Oh man, MM, I'm so glad you aren't the GM. Do you really think that's the problem with the team? Lack of motivation? Because to me it seems like the team has lost its identity without Brandon Roy dominating, and different guys are trying hard to find a new role. Miller is succeeding, Aldridge is on again, off again. Batum and Johnson just don't seem to know how quite yet. Matthews is trying too hard. I really don't think bringing in a whole lot more instability is the solution here. We give up the second best player in that deal and don't get back the best player. That makes it a bad deal in my book. I have no idea why Philly would go for that. Iggy's stock has dropped, but I can't imagine it's so bad that they want to just give him away for old guys. If I were in their shoes and I wanted to unload him, I'd be going after picks and/or youngsters. I don't really know if I like or hate this deal. Just kinda "meh." So the plan to try to extend the life of Roy and Oden's gimpy knees is to run a lot more? Really? 11 games into the year and you are pretty sure the Matthews experiment is over? Man, I'm a pretty impatient person, but you have me beat by miles. He's taking 3 more shots a night in less minutes this year, his three point percent is way, way down, and his turnovers are way, way up. All that tells me is that the guy is pressing way too hard. The coach needs to sit him down and show him game film of last year and say, "This is what we paid you for. Just relax and do this again." I've got no problem with that. In fact, I'd go one better--I'd call up every member of the Phoenix staff and offer to double their salary to come here. As cheap as Phoenix is, there's no way they'd match.
A running team, with Brandon at the point, a very green head coach, and Jeff Green at PF wins in the playoffs?
Yes, they do. We know the current one doesn't. My team absolutely does. My team is also not necessarily built for this season either.
We disagree, and I respect your opinion. We need some changes because IMO this team is not going to win anything how it's built.
So I guess grabbing Mathews was a great move! Think if we only had bayless and Rudy at the 2? The real question is will Nate allow this team he has "now" to do what they need to do and get up and down the damn court in a hurry? If not and Nate slows this offense down to a Brandon pace this team will not sniff the playoffs. Speed and quick ball movement must happen now. In order to run a slow half court offense, ya need well run plays, Nate has shown he can't coach offense, Nate better adjust in a hurry cause Roy isn't going to be there to bail him out anymore! If I was Nate I'd hand the reigns over to Andre and let him Camby and LA start pushing tempo and utlizing Mathews and Batum off the wings.... We are still a very long team and can give other teams fits. This is also a time where Batum, LA, Mathews and Rudy can really make a name for themselves. For the Love of GOD someone needs to tell GREG that he's the FACE of the franchise now and get his head back into the game!!!!! STEP UP #1 draft pick!
Although Nate has never, ever run a fast-paced team, there's at least a chance it could finally happen. In the past, whether in Portland or Seattle, the slow pace was largely a product of the PG limiting turnovers or facing the quick hook by Nate. Andre Miller doesn't really have to worry about that now. He's now by far the best guard on the team. There's no way Nate sits him down for an errant pass or two, or forcing too much on the break. If Andre Miller decides this is going to be a running team, it'll be a running team. The interesting question will be if that's where Andre wants to take it. Miller is having one of the best statistical seasons of his career while playing ultra slow, and he may feel he's too old to really be out there running for 35 minutes a night.
I was thinking more of letting Andre just throwing the ball up and let our big slam it the hell down, like only Andre can. If our 2,3,4 and 5 starting attacking the glass and looking for the ball trust me a slow non jumping andre can still find them! He's made a career of it!
I suspect he will make more money as a GM in 2 years in Portland than he would as an assistant GM in OKC in 5 years... So, maybe not so much...
That's true, but he also wants to keep his job as a GM, and if he fails at keeping us competitive, he won't keep that job very long.
In all the years I've watched the Blazers, I can't remember a stretch where we made so many lob attempts. It's really becoming a fixture in our offense, which is awesome. Just imagine what it's going to be like if Oden can get healthy. If you front him, it opens the lob or the offensive board. If you stay behind him, he can back you down. If you sandwich him, it opens the lob for Aldridge or Batum.
After thinking it over, this is what I would do were I Cho: First, I would set out to define what exactly it is I want to get. Namely, winners. Coaches and players that have had recent success in the playoffs. Especially guys whose stats went up during the post season. That means that the pool of teams/players I would be interested in is fairly small. They include current or former Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, Mavs, Magic, Cavs, Suns and Nuggets players. Further, I would try and keep the following guys due to production versus pay: Batum, Rudy, AJ, Donte and LMA (big men make stupid money for being half as good). Camby I keep because he has playoff experience the team needs. So, my trade bait is Miller, Mathews, Joel, Oden and the bench warmers. I don’t bother trying to trade Roy because his situation makes that nearly impossible. Keeping that in mind I would do the following: Try and steal away an assistant from either the Spurs or Magic. These are two teams who have had a lot of success in smaller markets. They also tend to emphasize defense which is what you need when winning time comes around. Then I would target the following players: Tony Parker – I realize he just signed an extension but this would be my home run. He is still playing at a high level at a position Portland is weak at. He has won at the highest level, gaining an MVP of the finals a few years back. (Consolation Prize) Mo Williams – Not as good at anything as Parker but would suit Portland pretty well regardless. He does have experience in the playoffs and has played well there. Arron Afflolo – This kid just needs minutes to be an impact player. Excellent shooter, good defender and the least knuckleheaded guy on the Denver squad. Jerrad Dudley – Does whatever needs to be done to win. Excellent shooter, good defender. Love this guy. Side Show Varajao – Hard hat guy who has played big when it counts. Anthony Parker – Another hard hat guy who just gets it done. Marcin Gortat – I wanted Portland to try and get this dude when he was a free agent two years ago. I still want them to get him. Mickael Pietrus – Good defender, good shooter, just add minutes and stir. If I got everything I wanted most I would have a lineup of: Parker/AJ/Anthony Parker Afflalo/Pietrus/Anthony Parker Batum/Pietrus/Dudley LMA/Varajao/Dudley/Donte Gortat/Varajao/Camby The focal point of the offense would be Parker, Batum and LMA with Afflalo and Gortat doing the dirty work on the starting unit. Off the bench Pietrus would be there to light shit up, Dudley to hit threes and rebound, Varajao to just be himself (a pesky dick). Other guys are insurance spot minute guys who have shown they can produce in a limited role. So, there is what I would do.
With that lineup, I think we see a lot of 80-79 type of games. I don't see how Dudley or A. Parker would get really any minutes.
