I absolutely agree with Brandon. The same people bitching that he needed to change his game are the first to throw him overboard. I'd like it if Roy would just play ball, and not let the opinions of idiots impact his All-Star game. http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/11/roy_amiss_and_a_miss_and_a_mis.html
God forbid Brandon help his team be the best it can be come playoff time. As long as he makes the all-star game, everything is fine.
54 wins with "Roy playing like Roy" in '08-'09. Blow out losses to the Lakers with Miller jacking up shots (3 3pters??) and Roy trying to become Rip Hamilton.
54 wins means shit if your opponent in the playoffs licks their chops at the offense it is going to face
I think part of the problem is that Brandon really does believe that the more he dominates the ball and initiates the offense the better this team will be. While it's certainly true that he was able to do some great things with the ball in his hands ever since he went to Nate in his second year and asked to be made more of a focal point of the offense, but the real rub isn't that Brandon needs to change his game for this team to make a deep push in the playoffs, it's that he's not enough of a transcendent talent to carry a team this way. Hell, even a transcendent talent like Kobe needed Pau Gasol to return his team to dominance and playing for arguably one of the best coaches of all time doesn't hurt either. Unfortunately, I think the Blazers might be close to being locked into a spiral of mediocrity with the huge contracts that Roy and Aldridge carry for the next few years especially if Roy's days of semi-dominance are fading; not a bad team, but probably not a team that will seriously contend either. Oh well, might as well hope for the best and enjoy the ride.
I too think our team would be better if Roy initiated the offense. I just don't think this offense is a good one for him to initiate. Roy is great at finding teammates, but in our offense, we don't get a lot of movement. There were numerous times last night where the L*ker announcers (who were very complimentary to the Blazers before things got out of hand) commented how the Blazers pass a lot, but only pass around the perimeter. No one cuts, so there is no one for Brandon to pass to. Brandon handling the ball in the offense we run means our best option IS Brandon going 1 on 1. The alternative is him kicking it out to a player most likely guarded for a contested jumper. Roy handling the ball in a motion offense would be beautiful.
I wonder how much of this has to do with his friends on the team leaving. First Jack, then Travis and Blake, Marty this summer, and then Bayless right before the season. Maybe he's just sad? EDIT: One other thing, but when a team's star is this confused and "amiss," what usually results is the coach getting axed. Sadly, we don't even have Monty who can step in if/when Nate gets fired.
There were fans wanting Roy to completely give up and not show any effort on the defensive end of the floor? I must have missed that.
Blaming the fans for HIS lack of effort is totally lame. He's the one with the huge contract who wants to be the focal point of the this team's offense. If he can't take a little criticism from some anonymous fans, he' never deserved that contract in the first place. You want to be the team leader, then quit fucking pouting and lead already. Totally giving up on both ends of the court, and then whining to the press, does not a good leader make. BNM
The story by Quick doesn't give the question by Quick, only Brandon's answer:, so to me it's unclear if Brandon was talking about what the fans wanted or what the coaches wanted. I would really be disappointed if he was overly concerned with what the fans think is best, so I'm assuming he's talking about the coaches.
We also have first year GM who is from Seattle that thinks the world of Nate. An owner from Seattle, a company that overesees our owners business ventures from Seattle also. As everyone well knows, I think Nate is a huge part of the problem, but I doubt with the current powers that be that anything gets done.
I agree with this. Roy is a very good player, but not a great player. I think some minor changes in his game will solve the whole problem: 1) Get out and push the ball more. 2) Stop with the late game heroics routine and find the open teammates more during those times. Problem solved.
Maybe one thing that folks are missing is that everything in Blazer chemistry land is not good. When team chemistry is not good, sometimes it can make players on the team look really bad when there are just "fit" issues.
Not at all. Just alter a couple of fundamental viewpoints. He can still do the isolation bit when called for. Also, if he distributes the ball occasionally late in games, the defense can't key in on him and that will make his heroics better.
I got into this during preseason . . . I find it very strange and disturbing that the team leader and the vet PG have never had an off the court sit down discussion before. I was at the Toronto game and watched Roy inteact with Jack more before the game then I have ever seen Dre and Roy inteact all season before games. The one bright spot I take out of this is before the Oregonian article I thought Roy was not right physically. I hope it is a mental thing because that seems a lot easier to overcome than a physical limitation.
It might take a little while and some losses could pile up, but I fully expect Roy to bounce back and lead us into the playoffs. He is never going to be as good as Kobe, but he will once again be an excellent player that will greatly help the team win. Getting back a Center will help.
As I have feared, it sounds like he's pouting. And not simply regarding his role on the team. It appears he may be trying to teach the coaches, the players, and especially the fans all a lesson. The only lesson I'm getting out of his attitude is: trade his ass.
I hate the way Roy is acting . . . but he is the only Blazer all star and the face of the franchise right now. If it really is about Andre, that is who should be traded . . . to see if Roy comes back. Sucks for Andre, but according to the Blazers the time is NOW.
I hate the way the Fans and Media are acting. Do we really need an interview at every practice, before, during and after every game? I think they will figure it out, if we get out of their way.
