Subscribe Feed (RSS)I like Nic Batum a lot. He’s got a great future. But for the Blazers, the future is NOW. Batum has been starting only because it’s Portland’s set lineup. But it’s time for a change because against the Rockets his offense isn’t good enough yet to be of any real help and the people he’s defending — either Ron Artest or Shane Battier — aren’t going to kill you, anyway.
Houston is one of those rare teams that doesn’t have a small forward who scores big. Rudy can handle Battier at the defensive end.
Fernandez is simply too good to be kept on the bench in this situation. It’s a luxury Portland can no longer afford. If there’s one change the Blazers should make in Game 5, it’s to put Rudy in the starting lineup and get him at least 36 minutes. Look at it this way, if Batum doesn’t start, he doesn’t play AT ALL. So why is he starting?
In this series, Rudy’s been Portland’s second-best player but hasn’t had enough playing time to make an impact. Batum was fine in the regular season and against certain teams in the playoffs — guarding Kobe, for instance — he’d be fine. But not now.
It’s Rudy time.
Tags: Dwight Jaynes, Houston Rockets, NBA playoffs, Nic Batum, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Fernandez, Shane Battier
I like it. But it won’t happen. Or will it? What do you think, Dwight?
This is where Nate’s stubborness can cost this team. I think he’s done a good job, but when he makes excuses for leaving Outlaw in over Rudy (for “defensive purposes”, as if Outlaw is such a better defensive player than Rudy…um, they’re both not good), I cringe. Rudy is playing better defensively in this series than he has all season long and is the more dangerous long-range shooter of the two.
Last night was a perfect example of some of the mind-boggling decision-making that goes on. Late game situations, you need a clutch bucket. Option 1, Brandon Roy. Option 2, Travis Outlaw? Huh? Has Nate been watching Rudy and Travis at all in this series? Nate, time to swallow your pride and tell Batum and Outlaw to sit on the bench with the pom-poms. Give Rudy more minutes please!!!
Amen, Dwight. I’ve been saying that all series long. Rudy is also the only player on this team who’s truly played pro playoff basketball already.
It makes perfect sense. That’s why Nate will never do it.
I agree, Dwight! In addition to starting Rudy, I think Larry Miller should go ahead and give Nate and Travis the night off on Tuesday. They seem to be the ones hurting us late in the game.
I agree.
And on that note (sort of), what is the point of swapping out Joel and Greg each time they rack up a couple of fouls. They are both equally effective and useful in their roles, but Greg is never given a chance to get his rythym going. We’ve seen what happens when Greg’s rythym is on, and it’s a beautiful thing. But, honestly, I don’t really care who is in, but swapping them out every 6 minutes due to foul trouble makes little sense to me. They’re going to get more winded walking to and from the bench then they are running up and down the court.
Double Amen. However, Nate’s stubbornness will prevent him from making the obvious choice. Just like last night when he left Rudy out of that play. (I don’t care what Nate says, Rudy was moving away from the play and thus not a clear option.) What was Nate thinking? Better yet, what was Travis thinking when he hoisted up that brick? Please Nate, let this team win!!!!
In the first six minutes of the 4th quarter Rudy goes 1-2 from the field, with both shots coming from inside ten feet, and pulls down two defensive rebounds. Nate then pulls Rudy for Travis, who immediately turns the ball over, and goes the rest of the game without scoring, or getting a single rebound. And then, decides to give Outlaw the final shot?
The Blazers should have traded Outlaw for Richard Jefferson when they had the chance.
The clear out play bothered me the most. It was initiated by a pick and pop play between Roy and Outlaw. Who was guarding Outlaw? Battier! Why would you run a pick and pop with Battier’s guy? Battier switched onto Roy and funneled him right into Hayes. Roy bought the fool’s gold. If you’re going to run a pick and pop/roll, the screener should be the guy being guarded by the weakest defensive player, which is not Battier.
Larry Miller: give Rudy more minutes or leave him go to another team. He´d have at least 30 minutes in any other NBA team.
Greetings from Europe – Madrid (Spain)
Rudy should be playing 35-45 minutes per game. Even if he is not shooting well, he plays solid defense.
