I didn't say he is a once in a generation center. That is what some of the hype was before we drafted him. I'm saying he is playing well and Joel so far hasn't played as well and if we are ever going to be a serious title contendor you have to start Oden. How do you now he won't be a once in a generation center if when he is playing well you don't even start him.
Sure they should. Even Michael Jordan was forced to adjust when Phil Jackson took over as coach of the Bulls. The team should be built around maximizing the performance of the whole team, not just one or two players, no matter who those players are. Naturally, getting that best team performance will involve heavy featuring of your best player(s), but the always changing personnel of an NBA team means that the stars also need to adapt, to allow for that supporting cast to also be best used. A star player who can only be successful or comfortable with a single mode of operation is a lot less valuable. Roy and/or Aldridge may not be comfortable with the way the offense runs right now since it's different than last year, but that's what pre-season is for. To learn how the team is going to play and get comfortable. If in December, Roy and/or Aldridge are still not comfortable (and it seems to be impacting the team's offensive efficiency), I'll be worried.
I never realized what a baby Roy was. Jesus man, your not fucking Michael Jordan. You do not need the ball in your hands 24/7. McMoron and Roy share the same man crush for Blake, despite the fact he sucks. I think its hard for Roy to accept the fact we have another guy who can actually run an offense. Go ahead McMoron, start your man crush Blake and Pryz. This guy is amazing.
I just can't believe Roy and Aldridge are bitching and it's only preseason. I just can't wrap my mind around that. And they're bitching because Nate has been feeding Oden the ball. A blind man would recognize that Oden is a big part of our championship hopes. You would think they would WANT Greg to be more involved in the offense.
Can't have too much offense playing together. With Blake starting, Roy and Outlaw had better start. Aldridge may need to be with the 2nd team.
I think this is all gonna work out OK; the solution is constructing two units with a balance of offensive firepower on each unit, two units with players that will be effective with the other players on that unit. I think Aldridge and Roy will be most effective with Blake and Batum and Przbilla. Roy and Aldridge will get plenty of touches, but there still should be opportunities for Batum to be more involved in the offense. The second unit can feature Oden more and Miller can be in charge. Then there probably will be a mixed third unit for ends of games or for use when things just aren't going good. Oden would probably always be in this unit if he isn't in foul trouble. If we are behind he would be asked to provide offense; if we are comfortably ahead he would emphasize defense. Miller might go in if Roy was struggling or if the other team was smothering Roy. If we are having trouble containing a quick guard, Bayless might go in. I think this is what McMillan envisions, and maybe he needs to explain better to all the team what he is doing.
This is what I think also, however the players probably think like many on here do, best players start. If indeed this is what is going on I hope Nate can pull his plan off. This team may very well implode. It is very possible that the players can learn how to play well together however. Certainly hope so. Sure would like to see a championship before I get much older.
Wow. Once again you guys are reading waay to much into this. One minute you all are complaining about the Oregonian's bad writers, the next minute your taking every little overheard quick conversation to heart. Roy is a man, he is not bitching, he's simply saying what he sees so far this year. You all need to chill.
I haven't been keeping track as much as you PDX fans but it would appear to me as though Miller is getting way too much flack for all of this. Like others in this thread have mentioned, Roy and McMillan are the ones who seem delusional to me. If Roy is going to deny any upgrades from Blake then you guys might as well kiss your dreams of getting a ring goodbye. He needs to STFU, act like a true team leader and welcome Andre Miller with open arms. Sure, Miller may be whiny and lazy but he knows the same thing we all know; he was brought in to START. He was paid like a starter. Everyone outside of Roy, McMillan, and perhaps Blake knows as much. I'm sure McMillan wants to see Miller earn the starting job in camp but can you blame Miller for being upset? The team leader and the coach seem to be playing favorites with Blake when KP was probably telling him that they want him to come here and start and help the team compete for RINGS. Miller shouldn't be such a lazy ass but I would be pissed too if I signed on to be a starter, I've proven over 10 years that I'm a pro and never miss games, and then the coach tells me I'm the backup right away and the team captain puts his support behind the scrub backup who they paid me to replace.
The more I think about this, the more disappointed it makes me. It was a mistake not to trade Blake. Like with Jack before, the only way you can get Nate to not play favourites is to trade them. He's KP's guy as well, but I'm sure as hell KP didn't envision Nate would start him after he blew probably our last cap space opportunity on Miller. This might just be another evaluation year. The evaluation of Nate. Roy and Lamarcus are still young pros, and a little bit insecure (doesn't help that one of them just got a big contract and the other is waiting on one). We know Nate is not a great Xs and Os coach. Managing players should be one of his strengths. If he can't drive home the concept that in order to win championships, we need more than the Roy-LMA offense, a change will have to be made, otherwise we will be wasting part of our championship window. Btw, why the fuck is LMA complaining about shots? He's averaging 12 points in 25 minutes (that comes to about 17 per 36, pretty much equal to his last 2 seasons). He should cherish the opportunity to rest in preseason games, since he will be playing more than 36 minutes a game (hopefully for 90+games) I guess it's probably just the contract.
Whenever there is a change usually you get worst before you get better, but once you get better you are better than before the change. I hope that just because of one preseason game Nate isn't ready to throw in the towel on a starting lineup including Oden and Miller. I would like him also try adding Webster. Nate though may not be willing to wait until the Blazers get better with that lineup and most likely would prefer it not being so abrupt of a change instead sticking with what he knows works and slowly allow that lineup to work together and as we get deeper in the season eventually going with that lineup of starters. That way we won't struggle with that change and lose games we might not have loss if we didn't change the starting lineup. That is what I'm hoping is his reasoning. I do hope he at least starts Oden, but he may not get the chances offensively as a starter with Roy and Aldridge. But once they learn to adjust their game to playing with both Oden and Miller the better it'll be for them in the long run.
Nate told Miller at that dinner he envision him coming off the bench. Miller said since then that was then this is now and then later denied he told him that. Every player needs to accept their role including Miller. If we are winning everyone should be happy because that is what it comes down to us winning games.
I really wish Nate would drop the two unit system and have everyone comfortable playing with one another instead of just their respective unit. I'd like to see him make substitutions based on who is playing well, rather than set substitutions. It always bothered me if Nic or Greg were playing well, they would be pulled at the same time as if they were playing poorly.
Yes. the two unit system works in college ball, but not as much in the NBA. Portland has two stars in Roy and Aldridge. One of them needs to be on the floor at all times. Nate actually started to do this later last season.
What is amazing is that folks are believing what they read in the Oregonian. Quick is a joke. Canzano is worse. Freeman just plays along.
I think you have me confused with someone else. I only beleive the perceptions/opinions of anonymous posters who read the actual quotes in the Oregonian. I wouldn't know what to think if not for the brilliant analysis on this board and others.
