Explain something to me about this season... Yeah I know it's early, but I'm confused to all hell. Okay last season, if our team shot 40%; we'd be lucky to break 90 points, usually lose, probably not a single player even breaks the 18 point mark. This season, we've shot 40%, scored over 100, two players with 20+ and a few others in the high teens. I know this is possible; but I can't put a finger on it. Maybe Marazul was right about his headache on the ISO ball?
Well yeah I know that much... I'm just trying to figure out just exactly how? I mean there are fast pace teams before that do terrible when they shoot 40%. Usually those fast paced teams are the league leaders in FG%. Why are we different?
16 ORB/g--2nd in the league--that's my first thought. 11 TO/g (vs 20 for opponents)--that's my second thought. More possessions, plus more shot attempts per possession, equals more points.
Well, we're getting 91 shots a game, whereas last year we had 6599 fga in 82 games for an average of 80.47 shots per game. having an extra 11 shots at 40% gives you 8-9 extra points per game.
Well with seeing this, First hand, I must concede to MM and other like him. The posters that preached against the "Roy ISO offense"; that I adamantly defended. I was a true Homer of the idea that quality offense was better than quantity. From the looks of how we are now; I bet players are happier (with more shots). This is definitely a "Win Win" situation, IMO.
It's the amount of of offensive possessions? That would be my guess. We have always had a decent amoubt of possessions in the past, but they were from offensive rebounds, thus we shot a higher %. More shot attempts usually means good things, which is why I have been screaming about going faster for 5 years
Well in this case, I will concede with you... The reason is, previous seasons when the Roy ISO and Aldridge duo (pick and pop) offense was on; we were one of the best. But when that offense was off; we were one of the worst. In this case; we can have a seriously "Off Night" offensively; in terms of shooting %; yet still be able to beat a team handedly. So you may not get many of my posts conceding to you; but know I will concede when I understand and agree. I'm not that thick headed.
I don't think anything can be gleaned yet, because we've played two (essentially) bad teams. Once we're about 20 games in, things will start to mean more.
I don't know, I think PHI is pretty close to our level (6-8 seed in the east?). SAC is bad, but winning by 20 at home is a good thing. I like the process of doing so...defense coupled with easy buckets. If we would've had to rely on the half-court game the last two nights, we'd have been hurting.
True, but I got this crazy feeling like I had when we were watching old 90's Blazers. It is this weird confidence that no matter what the situation (being 10 down or losing a 10 point lead); that somehow it will be our turn to get a run and be right back or get the lead back. This fluid offense/defense is really fun to watch. It's like a confidence that we can overcome anything. After 20 more games; I may float back to Earth; but for now; I'm really enjoying this pace and style.
At the height of the Roy ISO offense, the Blazers had the 2nd best offensive efficiency in the league at 111 points per 100 possessions. The quality of the offense only makes sense in the context of efficiency - because in every game, the 2 teams play the exact same number of possessions (+/- 1). The 2008/2009 Blazers were an offensive machine - even if the total number of points was lower. Even after these rather less-than representative 2 games this year, both at home, against good but not great and an OK team, the Blazers offensive efficiency is at 107 points per 100 possessions. With all due respect, Roy at his prime ISO with good shooters around him was an elite offense. The only team with better offense that year (by 0.5 point per 100 possessions) was Phoenix. I think the Blazers will improve this year, but still - an offense of 111 points per 100 possessions is a really impressive achievement for an entire year. It is about 2 points per 100 possessions than the most efficient offense of last year (Denver). The ISO offense was the right offense to build around the roster of the time. The fast and rugged offense of today is the right offense for the current roster(since there is no superstar guard on the roster that excels in half-court sets). I think Nate does not get enough credit for making the best of what he has. He understood what he had to work with at the time and designed offense for it - and he does the same now for a very different roster and thus different offense.
And tell me guys you weren't giddy watching the Sac Kings look to their coach like "What the fuck are we going to do?" when we kept punishing them defensively. They looked like a YMCA youth camp playing against the Harlem Globe Trotters. I think watching the chaos was more enjoyable than the fluid offense. Sac Kings were seriously flustered last night.
It was really funny watching him handle the chaos. The guards were seriously frustrated. Sometimes they would have close ups on them, and their facial expressions said it all. This is why I like recording both sides "Sac Announcers and PDX announcers" whenever I have a chance. I watch both takes and see their reaction. You should have watched the Sac Announcers just be in total "OMG" mode.
Not at home but u remembered one announcer basically conceding to blazers being much better and more experienced. I will watch it again and give some gems
