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Originally Posted by Kmurph
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...120/index.html
I think this article sums up very well the crux of the issue b\t Telfair and McMillan...
I posted about this awhile back...Nate's view of what a PG should be and what are Telfair's strengths do not completely mesh at this point...
Sebastian is at his best when he is pushing it up the floor, driving to the hoop and either scoring or dishing...he is understandably struggling with a slower 1/2 court game...We are talking about a kid here who is used to having the ball in his hands all the time, having to score all the time, having to be " the man" all the time....and now he is learning and struggling to adapt to a more of support based role under Nate's instructions.
I don't think there is ANYTHING wrong with being more of a scoring PG than a passing one, the NBA has its share of both who are successful...
IMO Nate needs to loosen the reigns on Telfair a little and let his strengths shine through...yes, Telfair needs to learn to include his teamates more...but if Nate's idea is to have Telfair pass and stand out on the perimeter then we might as well trade him now b\c he will nevere truly succeed under that scenario, and that would be a shame...
There has to be a middle ground b\t the two...yes Telfair can play better defense...yes, he can look to pass and set up his teamates more often and yes, he should be looking to initiate the offense quicker...none of these are impossible to overcome...but Telfair isn't Nate, and you know what? That is a good thing...Nate as a player was a great defender, but was almost non existent on offense...
Telfair can develop into an average defender but he has immense offensive potential and Nate needs to spend as much time focusing on a way to develop\nuture\maximize that, as he does on his shortcomings...He isn't you Nate...Telfair needs to adapt to what it takes to be an NBA PG but Nate also needs to adapt\reassess what HIS view of a PG should be, if Telfair ends up being a little of both then POR will be much better for it.
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This a great thread. However I disagree with
"IMO Nate needs to loosen the reigns on Telfair a little and let his strengths shine through...". To me Telfair already knows how to play his natural way. Nate is teaching him that he needs to be able to play the half court game much better and he would not IMO (and I think Nate's) if he isn't made to learn. Nate allowed him to play his game against his cousin in NY and Telfair played him to a standstill. But Telfair has not played the Half court game very well again IMO and gotten his teamates involved well up till last night. Since the injury he has been giving a concerted effort to play the half court game. I watched tha game on TIVO again today and looked for why they lost that lead.
It was not Telfair's fault. He hit Outlaw in the hands three times in position for him to score and Outlaw missed that monster dunk that would have been an incredible assist and score. It was Telfairs sprint toward the basket and stop on a dime and turn and hand it to Outlaw. Another of the three he penitrated via the dribble and handed to Outlaw under the basket in traffic and Outlaw dropped the ball missing the opportunity only to have Telfair recapture it and flip it to him again for the dunk and assist. The third time he hit Outlaw again only to have him miss another shot that was easily within his range. All should have been assists.
The whole team missed several shots in a row making the game close. Telfair played quite well in that stretch and made some really nice passes, not outstanding, just nice, but it gave gave me an improved hope that he will continue to learn and actually might reach Isiah Thomas stature in three to five years. The kid is determined and intellegent in basketball. Not unlike what Zack is doing with his passing.
Gary Payton was similar in style when he came into the league and I believe Telfair is better at this stage and age than Gary was at OSU at a similar age.
I may be reaching here but what I saw last night was enough to expect significant improvement in the next few weeks so that Telfair may unseat Blake. Time will tell if I am loony or not. I sure hope I am right.
gatorpops