Then there’s Tajuan Porter, the senior leader and leading scorer, who lost his starting job Saturday. He sat for only the first two minutes and played 33, winding up with five points, five turnovers and three air balls.
I love TP, but he can't be on the court if he's going to continue playing like this.
over 2 years ago
David Piper
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Making TP the scapegoat is just silly
Yes his game is erratic. Also yes, his replacements are across the board worse. TP at least has very good games sometimes.
But obviously this team does not know how to win against decent opponents- and I am not even talking about NCAA tournament worthy opponents. There’s almost no spark. There’s awful defense. There’s a lack of options on offense. There’s no identity. Blaming this on TP, or even partly on TP, is just dumb.
by ursula on Jan 17, 2010 9:37 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I'm not trying to use Tajuan as a scapegoat
I love Tajuan, and he has done some absolutely wonderful things for Oregon basketball. But when I watch him play right now, he’s not integrated into the offense, instead choosing to do his own thing. There’s a lot of blame to go around for this season, a lot of players aren’t playing well, and the coaches aren’t doing what they need to do to fix it. I think TP is playing this way out of frustration—trying to do too much because he’s tired of losing. But what he is doing right now is stalling the progress of the who team
Our only chance to really do something is to go on a run in the Pac-10 tournament. The rest of the season, as far as I’m concerned, is about getting ready for next year Seniors can play a big part on that kind of a team if they are going to be a leader on the floor and help foster others’ development. But TP is a black hole right now, and if that’s how its going to be, I’d rather see some of those minutes go to guys like Armstead, Williams, Sim, and Wiley to try and develop them for the future.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Jan 17, 2010 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
i think TP is just frustrated
he is not the scapegoat. the team as a whole just isn’t working together.
The beloved creator of Sandwich music.
by axemen23 on Jan 17, 2010 9:47 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I agree with OP. There are problems with other players on the team (eg. Armstead’s work defending screens) but TP changes the whole complexion of the game. Coming out of a timeout called to get the team back in rhythm, TP dribbles it up and jacks a 3 from NBA land. That was not what Ernie drew up in that timeout and it isn’t what we needed. He may be frustrated but he isn’t working within the offense. He doesn’t shoot in rhythm and when he drives, he gets swatted easily.
Right now, the team is much better without him on the floor. There is more cohesion, players work in the offense and get open shots. They just aren’t knocking them down and that’s a big problem. When TP is taking shot after shot from the outside or turning the ball over, it means our post game isn’t getting fed and we have a very good post game when we exploit it.
Since Pac-10 play started, here are some stats for TP (Washington St. through Arizona)
FG – 31% on 25/80
3pt – 36% on 16/44
12 assists
16 turnovers
1 steal
Averages about 3 free throw attempts per game
Everyone goes through slumps but at some point you have to take a step back and say things aren’t working. It was telling that TP came off the bench yesterday. Ernie knows there is a problem and he’s trying to let him shoot out of it but it isn’t working, at least in the last 5 games.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
How do we know Ernie didn’t draw up a play for TP to jack up a 30-footer? Just kidding.
Here’s another point – not only is TP actively hurting the team’s chances to win with his poor play, he’s also taking minutes from other guys. Admittedly, these guys are probably worse, but they also have a legitimate chance to improve and use the minutes they get as valuable experience for next season and beyond. You have to factor opportunity cost in there as well.
I have a lot of great memories of TP from that Elite Eight run, but that was a long time ago. Something needs to change.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
I really think he just needs to play the two guard.
We need the Aaron Brooks to make TP the TP.
Can Armstead fill that roll, handling the point well, driving, distributing, leaving TP and others with more open, more set looks at the hoop? Looked like a yes in the Washington run, looked like a no against Arizona.
But that’s what I’d try, see if Armstead can step up and be that distributor.
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."-Pablo Picasso
by Bill Musgrave on Jan 17, 2010 3:21 PM PST up reply actions
at this point, I wonder if he can. When he gets the ball in his hands, it’s like evil TP appears on his shoulder and tells him to try and take over the game.
I like Armstead’s game overall. I think he had a really bad game against UA on both sides of the ball. Seemed more of an aberration, at least so far.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
He did it against the Washington schools
Armstead ran the team, got to the hoop, and created, benefiting TP. When Armstead is on and runs the show, TP benefits. When TP tries to create, things tend to go down the crapper more often then not.
