Fitz303 wrote:Perhaps it was no coincidence that he showed such improvement when he also got more minutes and consistent minutes at that.
That could also be the case. It's an odd sort of chicken/egg situation determining what the cause for Outlaw's improved effectiveness.
It could have been Nate giving him more minutes late last season.
It could be Nate moving him to Power Forward.
It could be that something just "clicked" for Travis late last season and it doesn't have anything to do with his position or minutes.
It's hard to tell because there are so many variables.
Until Travis starts playing significant minutes at the 3 and doing well I'm maintaining that it's the move to Power Forward.
Mike Miller (6'8"), Jamario Moon (6'8"), Dorell Wright (6'9").. Just a quick couple of names that guarded Travis Outlaw throughout the games against Memphis, Toronto, and Miami.. All of those guys are the SFs for their teams. Outlaw did just fine against each one of them.
But Outlaw was still playing the 4 in our scheme with Aldridge at the 5. The fact that the other team's small forward switched over to him doesn't change that. With that lineup the 4 other guys can shoot the ball. That results in really good spacing so Travis has plenty of room to work.
Next season when we're likely to always have Oden or Joel on the floor. And for most of the game Aldridge is likely to be on the floor. So the spacing that Travis currently enjoys won't be there. In that situation I don't think he'll be nearly as effective when he's ALWAYS being guarded by faster guys that are used to guarding guys on the perimeter.
Outlaw has improved by leaps and bounds and would be just fine in either position that he played, but Just my opinion I guess
It sure would be swell if that turned out to be the case. As you said before...
Put Outlaw, Aldridge, and Oden in the front court together and thats a scary lineup.
If Travis has improved enough to be effective at small forward, that lineup would be a thing of beauty.
I don't believe that. I don't think Travis has really improved (skills wise) all that much. I think he's playing more to his strength of getting open and taking jumpshots. He's been able to do this much more as he's moved to the 4 where guys are less willing to chase him around.
