Martell

[cucad8]

I really don't want to turn this into another topic where everyone just rips into Nate, so take that for what you will. But is anyone else extremely pissed seeing the way we utilize Martell? I swear last night, in the first quarter, he looked ready to go, fired up, looked like one of the only guys playing with energy, etc. Not to say others weren't playing well, but he seems to get that look in his eye that only good players tend to get.
He hit a couple of shots. Then, nothing. Not like that 3 was really meant for him to take, either. We force feed Outlaw, and he takes 12-100 shots a game, whether they are falling or not. Webster gets 3 damn shots when he tries a lot harder out on the court. What he doesn't do is force the issue on the offensive end. Maybe that's the problem?
Maybe if he forced the issue, we would see that as being willing to take over, and not be passive? But he plays the game he is asked, and itpisses me off to know he is going to leave this team in two years, whenever he is able to, and will end upbeing the better of the two between him and Outlaw.
I think he is a perfect SF for our team, but the taking turns down the court thing gets annoying. Run a play for LMA, run a play for Brandon, run a play for Outlaw, etc. Repeat. Can we run plays where it is designed to find open players, and not just run a play specifically for one person? Suns ran a little weave play last night, looked designed to whoever got the opening to make a move.
I think Martell needs encouragement, not only from the coaching staff, but also his teammates(Roy, LMA) to take shots more often. He isn't great creating for himself, but Brandon can call a play for him. Blake can.
Ok, just me venting, sorry. I just get annoyed with watching him looking good, and putting forth effort, and getting punished for it. While at the same time watching Outlaw make stupid play after stupid play(not saying everything he did last night was horrible, but there were a few in particular that bugged the crap out of me) and he just gets told to shoot. And shoot. And shoot some more, even if it doesn't play into the offense.

[Billy]

I'd like Webster to develop a killer instinct like Outlaw. Outlaw can do some stupid things on the court, but one thing he does well is lock in on killing the other team.

Maybe it's just me, but I have noticed that when we're running a play for LA we really are running a play to see who gets open. He's not the great passer, but I'd say he's above average for a big man. He gets the ball, lets the defenders clear out and then he'll look to make his move. If he sees someone open he'll kick it out, and he also will kick if out after making a move if he sees someone. It's not as sexy as the weave I admit, but it works for a lot of post teams.

I agree that Webster needs more opportunity. I think he's still behind Outlaw, but is quickly making up ground. I think a problem is that Outlaw's biggest strength offsets one of Portland's biggest weaknesses which is a guy that can create his own offense. I hope Webster works on that, because to me he's even or better in just about every other facet of the game than Outlaw.

[JD45]

Webster looks like a SG to me.

He doesn't rebound well enough for a SF. This is a big problem because LMA is a below average rebounder for a PF. And Webster makes the offense worse when he is in the game. He looks like a decent backup SG. And maybe he can develop into a decent starting role player, but probably not at SF.

I think he needs a trade to a team who needs size at SG and is willing to let him just be a 3pt shooter for a while. He probably still have some trade value due to his age, but it won't last forever.

[Wizenheimer]

Portland seems to run the same plays for webster as they do for jones. Jones is simply more adept at finding open spots on the floor and utilizing screens. And defenses are certainly more 'aware' of jones then webster, so martell should have more success then he does.

Martell also spends a lot of time on the floor with Roy and Blake, so it's not like he plays with teammates who won't share the ball.

At a certain point in time, the responsibility for a player's inconsistency and lack of production cease to be that of the coaches and teammates, and simply become the failing of the player himself. If martell isn't at that point yet, he's pretty close.

[breaker91]

You hit the nail on the head when talking about Martell's pysche. I don't put this on Nate as much as I place it on Martell's passiveness. Martell is not playing to win. He is playing to not make a mistake. You see it when he passes up open shots, fails to drive to the hoop, or stands around when plays are drawn for Roy or LMA. Simply put he is taking himself out of the game.

I'd like to see Martell be more selfish. I'm not talking about jacking up wild and contested shots, but not hesitating when given a chance to score.

Outlaw and Jack are good examples of this. I won't get too much into Jack because I share the same frustrations with most other posters regarding the flaws of his game. Jack gets to stay in the game a lot of the times after a mistake because a lot of those errors are a result of him being aggressive. There is a fine line between aggressive and stupid, but most coaches will cut a player slack when he makes those kind of mistakes. Sergio tends to make passive mistakes (blown D coverage, passing up good shots, etc.).

Remember how we used to cringe late last year and the start of this season that Outlaw would shoot the ball as soon as he got it? I don't hear that criticism anymore. He is playing far from mistake free ball, but Outlaw is being aggressive, which is why he is getting the minutes .
The message should be clear. If you play aggressively you'll get a chance to play through those mistakes and advance your game.

[taufblazers33]

the bottom line is our offense if too predictable. teams have figured out the plays we tend to turn. and for some reason, it seems like nate hasnt figured that out yet.

