Subscribe Feed (RSS)Hard to figure out where to start, but here we go, analyzing yet another opportunity wasted:
– This may be the only spot on the Web analyzing this game and not saying Portland’s struggling because it’s “young and inexperienced.” Come on, that’s such a lame alibi. This team lost by a single point. And it made enough mistakes to lose five games — and just wiping away a couple of them would have meant a win.
– Too many jump shots. You’ve heard it from Charles Barkley, Doug Collins, Jeff Van Gundy and the guy who picks up your garbage. Everybody knows it. But do you think that’s just a playoff problem?
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been a problem all season! We’ve talked about it over and over. The Blazers, once in a while, have made consistent efforts to get the ball inside. But even when they have, it’s been mostly from dribble penetration — not a reliable method of inside scoring. And since the Blazers get virtually no fastbreak points. The result is that in a series like this one, they’re left outside because the Rockets won’t allow dribble penetration.
Portland’s playbook may have plenty of postups in it, but those plays aren’t being called. And haven’t been called all season. I still think running Roy off a couple of cross screens and posting him up is a great play that’s never called. He’s probably the best post player Portland has.
– Travis Outlaw shooting the biggest shot of the game? Seriously, not when it’s a three. A two, sure, that’s fine. Hell, when Michael Jordan needed a three, he didn’t shoot it himself — he passed to Steve Kerr or John Paxson, proven clutch three-point shooters. Once again, for the second game in a row, it should have been Rudy’s shot.
– On another huge shot, Portland does what it always does — runs a clearout for Brandon Roy. The Rockets did what they have done all series — run to the spot where they know Brandon will be. The Rockets block the shot AND get an offensive foul from Roy. Regular readers of this blog will quietly note how many times this season I’ve written that with big games on the line against good defensive teams, they’re simple not going to allow Roy to play one-on-one. It’s ridiculous to even attempt such a thing. Or if he does, he’s got to drive knowing he’s going to have to dump the ball off — drive and kick, Brandon.
– Yup, the Blazer post defenders aren’t getting a fair chance to defend Yao. I believe they are paying the price for beating him up in the first two games of the series. I would guess the Rockets sent tape of those beatdowns to the league office and officials were instructed to clean up the post play. And Greg Oden gets the usual Greg Oden fouls. It’s too bad but it started months ago. So much of the next offseason depends on Oden’s development. I hope he’s up to the task.
– Honestly, I don’t know if this would do any good or not. But Rick Adelman doesn’t leave the officials alone. Ever. Never has. Either does Gregg Popovich or Doc Rivers or Phil Jackson. I’ve covered coaches from both extremes — Adelman, Jack Ramsay and Mike Dunleavy never stopped yapping at them. Mike Schuler, P.J. Carlesimo and now Nate McMillan never said much to them. My thought is this: If it seems as if the other team is getting all the calls, yet they’re on the refs all the time — you better go get your saddle and mount up. You better start riding them, too. It seems every time there’s a cheap foul on Oden, the camera shifts to McMillan, who is just sitting there on the bench without a peep. At some point, I think he probably ought to take a technical foul.
– What’s up with the rebounding? It’s not as if Portland is a team that can’t board. It led the league. When you’re being outhustled for the ball, though, it has to do with effort and personnel. Who is on the floor? In critical times, are your best rebounders on the court? Are they giving full effort? If they aren’t, they better not continue to be out there.
– Yes, I guess I’m a real homer because I still fully expect the Blazers to beat the Rockets Tuesday night and send this thing back to Texas. It might even be a rout. And if that happens, my money’s on Portland to win at Houston, too. Just make a couple fewer mistakes — I don’t think that’s asking a lot.
Tags: Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Houston Rockets, Nate McMillan, NBA playoffs, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Adelman, Yao Ming
So much of the next offseason depends on Oden’s development.
Last night watching Yao, I kept think what a phenomenal center he has turned into. But I remember his first couple of years in the league, and he was not that great. He made a lot of the same mistakes Oden made.
I think Oden has potential to turn into a center as good as Yao, I just think it’s going to take time and proper coaching. This is where I think Nate McMillan has got to step up. He really needs to work with Oden to develop an outside shot over the Summer. And he really needs to let Oden play more next year. If that means the Blazers lose a few more games, so be it. But Portland isn’t going to be a national contender, without a quality center. And Oden is that guy.
