This Team Has Clearly Overachieved - Who Deserves The Credit?

I'm still thinking it's possible that the biggest benefit to acquiring Miller hasn't even been used yet--him setting up Oden in motion. Something more to look forward to next season.

 

I am right here happy as hell to be wrong.


In my defense, I did believe Miller was the best choice of the 4 players courted during the offseason.

And I didn't think Miller was a bad player, just a bad fit. As I said in the other post I think the team has adjusted the way they play which now makes Miller a better fit then he was at the time I posted that quote.

 

Dude - I never said any worthless, ill-informed shit like this.

So, you know, speak for yourself.

 

The injury angle has been long overplayed. This team had a three time all-star in his prime to only miss fifteen games, a young PF that commands a top dollar contract to miss only three and a veteran PG to miss none. Our coach took advantage of the fact we were 2 and 3 deep at positions since our GM had failed to make a consolidation trade, but did not turn water into wine.

When Greg went down, I did not think we would have a chance to make it out of the first round. That is still the case.

When Joel went down, I thought we would need to make a trade to make the playoffs. Juwan exceeded my expectations and then we made the trade for Camby. IMO, we are better with Camby than with Joel.

I did not think Outlaw going down was a big deal. His shot selection and defense have never been great. Him going down let the team finally rehab from thinking he was critical to have on the second unit. Dante Cunningham and Juwan Howard performed great in his absence.

It has been nice to see improvement from Batum and he is an upgrade over Martell. Our team does not revolve around the SF being a huge contributor though.

Rudy has also now played in 52 games.

 

Right. It is a team sport afterall.

Last season Win Shares (No, is is not precise are accurate, just a very rough guide to the players that gave production needed to win ball games during a long season). Second number is games played.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2010.html

13.5 78 BRoy
9.5 81 Aldridge
6.6 82 Joel
6.1 78 Rudy
5.8 69 Blake
5.3 81 Outlaw
4.6 61 Oden
3.7 79 Batum

Sergio, Frye and Bayless were the only other players to get minutes and all were under 1.8. They were not net positives for the team last season.

So last season was Brandon Roy with his sidekick LaMarcus leading the way with and excellent group of role playing helpers - Joel for post defense and rebounding, Rudy and Blake for 3pt shooting, Outlaw for bench offense, Oden and Batum for defensive roles.

You will also note that only Oden and Blake played fewer than 78 games.

This season so far, Win Shares and games played:

8.2 57 BRoy
7.5 69 Aldridge
6.3 72 Miller
3.8 72 Webster
2.8 52 Rudy
2.7 64 Bayless
2.6 64 Howard
2.5 27 Batum
2.4 51 Blake
2.2 21 Oden

Everyone else is under 2 Win Shares.

You will note that Roy, Rudy Batum and Oden have missed a ton of games. And that Travis and Joel from last years list were out.

As far as who helped to "overachieve" this season, Aldridge is about at last year's pace. Some have complained that he didn't "step up" with the front line injuries and during the time Roy was out. But, it could have been worse. At least he is (more or less) matching last season's production.

Roy is well off his pace of last season: Partly due to missed games, partly due to playing hurt, partly due to a couple of nasty shooting slumps he has worked through.

After the big two - Miller is the only other big contributor, outclassing in Win Shares anything we got last season from anybody not named Roy or Aldridge.

After those three, the credit goes to all the rest of the guys. Last season it was all about the top 8. The rest of the team could have been anybody. Wouldn't have mattered.

This season, the team has a "Top 10", with a different hero (seemingly) every game, plus during key stretches have gotten lifts from Dante, Jeff, Outlaw, Joel & now Camby.

Two very different seasons.

 

Juwan Howard.

 

Again...

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/25/without-mcmillan-blazers-season-is-lost/

 

I think Nate should get his share of credit. He made the most of the hand he was dealt. I can't ask much more than that. Overall, I'd give Nate a B+ for the season, so far.

I don't think he gets any more credit for where the team is than KP does, though. KP provided a team so deep that they could field decent players no matter who went down. KP resisted the pressure to make the consolidation trade that so many of us armchair GM's insisted should happen, and he choice came up roses.

Go Blazers

 

The vets came in, infused the young roster with some belief, know how and some tricks of the trade.
I think they have been the greatest influence keeping the 'boat afloat' during the injury storm.

I agree with a previous poster that Camby is better than Joel. So Miller, Roy, Batum, Aldridge and Camby aint too shabby.
So at this stage we are really only missing Oden.

The fact that these guys have done this despite McMillan shackling the team is a minor miracle IMO.

 

Surprise player was Juwan Howard. He ranks right there with Roy and Aldridge in crucial shots, rebounds, and toughness. Paul Allen overpays for everything, so we get the best in trades by including cash, then Pritchard gets the credit. McMillan's motivational skills won us many games. Surprise downturn of the year was Roy, surprise up was Howard. Pritchard should abandon his youth movement. Look at how good a cheap pickup like Howard is.

 

I think all deserve a share in the credit. To me though, KP has done the most by bringing in the players that have made the difference. The players KP has brought in have all made huge impacts as well. And Nate seems to coach well when he doesn't have as many options in front of him, or his pets available to him.

 

I agree. But I think it is funny how fast people react to a bad stretch of games for someone like Miller or Camby and blame KP for a horrible signing/trade. After they start playing well, they start praising them.

Personally, I think Howard has been our most valuable player for this season as a whole. Followed by Miller. Camby would definitely be up with Howard but he is only a recent addition.

Roy is Roy.

 

Miller. Without him I have a feeling we would be around 30-35 wins and not having this conversation.

 

This ... the way he basically morphed into a first option and kept this team afloat with Brandon out, or with Brandon in but hurt really saved this team's bacon a few times.

 

miller

 

Paul Allen deserves the most credit because it starts at the top... everyone associated with the club is here because of his hires. KP has done a great job assimilating the roster. This years additions through the draft, free agency and trade have been tremendous. It also speaks to the character of the guys, but Nate has done a fine job juggling his deep talented roster keeping them focused on the team goals/play. The 50 wins (or so) they're heading for is incredible. Big time kudos to management. Unless they totally lay an egg in the playoffs expect them to be in the running for league honors and see them rewarded this next offseason.

For the players, though Roy is their marquee star I can't single one guy out as it's truly been a team effort. From night to night different guys have stepped up, played through injury, stayed focused and ready. They've a complimentary blend of solid talents playing together.

This isn't a prediction thread, but I'm going there. I love the 3 long quick guys starting in the frontcourt... they remind me of the Pistons a few years back in the way they can seamlessly switch off, contest everything, and board. The back court, their depth, that they're rolling (11 of 14)... the only Western team with as much talent as these Blazers are Stern's Lakers. Even without homecourt, I see them as having at least an equal shot against anyone but LA. The Jazz are hurting since Kirilenko's injuries and they dumped Brewer. The Nugs aren't the same since they lost Kenyon. The Spurs are without Parker. The Suns and the Mavs don't seem to match up well. A Thunder series might be interesting. I like their chances of going far.

STOMP

 

The players get all the credit for wins, the coach and management get the credit for any failure to win.

 

Me.

 

That's some crazy logic; players have no accountability in your world.

I assume you don't manage people in your job.