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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SolidGuy3

McMillan lead the NBA in steals per game one season. McMillan was a great defender and he wants a PG like him. Chris Paul is #3 in steals per game and that's only as a rookie, imagine what he can do 5 years down the line.

Todd

Just what we need, another Damon "jack the ball up" Stoudamire. We don't need to put a band aid on this, Telfair needs to be shipped out for another piece of the puzzle.

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hasoos

I actually think also that part of the problem is that whenever Telfair is out on the floor, he teams them with another short guard. This doubles up because of defensive issues. The other night against Toronto, he was trying Telfair and Jack at the same time, so barely 6' and 6'3" vs Jalen Rose and Mike James who are 6'4" and 6"8ish. Wonder why Toronto went on a scoring tear? Top it off with the fact that both of those guys have a ton of experience to use against youngsters, and no wonder its not pretty results in the end.

Lastly, Telfair has to learn how to not totally dominate the ball, all the time. Pass for the sake of making the defense think a little bit. You will get the ball back eventually.

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Hasoos

rx2web

While I appreciate people commenting on how well other players are doing in relation to our own. I wish people would just drop all the arguments that go to the tune of, "X GM should have drafted Y player. Look how well Y player is doing." We didn't get Y player. We aren't going to get Y player, lets focus on what we do have and how to use what we have and can reasonably get to make our team better. We get it. We didn't draft, trade for, offer money to Y player that was on the market that we could have had. Thanks for the comments and lets move on. Not that you spoke like this, Solidguy3, just your comment reminded me of something that's been eating at me for a few days now.

Kmurph

yawn

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EastCoastBlazer

Nate is a fantastic coach and he is smart enough to know that Zach and Ruben on the inside shoot a very high percentage. This forces teams to double which leaves wide open j's and driving lanes for the perimeter players...if they are patient.

I think it would be more of a shame if the team didn't truly succeed that if Telfair didn't truly succeed.

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Sambonius

completely agree with this post. Telfair needs to have the green light, he isn't that dissimilar to Paul and can give similar results if given the opportunity.

handclap problematic

This might be the crux of the issue. But what about the Crux of the Biscuit?
Ok, maybe not everyone will know where that reference comes from.... any fans of music here?


Prunetang

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" I hate admitting that my enemies have a point. " ..........Salman Rushdie

BBert

Good post, Kmurph.

Your description reminded me of Zach's situation since Nate came on board. Zach credits Cheeks for teaching him how to play. I can see why, since Cheeks allowed him to be the focus of the team, a 20 and 10 guy, leading to the max contract. But Nate (and Luke) has spent almost half a season teaching Zach how to play a more successful style, teaching him more team-oriented basketball skills, and it's starting to pay off.

As you said, Telfair has played a certain way his whole life and been successful at it. I think Telfair can learn a lot from Nate about another way to play, one that takes advantage of all his teammates skills. This will make him a better player in the long run. Not because he will abandon his natural style (he won't) but because he'll have more skills to draw from, more ways to see a play unfold.

Eventually, I hope Nate will loosen the reigns and Telfair will utilize a broader range of options in how to run the team as situations dictate. I'd give someone like Telfair, fresh out of high school, at least three years to mature as an NBA point guard before deciding he's too limited to adapt and learn. But if not, if Telfair can only play one way and Nate can only coach one way, then of course a trade could be in order. I think Telfair will be just fine.

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BBert

The crux of the biscuit...is the apostrophe.

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In KP I trust.

gatorpops

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

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"LaMarcus is a poor man's nothing." (meaning he is the real thing)

"You just got a foretaste of what life is going to be like all the time in a couple of years.

"It was tough when what’s his name got hot"

...they've got to be a pain to prepare for defensively.

Kmurph

I hope you are right too Pops

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RPCity

This is something that worried me a little bit. It reminds me of the part in Moneyball where Billy Beane is talking about how former players who move into management or coaching always try to teach guys what worked for them because obviously that is the best way. I dont want Telfair to become Nate McMillan Jr. I want him to be an ideal version of Sebastian Telfair.

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