Also, I’m totally a homer as well. Because I genuinely believe the Blazers will win the next three games.
Not all their fault, don’t get me wrong but..
WTF is up with the Ref’s ? I swear that the NBA ref’s have more influence than ANY non-participant should ever have in a Sporting event. I was stuck wishing Rasheed was there to get a T and tell the ref’s OFF.
Brandon is getting better and better, Man what that guy could do with a Point Guard. He has to carry too much of the load, scoring,distributing the ball,rebounds,steals,blocks,mixing the gatorade. HELP ROY PLEASE !
Dwight,
I agree with you about the Blazers’ offensive struggles boiling down to their lack of a post-up game. One reason why: the Rockets have been allowed to do to Aldridge what the Blazers haven’t been allowed to do to Yao. That is, they’ve been able to push LMA out of his favorite post-up spot before he can receive the ball. If Aldridge forced the issue he might be able to draw a few of the same types of fouls Yao draws against Oden and Prz, but Aldridge tends to avoid those battles. Posting up Roy would be a good idea against most teams, but the Rockets have two beefy dudes guarding him and Roy is taking enough punishment as it is. Let’s face it, if Portland is going to win this series, somebody on their roster not named Roy is going to have to toughen up and challenge the Rockets’ interior defense.
Brian Duck, you’re so right about Roy’s workload. If the Blazers had a point guard who could get to the basket, Roy would be even more dangerous, especially at the end of games. The ball-handling duties are wearing on him, costing him quickness when it matters most. I’m not saying that Blake needs to be shipped out necessarily, but the Blazers need to do something to protect the longevity of their cornerstone.
Dwight,
Are you the same person who got onto the blog posters for complaining about refs?
Really and honestly after the 1st quarter I really didn’t think they affected the game….not to say they aren’t consistent, but the Blazers and Nate choked that one away.
I do have a question though, I get why Yao is protected (China market=$$$ for NBA), but why is Scola all the sudden able to get away with what he does? I spent most of the game watching him off the ball….he holds, pushes, grabs, etc almost everytime down the floor. When he has the ball he travels….a lot. He does hustle, is agressive but is Argentina that big of market for the NBA? He was a foul machine during the regular season and now he seems to have the 4 or 5 foul limit like Yao.
Houston in 6 unfortunately is looking like a reality. I see three upgrades that need to be made. And it will be an interesting summer to see if any changes are made.
Frye, Serg, Ruffin, Trout, could all be gone.
Dwight I heard you on the radio with Kenny and I agreed with what you said about Rudy. If I were him I would want out now with the way he has been used in the playoffs the past couple of games.
Seven turnovers in the fourth quarter. Those along with the offensive rebounds given up in the fourth are the story of the game. Everything else is window dressing. Sure, Travis taking that three was stupid. Brandon overplays his hand. LaMarcus has been totally intimidated out of his game. However about another one from the top of the key, LA?
You can’t avoid the young and inexperienced tag since it’s so obvious. What’s more, it’s showing up in the coaching. I checked and coming into this series Adleman had coached 145 playoff games and Nate McMillan had coached 17. Think that matters? I do. All of this is fodder for the off-season. Blazers will win on Tuesday but that’s it.
Justin,
Are you joking about Oden becoming as good as Yao? And as far as Yao not being ‘great’ his first couple of years? He averages over 25 pts/game.
Seriously folks, there should be no more apologies for Greg after this series. He is maybe worse than I thought, and I’ve never thought he was very good.
As far as the series being ‘over’. If the Blazers might pull out a win tomorrow, but they will almost certainly lose again in Game 6.
These close losses have illuminated what Portland needs to work on, and which players need to be allowed to “explore other opportunities” within the team or with other teams. Like you said on the show you hosted (that was terrific radio, listening to that made my lunch), KP’s easy work is done. It’s not going to be easy to dump the people they need to let go while maintaining team chemistry.
It’s also pretty clear that Nate’s in way over his head with coaching big men- they need to get Boston’s assistant or someone like Bob Lanier to fill Lucas’ shoes, and they need to do it yesterday. (Out of respect to Lucas’, they should hold the exact job title open for him until he passes away).
I’m grateful for a great season and I’ve enjoyed hearing them on the radio or watching them on internet outlets when Wheel’s unique style proves to be too grating.
>>It might even be a rout.