[Billy]

breaker, to me everything you said hit the nail on the head.

[BlackMamba]

the problem is the depth chart.

it's good to have this much players, but eventually some will be:
1) cut of minutes
2) cut of main role for the team

consider that aldridge, roy and oden will have the most minutes next season. roy specially will have SG covered and maybe PG.

at SF (where i don't know if martell is putted in by force of because he has developed as a SF) its martell, jones and outlaw.

outlaw for the moment "shares" some mins at PF.

but the blazers are in a predicament on to whom should they focus and what will they do with all the players (plus the ones that will arrive).

also, i don't know if the point has to be fingered to martell rather than someone else. i remeber he was having a pretty bad attitude during the preseason and we sometines only know what's going on on the court.

[Yadadimean]

Webster is gonna be fine. I can tell he is benefitting from practicing with Roy. For one he has developed his own version of Roy's crossover. We don't get to see it too much but its coming along. He's better at running off screens and occasionally attacking the basket. His game as a whole is getting better and more well rounded (looking like a jump shooting Roy with less ball handling). I think next year we should expect him to have a break out season much like Outlaw did, but I think he'll be better than Outlaw.

[SinceClyde]

I have high hopes for martell. I like his size, his improvement this season on defense and taking it to the rim, and his change in attitude (remember he used to turn down coach advise). Still, if it took martell and raef to get a good player this off season count me in.

[PDXKnight]

I think Martell definitely needs to be included more in the offense and should be used as more of an inside scorer rather than a shooter. He has a nice inside game and could be a poor man's Corey Maggette for the Blazers.

On another note, as many are saying, if the right deal comes along for Martell, I wouldn't be opposed to trading him. Martell has gained plenty of value this season and I think if the Blazers were ever considering trading him, now would be the time. He's still on his rookie deal which makes him more valuable and has shown plenty of improvement. I'm liking what I'm seeing from Martell, but as sinceclyde said, if the Blazers can package Webster with Raef (not to mention possibly include Jack and Frye) and get a great return, it would make plenty of sense.

[Khazim]

I agree with what Breaker and Oden2 have said. But as far as trading is concerned, I would be willing if it was a player like Granger, but I would certainly look to deal Outlaw before Martell.

[mojomarc]

I agree with what Breaker and Oden2 have said. But as far as trading is concerned, I would be willing if it was a player like Granger, but I would certainly look to deal Outlaw before Martell.

I tend to agree--if we're going to trade Martell, we need to get something really good because he does have Jermaine O'Neal 2 written all over him.

[Dogmont]

I agree with what Breaker and Oden2 have said. But as far as trading is concerned, I would be willing if it was a player like Granger, but I would certainly look to deal Outlaw before Martell.

I knew Granger would end up in this conversation somehow....

Bottom line... McMillan is still trying to figure this team out. Every sf is so inconsistent, every game a different player sucks, except Jack, who sucks most games, but inconsistency is the norm for our 3's. Look for the experiment to get ineresting when we are mathmatically eliminated.
I would love to get Granger, but no way should we let Martell go... trade Travis in a heartbeat.

[cucad8]

-= original quote snipped =-



I tend to agree--if we're going to trade Martell, we need to get something really good because he does have Jermaine O'Neal 2 written all over him.

That's my main thought/concern. I can see Martell turning into that situation, and just can't see Travis blowing up like that. Just my opinion. I think if we're looking to make a move and need to include someone, we move Travis first. All of us seem to complain about lack of rebounding. Sure, Oden is obviously going to help, but Travis doesn't playing PF. He isn't going to start at SF for us ever, and he doesn't seem to fit what we are looking for in our SF.

[Goldbum]

The big thing when it comes to Martell and Travis is Trout has alot more value right now. I could easily see an Outlaw/#13 pick for OJ Mayo or Bayless.

[Jsun947]

I don't mind trading either Outlaw or Webster if we can pick up a better player like Granger or Calderon. We need more quality and less quantity anyway.

If Webster is moved we can have Jones start and Outlaw split minutes at back up PF and SF.

If Outlaw is traded we could have Frye step in at back up PF, and allow the Webster/Jones rotation at SF.

Either way I don't think it hurts our depth that much because we have so much of it.

[Billy]

I would love Granger. As homer as it sounds though, there are very few SF's out there that fit into the age and direction of the team, that Portland could reasonably get (Lebron need not apply) that I would take over Martell at this moment.

I would love to keep both Travis and Martell, but Travis to me needs to become a small forward and be able to consistently compete against SF's and succeed rather than having the coaches move players around to always put him on slower PF's.

Martell isn't as physically gifted in many respects, but he seems to know the game better than Outlaw.

[tester551]

I have a small hope that Pacers will be willing to blow their team up.

Something like JO for Marbury (cut). Then Murphy & Granger for Reaf, Outlaw, Frye, #13 pick, and next years pick.

Pacers cut 46-million off their payroll and re-tool with some nice pieces.