I love Blake and he would make a great backup…but seriously folks we need a penetrating floor general. We have all the other pieces, but it is glaring that we really don’t have a starting point guard
Yes, Dwight! It’s Rudy time. IMO it has been since he moved here in September. Go Blazers!!
Rudy starting – I said that here two days ago.
-Why are the Blazers always trailing at the end of the first quarter?
-Why hasn’t Rudy taken the deciding three point shot in these last two games?
-After dominating the Rockets at the end of quarter 3 in game 4 with the big guard lineup why did the Blazers never play that lineup again?
Rudy needs to play more if Nate doesn’t see this he deserves to go.
-Jason
Hear, hear. This would go a long way to solving our beginning of the game problems. Right now, Fernandez is the second-best player on the team and needs more minutes.
However, who will score for the second unit? Travis? Maybe, every other night and every fourth possession and mixed in with a couple of turnovers or bad shots. Maybe that Bayless guy, hmmmm.
I like Channing’s game more than Travis’s during the playoffs. I would bench Travis – he just hasn’t figured out how to make himself ready mentally. Maybe next year (again). More time for Rudy – less for Batum (for these matchups I am not sure he has enough value given his lack of offense).
One of my huge concerns this past off season was that Rudy was going to be too good to only play behind B-Roy. And now we are seeing it. Rudy needs a lot more minutes. The problem is, where will they come from?
Could Rudy be our PG of the future? We have talked about Blake being a good SG when Roy is playing the point because he can spot up for 3. So how about having Rudy play PG at the start and then rotate Blake in as the SG or PG? Rudy should get the 32 a game that Blake is playing now and Blake should be closer to the 25 mins Rudy gets.
Just a thought
Have to strongly agree with the above post about taking Joel and Greg out too fast. Also, what is up with taking Sergio out after 2 fouls? Like he is going to play enough to foul out?
Perhaps what we really see here is a coaching staff unable or unwilling to make changes on the fly to take advantage of situations within a tight game. There is no doubt that Nate is the right coach for this team during the regular season. However, is he the right coach for this team in the post season? His game to game adjustments are ok, but within the game, he takes too long to make changes or try something outside his comfort zone. He has not tried anything remotely creative against Houston. Since the scouting reports are so thorough, he has to think of something, anything, outside that to try because Houston has taken away all the normal options. If Portland survived to play the Lakers, I think they would be swept in 4 simply because this series has taken so much from them mentally and part of that is because Nate keeps running the same players in and out at the same time every game. Start Rudy. Bring Bayless in to specifically to physically punish Wafer or Brooks. Houston is doing that to Portland, why not hit back? Point is, do something because this constant of doing the same thing every game is not working.
agree 100% but it will never happen with McClueless
rudy is not our answer at point… we’d be better off with brandon there. Blake is not our problem, having 4 sf’s with batum, outlaw, rudy, and martel is our problem. we need t unload some of them with bayless and rodriguez and get some veteran 1’s & 5’s.
it’s a nice thought, and down 3-1, I suppose some unconventional thinking is in order.
However, this would force Brandon Roy to cover Artest on the defensive end. That would just give Artest twice the opportunities to bump, slam, & grind on Brandon, wearing him down. It’s more then enough that Brandon has to deal with Artest in Poerland’s half court sets.
I do agree, that with Pryzbilla and Batum starting, the Blazers are basically going 3 on 5 on offense, and this makes things very easy for Houston’s defense, and exacts no cost to them for packing the paint, and doubling Roy and Aldridge.
How about Greg Oden starting too. The manchild was a beast in game 3 and he keeps Yao occupied on Defense which would allow Roy and LaMarcus more room to work at the rim. (Sorry Joel, just doesn’t have that “better not leave me open” factor on offense.) I like Rudy. but maybe not in the starting line-up but end gmae situation rather. He should’ve gotten the last two shots in the last two games, that is obvious. I think Nate should mix it up, try using Greg to occupy Yao and maybe some more of those dunks in lane like he had in Game 3. Rudy can help space the floor as well. With Blake, Roy, Frenandez, Aldridge, and Oden as the starting five in this series the points come from anywhere and everywhere. You want to go inside? roy, aldridge and oden. You want the midrange? Aldridge, Roy & frenandez (both off oden or aldridge screens.) You want perimeter shooting? Fernandez, Roy, and Blake. You have three options for all three areas of the court. no one can be left off man.