The team is so overdue for one. We have yet to challenge Houston’s psyche. Side-bar: The cadence of these games (one day off between incl. travel) suits our team better. Let’s face it, we have a mountain to climb, but I still have my calendar cleared for Saturday’s game 7.
Dwight,
I agree with everything you said except the part about “wiping a couple of their mistakes” would have meant a win. Wiping any one of their mistakes would have meant a win, or even wiping away the Houston basket that was after the shot clock expired.
Watching the game was quite painful last night. I was surprised how close the game actually was when it was over based upon all of the mental errors that were made.
Regarding the officiating, I think that outside of the 1st quarter fouls called on Joel & Greg, that the game was called fairly.
Here were a few glaring issues that I had last night:
1. Why did Travis take that shot? I felt that the decision to take that shot was almost as bad as the shot taken by Blake in game 3.
2. Von Wafer? I respect that he is a high energy, high intensity guy but he shouldn’t be able to put that many points on a team on a consistent basis.
3. Put a hand in somebody’s face. Louis Scola has been doing this all series to LA. When Blake went out to defend a Battier on a 3, he half-assedly put a hand up.
4. Lack of ball movement at times. At times during the series the Blazers get away from moving the ball. This tends to be the times when they blow a lead or create a larger gap to come back from.
I think there is still a chance Blazer’s can win the next 3 games but it is going to take the effort & determination that we had finishing out the season.
I think KP will have some difficult decisions in the offseason but I am excited to see what happens. I am also excited to see how Greg can improve over the offseason as well. I am hoping he can become a force on the offensive end by this time next season.
That has to be the worst ending of a game in years
for me.
Talk about pissing away a game.
Uggggg
You know, Dwight, when Barkley made the “they can’t win cuz they’re a jump shooting team” I took offense. I didn’t even give the comment a second thought (for the most part due to Barkley’s incessant non-basketball related comments…I figured whatever he had to say was tripe), but now I see the simple wisdom in his remark. You just can’t win that way.
Earlier this year you mentioned that the team with the most circles closest to the basket (when diagramming shots) is always going to win. Unfortunately, our diagram is pretty sparse down low. Houston’s wasn’t. They won.
As far as the Roy post-up move. Wasn’t this one of his go-to moves last season – and more so the season before? I loved that move.
And if I were LaMarcus, I would be embarrassed to see Scola’s line after each matchup. Scola isn’t a bad player – I won’t deny it – but LaMarcus is looking a little lost in that matchup at times. It should be a no-contest as far as skill and athleticism is concerned. Maybe he should undergo the “Greg Oden Workout” in this off-season.
GP
Dwight, God help me I agree with just about everything you said. Although I don’t know if Portland can win two at home.
M’Lady Aldridge and Outlaw are going to have to step it up if that’s going to happen. M’la was ok last night, but not good enough. He vanished in the fourth.
I have to say I agree about McMillan not getting on the refs enough. I understand he doesn’t want the team to focus on the refs, but the way they’re calling it on Joel and Greg is ridiculous. I don’t want it to go back to the old Charles Oakley, Pat Riley Knicks days, but the refs have to allow SOME contact in the post. I think Nate getting a technical might actually fire the guys up and show them the intensity they need to play with in order to pull this thing out.
Also, in looking at some of the comments here and elsewhere, I’m long past being tired of all the Oden detractors. Look how long it’s taken Dwight Howard to become the player he is now. He was drafted in 2004, FIVE YEARS AGO. It’s going to take some time for Oden to become a dominant force in this league. And, frankly, I like his style of play better; Howard wants to use his athleticism to get around/over you and dunk while Oden wants to overpower you and dunk ON you. Give him some time to develop his offensive skills (and to learn how NOT to foul on defense) and he’ll be great.
Oden/Pryzibilla 9 fouls
Yao 1 foul
The refs DO influence games
We are having trouble closing out road playoff games because YES we have never been there before…something were still learning and yah folks it does come with EXPERIENCE
Houston is benefitting from our ‘green-ness’. This is the team that couldn’t get out of the first round for the past 6 seasons now suddenly are one game away
Keep saying experience doesn’t matter…right now it is a bigger enemy to us than the rockets
Franklin,
If you don’t think #52 is any good, you obviously never watched him in college, particularly in that tournament run. There are a number of good reasons he was taken #1.
