Batum Is THAT Important

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Jeff Pickett
Thumbnail image for BatumSmaller.jpg
The good old days. Photo credit: OregonLive

When our talented second-year small forward Nicolas Batum was shelved to have surgery on a nagging torn labrum, it felt like a blow, of course, but a survivable one. Sure, he'd played impressively for the French national team over the summer, but we're chock full of small forwards.

Three games into the season, I have a newfound appreciation for the value of Batum. I can't help but think that if he had been playing, we'd be 3-0 right now. Why? His amazing defense, of course.

In our two losses, the opposing small forwards killed us. First, Carmelo Anthony proved unstoppable down the stretch on his way to the first 40-point game in the league this season. Then, yesterday, Trevor Ariza went for a career-high 33 in exacting revenge for our season-opening win over the Rockets (in which, it must be said, he only had 12).

So what to do about defending small forwards? The first thing that comes to mind is that we'll have to double-team more. When I watch the Blazers face the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant this season, my fingernails are going to suffer far worse than when Batum was tasked with locking those guys down.

We have to try something more to adjust for the defensive ability we've lost. Because if the pace we're on continues, we're going to lose 55 games this year due to Batum's absence.

Other quick observations:

- He may be no Nicolas Batum on defense, but Martell Webster is looking great on the offensive end. I love the ferocity with which he's taking the ball to the hoop. He's a good shooter - and maybe someday he'll be a great one - but he's sneaky athletic, too.

- I was working on a theory that when Greg Oden gets as many blocks as turnovers, we win. However, that has been wrong every game - he had 7 turnovers to offset 5 blocks in the first, but we prevailed nonetheless. The next two times out, he recorded more blocks than turnovers, and a lot of good it did us. But I'll take the 10 rips and north of 3 blocks a game so far from Oden.


Tags: Carmelo Anthony, Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Martell Webster, Nicolas Batum, Trevor Ariza

Two Steps Forward, a Half-Step Step Back

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Max Handelman
Well, Game 1 of 82 is in the books and on the whole it was a bit of a mess. 

Yes, the Blazers got the win and at times were blowing out the undermanned, undersized, and decidedly unentertaining Rockets. But Portland failed to put their foot on the neck of their opponent, and the Rockets put up 31 points in the 4th Quarter, making the game far closer than it should have been.

That said, it was the first game of the season, rust is to be expected, and sitting on a big lead at home is always difficult. And that big lead would not have existed had the Blazers not played well in bursts.

The following are the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the game:

The Good: Martell Webster appears to be back, and as bad as Travis Outlaw looked in the preseason, he looked great last night. Between them, the put up 37 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and 4 steals. Obviously, we're not going to see that every night out of Webster and Outlaw (and what happens when Batum returns?) but that sort of production from them will make a huge difference.

The Bad: Brandon Roy is still clearly working to find his comfort zone on this revamped team. He got his 20 points, but it took 18 (Kobe-like) shots for Roy to do it and he only made 5. Yes, he produced his Roy-like 5 rebounds and 5 assists. And it seems likely that Roy will settle into a groove in this first month of the season, but he's not there yet.

The Ugly: Greg Oden is a naughty boy. So tempting. So alluring. But still, so confusing and at times disappointing. On the defensive end, Oden was beast-like with 10 rebounds and a devastating 5 blocks in only 26 minutes. For three quarters, he managed to stay out of foul trouble and play smart. But you could almost see the bottom fall out on him in the 4th quarter. He clearly got tired (conditioning is still an issue, kids), stopped moving his feet, started flailing his arms, started stumbling into players, and quickly picked up his usual bush league fouls. But overall defensively, Oden was a huge presence.

But the real ugliness was there on offense. With Oden, it appears to be two steps forward and a half-step back. After feasting in the preseason on undersized centers, getting his shot at will, and going to the line repeatedly, Greg Oden against the Houston Rockets' undersized, Yao Ming-less front line took all of 3 shots, went to the line ZERO times. Now, a lot of that can be put on his teammates. For whatever reason, they did not get him the ball enough for good shots. But a lot of that is also on Oden not doing enough with the ball when he got it. He had a brutal 7 turnovers. If your point guard has 7 turnovers, that's a bad night but you live with it because h handles the ball all the time. If your center has 7 turnovers, that's ugly.

A lot of people have been calling for a lot more of the offense to run through Greg Oden this season. "Greg Oden CAN score, so he should score!" yelped Dwight Jaynes. "Defense is the focus but Greg Oden has become a force on offense, too" proclaimed Joe Freeman. And "Here comes ... Greg Oden" muttered I.

Last night's game against the Rockets was a game we'd all hope Oden could dominate. But last night's game was a reminder that there are still going to many bumps on the road for him.