I tend to agree because I really like Rudy and, like Panama, I think he’s a good defender in that he has the best anticipation of where the ball’s going next of any Blazer.
I think we are witnesses to Nate learning how to coach in the playoffs the same way the players are learning how to play. It’s sometimes painful to watch. No excuses–reality.
The player that’s killing them is Scola! He’s one of the top players at his position in the league for fouls committed, and yet Portland can’t get him off the floor. Look at Aldrich, 1 foul in 45 minutes, in my mind he has got to do a better job of getting Scola on the bench. Those open 17 foot J’s he’s knocking down are just demoralizing as hell! The guy they need to leave open is Artest, the way the ball sticks in his hands and the shots that he takes just screws up Huston’s offence. Forget about trying to get Yao Ming in trouble, that’s just not going to happen, so get Scola off the floor and let Artest chuck up all the shots he wants.
I love Rudy. I think he should be playing more, regardless of whether or not he’s in a starting role.
But Rudy is not a good defender, not yet at least. And against guys like Shane Battier and Ron Artest, Rudy is going to get pummeled.
Reading most of these comments after a ONE POINT LOSS is giving me a headache. Nate clueless? This team must have won 54 games by accident.
“This team must have won 54 games by accident.”
Nearly so. I can’t count the number of times Jarret Jack destroyed the momentum last year or Przybilla getting 20 minutes per game when we had no real backup.
This year it has been very difficult for McMillian to play the wrong person. Frye is no longer an option and almost everyone on the bench is actually good.
The team often seems to win despite McMillian’s coaching instead of because of it.
Rudy can shoot; Rudy can pass; Rudy moves without the ball; why does Rudy play so few minutes? Rudy takes more risks than Nate can tolerate. Not that I am a fan of turnovers, but it seems that we (the whole Blazer team) don’t take enough risks and force turnovers and/or run the ball. Rudy (and Sergio) will attempt passes and force the pace where Blake and Roy will not. Why doesn’t one of the youngest and most athletic teams (the Blazers) run more on one of the slowest teams (the Rockets)? Yao cannot play a fast-paced game, but we decide since we can’t get him in foul trouble with ill-advised one-on-one attacks, we’ll play a painfully slow pace that allows Yao to be on the floor for 44 minutes? Yes, Greg had 5 fouls in 11 minutes and Joel had 4 in 27 minutes, but we have to capitalize on our abilities rather than in fear of making mistakes.
Last year I was convinced that the only way Nate wouldn’t play Jarrett Jack was if he wasn’t here. Two years ago, the only way Nate wouldn’t play Z-Bo was if he wasn’t here. Yes, Nate’s playing rotation resulted in 54 wins, but it sure seems like we need to see more minutes out of Rudy and Oden and more ball and player movement out of everyone.
Let’s run, take some risks, get more assists and play more free-flowing rather than being so constricted and relying so much on Roy’s one-on-one play.
It’s not about who starts, it’s about who finishes. The starting line-up can stay the same, but I want to see Rudy get Outlaw’s closing 4th Qtr minutes.
Great minds think alike Dwight
. I agree, he needs a more significant role with this team. I also agree with Canzano that it should have been him taking the final shot last night.
McMillan needs to throw the Rockets a nasty curveball followed by a pitch high and inside, some chin-music and then a filthy slider away.
Bottom line, we have not created any matchup problems, we are not creative enough. Our most creative player, Rudy and best shooter, is playing 20 minutes a game at the expense of victories. Our best creative point guard is languishing on the bench.
Worst of all, we are one of the tallest teams in the NBA, a matchup nightmare and Carl Landry, at 6′7 and Scola at 6′8 are absolutely schooling us.
Change it up Nate, or we’re going fishing soon. Adelman is doing more with less. Other than Yao, they have a hodgepodge of role players.
I’d like to see just once, Rudy, Roy, LA, Oden, Pryz, even Fry for crying out loud.
