George Karl on what's wrong with basketball (and the Blazers)

You guys are all talking about Dame's on-court stuff, but reading between the lines with the Melo comments in context, it sure sounds to me like George Karl is referring to his extensive off-court activities being the issue.

 

With all of this hate for Dame floating around one might think he is our next LaMarsha...

Just as winning takes care of everything, so losing exposes every fault and flaw. We will be fine in the long run. Only need to make the necessary trades to upgrade our personnel and improve the team defense. We can still salvage this season, but this has always been a long term plan with N.O.

 

Karl's an idiot. He offers no insight, and 0 substance to back his claims. He throws a grenade into the public domain and runs away without having to back anything up.

I can't believe some of you guys think we would be better without Dame. Man, we need a win quick. People losing their damn minds.

 

If fans didn't lose their minds, these boards would be dead quiet and would shut down. It is just job security for @SlyPokerDog .

 

He frequently takes bad, bad shots. More often than not, the other team comes back immediately after and scores. I see that as being just as big of an issue that needs to be addressed.

 

Hardly. So Dame getting more attention is the reason we suck on defense?

You really think that claim has any credibility?

 

He took more bad shots last year. More pull ups in transition and far worse efficiency in efg and fg%.

 

I don't think so. I still see 3-4 per game.
I consider the shots early in a shot clock when no one else touches the ball wild hero-ball shots. Usually we are starting to make a comeback & get within 3-4 points. Dame takes a hero-ball shot, he misses & the other team comes back in transition & scores. Terrible shots.

 

I would love to see Lillard play for a coach who isn't a "player's coach". Totts is the only NBA coach that Lillard has worked under - much the same way McMillan was the only coach Roy played for. Neither player is/was held accountable, but rather catered to, perhaps to the detriment of the team.

That Roy-lead team fell apart once we started getting new players who had played under several coaches. My theory is that they (particularly Camby) came here and saw that McMillan was a joke of a coach. I wonder if Evan Turner might be disappointed in the difference between Stevens (?) and Totts?

 

Eeek - I've actually been thinking about that. With CJ being taller, a better ball-handler, and neither of them being particularly good passers, I wonder if we might be better off with CJ at PG. It also appears that CJ has a long wingspan for his size (can anyone verify this?) - and long arms can help cover up bad defense. I think it's more likely that CJ becomes a good defender (if defending PGs) than it is that Dame becomes a good defender.

Last year CJ sported a much higher FG%. Dame's crazy start to this season has them about equal so far this season, but I wonder what the percentages would look like if those first couple weeks didn't happen. The one area where Lillard really separates himself from CJ is FTA.

I was pretty much of the opinion that we'd need to trade CJ if he wouldn't accept a 6th man role. But, even though I know PR would never allow us to trade Dame, I do wonder if we'd be trading the wrong player.

 

I don't agree with this assessment. The Roy led teams began to decline because Roy was getting hurt and his total games played declined over his last three seasons with the team. Granted McMillan needed to go, but if Roy is healthy and continues to play at an All-Star level, who knows, maybe Nate is still around, doubt it and I shutter at that thought.

 

Aside from Tunchi, I don't think anyone is hating on Dame. But it's fair to criticize his shortcomings, and compare him to other players. However, there's no comparison to be made between him and Aldridge.

 

Sure, W/L was affected by Roy's inability to play. But the team morale went down the tubes once we had players who had played under other coaches - prior to those trades nearly every player on our roster had ONLY played for Nate, so they didn't know anything better.

 

You are right, not really hate, but the thought of even trading him or thinking CJ could be the man over him is a bit extreme I think. Every team who has a superstar caliber player has to live and die with the decisions that player makes and how they play.

 

Dame does take bad shots and no Stotts doesn't hold him accountable. Last game toward end of the game it was CJ trying to do everything not getting everyone involve. This team goes when everyone involve they better both ends of the court. But when see both guards trying to get there and ignoring the other especially in the 4th QT. the other player stop working out there there saying here we go again. Do I think one these guys need to be traded no but I do think these guys need start playing team ball all 4 Qt. and I believe CJ need to be the 6th man due to defense liability of our back court.

 

First, in answer to a couple other comments; I don't think there is any hate for Lillard on the board or a desire for him to leave. If there is a problem I would like to see the team figure out what it is and fix it internally.
I think that Karl might be implying that if a player is so focused on outside activities, that they may not have the energy to see what is happening internally with their team. This is all fixable.

 

One player that needs show case himself is Crabbe it is great opportunity for him to show that he can be starter in this league. Second show everyone he deserve his contract.

 

Which is what LA sort of hinted about why he he left Portland. Lillard wasn't necessarily focused on just basketball.