Comments on: Yes, the Trail Blazers are young . . . but where’s the youthful enthusiasm?

By: Blazer_Dawg

Blazer_Dawg — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:06:39 +0000

The reason the players dont have any enthusiasm is because Nate McMillan has taken it from them. He shows no confidence in players even when they’re playing great (case and point Batum last night was the catalyst for why we started to come back, but Nate HAS to put Travis in so he does and we lose) unless it’s his man like Travis or Roy. I think Nate McMillan is the problem for a lot of deficincies this team has. The fact we play at the slowest pace in the league just goes to show Nate McMillan doesn’t understand what he has in the players he has. We’re the youngest freakin team in the league, can we run a little bit please.

Plain and simple (and I’ve said it a million times) Nate is the problem. Until we get rid of him, we win nothing. I don’t think making the playoffs is a big accomplishment personally. Get rid of Nate, get rid of the problems. Keep Nate, continue to lose like Seattle did for years with him as their PG and their coach.

By: peacequiet

peacequiet — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:40:38 +0000

Thud,again.
Wow if that game doesn’t jolt one down to earth.

They didn’t look or play like a playoff team.

By: BlazerInOrlando

BlazerInOrlando — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:07:36 +0000

Hire Bobby Knight!!

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:06:23 +0000

Hi, Dwight.

While the Blazers made enough mistakes on their own to cost them yesterday’s game, IMO, Houston seems to be a team we don’t match up well with, physically. I hope we don’t play them in the playoffs…if we get to the playoffs.

Oden would have been a big help, which brings brings up another item…have you read yesterday’s Oregonian story about Oden actually having medical clearance to play and essentially opting not to? I was listening to an FM radio program this morning and the hosts and callers were really berating Greg as lacking toughness and having no heart. Do you think Oden is being overly cautious?

I haven’t given up on him yet, but his plight has been frustrating to endure as a fan. I sure wish he would surprise us tonight with an inspiring, unexpected appearance, a la Kevin Duckworth in the 1990 semi-finals with the Spurs.

By: Greg T.

Greg T. — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:28:15 +0000

You know, the ‘77 Blazers were pretty young too. Walton, third season. Lucas, third season. Hollins and Gross, second season. Johnny Davis, rookie season. All core players, all producing at a championship level.

One big difference between now and 1977: the Blazers had a GREAT coach then. And in 2009, they do not.

By: luanne53

luanne53 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:45:57 +0000

Totally agree with you, Dwight. Where is the spirited play of old? These guys are YOUNG and should have the fire power to stay competitive throughout the tough stretches. Let’s hope that they take it to the Spurs! Go Blazers!

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:38:59 +0000

Very good point with regard to the comeback that
fell short. The Blazers have been digging themselves a hole all year on the road in the first half against good teams. Then the comeback and the loss. If they lose the comeback means nothing. In fact, it is even more frustrating because if they played with that kind of energy in the first half they wouldn’t have to make a huge comeback.

On a side note, I can’t remember the last time I saw a player lose his confidence this season the way Channing Frye has. He can’t even make basic plays anymore. He is a shell of a player right now. I find myself hoping for Shavlik Randolph to get more playing time. Amazing.

By: marcus

marcus — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:36:33 +0000

Dwight,

Do you think the lack of energy and intensity is a result of Nate?

He stresses that all the games are equally important and that they want to come out the same for every one.

To me that seems wrong. Sure, you always want to win, but some games carry a different meaning and require a different level of intensity than others.

For example, every time we play Denver and Utah we should bring a playoff type intensity because those games are so important to our playoff position. How can you treat those games the exact same as say the Clipper game on Sunday?

Last night was a very important, playoff level game, and Portland needed to bring playoff level intensity and they didn’t.

Nate seems too calm about it and I wonder if that’s why the team doesn’t have a fire or an intensity behind them. I still think some of the guys on the team (Outlaw) need a coach to get in their face and instill that intensity. Nate doesn’t seem to do that.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:17:48 +0000

I’m usually not one criticize substitution patterns, but when the team was making its run in the 3rd to get within 5, wasn’t it Nic Batum who was leading the charge…at both ends of the floor. What does Nate do? He pulls him and puts in Trout. I’m a firm believer in stick with a player when he is hot and Nic was hot. I realize you want Trout in at the end of games to hit big shots, but this was with 14 minutes to go in the game. Nic made it back in midway through the fourth, but by then it was back to double-digit deficit. Take +/- numbers with a grain of salt but Nic was +22 and Travis was -17.

By: jayjaydubu

jayjaydubu — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:59:01 +0000

I saw energy…..it just doesn’t always translate into good basketball. And we did come back from almost 20 points down again to win the game. That takes energy.

A team like the Nuggets, who just got beat by 30+ points on its home floor, may have just given up at half time. The one thing you can count on is that this Blazer team will never give up. I think that is an important attribute that takes energy.

And there was plenty to be happy about in this game. Our starters clearly outplayed theirs, especially in the 2nd half and with Roy and Aldridge not having the best of games.