Sergio Rodríguez

[stuart]

After a promising last season, looks like Taurean Green has surpassed Sergio Rodriguez as the third guard off of Portland's bench. (link)

Also out of Portland, Taurean Green has jumped ahead of Sergio Rodriguez on the depth chart. “You put [Green] on the floor at the end of the game with Brandon (Roy) because he can shoot the three,” Nate McMillan told the Oregonian. “Right now, I would say he is the best three-point shooter among the guards.” In regards to Sergio, Nate said, “He’s out. Right now, he is. He’s going to have to play his way in, and that’s going to be hard to do unless Blake or Jack just dog it, which I don’t think will happen.” …

[damelo]

that's $%#@, because this player is just amasing, but went too early in the US. Anyway, he is better than those two guys, and McMillan doesn't like much the Eurpean guys even if he is a good coach.

[rikhardur]

I would just give him an advice: come back to Europe.

[Neozyrus]

He just went there too early, i would give him another advice: "come back to Spain " I really love him playing when he's on shape

[Samuel]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Come back to Europe. Now.

If he doesn't, he won't play the Olympic Games for sure.

[Pinone]

Nate McMillan is the worst coach for an european player. He is kinda "racist" and still thinking that european basketball is far away from the us level. Sure he thinks that the world ends in manhattan

I really believe that Sergio can make a NBA career, but not in Portland, not now. A west coast team would be perfect for him, but if he cannot go west, better he came back to Europe.

[damelo]

Nate McMillan is the worst coach for an european player. He is kinda "racist" and still thinking that european basketball is far away from the us level. Sure he thinks that the world ends in manhattan

I really believe that Sergio can make a NBA career, but not in Portland, not now. A west coast team would be perfect for him, but if he cannot go west, better he came back to Europe.

Well, actually, when in portland, you can't go much more to the west...

[Pinone]

Well, actually, when in portland, you can't go much more to the west...

Ooops!!! You're right! Im not good on geography... Gotcha!

Well, when I say west I mean Los Ángeles, Sacramento, Dallas, Golden State...

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Nate McMillan is the worst coach for an european player. He is kinda "racist" and still thinking that european basketball is far away from the us level. Sure he thinks that the world ends in manhattan

I really believe that Sergio can make a NBA career, but not in Portland, not now. A west coast team would be perfect for him, but if he cannot go west, better he came back to Europe.

I don't think that has anything to do with McMillan being racist. There are quite some coaches in NBA that have a completely different perspective on how the basketball should be played than most european ones get in their times in europe. McMillan is just one of the large coaches group there that've made quite some euro-players ride the pine.

...and of course: Sergio come back to europe untill it's too late any you'd miss 2 of one of the most valuable years for development while warming the bench.

[Neozyrus]

Nate McMillan is the worst coach for an european player. He is kinda "racist" and still thinking that european basketball is far away from the us level. Sure he thinks that the world ends in manhattan

I really believe that Sergio can make a NBA career, but not in Portland, not now. A west coast team would be perfect for him, but if he cannot go west, better he came back to Europe.

Is not about being "racist" although i know what u mean. In Spain we have the sensation that spanish players are understimated by american coaches, as it also is said with sam mitchell and Calderon...etc (and not to mention Macijaukas, Saras..).

But i think it is just the mentality of an american coach that prefers american style of playing, many american coaches just prefer american players while here european coaches prefer european and even in NBA- Gherardini (though he's a GM) is european and prefer European-style players (Claderon, Parker, Bargnani, Baston, Garbo, Slokar last year...). Its just a matter of mentality of the game.

A player of Sergio's age needs to be trusted by his coach and over all many many playing minutes. In my opinion he could develop better in Europe than in NBA 'cause i think that here we teach much better fundamentals, most pgs in NBA play just a little more carzy than is advisable, (with exceptions like kidd, nash, stockton..), and though he likes a lot to play NBA-style, a quick general look to some of his plays reveal that he's still not ready and need to develop.

[achinet]

What a sad new for me. He is really an amazzing player, but if he dont play he will have problems (I thing this was the explanation to his bad level of this Eurobasket). I think he would be better here in Europe.

Ánimo Chacho!! .

[alermac]

Nate McMillan is the worst coach for an european player. He is kinda "racist" and still thinking that european basketball is far away from the us level.