If he can stop trying to do everything and let Armstead be the guy, letting the game come to him, he’ll be much better off. Maybe a benching will help.
when armstead plays in the AB mold (cutting and slashing while looking to finish or kick out)
it works. when armstead has to slow down and pass to the wing, nothing does. That’s as simple as it can make it.
The beloved creator of Sandwich music.
I agree, there may be no solution for evil TP.
But maybe you can limit the exposure time to evil TP by limiting the time he sees the ball in dribbling situations. If Armstead can keep improving and looking like he did on the Wa run, then he’s the one distributing and deciding who gets to shoot… ie, only pass to evil TP when it looks advantageous. When the evil TP is open and has a decent look, I’m willing to root for the forces of evil.
Obviously, nothing is this simple and it won’t work 100% of the time, particularly if Armstead really isn’t as good as he looked for a while there. Just saying it looked like it had potential so maybe we gotta try it.
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."-Pablo Picasso
by Bill Musgrave on Jan 18, 2010 2:52 AM PST up reply actions
All thats missing is Sonny and Cher singing "I Got You Babe."
And we’d all be watching Groundhogs Day….again. This Kent team is not Chef’s Surprise on the Monday morning menu at Denny’s, (in spite of the start in Washington) this is up/down, left/right and night/day. What is most maddening though is the tepidness of most of these posts, suggesting to me that many of you should either reread the warning on your cars side view mirrors or maybe job shadow a Duck fan over the age of 30 for a day to fully appreciate the obvious…..It’s Ernie, stupid!
by ACDuck on Jan 18, 2010 8:41 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Ernie isn’t coming out of the timeout and jaking 3’s, Ernie isn’t the one driving the lane after dribbling the ball for 25 seconds and getting swatted.Ernie shares some of the blame in all of this, I’m not saying he doesn’t. To lay it all on him though isn’t accepting the obvious. It’s ignoring what is going on in games.
Also, your post is just weird.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
by dvieira on Jan 18, 2010 9:33 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Also, your post is just weird.
Rec’d for that.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com
I have a Ropert is God™ complex.
Touche'
You’re right, that was weird. However, I do lay it all on Kent for the team he has produced for us this season…..a team that continues to play without discipline, sound fundamentals and complete effort. Is this point actually debatable? Especially considering the Come To Jesus meeting he had with the AD at the end of last year? I love ATQ and the passion that runs it. I hope that’s not too weird.
Are you related to CaDuck?
Am I doing this right?
by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 18, 2010 4:19 PM PST up reply actions
That makes sense. The difference I see in the team right now is that there is obvious development from last year, both physically and mentally. The problem I see is in flow and TP is hurting that right now. When he plays within himself and the offense, the team clicks better. Look at how Armstead controlled the team at PG when TP was out or just coming back from the injury. Much different style of offense.
I will give you this. TP is going through this slump and Ernie isn’t taking him out or reducing his minutes. I’m very interested to see what happens on the road trip with TP. If he’s still shooting 30%, and getting tons of minutes, then I will have all kinds of fun blasting Ernie’s decision for keeping him in there
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
No relation but.....
No connection to CaDuck but I wish I lived in HR!
It's quaint but I really didn't see it as a livable place myself.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com
I have a Ropert is God™ complex.
I grew up in Oakridge
spend some time there and your standards for ‘livable’ change.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
taking a dig at Woodburn?
S-H-U-W-A-N-T-T-O-G-E-T-B-A-N-N-E-D
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Jan 19, 2010 10:03 PM PST up reply actions
You wouldn't dare ban Shufelt!
I mean, if you didn’t ban him even after he forgot the beer; there is no way you would ban him now!
Kenjon Barner in a DNA helmet. 'Nuff said.
you know
if you got off your ass and made your profile pic of Jerome Randle or something, we might actually win a basketball game.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Jan 19, 2010 11:33 PM PST up reply actions
Jujowned!
It's spelled "T-H-E-I-M-P-A-C-T"
I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
Addicted to Quack, the home of Tako Tuesdays
i second that
Juju doesn’t just run from august 31 to january 1 (hm notice we haven’t won since the 2nd)?
