I've noticed that Travis hasn't been letting the pressure get to him on these tough games. In our last three road games against WC Playoff competition, he has shot 20 of 33 from the field. Pressure just doesn't get to him. He thrives. I expect big things out of him in the playoffs.
I wouldn't say he thrives...his defense is terrible, gives shooters/stars way too much room...IMO he isn't all that consistent either...
Melo was going to go off for a huge game (motivated by his suspension) no matter who was guarding him. I'm not calling him a lock down defender but I wouldn't be so critical of TO.
disagree. If Bowen or Artest were on him it would be a different story. and if you watched the game, TO was pretty bad all night defensively against Melo
Travis had a few good stands against Carmelo but not many. I'd have to say the most atrocious defensive play I saw all game was leaving Chauncey Billups wide open for a three pointer. That was not a good play by Blake.
Uh yeah, but they arent on the Blazers are they I think what he was trying to say is there was nobody on the Blazers that was gonna stop Melo tonight
It's no coincidence that when Travis Outlaw has one of his better shooting nights (7-10) that he also has a horrible +/- rating. He had a -17. I know this stat is sometimes worthless to look at, but it obviously points to his defense allowing Denver to score at will.
Honestly, I think Travis has been playing about at his ceiling the last few games, and have been pretty happy with it. He's attacking the rim more, rebounding from time to time, generally staying with his man a good portion of the time, and his contested jumpers are going in at a pretty good clip. Blake, otoh, has been atrocious at times--see the dribble off himself leading to a game-tying layup with 11 secs left, his almost single-handed collapse that allowed the Nuggs to go from 62-60 to 70-60 in 3 possessions and sound the death knell on our comeback...getting pretty torched by Billups, etc.
Travis has to shoot in order to be any value in the game, because his offensive game is all he really has besides the occasional weak side block on defense. So when he is in the game, I want him to shoot. What I would point out with Travis, and the plus/minus up above (which is a very subjective stat) is that the unit he is on the floor with is, well, really bad. Lets look at that second unit: Sergio Rudy Travis Frye One Starter, usually Aldridge or Joel. That unit is flat out awful, and I am not sure why Nate keeps putting it out on the floor. When that unit has been on the floor, by the time Nate started yanking them, they have been down by 11, 14 and 16 points in the last few games. The reason that unit is so bad? They almost all end up shooting from the outside, and not getting Lamarcus the ball inside at all. Long shots come off the rim long, and let the other team get out and run, becaue Portland has almost no rebounding on the floor either. I just don't know what the fuck is going through Nates head to keep throwing that unit on the floor. It's awful, and he either needs to shorten the rotation or change it. Even Bayless provides another rim attacker out on the floor.
Travis isn't a good defender. Everybody knows this. It's why he comes off of the bench. Every thread about the guy turns into a "what Travis can't do" whine fest.
You mean, the way you took the opportunity to whine about Oden in a thread about LaMarcus Aldridge? Not that you can't, or shouldn't, but I find it odd that you dislike people complaining constantly about Outlaw, when you complain just as constantly about Oden.
It wasn't whining, it was a fact. Show me where I was wrong in my post there. Also, if you think I am complaining constantly about Oden, you obviously aren't reading my posts.
Lots of people feel Outlaw's bad defense and inconsistency are fact. You seem to agree that Outlaw is not a good defender and is inconsistent. What you seem to object to is them constantly complaining about it. Sure I am. I'm not saying you think he's a bad player, but you spend many, many posts complaining about Oden's durability and whether he even wants to play. In any case, it's of no matter to me what you say about Oden. I just think it's strange that you both criticize Oden for certain things a lot, but get irritated at other people criticizing Outlaw a lot for certain things.
I guess it has to do with the production of those two players since the former was drafted in 2007, and also the varying excuses that are associated with him. I find it disingenuous for a poster to start a thread calling LMA a "horrble" rebounder considering that isn't why he was drafted. If pointing out that his defensive rebounding deficiency is magnified because the best defensive rebounder on the roster isn't on the court is considered criticism of Oden, then that's a 'you' issue.
I think that's a bit disingenuous, personally. The thread was asking why Aldridge doesn't get many rebounds. Not what issues make that lack of rebounds worse for the team. So going out of your way, off the topic a bit, to get in a comment about Oden's durability, does seem to be a criticism. I'm pretty sure if there were a thread about why Roy's defense is subpar and someone said "Well, Roy's defensive issues are magnified by Outlaw's awful defense," you'd be annoyed and probably call that comment needless. In any case, I've hijacked this thread enough, sorry. I just wanted to clarify, since you seemed to not understand why I felt that was a "criticism" of Oden. I'll leave you last word, if you want it.
Melo was owning Batum as well..you can't stop a player when they are hitting deep jump shots..he was just in one of those zones.