I remember Rubén Wolkowyski had said something like that when he played for the Sonics (he had many minutes with coach Westphal, then McMillan took over and Wolkowyski barely played again), he said McMillan was always talking about "black energy" and things like that.

Rodríguez should demand a trade as quickly as possible.

[jaimegarci15]

Sergio has a big problem because he isn’t strong, defend quite badly and never control rhythm game. I think he is only a player to broke games running the court and playing a fast basketball. Also Portland coach don't believe in him, really don't understand why they have selected him in the draft.

[Neozyrus]

Looks like in the beginning Sergio's is at least above Green. Still the blindness of some coaches still amazes me: Jack is playing terribly terribly bad, dont know what happens to this guy but should be at least at the end of the bench but he's heen in the starting 5 in the two games till know.

And i' not saying this to try to put Sergio there cause Blake is still above him, but i cant imagine what basketball u can play with a guy that makes 24minpg, and have 2ppg, 2.5rbg, 20% in fg% and 3.5 to per game. And in the while u have in the bench Blake doing way much better things more or less in the same time per game or even Sergio doing almost the same as Blake in just 9 minpg.

In the 2 first games Sergio had 9mpg, 5ppg, 1rbg, 1.5apg, 1to with more than 50% in fg%. Not bad for him, hope that they will keep this level.

[Neozyrus]

At least last night Serrgio played (12 min), but he did a pretty bad game, he almost wasnt in the game, so he missed all the shots that he tried and he finished with just 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
I bet that in the next game he wont even play half of those minutes.

[PRSURF]

Bah, Ricky Rubio the next PG in Spain, good luck for Sergio hahaha!

[mvblair]

Explaining Sergio -- by Jason Quick November 06, 2007, The Oregonian

If there is any player on the Trail Blazers who elicits more impassioned support from the fans, it's point guard Sergio Rodriguez.

Many of you have emailed asking why Rodriguez has played so little (he's averaging 8:47 a game), especially in the face of the poor play from Jarrett Jack. Some of you have suggested coach Nate McMillan holds a grudge against Sergio. Some have said if the team is really serious about running, why not use Sergio extensively, since he flourishes in the open court? And some have pointed out that Jack makes many of the same mistakes as Sergio on both offense and defense, yet is afforded more of a leash.

I have talked with McMillan several times over the past year about Sergio, and his lack of playing time. At times, McMillan has become defensive, and I would say probably more than any other topic, the questions about Sergio tend to rankle McMillan the most.

So on Tuesday, I brought up Sergio again, telling McMillan that I get a lot of reader response regarding his playing time. Why then, I asked, hasn't Sergio played more?

"It's combinations,'' McMillan said, before pausing. "You know, I'm not going to make an excuse to the fans for Sergio. There are things that we know ... there are issues. And fans see what they see. They see the fancy plays and the passes. They don't see both ends of the floor. They don't see when we are getting out of defenses, what calls are made.''

First off, let me say this: Nate likes Sergio. Many times when the microphones aren't on, or when the notepads are tucked away, McMillan raves about the kid, sometimes shaking his head and smiling, saying "He sure does make things happen". And he noted twice on the road trip how well Sergio came in and changed the tempo.

But I can also say this: Sergio has work to do to become a regular, 20-minute plus player.

His defense is suspect as best, and he still appears to struggle with hearing calls from the bench, which at times has resulted in critical breakdowns on defense because he was slow coming out of a zone. And the fans who clamor about Sergio running the break have to also understand that it's hard to fast break when the other team is constantly scoring.

Also, I think the reputation of Sergio in the open court has overshadowed how effective he can be in the halfcourt. He is at his best coming off a pick, penetrating and then finding someone like Martell Webster or Jack on the wing. It is one reason why McMillan plans on putting Joel Przybilla in the second unit for Wednesday's home opener against New Orleans. Przybilla is the best on the Blazers at setting picks, and McMillan envisions running Sergio off those screens with the second unit. McMillan said Sergio will definitely play Wednesday - probably more than his season-high 11:54 in the opener. Sergio did not play in the Blazers' last game in Houston.

Bottom line: The Blazers like Sergio; Nate likes Sergio, and he remains a big part of this team's future. He just needs to get better, and the Blazers are willing to be patient with him until that happens.

This writer seems to think that McMillan likes Sergio, but wants to give him more time.