Big man performance (and development) depends on their teammates moreso than any other type of player. They need to look for him more often, as they did for stretches of game 4, if they want any production.
Franklin,
What’s with this continous hate on Greg? You come here solely to single out and criticize Greg and not make any decent comments about the team as a whole. Jeebus.
Yes, he needs to ride those refs and put them away wet.
Seriously, he needs to get after it!! Go Blazers!
Dwight,
Long time fan of yours. I totally agree with your last point. For some reason, I have total faith that we’ll pull this thing off. Big win at home tomorrow, better execution and a good first quarter in game 6, and we’ll be back in Portland for a big game Saturday night. We can do it.
WHat this team needs more than anything this off season is to get a real PG. Package Sergio and Outlaw and get it done KP. You’ve made a lot fo great moves, but passing on Outlaw for Devin Harris if you really had that opportunity last season is a huge mistake.
Outlaw may have sealed his post-season fate with this playoff series.
Dwight couldn’t agree more about the coaches needing to ride teh refs. All the great coaches in the league do it. I think you also forgot to mention Jerry Sloan. He’s definitely not afraid to get a T to fire his team up.
We haven’t seen Nate do that at all. With how lousy this series has gone, I can’t believe Nate doesn’t have even one technical. Even if its not to bitch at the refs, but just to fire up the team. We are down 3-1 and I dont think Nate or the Blazers are pissed yet. So what is it going to take?
I was on the bandwagon for making a trade at the deadline and I think you were too. We obviously need some grit and now I’m worried that guys like Sergio and Outlaw’s stock are sinking because of this series. Hopefully, we can still get some trade value out of them this summer. I think its clear Outlaw is not the backup PF we need.
I agree with a lot of what’s said here, but last night’s game was a perfect example of experience working for Ho and against Po. You can call it “lame” but that was the game. Ho turned it up early in the 4th and Po didn’t–as Joel said, “they wanted it more than us.”
That’s exactly the way the 4th qtr looked to me–it was a good example of Houston playing “been there, done that” and then doing what needed to be done when it counted–experience! The Blazers were too late in turning their game up a notch–inexperience!
It’s obvious the Blazers can beat this team on their court; they almost did it last night. The three most consistent players during the regular season made fundamental mistakes late in the 4th–Steve (not protecting ball), Joel (hurrying a pass), and Brandon (charging) and that was the ball game. I see all three of those mistakes NOT being made by those players in the near future.
The Blazers are young, but they are way ahead of the learning curve. We have to be patient while they learn
Man, that was a hard loss to watch.
The blazers make me sick right now
I want the most effective relationship between the Blazers and the refs. By effective, the one that is most likely to result in a fair game being called or better yet, one that is called to the Blazers advantage.
By that definition, an effective relationship could mean complaining all game long, using the media like Phil Jackson, Adelman, and the other coaches do, and sending tapes to the league.
It could mean stoic so that when you complain, they know it means something.
I’m not sure. But I’ve been wondering this whole series–in fact all year long–if the Blazers weren’t complaining enough.
I don’t want to see a bunch of whining on the court. It isn’t attractive. But if it gives other teams the advantage–which I fear it does, then I don’t think we should abstain from complaining based on some misguided sense of proper etiquette.
First of all, I’d like to say that I am a diehard Rockets fan…
To much of your suprise, probably, the fans in Houston are not that happy with the officiating in this series either. The main concern that I have read from Portland fans have to be regarding the officiatong of Yao. Understand, he is probably the toughest person to officiate in the league. There aren’t that many 7′6 centers with that kind of skill that he possesses.
Houston fans think the JP is a flopper….. and that Oden is just in there using MMA techniques to fight Yao for position. Granted, there has to be some contact in the post… but if you watch the tape, you have to see that if Oden or JP was to use that kind of defense and fronting on any other center in this league, they would be easily thrown on the floor since there is so much contact. Where is the line drawn? depends on the individual official… The refs just made those calls early in game 4 indicating that these techniques would not be tolerated. Just like in game 2 where there were 1000 calls on both teams, the teams have to adjust.
Secondly, when Roy goes to the hoop, you have to admit that he gets his fair share of calls. 13 foul shots compared to the contact Yao takes and he shoots 8? fair?
Thirdly, your team ISN’T going to get as many calls is because you are a jump shooting team. Besides Roy, who is aggressive to take it to the hoop to draw fouls?