Onward ...
Tags: Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw

The 8-man rotation and Dre's coming out party

Posted on October 28, 2009 by Rick Johannessen
What is this the playoffs?  Have we narrowed the rotation already to 8 guys?  Hard to tell after one game.  We knew who the starting five for the Blazers are - Blake, Roy, Webster, LMA, Oden.  We also knew who the first people of the bench should be (Dre, Outlaw, Rudy, Przy), depending on the starters play and foul trouble situation.  But what I didn't truly appreciate, and absolutely loved to see, was Dre's affect on the team and the game. 

Sure, Outlaw gets last nights game ball, but he came in locked in, was gifted Ariza as a cover instead of Battier who brutalized him so badly in the playoffs, and also played more because of LMA foul trouble which shouldn't happen every night.  But for me, the real spice was Andre Miller in that second quarter.  I'm a believer in Nate's "second unit" and if Dre had any concerns against coming off the bench, I trust after last night, Dre is converted.

Blake feels better as the starter, just like Martell does over Outlaw.  But that second unit - Dre, Rudy and Outlaw should be able feast nightly at the beginning of every second quarter going forward.  The Blazers were pretty good at jumping on the beginning of quarters last season, but with Dre instead of Sergio, that group goes to the next level.  That my friends, will be one of the biggest reasons for improvement this season. 
Tags: Andre Miller, Joel Pryzbilla, Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw

Finally.

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Rick Johannessen
We have real games to watch!  Yessssssssssss.  As I watch the end of the first quarter of the Celtics-Cavs kick off, I just ordered the free preview on NBA League Broadband to watch the Blazers game.  Hopefully they've improved in the off-season and because I live outside of the KGW coverage, (New York!) I'll be a buyer if it all works well.

Some passing thoughts:

  • Can't friggin wait to see Oden smash it on his first touch and stare down on his unsuspecting victim who will no doubt be sprawled out all over the hard wood.

  • Brandon Roy just do what you've been doing.

  • Martell!  I've been your biggest advocate since joining the league, especially with the folks around here.  Please. Do. Good. Things.

  • I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Batum in the rotation.  

  • Is this the year we see Outlaw regress?

  • Will we see J-Bay get real burn?  Andre to J-Rex!

I'm as big a homer as their exists - case in point, I auto-picked a team last weekend in my main fantasy basketball league and drafted Pau in the second round.  The very first chance I got, I ran to the LMA owner and got him to send me LMA for Pau straight-up.  Yes, that was the only way to get through this season.

Let's go Blazers!
Tags: Andre Miller, Jerryd Bayless, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw

Free J-Bay?

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Max Handelman

by Jeff Picket, Peppy New Beyondbowie Blogger

bayless fouled


Seeing Jerryd Bayless play at the 2008 NBA Vegas Summer League was a religious experience for me. Not that I had expected it to be. My dad had talked him up during his sole year at Arizona, but as a Wildcat himself, I figured my dad may not have been the best judge of J-Bay's talents. 

After hearing Jerryd put up a few nice games at the Las Vegas Summer League, I happened to find myself in Sin City. I dragged my dad and my fiancée to the Blazers' final tilt, against Robin Lopez's Suns. The Blazers only scored 11 points in the first quarter, and it was hard to tell Jerryd was even in the game. By the time it was over, Mr. Bayless had poured in 36 points and had three steals to boot...and I was a convert.

Well, the level of competition is indisputably different, but I think J-Bay can dominate like this in the NBA - now. Hell, he's already done it once. His game against the Nets last year was scintillating. His flying, hesitating, two-handed dunk along the baseline was one of the highlights of the season. It's one game, I know. But I think he's going to start doing it more often the minute we give him even a modicum of playing time.


Jerryd brings an X factor that we need. He can play the 1 and he can play the 2. With his penetrating and scoring abilities in the equation, we become a much more difficult team to prepare for. And I don't think we give up anything with him in. He defends well enough. His assist rate is low, but he can a) improve in that area or b) play alongside Andre or Steve, when Brandon is out. This kid is too good to keep on the bench. This is insanity. If he were on the (world champion) Lakers he'd get more run than he's likely to on the Blazers.

We bought the car - why not take it out for a spin? So his inexperience costs us a game or two that we should win. Thanks to his offensive creativity, we'll win plenty that we would likely lose with him riding the pine as he does now.

Tags: Jerryd Bayless, Robin Lopez

Blazers to stream games online means...

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Rick Johannessen
Blazers fans everywhere should be able to get their fix effective immediately through blazers.com.  That is, all KGW covered games at first and all Comcast covered games (hopefully) by the end of the year.

Dwight Jaynes first reported this last week and OLive, BlazersEdge et all confirmed that Larry Miller, the Blazers team President, told Courtside with Mike Barrett, Mike Rice and Brian Wheeler last night.


Tags: Brian Wheeler, Dwight Jaynes, Larry Miller, Mike Barret, Mike Rice

Here comes .... Greg Oden.

