A pretty flimsy reason to turn on Nate, considering Batum's health. Here we are, two years later, and you're still on a rampage.
I was never "on a rampage". Nice hyperbole. But yes, here we are two years later and Batum is averaging 26 MPG, has been under utilized most of the season, and the Blazers struggle more than ever to close out games. Thanks to last night, they are now 2-9 in close games. Color me unimpressed. Two years and still the same old shit. Maybe it is time to go "on a rampage". BNM
You realize the irony, don't you? As for Nic being underutilized, he's having a career season this year, although his minutes have gone down. Maybe he's being perfectly utilized, and has finally found his niche in the NBA?
You know, I was all set to start cutting you some slack and then you reminded me why I shouldn't. Still the same old insufferable ass who likes to argue just to argue. Whaetever. I happen to think taking a team from 17-27 and well out of the playoffs and completely turning their season around is a significant achievement for a rookie head coach (or ANY head coach). You disagree, mostly because you forgot Vogel inherited a 17-27 trainwreck and are now desparately trying to save face. Again, whatever. BNM
Or maybe if his coach pulls his head out of his ass and starts playing his second best player more minutes the team would win more games. That is the goal, isn't it? BNM
I'm not trying to save face. I admitted I was wrong about Vogel's record last season. I actually went to the point where hardly anybody 'message board expert' does, and admitted I was wrong. I really do appreciate your knowledge of the Pacers. That said, the "do you follow the NBA" stuff, and then claiming the Pacers were one of the bigger stories of the NBA season, seems to be defensive on your part. I know you have great knowledge of the NBA. It's obvious in your posts. I guess I don't see why you try to belittle those who don't always agree with you. I do watch the NBA, fwiw. A. Lot.
That's already happening, though. The past 3 games Nic has played 41/42/36 minutes, respectively. Don't forget he had an MRI on his knee just 2 weeks ago. He seems to be healthy now, and he's playing big minutes. Shouldn't you be applauding Nate for giving him these minutes? How many more minutes do you want Nic to play? 36 is a lot for most NBA players, and Nic's above that over the past three games. I hope he has some legs left for tonight, actually.
Nate's hand was forced by the Aldridge injury in 2 of those 3 games. He's playing Wallace more at the 4 and Batum at the 3. I want to see Batum continue to play 36MPG after Aldridge comes back. Aldridge plays 36.2 MPG, Wallace 35.9 MPG. Why not play Batum similar minutes? Prior to the last three games, Batum was averagfing less than 26 MPG. Why? BNM
It took over 1/3rd through the season, almost .500 ball and media pundits questioning him about it before he decided to cave in and give Nic a little extra time. Shouldn't take most coaches that long to figure out who their 2nd best player is.
That's one of Sarge's biggest weaknesses - his stubborness. Now let's hope the media starts questioning him about his unimaginative, easily defended, ISO based 4th quarter offense. BNM
I think Nate's trying to find out how to do this. Problem is, Nic naturally plays GW's position, and without practice, it's tough to just expect Nic to be a 19 PER SG. The biggest gaffe was not locking up Nic as the SF of the future, and that's not on Nate at all. I expect Portland to match any offer, but they'll likely have to overpay.
I gave you McMillan's stats in close games as a coach. You clearly ignored them, or pretended that his record didn't exist prior to this season. Watch a Dallas game last year? Tell me about Dallas' 4th quarter offense.
The Wallace trade was almost a year ago. Nate had the rest of last season, the playoffs, the abbrieviated training camp and preseason, plus over 1/3 of the regular season to figure this out. It's not like figuring out how to use Batum was suddenly thrust upon him without warning. Batum has also been playing SG in Europe the last two summers. Why did it take Nate until three games ago to try him at that position. Are the French coaches just that much smarter than Nate? BNM
I didn't ignore them at all. I responded that the Brandon Roy ISO works best when you have Brandon Roy. Jamal Crawford is not Brandon Roy and this year's team is 2-9 in close games. Time for change, don't you think? Or, do you find 2-9 in close games acceptable? BNM
I'm not really going out on a limb with my thoughts. I think its pretty cut and dry from Blazer fan perspective that its time to take a new path. I watched a game with my dad last week. He's a casual fan, catches games every so often, but knows the game of basketball well. After 3 straight timeout calls throughout the game we came out and looked stagnant once we tried to feed it into Aldridge and the double came. He turned to me and said, thats just poor coaching. Good coaches have teams in position to execute if option A fails out of a timeout. I looked at him and told him to join the club.
Back to the Dunleavy thing for a second. I wonder how well McMillan would of done with the abundance of knuckleheads that Dunleavy had to put up with. Dude spent half the time issueing statements for his players after they screwed up again. I thought Dunleavy did an admirable job.
You have high regard for my pops basketball knowledge and you've never met him. You must have high regard for mine then.
