Webster: Being used totally wrong?

[Butter]

As I watch Martel hovering around the 3 point line and constantly bricking shots, I have been wondering if the Blazers have the absolute wrong impression of Martel.

He seems so much more effective when he's attacking the basket. The Blazers need someone to create offense attacking the rim. He may develop into a pure shooter someday, and if he's wide open, he should absolutely pull the trigger, but I don't see why they don't turn him loose driving to the basket as his primary role in the offense.

[Joshumitsu]

Yeah, it's not rocket science that his athleticism allows him to get to the rim and just slam the ball down....I remember him dunking it on Aldridge during that work-out before the season started. He can really take it inside...I just wonder why it doesn't happen more often.

[The Sebastian Express]

He doesn't have the best handles.

He does however excel when screen plays are run for him, especially double screens. Sadly this seems to escape Nate as it hardly happens.

[taufblazers33]

the question is does Martel know what he can do and can't do?

[Butter]

He doesn't have the best handles.

He does however excel when screen plays are run for him, especially double screens. Sadly this seems to escape Nate as it hardly happens.

Well, thats pretty much the entire Blazers team with the exception of BRoy.

[PDXKnight]

I definitely agree that Martell has made some nice plays on the inside. He's obviously not the pure shooter we wanted him to be, at least yet, but Nate should definitely let martell run to the basket more instead of spotting him up. Martel has shown some amazing inside game and Nate needs to realize this and use Martell as more of an attacker.

[Wizenheimer]

In last night's game, the blazers ran screen and double screen plays for martell at least half a dozen times and he bricked every single shot. In 3 of 4 months so far this season, Martell has shot under 40% from the floor. That's no surprise considering he entered the season as a sub-40% FG shooter career-wise. And he probably gets more open looks then any other blazer.

If a player is approaching the end of his 3rd season, and he's still right around 40% FG, it's time to conclude he'll never be a great shooter. The best to hope for is that he will be a streak shooter, and I'm not sure that's what portland needs from the SF position.

He's improved in rebounding this season and his defense is better. And he certainly has athleticism and an "nba body". But he still seems to sleep-walk at times.

As mentioned, Martell isn't a good ball-handler. Again, he has improved in that area, but he's not that good. He's certainly not good enough to consistently create his own shot.

So the question is: how and why do you run more plays for a player who isn't effective at isolation offense, and who can't shoot over 40% on open looks??

[Butter]

In last night's game, the blazers ran screen and double screen plays for martell at least half a dozen times and he bricked every single shot. In 3 of 4 months so far this season, Martell has shot under 40% from the floor. That's no surprise considering he entered the season as a sub-40% FG shooter career-wise. And he probably gets more open looks then any other blazer.

If a player is approaching the end of his 3rd season, and he's still right around 40% FG, it's time to conclude he'll never be a great shooter. The best to hope for is that he will be a streak shooter, and I'm not sure that's what portland needs from the SF position.

He's improved in rebounding this season and his defense is better. And he certainly has athleticism and an "nba body". But he still seems to sleep-walk at times.

As mentioned, Martell isn't a good ball-handler. Again, he has improved in that area, but he's not that good. He's certainly not good enough to consistently create his own shot.

So the question is: how and why do you run more plays for a player who isn't effective at isolation offense, and who can't shoot over 40% on open looks??

But that is my point. Why try to force Martell to be Ray Allen when he could be solid cutting to the basket? The Blazers almost never cut to the hoop, at least not when I've watched them. Martell seems to be a pretty solid finisher. His body control when he's in the air is actually impressive.

So if he struggles as a streak shooter, why not let him run back door cuts, V cuts, whatever, and make him move towards the hoop more.

[breaker91]

I think the best thing we can do for Martell is to get a PG who excels at the transition game. The more opportunities he can run and get some easy buckets the more relaxed and aggressive he'll play in a half court set. Right now with the lack of a transition game it just seems that he is content to camp on the 3 point line and wait for the ball to come to him.

Much has been made of the mental blocks he has had to overcome and while he has progressed I still think the pyschological part is holding him back a bit. Until he can overcome it, I don't think any amount of prodding by the coach staff will have any measurable effect on him attacking the basket.

I kind of wish we could put Jack's mentality in his body then we'd have one awesome player and one waste of roster spot, as opposed to two guys with some significant limitations in their respective games.

