If Brandon ever gets a consistent 40 percent-ish from three he would be the best shooting guard in the league hands down -- zero real weaknesses -- my guess is that he adds it to his aresenal over the next couple of off-seasons.
I'd settle for consistently 37-38%. 40% is elite three-point shooting, and that seems unlikely to happen (though I'd be thrilled if it did). But I really hope this Wade-like free throw generation is here to stay.
Roy has changed in a noticable way in the last 2 games. He's figured out that the team could easily lose if he is merely "Mr. 4th Quarter." He's now bringing it earlier, so.... Last 2 games: Roy scores a lot --->> Blazers doing well. Previously: Roy scores a lot ---->> Blazers faltering.
No, let's keep Roy instead . . . but don't let him score over 30pts/game because the sentiment is we'll lose if he does.
For years I've really wanted someone on this team that could be counted on to score when the team needed it. Someone who could take over games when things mattered. We had Zach Randolph, but his points were always quiet, and really had very little bearing on the outcome of the game. Roy reminds me of Steve Smith, when Steve Smith was still young and athletic. His ability to hit the dagger in the heart is truly a rare talent in the NBA. We've seen him progress as a scorer. His first two seasons in the NBA he was clutch, and he could score when the team needed him to, but he always looked tentative at times. I remember watching Roy standing around on the perimeter last season, and thinking "I wish Brandon would assert himself more." Well, that time has come. Brandon is elevating his game. The thing that really stood out to me last night was his free throws.... 21 attempts... that's insane. That's Dwyane Wade. I was watching him draw fouls on Richardson and I was thinking... I've seen this before. It must have been extremely frustrating for Richardson, and for Suns fans. We are truly blessed to have Brandon on this team. Now if we can just get Oden and Aldridge going...
I noticed during his post game interview he kept mentioning how his teammates were kind of egging him on to keep it flowing and he was asking Nate constantly during stoppages if he was being too selfish. Wouldn't it be wild if the only thing (well not the only thing) that had been holding Roy back from dominance was just his mindset? I do think he has limitations, but this past week has revealed a Roy I never knew could exist.
Heh, and he just had his "There is no spoon" moment. "You mean...I can score at will and still be a good teammate? Well, that's what I'll do then!"
And as he does it more and more, his teammates should benefit more and more. Hopefully this will take some of the spotlight off Oden. If Greg can just keep improving... getting double/doubles, I'll be happy. Let Roy have the spotlight right now. He's earned it. It will stop being "Greg Oden and the Portland Trail Blazers" and start being "Brand Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers."
Though it may not be a popular idea, but I do think that one of the big reasons for his improvement is the refs. We've all watched games in the past 2 years where Roy would get into the lane just like he is now, get fouled just like he is now, but not getting a call - sometimes even when the call was obvious. Put another way, the refs have decided that Roy is a superstar. I'm reminded of the "Joe Dumars? You can't touch Joe Dumars" comment from a ref years ago. Brandon Roy, welcome to the Elite.
Truth. I loathe the national media when I hear them refer to the team with Oden in the preface; I think Greg is probably going to turn into a pretty special player in his own right some day, but it's a huge disrespect to Brandon (and everyone else on that team for that matter) when it occurs.
And it wasn't that long ago that some folks were suggesting that Rudy was going to make Roy expendable!
Nothing seems unlikely with Roy anymore. He seems to improve beyond anyone's expectations every year. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he started averaging 8 assists a game one year.
It's sort like KP danced through a minefield to pick two gems out of the garbage. Just think we could have Randy Foye and Tyrus Thomas. *shudder*
