mediocre man

It might not be him entirely, but Nate needs to run Martell of some screens or something. Zach and Darius need to pass the damn ball to him also. It is pointless to have him out on the floor if they won't let him shoot. I mean how stupid are those two not to realize that he will help them get easier shots if they pass him the ball. The other gripe I have is Juan Dixon. If he's making shots then leave him in, but if not like last night then yank his *** out of there and let Martell have those minutes. Martell is a better shooter, defender, and rebounder. Why is Juan Dixon getting minutes when he was something like 3-12

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Talkhard

Agreed! Webster started the game, but then got yanked in about 5 minutes. I can't recall him touching the ball more than twice in that 5 minutes, and I know that his teammates were not looking to get him the ball. They definitely need to run some plays for Martell, because he's now showing that he can knock down the jumper.

MARIS61

Nate needs to get on board with the rebuilding plan. Clearly Zach Darius and Theo are never going to be a part of a successful team here. And Skinner? C'mon , let's get real.

Season's done. Let's play the future guys ALL the minutes and maybe we'll have a decent shot at a 1st round exit next year.

God, I miss winning.

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mediocre man

I miss winning too, but I think I'm ok with losing if it is helping the development of our future. Brian Skinner like Joel would be a fine role player for a contending team, but you're right about the others, they will not be apart of any contending Blazer teams IMO

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Ed O

Zach is 24.

Miles is 24.

Those guys aren't part of the rebuilding? Since when?

Why do we have to rely on players that are all under the age of 23 and/or have been in the NBA for fewer than three seasons as part of our rebuilding?

If we do that, it will be a perpetual cycle. If we have nothing but young guys, Webster and Telfair and Outlaw and whomever else we add will disappoint and then we'll have fans clamoring for removing them and using newer, younger guys to build around.

Put in Telfair for some of Blake's minutes last night and, like it or not, this is our team. This is our rebuilding effort. Getting rid of our best players as some sort of further housecleaning will only get us further away from being a decent team again.

Ed O.

mook

I'd kind of like to see Nate open it up a little for the youngsters. The first posession of the gamelast night Martel gets the ball on the first pass, is open, but passes it back to the PG. He had a decent shot from three, but he knew if he took it so early in the clock that Nate was going to yank him. He should be taking that shot every single time they give it to him, no matter what the clock says.

Outlaw is even worse. Outlaw never, ever forces a shot. Which you would normally say is good, but when you have a guy with his ability to elevate and to shoot, he should be forcing a shot once in a while. Take a chance and get aggressive. Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant didn't get to where they are today by only taking wide-open jumpers.

I'd like to see Nate go with the three small forward lineup more (Blake, Webster, Outlaw, Miles, Randolph). Run more of the offense through Webster and Outlaw, and let Randolph and Miles clean up garbage baskets (which they're better at doing than Outlaw/Webster anyway).

I think it's also time to start Skinner and bench Khryapa.

blue32

I like that... idea.....lots....

on my NBA team i have that lineup

Blake is an assist machine, i dont understand why he only plays 25 minutes a game...

southnc

I 2nd that! In the Celts game, that alley oop from Blake to Outlaw was something worth repeating as much as possible.

bballchik

While I agree that it is pointless to have him on the floor and not get him the ball and Zach and Darius really need to learn how to share (perhaps they skpped kindergarten as well as college?) Last night Zach had what 1 assist, definately pretty pathetic and I don't want to defend him or anything since the night before he had 7 and we did a lot better; but Martell wasn't exactly inspiring their confidence last night either. Maybe they passed more to him the night before when he was making his shots and less last night because he wasn't making them (he was 1 for 5-not so good). I recall Blake getting him 3 wide open looks, practically back to back in the corner by the opposing bench and he missed all 3. So he was getting the ball....just not by Zach and Darius....and he was missing, if that helps explain it at all.

bballchik

What's wrong with Skinner? I happen to think he's pretty darn good. He went for more rebounds, set more screens, and boxed out more in one game last night than Zach and Darius have all year.

And I hate to break it to you but Zach and Darius ARE your future guys, if you go by contracts at least. Zach has a whopping 5 years left on his contract, and Darius has 4. And correct me if I'm wrong but I think Telfair only has 2, Khryappa 2, and Outlaw 1.

bballchik

while I hate to admit it, cuz ur kinda crazy, i actually agree with you. i don't get why people scream about playing the youth and the future all the time when basically everyone on the team right now is youth with the exception of theo and dixon they are ALL under 26 sooo we pretty much are playing the youth, all the time, regardless. and playing the youngest of the young continually is not going to get us anywhere.

Blazer Maven

I agree.

Nate's offense in Seattle was running Allen and Lewis off screens all day, or setting up Lewis in the post to pass to cutters/drive or take the open jumper.

The same thing could be done with Webster and Khryapa/Outlaw and to a lesser extent, Miles.

I see too much stagation since he arrived in Portland. People bag on Zach for not being able to pass, yet he has had multiple games of 6+ assists, which was not the case prior to this season.

When there is no player movement, how do you expect Zach to pass?

Next season with Bargnani/Morrison/Roy in the 3 spot, I expect to see more of the perimter offense that Nate employed in Seattle, with Zach's low post/mid range game mixed in.

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