Seriously, Is It Time For Roy To Go?

I like Brandon Roy. As a person, as a player, as a leader. Make no mistake about it. But this season I'm watching him a lot closer and his defense has been poor, at best. He still wants the game on his shoulders and can no longer handle it as other teams just lie in wait for him. He has become a plodding and ineffective player. Not that he doesn't have good skills in some areas- he does. But he still refuses to run on a team built to push the ball and does not involve or make other players around him better.

Then I see Matthews play. To be sure, Matthews does not have the pure skill set Roy has, but his hustle, running ability, in-your-face defense and fearlessness is contagious when he's on the floor. To me, he is the epitome of the player Nate wants. I'm not even going to go so far to suggest he become the starting SG- only that he is the type of player this team needs.

Roy, despite his contract, still maintains tremendous trade value. I'm wondering if maybe we shouldn't make a trade for another quality SG or PG more in the mode of what Nate wants. To be sure, off the top of my head I don't have a trade to recommend, but just wanted to see if anyone else questions if Roy is really good for the team and its future success.

 

Matthews reminds me freakin Jarrett Jack. ugh. And the dude even guns it far more than JJ ever did.

 

Matthews reminds me of a better defensive Travis Outlaw. Total gunner that takes his team out of the offense. However poor that offense might be

 

It breaks my heart to say it, but we may have seen the best of Brandon Roy. I love the guy, but his game seems to be slowing down. He picks his moments even more than he did last year, and he doesn't have a great deal of explosiveness. I keep hoping this is some kind of bad dream, and Roy is suddenly going to become the player we have seen in the past.

 

He went (patented) left a number of times last night.....many of them highly contested, if not snuffed entirely. I couldn't help but cringe a little bit.

 

I said it a couple of times in the game thread when people were aghast at Brandon's play. I don't have any proof, but it looks a little bit like his knee injuries have finally had a cumulative effect on his quickness and explosiveness. I hope to god that's not the case, but it will be something worth paying attention to as the season progresses.

 

Seriously?



No.

 

Go back and look at the way Brandon started last season guys. It was the same thing. His game didn't round into form until December. I remember watching him get his shot blocked, turning the ball over . . . he looked like he got old overnight. Then Oden went down 12/5 and the Brandon we know/love emerged. Just be patient.

I'm more concerned about getting blasted on the boards again. 47-38 by Okl. City. Camby did his job with 12 rips, but our second leading rebounder was 'Dre with 6. Of our starting 5, the guy with the least rebounds was LA (with 4). And he played 46 minutes. We really need Pryz/Oden.

 

I was at the game, scored some great seats. Very exciting and fun first half. The second was a stark contrast, and will be a great comparison for game film. Good to learn these lessons now oppose to later. I have no doubt The Natural will find his way in a desperately needed motion offense. However, on average game I believe he can score on KD at will. Just didn't fall last night.

 

Again . . . go back and look how he started last season. It was more than statistics. It was more than a new PG. He looked awful in November.

 

Do you suppose OKC fans were having the same discussion after Durant went 6-23 in LA the night before? What about Laker fans when Kobe was filling the Staples Center with bricks in the Finals? Overreact much?

 

I know Roy has been a slow starter at times, but without film to go back and look at I'm relying more on my memory of Brandon and the way he moved more than the results in the boxscore. He just looks like he's having trouble elevating, finishing and creating separation. And all I said is that it's worth paying attention to.

 

He seems like he has no explosion.

sigh...

 

I agree- something's wrong. I spoke with a couple of co-workers who went to the game and have no knowledge of basketball and both stated he seemed injured to them- or very ill. There was also an article last season suggesting Roy will require microfracture surgery within a couple of years. Maybe this is the time to seek a trade.

 

To be sure, all good points. But we're not talking about a bad game. We're talking about a player that is no longer bringing it and seems like a square peg in a round hole with respect to what Nate needs. There's a difference.

 

Nope, anybody can have a bad shooting night. I think the concern here is that Roy might have permanently lost a half step. I think it's a little early to make that determination, but it is something that bears watching.

 

It's too early to tell if this is what is happening.

 

Oh brother...

19 points/5 reb/ 5 assists on a night when his shot isn't falling. I could swear that I spent the entire summer reading how Roy needs to play off of the ball.

Well, he is doing that this year, which seemed to be what many people wanted, and now some of those same people are bitching about the result.