[Mr Odd]

I think Nate uses many players wrongly.

Now im not sure if this falls on Nate
or Webster, maybe a little of both.. .

I think Webster needs more plays to
get him open. Confidence is so big in
young players & it seems double for
Webster. I think its key to get him
open for easier shots & I know that
part falls on Nate. Mainly because
Webster is still a very young guy.. .

Nate in Seattle didnt need to do this,
he had two vet All-Stars that knew
how to get themselfs open which
was a giant reason why they had
3 out of 5 winning seasons under
Nate. Ok, im kind of getting into
the whole "whos job is the offense"
topic. So I guess i'll stop rambling!!

[Wizenheimer]

-= original quote snipped =-



But that is my point. Why try to force Martell to be Ray Allen when he could be solid cutting to the basket? The Blazers almost never cut to the hoop, at least not when I've watched them. Martell seems to be a pretty solid finisher. His body control when he's in the air is actually impressive.

So if he struggles as a streak shooter, why not let him run back door cuts, V cuts, whatever, and make him move towards the hoop more.

Another possibility of course is to start Outlaw as the SF because Martell simply isn't doing the job. We're back to where we were for Martell's 1st two seasons. Wondering how to make him 'better'.

Oden down low...Aldridge mid-range and down low...Roy with dribble penetration. Guess what: it seems portland is going to need a SF who can stretch the defense with a consistent perimeter shot, or force the defense to react by using isolation moves. Martell is not the answer in my view since he can do neither.

I do agree that portland should run more motion to the basket. Portland should do it because it would help the offense rather then specifically Martell.

If Martell is back next year, hopefully he'll show as much improvement over next off-season as he did this last one, and then we'd have a better idea of how effective he can be.

[b_roy7]

I'd love to see Martell cut more, once he's successful at that, I could see his shot opening up a LOT more. He's got to make some of those open shots that he gets now, it annoys me when he misses wide open shots..

[c-mac 4.35]

I played AAU ball against Martell and he happens to be one of my best friends, I was skimen though the board and found this thread and I just had to create an account!

They are using Martell totally wrong! He is way more effective when he slashes and cuts to the hoop! Dont get me wrong he can shoot the hell out of the ball... AND HE IS THE BEST SHOOTER ON THAT TEAM WITHOUT A DOUBT!!! It jsut hasnt transfered into game situations yet. In practice OMG he is lights out.

I'm a laker fan and I always tell him to look at Sasha Vujacic, when he first came into the league and even a few seasons after that he never shot the ball well in game situations and now he is a deadly shooter.

I cant wait till tomorrows game though, I get to hang in the tunnel and sit behind the bench. I usually get to do that but this time its special cause its my first laker game!!!!

[Mr Odd]

Tell Webster we all like how his defense has
gotten better and his rebounding, also we think
he does best when he mixes it up with the long ball
and attacking the rim or jumpers around the paint.

[c-mac 4.35]

ok i'll do that but he already knows that... he tells me there is some games when Nate just wants him to go to the corner and just stand there!!! IDK why but some games all he wants him to do is shoot the 3.

[Mr Odd]

ok i'll do that but he already knows that... he tells me there is some games when Nate just wants him to go to the corner and just stand there!!! IDK why but some games all he wants him to do is shoot the 3.

Yea - Nates not really the smartest coach.
He wont last more then 2 more seasons or so.

[c-mac 4.35]

Dont get me wrong he is a good coach but u r right he isnt the smartest... But with the way the team is gonna play nex season and he season after i can se him staying just cause of the way the team will play!

It will make him seem like a great coach.

[Butter]

ok i'll do that but he already knows that... he tells me there is some games when Nate just wants him to go to the corner and just stand there!!! IDK why but some games all he wants him to do is shoot the 3.

I really like Nate, but that guys needs to pull his head out sometimes. He needs to lean heavily on a strong offensive minded assistant. I mean, look what Phil Jackson did with Tex Winters.

The Blazers absolutely need to get more points in the paint. It seems obvious to me that Martell would love to attack the basket more. Whats the hold up here?

[c-mac 4.35]

That is true and he does need to pull his head out his azz! actually he needs to pull Kevin P's C*** OUT HIS AZZ!!!!

He listens to everything that guy says and he just the gm. Paul Allen also has his azz on a leash!

[Mr Odd]

Pritchard is the only one who knows
what hes doing along with Penn.. .