A very hard-earned Blazer win over the Bucks
Whatever problem Scott Skiles seems to have with his players — and I sense sometimes he has problems in that area (or with his front offices) — the guy can coach. I’m telling you, the Milwaukee Bucks played HARD against the Trail Blazers last night. And played pretty smart, too.
The Milwaukee defense was extremely difficult to penetrate for much of the game. Skiles used a lot of overplaying and ball denial to take Portland out of its comfort zone. Eventually, the Blazers were able to launch a lot of three-pointers and on this night, that was a good thing. The shots were going in and that was the difference in the game. Oh, that and Brandon Roy, who had another one of those special games.
It was a very physical game, a playoff-type test for Portland even though the Bucks are probably, with all the injuries, the least-talented team the Blazers will face for the remainder of the season. Again, credit to Skiles for coming up with a game plan that worked most of the night and getting his players to play so hard.
Roy and Steve Blake were the difference makers in this game, with a lot of help from Joel Przybilla. The team’s ball movement is getting much better, although I’d like to see the ball get inside to the post a little more often. (That’s kind of a broken record, isn’t it?).
And by the way, on this night it was Sergio Rodriguez’s turn to ride the merry-go-round that is the Blazers’ backup point guard rotation. He turned it over a few times, missed some assists when teammates blew wide-open shots at the basket but in general, played well considering it’s been three games since he’s been out there. They might as well sign somebody out of the D-League to a 10-day contract just to muddle that position up a little more.
Coaches, NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | March 22, 2009
. Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, Portland Trail Blazers, Scott Skiles, Sergio Rodriguez, Steve Blake
Sergio is better then Bayless bye far right now, that’s not a complement bye the way. Even Stevie Wonder can see that. Give me a break Nate.
The Bucks played one of the worst 3rd quarters our team has seen this year. We were down, they turned it over 4 straight times, suddenly we’re up. The tide never turned back for them.
Why do you keep pushing the idea that Nate or KP has messed up the backup PG position? Both the players competing for the job are playing poorly, how is this not their own fault? Let them own their own failures.
Dwight, please give thought to the fact that McMillan is consistently adapting to what he sees performance wise. The fault you describe is not limited to his approach to Sergio and Bayless but to the trial and error and repeat trial and error philosophy which also, btw, contibutes to Nate’s success.
Nate thought Bayless offered the team the best opportunity to win and went with him. That didn’t work out and so the change to Sergio.
Perhaps the truth is that neither of these players will prove NBA caliber points given their shooting deficits. Teams back off them for good reason. The fault lies in the fact that neither player can step up and be a consistent performer for the team rather than Nate jerking them in and out–do pros need to be coddled to perform? One of these two needs to prove himself capable in the job before it will be given him on a permanent basis, whatever the short term effect on them.
Very nice win. I have been wanting more leadership (if possible) from the starters and the result is….I think they are growing up way ahead o schedule.
The starters are looking like legit vets. Blake was a true gritty leader, that’s what we need from Blake, not just easy handoffs to to Roy and 3′s.
B-Roy seemingly gets better every game, is that even possible?
Pryz is the heart and soul and quite possibly underpaid. 14 rebounds again, that is bill walton in his prime stuff.
Yes good game by Blazers. I kept thinking it would get away.
Like many of you I was around when Clyde played here. He emerged from good starter to a great player. He did not burst on the scene great. I feel like I am watching that all over again with Roy. We need a name for him, like Clyde the glide.
I keep hoping Blazers find a Terry Porter to go with Roy. Every so often Steve Blake shows signs. like this game. then he doesn’t.
Hi Dwight,
At least the team is bringing some energy. The Blazer bench and BRoy are clearly are greatest strength. Go Blazers!
Glad to see Sergio back in there, he looked a lot more comfortable than Bayless has in the past few games. Let’s hope that little sit down time for Serg lit a fire in under his @$$ and gets him playing like the Sergio at the beginning of the year. So glad we’re back home now for 4 games, GO BLAZERS!!!!
