Subscribe Feed (RSS)I wanted to wait until the next morning to write about this, because it helps gain perspective. And that’s important in this case, because, yes, it was only an exhibition game.
That said, the Trail Blazers were miserable on defense last night in their 110-104 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Granted, the Suns can spread you out and make you look bad if their threes are going in. But Portland allowed them to hit 12 of 23 of them and a lot were wide open.
For a team that was supposed to be making defense a priority in training camp, this was embarrassing.
Same old defensive problems — not knowing how they want to defend the pick-and-roll, not closing out on open jump shooters, not getting back on defense. It wasn’t pretty.
Afterward, Nate McMillan blasted his team’s conditioning several times. If I were the team hearing that, I’d know what’s ahead — some punishing time in practice, running lines and all sorts of sprints. Nate was ticked — and took a lot of the blame himself, which he should, since conditioning is part of training camp routine.
More than conditioning, though, I thought they just didn’t play very hard. We may be going through a time with this team where the young players have been around long enough that they think they can just turn on the faucet when the regular season starts. But it doesn’t work that way.
Andre Miller was pretty good and Greg Oden was terrific. There are so many teams that don’t have centers who can guard Oden and he can feast on them if he gets the ball. He got it in the first half but not much in the second. Moving forward, that could be a problem. He could have easily gotten 25 or 30 against the Suns — who tried to defend him with Channing Frye, which will never work out.
I didn’t like the game much and quite obviously the coaching staff didn’t, either. But it’s just one more exhibition game. Enough said.
Tags: Andre Miller, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Nate McMillan, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers
I don’t really remember Nate McMillan’s game, but was he a defensively minded player?
Any chance we could get Gary Payton to help out on D after he gets done with the Beavers?
Hey Chris, Nate was definitely a defender. Defense: AAA, Defensive Rebounding: A. He was a 1/3/2, and the feeling was that if he were ever a full-time small forward, he would have been one of the best at that position in rebounding. Magic Johnson said he was one of his toughest opponents. Nate could even block shots! He was a solid backup point guard, and had his moments with three-pointers. He was an unusual player, in that he never averaged double figures in points, but played a 12 year career, having his number retired by the Sonics.
Chris, if I come up with a better name, I’ll name him (I assume that you’re younger than me at 36), but Nate was kind of like a Bruce Bowen, with the strong defense on 3s, 2s, and 1s. Bowen was a better three-point shooter, Nate was a better ball-handler/passer/playmaker. Nate was a “stat-sheet stuffer,” who could make an impact. In his and the Sonics prime, he would help, and have a line like 1/2 FG, 2 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. In fact, his type of game is great as a 6th man for a contending team.
I’ll let you and our fellow Blazers fans decide if this is a good or bad with Gary Payton, regarding his attitude, and if that would have a good or bad impact on the young players: In 1995-96, Portland at Seattle, I was sitting behind the basket, and late in the game Buck Williams barrelled Payton into the seats trying to foul. They exchanged words, and Gary told Buck that the Blazers never won a championship, “because they didn’t have a legitimate power forward.” One can argue both ways, that this type of jabbering takes away focus from the tasks at hand, but one can also say that maybe the Blazers need to adopt this type of attitude, to an extent.
Speaking of throwbacks, CT and I were talking yesterday about my video tape (video tape!) of the 1989-90 season. Well, I tried looking on Youtube, and found Game 6 Portland at Phoenix! If you want to watch, type in key words “Game 6, 1990 NBA Western Conference Finals; Blazers/Suns (part 1 of 15).” Goodness, I loved the NBA on CBS music, and I hope they bring it back if CBS ever gets the NBA rights in the future. I’m trying to see if they have Game 7 of Blazers/Spurs that year, and the clutch three-pointer by Clyde. Throwbacks…Also, you CAN find part 15 of 15 of that Blazers at Suns Game 6 on that same Youtube.
Any doubt that the Schonz was let go way too early was put to rest last night.
As for playing defense, declaring a starting line-up and the 3-4 main guys off the bench would really help. Then everybody can get their heads into the game. Right now too much looking over shoulders and not trusting each other.
Raph, who do you think will be a couple of talented “odd men out?” I was afraid that they’d have too much talent; so many players who want and deserve minutes, but only so many minutes to go around. Helpful Juwan Howard may play literally twice a week, at most.
I can say who should be in off the bench:
Joel
Nicolas
Rudy
Outlaw
When subbing, keep Miller or Roy on the floor
and Aldridge or Oden
Thanks Ralph Z. In your scenario, who’s the starting small forward? Is it Martell Webster? Or, are you thinking of a three guard Whistle While You Work lineup (Blake, Miller, and Roy)?
It was a replay of the Clipper game in L.A. Lot’s of Miller going 1 on 1, lot’s of mental lapses on defence, and not enough touches for Oden. Pretty poor showing overall.
That does not sound conducive to winning. Hopefully, that’s a correctable problem, because it sounds more like attitude, than lack of physical skills. I feel your frustration.
Where was Steve Jones last night?
I love Steve Jones. I hope that he got a championship ring in 1976-77, because he was the color commentator for the Blazers.
I agree the defense was terrible!!! It looked worse than last season and though it is early, that has me real concerned
I know it is pre-season and there is alot of juggling with the line-ups, but there is no excuse for such poor defense.
Maybe we need to consider shipping out some of our surplus talent and get us some defensive stoppers???
I’ve campainged for Nick Collison for a long time. He rebounds well per minute, is a decent post player, plays tough defense, a smart passer, and would be a great backup 4/5/3 for a near-contender like Portland. Add to the fact that Collison loves Seattle and plans to keep his home up here (on the lake, comparable to Dwight’s house). Think he wouldn’t love to play for an up-and-coming team like Portland, just 180 miles South of where he lives?