The beloved creator of Sandwich music.
I have lived here for five years now
and am still floored by its awesomeness, especially for a town of 6,000.
SO much stuff to do, especially outdoors. I think there are 27 waterfall hikes within 15min of my doorstep.
Most importantly, though: there are three breweries in about a ten-block area. One brewery per 2000 citizens.
by HoodRiverDuck on Jan 19, 2010 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
I am a fan of the hood river.
And the hood river duck too.
Not in a creepy way.
Damn, now I feel weird, how do I get out of this.
Get off my lawn?
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."-Pablo Picasso
by Bill Musgrave on Jan 19, 2010 5:10 PM PST up reply actions
Hood River is a cool town.
I was fortunate enough to stop by there a few years back.
Who needs the pistol when you have the TaZeR? Kenjon Barner, the Ducks officially licensed tazer since 2009.
If you’re asking me, markedly reducing TP’s minutes would be a “too little, too late” move on Kent’s part that would run a very real risk of alienating his senior and most if not all of the team for the rest of the year. TP is not in a slump, he is singlehandedly trying to cast himself as the go-to guy in a misfit offensive system that is confounding not just to the fans but seemingly the players as well. It may not be fair to fault him for trying but I think it is entirely justified to blame Kent for allowing bad decision making to continue. As you said, this team appears both physically and mentally ahead of last years squad but if that’s the case why are they unable to find their groove? From my observations it’s because they’re rudderless. And that is the coaches responsibility, all of them not just Kent. I am not gifted with any more insight than what my eyes and gut tell me and they say Ernie has lost this team.
I am not gifted with any more insight than what my eyes and gut tell me and they say Ernie has lost this team.
I will disagree in the sense that I don’t think Ernie “lost the team” after the Washington/Washington State wins. We had won 6 going into the Oregon State game. Losing 3 straight is not “losing the team”
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
I’ve said it a million times and I will say it again. I appreciate what TP brings on the offensive end. I think there are things that can be done coaching wise to limit the mistakes or make the possessions more efficient when TP is in, but I also know no one in Oregon’s history has been able to catch fire like TP from deep and either put a game away or get Oregon back into one like him.
That being said, his deficiency on defense is too much to handle. One of Oregon’s greatest weaknesses is efficient basketball. OSU and ASU proved it again this year. Slow the game down, make every possession count, offensively and defensively and you can either beat Oregon handily or be in a game you really shouldn’t. Defensively you are playing 4 on 5. Rebounding you are playing 4 on 5. 2 out of the 3 important aspects of the game and Oregon is a man down (don’t get me started on Catron, when he is in with Porter it’s 3 on 5).
Dunlap is trying to instill a more disciplined offense at Oregon. That requires better decision making offensively and limiting possessions defensively. Neither of these play into Porter’s wheel house.
Porter was recruited and came to Oregon when the offense was loosey goosey free flowing and jacking it up. The recruits and the system are changing and Porter’s style and play is not part of those plans for the future. Sitting him here would be a small step towards that for Ernie and Oregon basketball.
I call him Malcolm Arm-stud!
Addicted to Quack
I’m working on a Tajuan Porter superpost that talks about pretty much everything you just said.
It's spelled "T-H-E-I-M-P-A-C-T"
I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.
Addicted to Quack, the home of Tako Tuesdays
Dunlap is trying to instill a more disciplined offense at Oregon. That requires better decision making offensively and limiting possessions defensively. Neither of these play into Porter’s wheel house.
I’m glad it wasn’t just me seeing this. The Dunlap hire has been interesting because you see a lot of improvement in certain areas that may not have been there before, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I like that we have a post game, getting guys open (even if they aren’t making shots).
You can tell the guys are trying to work the post game but it isn’t coming naturally to them yet. With TP, this is out of his element. He’s used to being the guy to strap the team on his shoulders and he doesn’t need to. There is a noticeable difference in the flow of our offense when he’s in the game.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
Porter was recruited and came to Oregon when the offense was loosey goosey free flowing and jacking it up.
Ding Ding Ding!!! We have a winner!!! Thanks for bringin’ it home Matt Daddy.
when we also had a certain little energizer bunny running the point.
The beloved creator of Sandwich music.
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