Oh and P.S.- Dwight you and CIP were great on the radio the other day, you ever think of becoming like a weekly regular on Wheels or the BFT?
The starting unit played very well, and they will continue to play well as long as they do not put Oden back in the starting lineup.
For the Odenade drinkers, here are his stats from the game…. 2 points, 3 boards, 9 minutes and wait for it….. 5 fouls….. Wow….
Bob, my family is praying for you.
Bob @ Franklin drink Haterade instead
I wondered for a time if Blazers should have tried so hard to keep Pryzbilla, since we had NBAs next great center ready to play this year. Well sure glad they did. Pryzbilla is a warrior. Oden is not
For those who refuse to let GO grow up here are a few stats of the TBers last “next great center,” Jermaine O’Neal.
Since he came out of high school I won’t bother with his per game stats for his 1st two years.
3rd Yr- 3 pts/3 rebs (20 yrs old)
4th Yr- 4 pts/3 rebs
5th Yr- 13 pts/10 rebs (1st full season)
6th Yr-11th Yr he was close to 20/10 every yr and was a six-time all star.
I think it would be fair to give our current “next great center” at least 3 years of playing time before defining him as a “bust” or “not a warrior,” or “anything”. Can’t we just wait and see how he turns out?
Sure we can wait, thought I made that point about BRoy took him awhile to emerge as with Clyde, but still am glad we re-signed Pryz. we need him now.
I have no idea if GO can become a warrior, I hope so.
Lefty: Except it didn’t take long for Roy to arrive. Rookie of the year his first season, an All-Star the next, and talk of being a top 10 player in his third season. If that’s taking awhile to emerge, then I am lost.
That said, I completely agree that Oden will take a few years to fully emerge. Can’t wait.
I wonder if Dwight is still working hard to convince the Odenites in here that Oden is not a bust….because at this point it’s getting to be very hard sell.
Franklin – it isn’t hard to sell if you remember that Oden is a rookie. Any fan with half a brain knows that rookies are never considered busts. It takes years to figure out who the busts are.
Dwight – I know you were joking about signing a NBA-DL PG … but the Blazers should seriously sign Will Conroy … if you haven’t seen them, check out his sick NBA-DL numbers … besides being a good friend of BRoy, there’s NO doubt he’d give us more than Sergio or Bayless right now … I love Bayless longer-term, but Conroy would be a big upgrade right now!
Of course Roy played 4 years in college so he is in a pretty unique situationm these days for a lottery pick level talent, most 4 year college guys are late 1st rounders at best. basically a fluke since he had a knee injury that kept him in college, heck he almost went pro right out of highschool and decided at the last minute to go to school instead.
Blazers advantage that BRoy finished school. Had Jermaine done more school he might be our center of today
As for BRoy rookie of year means what? who was 2nd place? How many of them have become big stars? It takes some time. If you think BRoy was superstar that first year good for you. He was simply a good rookie.
As far as I am concerned he is still not yet superstar, but getting close. then I have very short list of superstars.
Lefty, I’m not saying Roy is or is not a superstar as that is a completely subjective argument at this point. All I’m saying is that it didn’t take him long at all to become an all-star shooting guard in the NBA. There really aren’t many NBA’ers who got where they are today any faster than Roy. Lebron and Shaq are a few exceptions. I just don’t think your statement about Roy taking awhile to emerge is valid at all. Given the environment he was thrown into, I just don’t see how he could have emerged any faster. Who does?
But I agree most that Oden is in a completely different boat. Having only played a year of college and coming down with that injury last year, there is no reason to expect him to acclimate as fast (slow?) as Roy did.
All I said was BRoy and Clyde are on same path and I still think that. perhaps emerge was wrong word, but for certain BRoy is better now than ate end of first year, Can I change emerge to grow.