Probably true, but it's also pretty clear that it wouldn't hurt if he had guys at the wings who could, you know...actually make a shot. It's Cho's call, not Brandon's, as to what needs to be done to improve the team. I don't see any way that he'll be able to move Brandon. I suspect eventually Brandon's going to be asked to accept a 6th man role, but that still presupposes getting somebody to fire up the first unit. Getting a better PG is still in the best interests of the team.
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/12/memphis_86_portland_73_blazers.html There you go. There is also a quality scrappiness use in there by Nate.
Its seems more and more clear that something is going to have to be done -- and soon. If not its only going to get worse before it gets better. I honestly dont know it if that is making changes with Roy, Wes, Batum, rotation, minutes, types of players on the roster, style or getting rid of Nate. But SOMETHING needs to be done. Its not going to "right" itself on its own at this point. So the longer they let this go on the harder its going be. I dont know if its the right answer but since Nate doesnt seem to be willing to makes changes he has control over then it may be easiest to get rid of Nate. Then you can go from there.
There's more to being able to "hit a shot" than just being an innately good shooter, you need penetration or some kind of inside presence to collapse a defense to get your shooters more room to shoot ... either that or set really good screens and move off the ball constantly. There is more going on here than a simple lack of shooters.
He has the title. Whether he gets directions from "the Vulcans" or not, he's the one who's going to be making the announcement and taking the credit or blame for what ensues.
Well obviously that's true. The Blazers' offense is a stagnant mess at times. I'm not saying that changes there aren't necessary, but still at some point the players on the perimeter have to be able to make an open shot. For whatever list of reasons we can throw up (and their offense does make me want to regurgitate at times), the Blazers have been firing bricks more often than not.
I don't know why some of you are so surprised by this. Roy hasn't changed. It's just adversity bringing the immaturity that's always been there to the surface. It's little different from the finger pointing at Randolph in Roy's rookie year, or Miller as a newcomer last year, both when Roy was healthy. He's always gotten a free pass as a "good character guy" and all-star talent, but he's never been the leader most people have made him out to be. Like I've said numerous times, he's just a talker. That's all he's doing here, just talking. He means well, but he has a lot of maturing to do.
He's got a little of LeBron and Kobe in him. The entitled attitude of a superstar who makes obscene amounts of cash and has always been catered to at every level because he was the best of the best. Which nobody really cared about when the team was winning. Just like nobody really cared (or continues to care) about when the Lakers win or the Cavs were winning. In fact, that entitled attitude is probably part of the reason he's so successful. Imagine if Batum or Webster had a little of that strut. It's only when adversity comes along that the negative side gets really exposed. It only gets really obnoxious when he can't produce like a superstar on the court.
Yes and no. You know as well as I do, that there are some players who are so cold blooded they can hit a 3 while stepping into it. They will come up the court, and not pass once and put one right between the eyes. Now I do agree with a lot of what you are saying. Portland has one player who can set decent screens, and he hasn't even been on the team most of the year. Joel. A year ago we also had Juwan Howard, who was definitely capable of setting a bone rockin screen. Pendergraph could also set screens. Now we can't do that. Most of the players are so thin that they couldn't set a screen if they wanted to, and those that could set screens, and some players are big enough but never set a good screen (Aldridge). As for an inside presence, we sure could use one, but we don't have one, and won't have one until we either draft one or Cho lucks out on a trade.
The problem is even when Roy WAS healthy and had his buddies Blake and Outlaw, the team performed better yes, but that team still wasn't good enough to advance in the playoffs.....a fact that seems to be lost on Roy and Nate..... and I think Roy needs to look in the mirror, a major part of the regression of this team lies at HIS feet....namely he has not been nearly the same player he has been in previous years...and all the shooters and ISo-offense plays in the world are not going to change\mask that fact.... I agree Start Miller, Matthews, Batum, Aldridge & Camby for the forseeable future.... Bring Roy off the bench with Mills & Rudy, bring back Babbitt at least then you have the three best "alleged" shooters surrounding him....it is not a recipe for success (and a defensive nightmare IMO) but until Cho steps up and does what must be done (ie trading Przybilla, Camby, Rudy, possibly Miller...beginning that rebuilding process) it seems to me the best way to have a chance at success going forward..... Honestly...outside of Matthews & Batum (and Oden to see if\what he looks like coming back).....There is no one on this team worth holding onto going forward IMO....
It's tough to confront a new reality. We're having trouble coming to terms that this team may not be what we had all hoped. Imagine if instead of a sports team you happen to care about, it was you facing your own new limitations in the face. I'm cutting Brandon some slack.