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Max Handelman
Greg OdenGreg Oden skeptics, haters, and bellyachers are still very much within their rights to be wary of Greg Oden today and in the future. But what cannot be denied is the obvious: Greg Oden has returned this season in considerably better shape - 14 pounds lighter according to various reports - with noticeably better quickness, and the appearance of increased confidence and comfortability on the court.

The Blazers first two preseason games, admittedly against the Bad News Bears Sacramento Kings, have shown a glimpse of what Oden may become this season - a legitimate double double force in the middle. Thus far, he's average 19 points and 10 rebounds in the two Kings games. Albeit against no top tier center. That's the next proving ground.

But here's the interesting question that requires a bit more thought: can Greg Oden, despite all his early career potholes, become a Western Conference All Star this season? That reality may not be as far fetched as some think.
Tags: Greg Oden

Who's Ready to Hate the Lakers? Come on, let's go!

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Max Handelman
This Girl Loves KobeThis woman's t-shirt reads: "This Girl Loves Kobe"

Ahhhhh, Laker fans. You're adorable.

Prokhorov plan for Paul Allen

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Rick Johannessen
You may have heard that Russia's richest man, Mikhail Prokhorov, has a deal to buy a controlling interest in the New Jersey Nets.

What does this have to do with Paul Allen?  Well, it's simple.  Mr. Prokhorov also has a financial interest in the Russian ball club - CSKA Moscow - the most dominant team of the last decade in Europe.

"So what?" you ask, the guy can dunk wants to be like Akeem and sow his royal oats!  Well, here's the thing about potentially owning an NBA franchise AND a Euroleague heavyweight -Mr. Prokhorov could use CSKA as a farm team for the Nets.

Why should this matter when we have the NBDL?  Well, the Euroleague is a much better league than the NBDL, infinitely more competitive, more NBA-bound players, and possibly most importantly, Euro players are paid much better.  Josh Childress can certainly concur.

Place to get some real burn for your marinating Euros - Freeland! PetKo!  Check.
Place to get some real burn for your second rounders?  Check.
Don't worry KP, get after that Ricky Rubio guy.  Check.
C'mon KP get after that Ricky Rubio guy!

This, my friends, gives the New Jersey Nets, a distinct advantage.  Whether or not they use it though remains to be seen.  But if Paul Allen should follow through with this, it would allow Kevin Pritchard to draft-and-stash as many Euros and second rounders as he can stomach.
Tags: Joel Freeland, Kevin Pritchard, Mikhail Prokhorov, Patty Mills, Paul Allen, Petteri Koponen, Ricky Rubio, Victor Claver

Someone Needs To Check Aldridge's Birth Certificate

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Max Handelman

by Jeff Pickett, Peppy New Beyondbowie Blogger

lamarcus_aldridge.jpg

I'm beginning to think us Blazers fans may have another Danny Almonte on our hands in LaMarcus Aldridge. Granted, one look at him finishing on the break would seem to suggest that he's no older than the 24 years old he's listed at in the Blazers' media guide. It's his mental age, however, that has me puzzled. LaMarcus's torrid love affair with the 15-20 foot jumper suggests that he may be older. Karl Malone, the highest scorer in the history of the Association, did have a sweet jumper, yes. But he certainly didn't possess it when he came into the league as a bruiser from LSU. He developed the jumper in his 30s, when his physical skills began to wane and he knew he'd need a greater dimensionality to his game to continue to prosper in such a competitive field.

Now, I'm not saying LaMarcus doesn't have a sweet jumper. But so did the dearly departed Kevin Duckworth and even - ahem - Sam Bowie. The difference between LaMarcus and those two players is that LaMarcus also has a potent inside game. Or at least, he could, if he'd work on honing that rather than romancing the fickle mistress that is the outside shot. A nice jumper is certainly a valuable complement, but that's all it should be. LaMarcus is simply too much of a stud to be hanging out in the frontier best suited to the Eddie Houses and J.J. Redicks of the world (and at least those guys have the range to hit the three, which is worth 50% more, per make, to their team).

If and only if Greg dominates the paint would we possibly need L.A. further out on the perimeter, and Greg will undoubtedly play less minutes than L.A. Besides, they would be a great double-post complement. Imagine if LaMarcus went to the hole, or used any kind of interior move, just three more times a game - his shooting percentage would increase dramatically, and I imagine our winning percentage would, too.

I wish nothing but the best for LaMarcus, but I think spending a little time apart from the jumper is the best thing for him at this point in his life. My greatest wish is that I be proven wrong and he become the basketball equivalent of Benjamin Button. Or, put another way, hopefully LaMarcus can come to understand what Bob Dylan meant when he sang, at a similar age, in "My Back Pages":

Ah, but I was so much older then,

I'm younger than that now.
Tags: Benjamin Button, Greg Oden, Karl Malone, Kevin Duckworth, LaMarcus Aldridge, Sam Bowie
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