But guys, before we accuse McMillan of nationalism, remember this: Sergio is not even the third best PG on his national team. Navarro, Calderon, and Cabezas are much, much, much better than Sergio. So, if he isn't getting major minutes, should we really be surprised?

That said, there is a lot of love for Sergio from the Blazers fans in Portland. Check out some of the comments below that article:

• Is Nate ever going to admit that JJ is NOT a point guard, at least at the NBA level? I think thats what makes fans wonder the most, when they see Jack make the same bad plays that Sergio or Previous Blazers like Telfai
• I hate to say this, but I smell the foreigner / race card showing up here soon (coach Mac) regarding Sergio. People will bring it up. Tell me I'm wrong.... but this stinks.
  
  I hate to bring it up, but what is up? ESPN, SI, NBA.com, and many others mentioned Sergio as an up and comer - but now we see even Green getting playing time and Sergio getting a DNP? Coach Mac , you don't like folks from Europe? This stinks. Read the blogs, etc. coach, you are missing something here I feel. Jack is
• Nate really should stop implying that the fans (who pay his salary) are morons and realize many of them actually understand more about the game than just pretty passes and dunks. Most recognize Sergio has man-to-man defensive shortcomings due to his European background, but don't agree that's enough reason to play an equally poor defender with no clue how to run a high-tempo offense ahead of him.
  
  I personally feel Sergio does not get credit for his defensive abilities when it comes to disrupting the passing lanes. IMO he's the best PG we have at that and it is a weapon that can easily make the difference between winning or losing. Take away your opponent's passing game and you're usually going to win the game.
• Ya, you're right Nate. We're dumb. We have no clue about basketball. When we saw Jack get schooled by Chris Paul, he was actually playing great defense?? Give me a break. Nate's man-love for Jack is getting old. It's like the high school kid whose dad is friends with the coach. We all know he sucks, but the coach keeps playing him. Just put Sergio in the game. I would rather lose and have the game be fun -- instead of losing and watching a train wreck.
• Didn't the Blazers just pick up Sergio's option? Unless I'm wrong on that, they obviously believe in the kid's future with the team. It's just gonna take some time.
• Nate trusts Jack. I only want 10% of that trust to go to Sergio. Every player should get his chance to prove himself. Sometimes I just feel Sergio has no love from coach. His door is closed.
• Guys, great to see a well written article on my favorite subject, Sergio. However, the fact is that Sergio is the only player we have with the potential to be a quality NBA PG. Sure he makes some mistakes... but "Coach" yanks Sergio when he makes one... others he leaves in to make mistake after mistake. Blazer fans understand the secondary and tertiary responsibilities of an NBA PG... we also understand that "Coach" does not believe that we learn by our mistakes... or it appears that that is the case for Sergio... unlike others for whom he is very forgiving. It is absurd for Coach to lecture us on what we do not see or understand... we see what we need and Coach giving Sergio the on-the-court time is essential.

[Neozyrus]

just a little correction. navarro is not a pg.

In fact is some aspects i agree on what mcmillan said at some points, defense has always been the weakest point of Sergio, but he has a lot of other virtues that he doesnt mention and that he cant even show McMillan cause he doesnt give him the minutes in court to do so.

And in some aspects i agree with the fans 'opinions too, Macmillan seems to show a lot more confidence in other players (even if they are playing bad) than in Sergio. And well, i really dont like to play the nationalistic card, but if everybody says it....

[Neozyrus]

By the way, Sergio did 2 points and 1 assist in 5 min the victory of Portand against Memphis.

[mvblair]

just a little correction. navarro is not a pg.

Well, my fault. But I think I've seen Navarro run the team in the past...

In fact is some aspects i agree on what mcmillan said at some points, defense has always been the weakest point of Sergio, but he has a lot of other virtues that he doesnt mention and that he cant even show McMillan cause he doesnt give him the minutes in court to do so.

And in some aspects i agree with the fans 'opinions too, Macmillan seems to show a lot more confidence in other players (even if they are playing bad) than in Sergio. And well, i really dont like to play the nationalistic card, but if everybody says it....

On the other hand, McMillan used Radmonavic a lot in Seattle, so I don't think it's nationalism. More likely, it's ego. McMillan doesn't like a youngster showing up the older players. That's my opinion.