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Ken Berger: Blazers Hold Player's Only Meeting After Loss
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  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 11/28/2010 10:56 PM

    Via CBS-
     NEWARK, N.J. – The Trail Blazers had one of those players-only meetings Sunday night, which is what playoff teams do when they’ve lost three straight games, fallen to .500, and shown a startling in ability to close out games – at home and on the road.


    The culprit? Lack of execution, according to coach Nate McMillan. Lack of rhythm, added Brandon Roy. Effort, said Wesley Matthews. All good answers. But not the answer – not the problem that looks like it’s going to haunt the Blazers for months, if not longer.


    It was the lowest point of the season, everyone in the visiting locker room agreed after Portland turned in another lackluster fourth quarter and lost to the Nets 98-96. What’s scary about the Blazers, the team with by far the worst injury luck in the NBA, is that calling it the lowest point was optimistic. It may very well not be.


    When it rains on the Trail Blazers, it pours with a ferocity rarely seen. Greg Oden is recovering from his second microfracture surgery. Joel Przybilla was supposed to play his first game in almost a year Friday night against New Orleans and got sick. Sean Marks, signed as a stopgap to play 8-10 minutes again under the basket, is shelved with an ankle injury. And yet somehow, those aren’t the biggest concerns for a team whose future was once so bright. Roy, Portland’s superstar and closer, clearly isn’t physically able to perform either of those roles – and it’s not even December yet. His left knee is something all the players-only meetings in the world won’t fix.


    “I’m fine,” Roy said “I’m playing. I don’t have any excuses.”
    CONTINUE READING>>>

    I hate to say it, but this road trip is our crossroads for the 2011 campaign. Will this player's only meeting have the same effect as when Dre and Nate yelled at each other or is it already too late to fix the underlying issue which no one can seem to put their finger on?

    While Philly and Washington would seem like probable wins on this trip, it could be another story come game time. Philly is a house of horrors for us and the Wiz are young, which means they are sporadic and who knows if they will be clicking or not on Friday.
    I am a fan of
  1. BDawg
    BDawg
    Posts: 1455

    Posted 11/29/2010 5:27 AM

    I have to respectfully disagree.  I have been putting my finger on the underlying issues for quite some time now.  The Blazers' stable no longer has any horses in it...a couple of promising ponies maybe, but no horses.  All of the players meetings in the world will not help this team win games.

    Brandon Roy.  I said it all summer.  Get him some help.  He is shouldering too much of the load.  "Someone needs to save Brandon from Brandon".  Little did I know, that it was already too late.  BRoy went from being the face of this franchise, the cornerstone piece on a contender, a perennial all-star, this team's go-to guy/closer, and arguably the heart and soul of the Blazers to....a complimentary piece.  It all seemed to fans to have happened overnight.  As of late, since returning to the court, Roy has once again become this teams most effficient player offensively.  However, once again, his body is cashing checks for his heart and integrity.  For what?  At best, first round and out.  Likely?  A .500 season, maybe 45 wins, and that IS factoring Joel back in.  Shut Brandon down.  For the love of God, shut him down.  Those who do not learn from the past, are destined to repeat it.  A sequel to ignorance in this case, may find Brandon living the rest of his life with a walker or cane.

    What does this mean?  From a business perspective, the Blazers are once again in need of THE PIECE with which to build around.  Rebuilding is inevitable now.  Question is...now, or later?  Credit to ClydeFrog for being the first on these boards to suggest rebuilding was necessary.

    Currently, the Blazers are suffering from not only a lack of Roy, but maybe more importantly, a lack of Greg.  This team has NO post presence offensively, and even worse - now without the Roy of old - no player capable of taking his man off the dribble.  Our Blazers may be the easiest team to defend in the entire league right now.  Get used to low scores.  The foundation of the team that was constructed to be a contender, has now cracked beyond repair.  Stop construction.  Tear down the drywall and frame.  Remove electrical and plumbing, and start over.  Period. 
    I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE
  1. kenny c.
    kenny c.
    Posts: 412

    Posted 11/29/2010 5:49 AM

    I agree With half of what you said bdawg, we just need one player to score inside. Roy is still good, L.A. is all right, but we need a stallion to take over - just someone who can score consistently inside, Get this and this year we can still make the playoffs - the future, well, if we get a new F.P. we can start to build around this. It shouldn't be so hard to make a trade for the next center piece. CHo earn your money!!!!!!!!
    I am a fan of Winning
  1. Hg
    Hg
    Posts: 60