So complain all you want, it’s the nature of the game. The team that is more aggressive, forces the action, will likely get more calls compared to the team that has blake’s 3s, fernandez 3’s, outlaw jumpshot, aldridge fadeaway… etc etc…
Houston is taking what we give them and beating us with it. You have to give them credit. Battie hit 2 huge 3’s last night and Landry sealed it with a jumper. Without Outlaw’s scoring lift, it’s too much pressure on Roy.
This has been a great series really — although I hate the refs, PDX’s mental breakdowns and Nate’s unexplainable distrust of Rudy. But we’re so close to being a really outstanding team — it’s f’ing frustrating!
What I’d like to see is for KP to work his magic and land Prince — I know we’d have to give up some talent and/or draft picks and I haven’t ran the GM deal on ESPN. However, we should work to make it happen — Detriot would be a willing trade partner.
Imagine if we just had Prince for say, 20 possessions, divided between games 3-4. We’d be up 3-1. I know he’s older, but I think it’d be great to have someone like that to basically defer to down the stretch.
Imagine if Prince caught that ball at the end of the game instead of Outlaw — I know as a fan I’d feel better, and I’m sure the players would too. The truth is we probably wouldn’t have been down at all that late in the game with Prince in the lineup.
Prince would be great to provide some leadership, be the #2 or #3 scoring option, and play some lockdown D on the 1, 2, 3 or 4.
I think we’d be a legit title contender with one simple move. (And I’m not suggesting that Outlaw is the fall guy here, he just happens to play the same position as Prince.)
Forget how many fouls Yao is called for. Battier and Artest are averaging less than 4 fouls per game between the with Artest averaging 1. Ron Artest fouls more than that taking off his warmups.
The refs again? It’s all their fault, right? Come on, Portland fans, grow up.
Right now I’m thinking that if the Blazers had a good coach like Rick Adelman, they’d be moving up to face the Lakers. Shane Battier said it after the game. Adelman’s team has a first, second, third and fourth option.
Something of which the Blazers could not be accused.
Every game the officiating has been the same — early foul trouble on Pryz and Oden. No one can touch Yao and the officials are afraid to call anything on Artest. This forces a complete change to Portland’s strategy and size advantage due to foul trouble, and the consequence has been Houston opening up early leads and staving Portland off. The foul disparity and the free throw shooting disparity, and overall the kid gloves we are forced to use while Houston slaps and mauls on defense. It’s desensitization of the refs and it works. Aggressive teams usually win, right? And to Nate, I would say, are you kidding me? If this is my team I am out there giving McCutcheon the biggest beezzzznitching out you have ever seen. Same thing in the game before and the game before. Sure your team isn’t playing well, but it’s because they are not being allowed to use their size equally and fairly….SO COMPLAIN COMPLAIN COMPLAIN. GET SOME FREAKING ENTHUSIASM, NATE!!!!
Danny,
Nice job spouting the party line from the NBA, inside/ aggressive teams get the calls, blah, blah blah.
Sorry that doesn’t cut it. Przybilla and Oden get called for BS touch faouls when Yao tries to get position, He runs down the court and runs over Oden, foul on Oden. And he comes over Pryzbilla’s back on a rebound, foul on Joel.
Artest and Battier are grabbing and hacking Roy all over the court and no calls. Check out Roy’s big turnover late in the 4th quarter when Artest supposedly knocked the ball off his leg. The reality is Artest hacked him across the arm and barely touched the ball.
I’m not saying there is some conspiracy to screw the Blazers. I’m sayin’ the refs are human and the BS whining by Adelman and the calculated PR offensive by the Houston press is affecting them.
Chris,
Have you seen Prince play lately?
I like trading Outlaw, but between Batum, Webster and Rudy/Roy in a 3 guard lineup we are fine for minutes at SF.
PG is where we need the biggest upgrade, our best assets to trade our Outlaw and Sergio, use them for that. Blake is a solid bu.
We can also let Fyre go and sign a solid veteran back-up PF to take Outlaw’s minutes there with our mid level, guys like Kurt Thomas, Joe Smith, etc. There are a few of them available every year.
I would not mind the refs betting on the game so much if they’d just bet FOR the Blazers once in a while.
Also, Nate is a joke. The Blazers will be the champs with him as the coach.