What is in the water in Portland these days? The Blazers are thoroughly impressing me and just about any other basketball fan or pundit. As of today, these Blazers have won 13 games in a row and show no signs of letting up. It has definitely got me stand up and take notice of a team that a little more than a year ago was falling into irrelevancy. So I decided to take a closer look at this streak from a team that no one saw coming. As I look up and down their roster I see a lot players with less than 3 years of NBA experience and wonder exactly how they have been looking like the Rip City of old, when winning and playoff trips were as common as a Jason Kidd triple double. There is no doubt that a look into their success starts with the exceptional play of one Brandon Roy. Last seasons R.O.Y. has certainly elevated his play to that of an All Star level. Coach Nate McMillan has put the ball in Roy's hands as a facilitator of the offense and his numbers have been superb, to say the least. He is averaging 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists a game while averaging less than 2 TO's a game. Pretty impressive for a guy handling the ball at about the same rate that LeBron does for the Cavs. In a team full of young guys, the former UDub star leads them like a seasoned vet. Not sure if you could consider last seasons R.O.Y. the year for most improved, but he would certainly merit my vote.
But lets look deeper. 13 in a row is not accomplished without team play. LaMarcus Aldridge is certainly the next brightest talent on this squad, but he has been injured for the better portion of this streak. The Blazers certainly got the better of the draft day trade of Tyrus Thomas for Alridge. Things start getting a bit cloudy after these top 2 talents. Greg Oden was drafted #1 overall after the Blazers forgetful season last year and looked to provide some much needed size and rebounding, but he won't suit up till next season due to knee surgery. The remaining starters are Martell Webster, Steve Blake, and a tag team of Channing Frye/Joel Pryzbilla at the 5. Certainly an underwhelming trio. Webster has a nice outside stroke and makes 3's at a 38% clip, but he is sort of a one trick pony. Blake, the former Maryland star, is sure ball handler and is shooting 3's at an impressive 45% clip, but is a defensive liability. The Frye/Pryzbilla combo averages about 13 points and rebounds a game, which are numbers I'm quite sure Oden could average by himself if healthy. The top reserves are Travis Outlaw, Jarrett Jack, and James Jones. All role players outside of Outlaw, who has provided energy and scoring off the bench after 3 subpar years since being drafted out of highschool. This certainly has the look of a young team that might give you a run for 3 quarters and then bow out, but not of a team in the midst of the second longest streak in franchise history.
So in the end, let's look at the coach. Nate McMillan is a coach who preaches defense first and is a proponent for not turning the ball over. He emphasizes team over individuals. To sum up, he coaches like he used to play. He expects his team one thru twelve to give all out effort for 48 minutes. He is like the bizarro Isiah Thomas. He empowers his players but is not afraid to bench a player not giving full effort. He takes the criticism when the team plays poorly, but is quick to give his players all the credit when they play well. There is a story making the rounds about a particular rough practice in San Antonio around the time these Blazers had lost 9 of 10 games. McMillan made rules in practice where players couldn't switch off on screens and players were only allowed to dribble once before passing. With players trying fight thru screens and having to move without the ball, things got chippy, which is exactly what Nate wanted. Players almost went to blows, Roy yelled at teammates, and the normally reserved Blake even thru a chair Bobby Knight style. McMillan loved it and the players seemed to get the message. He wanted the team to stop playing soft and he got his young team to toughen up, mentally and physically. The message showed up 2 games later on a last second shot by Outlaw that beat Memphis and started this imcomparable streak.
How long can the Blazers keep this up? The road gets tougher in the next month with more road games and better opponents on the schedule. Will they make the playoffs? Are they going to set a new franchise record winning streak? Can Roy continue his amazing play? Can coach McMillan continue on his coach of the year push? No one knows for sure. But there is one certainty in all of this. I will be watching.
But lets look deeper. 13 in a row is not accomplished without team play. LaMarcus Aldridge is certainly the next brightest talent on this squad, but he has been injured for the better portion of this streak. The Blazers certainly got the better of the draft day trade of Tyrus Thomas for Alridge. Things start getting a bit cloudy after these top 2 talents. Greg Oden was drafted #1 overall after the Blazers forgetful season last year and looked to provide some much needed size and rebounding, but he won't suit up till next season due to knee surgery. The remaining starters are Martell Webster, Steve Blake, and a tag team of Channing Frye/Joel Pryzbilla at the 5. Certainly an underwhelming trio. Webster has a nice outside stroke and makes 3's at a 38% clip, but he is sort of a one trick pony. Blake, the former Maryland star, is sure ball handler and is shooting 3's at an impressive 45% clip, but is a defensive liability. The Frye/Pryzbilla combo averages about 13 points and rebounds a game, which are numbers I'm quite sure Oden could average by himself if healthy. The top reserves are Travis Outlaw, Jarrett Jack, and James Jones. All role players outside of Outlaw, who has provided energy and scoring off the bench after 3 subpar years since being drafted out of highschool. This certainly has the look of a young team that might give you a run for 3 quarters and then bow out, but not of a team in the midst of the second longest streak in franchise history.
So in the end, let's look at the coach. Nate McMillan is a coach who preaches defense first and is a proponent for not turning the ball over. He emphasizes team over individuals. To sum up, he coaches like he used to play. He expects his team one thru twelve to give all out effort for 48 minutes. He is like the bizarro Isiah Thomas. He empowers his players but is not afraid to bench a player not giving full effort. He takes the criticism when the team plays poorly, but is quick to give his players all the credit when they play well. There is a story making the rounds about a particular rough practice in San Antonio around the time these Blazers had lost 9 of 10 games. McMillan made rules in practice where players couldn't switch off on screens and players were only allowed to dribble once before passing. With players trying fight thru screens and having to move without the ball, things got chippy, which is exactly what Nate wanted. Players almost went to blows, Roy yelled at teammates, and the normally reserved Blake even thru a chair Bobby Knight style. McMillan loved it and the players seemed to get the message. He wanted the team to stop playing soft and he got his young team to toughen up, mentally and physically. The message showed up 2 games later on a last second shot by Outlaw that beat Memphis and started this imcomparable streak.
How long can the Blazers keep this up? The road gets tougher in the next month with more road games and better opponents on the schedule. Will they make the playoffs? Are they going to set a new franchise record winning streak? Can Roy continue his amazing play? Can coach McMillan continue on his coach of the year push? No one knows for sure. But there is one certainty in all of this. I will be watching.
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