[BBert]

I had to laugh in the first quarter, remembering the shoot-first vs. pass-first arguments here, when our "Pass First" point guard, Blake, took 7 or 8 shots in what, about 8 or 9 minutes? And these weren't just gifts where he was left open, he was working for his shot.

He was hitting them though, I'll give him that.

Sebastian made some incredible passes tonight, the likes of which we haven't seen from him since last year. Too bad on most of them the other guy chumped the layup.

Sure he's going to make some bad ones. That's part of the learning process. If the coach doesn't give him the freedom to make a few mistakes he'll never learn which passes to make and which to hold off on.

I hope Nate will pull a Pritchard and use what's left of this season developing the players (Telfair, Webster, Outlaw) for next season. Heck, why not give Ha some occassional burn while we're at it?

[Hap]

Originally Posted by hasoos

The thing that really killed Portland last night? When they took the ball out of the PG hands and handed it off to Zach and Miles for isolations. They take too long to attack the basket, slowing up the attack and leaving other people standing around.

It does seem that they almost have to go back to Zach and Darius, so they don't pout. Telfair and Blake were hot, they should've ridden them more. But then they all the sudden start going to Darius and Zach..who bog down the offense (last night) and made poor decisions, bad passes.

You should always ride the guy who's hot, and last night that was Blake early, and Sebastian when he was playing.

[Hap]

Originally Posted by Blazer Bert

I had to laugh in the first quarter, remembering the shoot-first vs. pass-first arguments here, when our "Pass First" point guard, Blake, took 7 or 8 shots in what, about 8 or 9 minutes? And these weren't just gifts where he was left open, he was working for his shot.

He was hitting them though, I'll give him that.

Sebastian made some incredible passes tonight, the likes of which we haven't seen from him since last year. Too bad on most of them the other guy chumped the layup.

Sure he's going to make some bad ones. That's part of the learning process. If the coach doesn't give him the freedom to make a few mistakes he'll never learn which passes to make and which to hold off on.

I hope Nate will pull a Pritchard and use what's left of this season developing the players (Telfair, Webster, Outlaw) for next season. Heck, why not give Ha some occassional burn while we're at it?

I've noticed that the good games Blake has had (scoring wise) are when he plays kind of the opposite of what we fans hear from him and some fans, as to what is his "preference". A pass first PG.

I want a PG who looks to score as much as he looks to pass. And I think thats more of what Telfair is, and a little more of what Blake needs to be. Them being threats opens up the court more. Otherwise, you have defenders who can slack off of Darius when he's open outside, and double Zach. And you have defenders who can slack off on Telfair and Blake when they play a 2 man game with Zach.

It just makes a difference in the flow of the game.

[hasoos]

Sometimes I wonder if Blake needs to be told he is a SG to get him to shoot..maybe Nate is playing mind games with him to get him to take open shots.

[bballchik]

Originally Posted by Hap

Im not sure if it's ironic that he actually plays PG better when he's playing to his strengths, or just pathetic that it took Nate (and the coaches) 60+ games to figure that out.

I'm sure they knew that he played better in "his" style but that wasn't the team's philosophy going into this season. Nate wanted a different style of play. So it comes down to who wins, does change his entire offense and style for one guy or does one guy have to change for the team? Looks like the one guy might have won.

[bballchik]

Originally Posted by mediocre man

For those of you who always seem to point out Telfairs low assist totals please see Viktor Khryapa and Darius Miles. Telfair should have 4 assists. 2 on wide open lay-ups, and at least 2 more on easy jump shots that clanked off.

Very true our team is bad at finishing but keep in mind the other point guards play with those guys too. Blake still manages to pull out high assist games with them and he starts with Khryapa and Martell (who isn't making crap.) He'd probably have 30 assists per game if he played with a good team, and yes Telfair's assists would be up as well.

[bballchik]

Originally Posted by mediocre man

The great thing is we all have to look forward to the return of Juan Dixon. He's way more fun to watch than Telfair anyway. Telfair and Webster can go back to riding the bench where they can continue to develop.

maybe they'll trade him this summer. but come on webster looks like crap lately don't get too upset he sits on the bench he was 1 for 7.

[bballchik]

Originally Posted by hasoos

Sometimes I wonder if Blake needs to be told he is a SG to get him to shoot..maybe Nate is playing mind games with him to get him to take open shots.

and possibly mind games with other guys on the team? blake never gets the ball back once he gives it up. the only time he gets a shot off is when he brings it up the court and creates a shot for himself. i've heard nate in interviews saying the guys (actually i believe he called out zach and darius here) should have gone to blake more because he had a hot hand that night but zach and darius seem to pout when they dont' get the ball. last night blake barely touched the ball in the remainder of the game when he was in, it was all telfair and zach and darius. not that that's anything new, martell didn't get the ball at all the game before when he was in at sg. it seems sg stands for dont' pass the guy the ball instead of SHOOTING gaurd.

[Hap]

Originally Posted by bballchik

I'm sure they knew that he played better in "his" style but that wasn't the team's philosophy going into this season. Nate wanted a different style of play. So it comes down to who wins, does change his entire offense and style for one guy or does one guy have to change for the team? Looks like the one guy might have won.

you adjust to the strengths of your players. at least most good coaches do that.

and it's not like this team was winning a lot of games playing the coaches "way".

[Hap]

Originally Posted by bballchik

Very true our team is bad at finishing but keep in mind the other point guards play with those guys too. Blake still manages to pull out high assist games with them and he starts with Khryapa and Martell (who isn't making crap.) He'd probably have 30 assists per game if he played with a good team, and yes Telfair's assists would be up as well.

so, if Blake played with "those guys", he'd become the best PG to ever play the game?? I really hope you're just being hyperbolic there..30 assists a game as a TEAM would be generous, in those circumstances.

[southnc]

Both Blake and Telfair played excellent last night. There should have been a lot more assists between those two players, but the support wasn't there.

The stat that killed the Blazers last night was having THREE starters (Martel, Victor, and Joel) go a combined 2 points for the whole game!!

Not to mention those early 3rd qtr TOs.

[BBert]

Originally Posted by bballchik

I'm sure they knew that he played better in "his" style but that wasn't the team's philosophy going into this season. Nate wanted a different style of play. So it comes down to who wins, does change his entire offense and style for one guy or does one guy have to change for the team? Looks like the one guy might have won.

To me it looks more like Nate's system lost.

Edit: If you didn't notice, it was Blake who started out the game guns-a-blazin. Nate has taken the reigns off all the guards, not just Telfair.

[yakbladder]

Originally Posted by Hap

you adjust to the strengths of your players. at least most good coaches do that.

and it's not like this team was winning a lot of games playing the coaches "way".

But that's exactly her point. It may be his strength, but in order to play to his individual strength, you play against the team concept (or what Nate has defined as the team direction). But I'm sure any coach who doesn't let Telfair play "his way" must be a horrible coach in your eyes.

I can't help but just roll my eyes since so many people were so freaking eager to bash Damon when he was here for shooting the ball and now everyone wants Telfair to start scoring more and more. I agree that a PG should be able to hit a shot now and then but since they get the ball down the court, their first obligation is to get everyone involved and play to the TEAM'S strengths against the opposition.

I'd be interested to know how many people would like to have Stephon Marbury as their primary PG....