Greg Oden is worthless!!!!!!! RIGHT NOW!
He maybe makes a few plays a game but when you consider what he costs us on defense……the only rebound he will get is the lucky one. He seems very stupid when it comes to court awareness. Does he just think that slow? Slow reacting!!! Just not ball smart. He may be big but we need to trade him. RUDY is my man. Joel P. is our only offensive rebounder on the team. As soon as our team shoots…….watch the entire teams beats it down to the other end of the court………Oh yea…..by the way….Steve Blake has been in a major funk in the last two games…….This is not the same team we watched in the season……..Greg is the same……….lousy.
Rudy needs to be getting at least 30 minute every night. No excuses. The boy is a big time gamer and is as clutch at they come. (see Olympic gold medal game)
Hi Judy,
G.O. had 6.2 offensive rebounds per 48 minutes this season. Joel had 5.0.
I see it now, Rudy will NOT start ’cause he isn’t one of McMillan’s ‘Boyz’…the fans want him, Blazer basketball being exciting again wants him, but Nate would rather HIS roster decisions be the ones that pans out…inexplicable the rotations he uses, plain transparent!! What, does he think coaching just happens on the practice floor? Sometimes you have to react, change it up, go with something that’s WORKING…
Maybe Nate’s time has come and gone, he can go somewhere else and ‘grow’ another team like he’s good at. Any of 20+ coaches in this league (probably an under-estimate) could have done just as well this year with THIS roster of coach able talent…
Kent,
I agree with you completely with our coaching staff. It just bugs me to no end that MacMillan (while solid), displays no creativity or intuition to the current game flow. I think it’s too soon to tell about his patterns. Maybe he’s “young and inexperienced” like his players. I don’t know. I think if it’s the same next year, then I’m figuring it’s some inherent flaw thing.
The misuse of Rudy just baffles me as a fan. Here I feel this is Nate’s weakness as coach is exemplified. There is a serious lack of intuition (or tunnel vision) to not get a good read that your one player is shooting lights out. Here is a guy who could of played our version of the Bull’s Steve Kerr. Also, often times earlier in the season, I always hated that he’d yank the hot hand just so he could religiously stick to his playing rotations.
I agree with Vcubed 100% the team needs to run every play make or miss Roy or steve or Rudy or even sergio we just need to RUN RUN get more dimes more dunks on fast breaks more up tempo. And rudy does need to be in the game in the fourth Qrt. and even at the end of games to maybe take that last shot if need be look what he did in game three and four.
Nate learning how to coach in the playoffs
Nate has been an NBA head coach for nine years. This is his third team in the playoffs, and his fourth playoff series. I think he’s used up all his “trainee” chips.
Judy is worthless because she doesn’t watch the games. Any bafoon can see that Greg is giving Yao fits. Oh and maybe the fact that Greg is actually boxing out Yao, unlike Joel who only does it some of the time, is why he is not getting rebounds. He is busy doing his job so his TEAM can rebound and so his TEAM can compete.
Oh and Judy, Greg doesn’t cost the trailblazers on defense. Yao, the man he is assigned to lockdown, doesn’t score on Greg. He scores on Joel. You just don’t watch the games do you? Greg is driving Yao crazy, the refs know it, the Chinese media knows it, but apparently you don’t know it. I am here to tell you that I know it. I have witnessed it with my own eyes, Greg is better in this series than Joel, because Joel doesn’t irritate Yao the way Greg does. Plus Yao doesn’t guard Joel, he does, and has to guard Greg.
So who really is the liability? Greg or Joel? It’s not Greg. He is still just a rookie though.
Some interesting questions here.
1. Anyone who says Rudy is not a good defender are out of their f’n mind. Provide some examples. He is probably our second best defender on the team.
2. Steve Blake is not a PG of the future, he is a small sized SG.
3. Rudy Fernandez would be ideal for point guard. Height, speed, passing, floor general, always aware and see’s the court through a PG mind.
4. Nate is lackluster and his true colors and rigidness are starting to show.
Meh – but I am glad all you fans that argued with me ALLLLLL YEAAAAR LOOOONG (and part last year) are finally realizing Blake and McMillian are mediocre.. at the VERY BEST.