I've thought this myself. Hate to say it, but our guys play a little harder without Roy on the court. It's going to be an interesting series, and I think we've got a good chance if we can win one of the first two games at Phoenix.
I started a thread and made the very point. To be sure, we lose something without Roy, but we also gain as well.
Just with the eyeball test I do think the ball moves better and defensively we're a better team with Martell and Nic manning the wings, but we still don't have a 'closer' with Brandon out; without a guy who can generate a high percentage shot on his own, at the end of the clock, in a close game, it's going to be very difficult to make up for that loss (despite the modest advantages a Royless team presents).
I agree and disagree. During the game Roy closes well at the rim. But in the last few minutes he consistently drives into triple teams and easily has the ball taken from him Teams plan for that. If you recall, it cost us two wins in the playoffs last year. I'm sort of glad it won't haunt us this year as well.
I don't think you get what I'm saying. The Suns are going to double and triple team Miller and Lamarcus the same way and dare us to beat them with somebody else ... neither of those guys is exactly a sure fire bet to get a good look at the basket in such a situation -- Miller moreso than LMA, but with that dodgy outside shot of his it's going to be tough.
Here is the thing we all tend to miss in this discussion. Brandon Roy has demonstrated that he can deal with being the guy when we need a bucket, and this is time and time again. Now we might play better team ball without him, this is true. The Taliban fighters are also better at fighting with small arms when they don't have artillery, drones, and airplanes. I am sorry but Brandon Roy is our heavy support, the guy can straight up destroy teams. He has the ability to get a high percentage shot at will, he understands how to deal with double and triple teams better than any of our other offensive options, and he has demonstrated the ability to play lock down D at key moments. In other words Bradon Roy rises to the top at high pressure/emotional moments unlike almost any Blazer in team history. He is easily top 5 in Blazer history in terms of making the big bucket. I know we all want to win, and I know we can all try to talk ourselves into the notion that we are "better" without Roy in some fashion, but at the end of the day we are simply not better without Roy. If we win this series it won't be about the absence of Brandon, it will be about the presence of Nate, Miller, Camby, and whoever else steps up and rises above their normal level of play. That right there is the "key" to the series, who can take on the role of Roy and raise their game to another level when needed. The ability of an NBA player to raise his game to a higher level when needed is the recipe for success. When I think about playoff success in the history of the Blazers I don't always think about the stars, because it was more often than not the guys that surprised me that made the biggest difference.
Post all the fucking links and give all the weak ass opinions you want, BUT............................. THE BLAZERS ARE NOT AS GOOD OF A TEAM WITHOUT BRANDON ROY.................... PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!!!!!! Twist and turn it however you'd like!
"THE BLAZERS ARE NOT A GOOD OF A TEAM WITHOUT BRANDON ROY" Spainglish? Or were you multi-tasking again: Watching adult pay per view while trying to post on S2?
Given that this is a series, the guys might respond differently than they did during the regular season against different teams from game-to-game. This one's gonna be about coaching and respective matchups. It generally is, though.
Man, I hope I am wrong, but losing your superstar heading into the playoffs is tough to overcome. In a one game scenario, anything can happen. But in a 7 game series, almost always, the team with more talent wins. I love our guys and what they have overcome this year, but this is a tough task! I just want you guys to have a realistic view of the series, that's all. I don't want to come on here and hear people bitching about Nate and how he is the reason we lost, etc., etc., etc...............
This! Really though, the team averages more points with Roy, it has a losing record without Roy. Only in the mind of a Blazer fan is having an All-Star who can finish games a negative.
Ya which take is more silly? The team is better without Brandon or asking people on this board to be rational.
Clearly this team is better off without Roy, this board has convinced me of that, so if they lose, it obviously will be Nate's fault. Stats don't matter, records don't matter, so losing the one player who can consistently get his own shot outside the paint and inside the paint is a good thing!
The team definitely wins with the all-star approach: Roy I may be the only one who thinks this, but I also think the team is good enough to win this series - team approach - with the balance of players KP has assembled. We shall see, though.
I agree that the ball movement is better, but any team has better ball movement without their offensive focal point. Kobe, Lebron, Durrant. When they're out, other players play better to compensate. Whether it's because they know someone needs to step up, or if they are just getting more touches, other players play better. So it may seem like the team is better, but really, their improvement doesn't always fully make up for the the loss of the great player.
I can appreciate that sentiment. That said, does it appear that Roy has struggled a lot more getting his shot off this season? I'm thinking it's a combination of other teams throwing doubles at him coupled with his hamstring issues. Also, I'd venture to guess that his percentage of j's has gone way up this season compared to last.
