult to implement what was essentially a whole new offense without some bumps in the road. The Blazers were actually trying to use Oden as an offensive weapon. Roy and Aldridge have never played with a center who could be considered an offensive threat. They were used to Joel, who rarely scores, and almost never has a play run through him. The problem is, eventually Oden is going to have to be worked into the offense. Not this season, obviously, but hopefully next season.
The team may have had trouble working around Greg at times, but they were putting it together. The level of play with Greg after 40 games would be higher than the level of play without Greg after 40 games (even if everyone else was healthy).
So how exactly did we get our asses kicked in the first round last year? This team, even with everyone else back, is not going anywhere so long as Oden's injured. We may be perennially good but not championship material.
I won't deny the offense runs better right now without Oden, but honestly I think a lot of the blame has to fall on Brandon for being selfish, pouting, and not wanting to change. I love Brandon, but nobody is perfect. I think he could have tried much harder to play his game and make it work with Greg and Miller, but instead refused to change, wasn't nearly as aggressive to prove a point, and is now falling back to what he finds comfortable. Ultimately, this is Brandon's team though, and I most definitely want him as our leader, so if he really doesn't want to play with Oden as part of the offense, I'm at a loss as to what to do.
My opinion is that all talk of BRoy being selfish and unwilling to play with Oden should be put on hold until August 2010...
But don't you find it ironic that all the blame was going on Miller, and now that Oden is gone, Roy is playing fine?
That's all well and good for "now", but this team goes nowhere in the playoffs unless we become a more balanced offense with other consistently viable threats. Yes it might be "easy" to go back to last year, and with the injuries we don't have much other choice, buy if you are looking to the Future it will not pay long term dividends. And lets consider just how awful a team we barely beat last night.
Most of the blame goes to the coaching staff for not designing an offensive strategy that better incorporates Oden and selling that to the other players like Roy and LMA. Of course there is going to be an adjustment period but you don't improve without some struggles, keeping the ultimate goal of getting better and having a winning formula in the playoffs.
What scares me is that we may see both management and Roy struggling through early playoff exits for 3 or 4 years before it finally clicks that if they want any legitimate shot at a championship then Oden has to be involved. Its almost like when you see you kids go through something the hard way and you try to advise them that there is an easier way but in the end they have to go through it and learn the lesson for themselves. How many "superstars" and managements went through this pattern before they fianlly got it? Not all of them, but quite a few.
Those quotes are really scary, and sad. Brandon, LaMarcus and the coaching staff need to understand that this team will not be able to take the next step with this offense. Playing like last year will get our asses booted out of the playoffs early again.
Perhaps we can not get our asses handed to us by the Knicks and not have Indiana take us down to the last 3 minutes before we start sucking Brandon and LMA's popsicles for being able to go back to the offense that ensured Roy's "summer training" started early last year.
Congratulations Blazers, you beat the 6-13 Pacers without Danny Grainger. Without Oden we are getting killed on the offensive glass and settling for a ton of jumpers. But as long as our "Big 2" are happy then all is well I guess. "It's a good win for us," said Brandon Roy. How about beating some teams with winning records before dropping that quote?
Once again, what Eric sees as a huge positive I see as a huge red flag. Nate fucked up by not trying to integrate Greg into the offense from the start of training camp and also fucked up by not trying to find a way to put his five best players on the floor, namely his "big" free agent signing of the summer, instead he told Greg to play defense and rebound, and Miller to run the so-called "second unit." To me is this as much about lack of imagination and creativity on offense and inflexibility as it is about recapturing some old way of playing. Last night, that was a Baaaaaaaaaaaaaad Pacers team, minus it's only go to scorer and was no great defensive squad to begin with, and we were dead-locked with a few minutes to play. This emerging meme that Greg was the problem is fucking bullshit and I'm sick of hearing it.
I know, I feel really weird as we won the game but I just have this bad taste in my mouth about this team and how we play and who we play. I don't know if its me or others also feel that way. Just weird