    Posted 11/29/2010 8:59 AM

     

    I don't see it is BRoy as the problem. When Matthews was inserted into the line-up in place of Batum and started scoring, BRoy and Dre happily fed him the ball and things were going somewhat smoothly. Although at the end of the game, I think making BRoy be the pg and turned the ball over twice could have very easily been the culprit. Of course he was being guarded by none other then Mr. 4th quarter himself, Travis Outlaw. Therefore we need a replacement for Travis as Mr. 4th quarter, and right now, although somewhat erotic and inconsistent, that is probably Wesley Matthews. BRoy isn't healthy enough to be PG or a facilitator because he is too vulnerable to being broke down due to his injury. I think if Dre brought the ball down to break down the D and use LMA, BRoy or Matthews (Batum if he gets his game back) be the options, instead of BRoy on ISO.

    For whatever the reason, the un-engaged Batum is more of the culprit then anyone else. True, Matthews is more then a willing sub for Batum, but the idea is to have both of them to take the heat off from BRoy. Therefore, BRoy trying to be the main scorer in the fourth is because no one else is either incapable or unwilling to take over the job.

    We need an Outlaw. Let it be Matthews for now because LMA attracts to much attention.

    I am a fan of
  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6475

    Posted 11/29/2010 11:57 AM

    Posted By kenny c. on 11/29/2010 5:49 AM
      It shouldn't be so hard to make a trade for the next center piece. CHo earn your money!!!!!!!!

    I don't fully agree with this. The NBA isn't just one giant version of NBA 2K11 where you can dupe and maneuver your way to a great trade that solves all of your problems. Right now, there are no center pieces out there to acquire. Melo isn't the answer. Iggy isn't the answer. Young studs like Westbrook, Rondo, or Curry for example are not on the market. Finally, we just don't have very many assets compared to prior seasons. Roy and Aldridge are talented players, but they were much more attractive to other teams when they were still on their rookie deals. Greg is injured so his value is low at the moment and you never, ever want to sell low. We have a couple expiring contracts, but I don't think they'd be enough to garner a franchise player. In my opinion, the best trading chip we have is Batum, but I don't think the fans nor the team have any desire to see him playing elsewhere any time soon.

    With that being said, I wouldn't put unrealistic expectations upon Cho or any of the front office staff. With Portland not being under the cap for the foreseeable future, the only way I can think of acquiring a franchise player is through the draft.
    I am a fan of
  1. Tobyus Sanchezo
    Tobyus Sanchezo
    Posts: 1599

    Posted 11/29/2010 5:16 PM

    We have no bench bigs
    That's your problem
    Our new GM is failing

    C- Pendergraph, got hurt in the field of battle, then got waived. BOOOOO
    C- Przybilla, recovering from injury, hasn't played since last year
    C- Oden, no go, knee surgery keeps him from playing until next season
    C- Oberto, did OK, but has a bad ticker, retired
    C- Marks, high ankle sprain, out 2 weeks

    Our reserve big guys are F 6'8" 220lb  Cunningham, and SF 6'7" 198lb Luke Babbitt.
    How the heck are we supposed to win NBA games with no bigs Cho? This ain't the 6'5" and under league, it's called the NBA dude.
    I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three
  1. TayC
    TayC
    Posts: 1804

    Posted 11/29/2010 6:36 PM

    Posted By Tobyus Sanchezo on 11/29/2010 5:16 PM
    We have no bench bigs
    That's your problem
    Our new GM is failing

    C- Pendergraph, got hurt in the field of battle, then got waived. BOOOOO
    C- Przybilla, recovering from injury, hasn't played since last year
    C- Oden, no go, knee surgery keeps him from playing until next season
    C- Oberto, did OK, but has a bad ticker, retired
    C- Marks, high ankle sprain, out 2 weeks

    Our reserve big guys are F 6'8" 220lb  Cunningham, and SF 6'7" 198lb Luke Babbitt.
    How the heck are we supposed to win NBA games with no bigs Cho? This ain't the 6'5" and under league, it's called the NBA dude.

    I agree with you man.
    Not even "bench bigs" , the Bench itself!!

    Oberto knew what he was getting into.....
    I mean Aldridge has a heart Ailment and he is still out there pushing, bumpin, fightin , bashin, doin work like a BIG MAN!
    Babbit at 6'7 though, you might as well sub him with WM for a better defensive outcome.
    I am a fan of The Blazers ♂, the £-Train, and of course, The ¤ King. ™
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