Why can't these guys shoot anymore?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Kaydow, Mar 12, 2011.

  1. Kaydow

    Kaydow Well-Known Member

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    24th out of 30 in the NBA FG%. Another bad effort against the Hawks tonight offensively - 35% from the floor. Andre 0-8, Rudy 1-6 on 3s, Nic 2-8, Wallace 1-5? Nic and Rudy have basically been in a year-long slump. I don't understand. The same looks that these guys knocked down the last 2 years now clank more nights than not. Even Wallace is shooting 39% as a Blazer. And is Rudy ever going to return to form? 37% FG for the year? That's worse than bad. Clearly, he's not the same guy who broke the rookie record for 3s in a season and shot 40% beyond the arc. LA can't get 35 every night! These guys have to start making shots. What is it? The offense, the personnel isn't that much different now (with everybody healthy) than it was in '09 when they were 8th in the league in FG%. And that was PRE "Post Presence" LA. You'd think that would help, no?
     
  2. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Up, Down, Up Down, Up, Down that's the life of a Blazer fan.

    The shooting has been pretty atrocious this year to years past but so has the offense a lot of the time. I would venture to guess the two are directly correlated. It seems the flow has been really on and off this year. I'm not gonna make excuses as too why that is but I do believe they'll get it together with the stretch of tough games coming up. This team always strives under adversity. .v
     
  3. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    I think long range shooting will be the 2nd highest priority of this offseason, after a backup PF that can rebound. If we had a distance shooter with any reliability, we'd have another 5-7 wins this season.
     
  4. Kaydow

    Kaydow Well-Known Member

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    Exactly. I guess you have to chalk Rudy's Rookie season up as a fluke. Remember when he was consistent? I think he still holds the rookie record for most consecutive games with at least one 3 ball? And Nic has been up and down too. You can live with one or two inconsistent shooters. But when ALL of your "shooters" (Rudy/Wesley/Nic/Patty) are so up/down, it's tough. Question is what "consistent" shooter will we be able to grab this offseason, assuming there isn't a lockout? I love Andre Miller, but his lack of shooting range is really exposed when the guys he's playing with can't hit the broad side of a barn. It's just ugly some nights.
     
  5. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    You guys are right on there but I'd say we've been taking way to many three's in the first place. I think if you execute the short game first the long range will come, we fail to get in a rythm and then rely on the three. We need to create some good shots, attack the basket, and get in a groove before we start bombing away.
     
  6. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    Wallace is playing backup PF and he's rebounding. I think that position is filled unless we trade Batum.
     
  7. handiman

    handiman Well-Known Member

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    I blame the three goggles. No one should be drawing attention to their shooting when it's amongst the worst in the league.
     
  8. bodyman5001

    bodyman5001 Genius

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    It is the beer goggles they use before the games, but anyone who has been a blazer fan for long knew they would lose at least one of the last two.
     
  9. BlayZa

    BlayZa Misbehaving responsibly

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    take. it. to. the. rim. ffs.
     
  10. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    When a player comes here, he must radically change his game.

    McMillan's slowdown game limits shots. Players of other teams can get their momentum going with the quantity of shots, but ours must be so selective that they shoot perfectly from the getgo.

    His system swings it from inside to outside. That further decreases our shooting percentage.

    It was really, really stupid to extend him. You ask who can we get who is better? Any experienced NBA coach.
     
  11. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    All of our wings sans Andre Miller and Brandon Roy are limited ballhandlers who have trouble driving into anything other than an open lane. Wallace can get to the rim, but he seems to airball a lot of layups. I dunno.

    Everyone just looks completely confused on offense. It's hard to describe. They know what to do out of timeouts, but after a few possessions it's just random players taking random shots. It's probably counterproductive in the long run, but maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to go back to the offense where Aldridge was option 1, 2 and 3 for awhile.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2011
  12. mgb

    mgb Over-Nite Sensation

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    I agree and we need to play better D since that'll give us easier baskets. We haven't had the intensity in the last two games as we did in the first two.
     
  13. craigehlo

    craigehlo Elite Wing

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    They had a lot of opportunities to score off of forced turnovers last night and looked awful in transition. I don't necessarily think defense is the only answer. We need more scoring off of picks and screens IMHO. There's too much passing around the perimeter for the 3 ball these days.
     
  14. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

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    Scoring on fast breaks are usually layups which are very high percentage. So if a team has few fast breaks that will negatively affect shooting percentage. I just read that we are last in the league in fast breaks even though we are near the top in forcing turnovers, wow! I can't believe that our personnel is so incapable of this, so it seems it has to be a coaching issue.
     
  15. MIXUM

    MIXUM Suspended

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    u just noticed they cant shoot now??????????
     
  16. TripTango

    TripTango Quick First Step

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    This is what really stood out to me last night; guys were missing point blank put-backs, fastbreaks with paths to the hoop, and open jumpers that should be money every time. I agree that there are some flaws in the overall gameplan that need addressing, but some of those misses were just inexplicable, whatever the offense. There's got to be at least some underlying comfort/chemistry issues going on, imo.
     
  17. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Yea I've noticed the transition offense has been sour all season long, it seems like if were lucky we get fouled and go to the line. Definitely something they need to practice, Practice!?! Or maybe it's just a chemistry thing, IDK.

    Your right on with the picks, screens, and rolls. They are the key to offensive movement and getting good looks. Our shooters could really benefit from more of this. It's obvious shooting one three after another is not what gets them in a groove.

    In the end I think it boils down to the quality of the shots, not the shooters.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2011
  18. Blazinaway

    Blazinaway Well-Known Member

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    funny I said that 6 weeks ago and got a ration, and I still think it's a joke as you say when their shooting absolutely stinks
     
  19. hasoos

    hasoos Well-Known Member

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    Nope you are right on the money. I think it is the stupidest thing there is. Rudy shoots such a bad percentage he shouldn't even be in the league. Miller should never be taking outside shots, and if he is, then you know you are in for a rough night, because it means he isn't playing hard or they have a defensive lockdown on him so he is settling for the jumper. Mathews is our best shooter, and he is considered pretty streaky.
     
  20. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    All our long range guys are streak shooters. Rudy and Wes run hot and cold. Rudy's been more cold than hot as of late. And if Miller is shooting long range, then chances are there's less than two second left on the clock and it's a busted play.

    My hope for next year is that Brandon does nothing but work on his three ball all summer long and during the lockout. I think he can become the long-range shooter this team so badly needs. My guess was that management hoped Babbitt would have been that guy.
     

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