Friday, February 17th, 2012 at 9:20 am  |  21 responses

Raymond Felton Says Coach Nate McMillan Has No Confidence in Him


The Portland Trailblazers suffered a heart-breaking loss to the LA Clippers at home last night, and to make matters worse, point guard Raymond Felton sounds like he’s depressed over his role on the team. Per CSNNW: “I know I’m struggling, but it’s hard to perform the way you know how when you know they don’t have confidence in you,’ Felton said. ‘Never in my days playing basketball, have I felt like a coach wasn’t confident in my abilities. It’s hard to play knowing that. Coming in and out of games is throwing my rhythm off, but it’s something that I’ll get through.’ According to Felton, [last night's] game was one of his worst games he’s played in a while. In a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Felton was 0-for-7 from the field and committed 5 turnovers in 24 minutes of play. He said that game was difficult on so many levels and he had to reach out to somebody he trusted. ‘Tonight was one of those nights where it was hard to get into the game knowing every mistake I made would be magnified,’ Felton said. ‘It’s to the point where the only person I could turn to was my mom. She knows how I feel and how much I’m trying to turn this thing around and she just helps me put things in perspective.’ Felton has admitted that maybe all the media scrutiny is getting inside his head, even though he doesn’t read what’s out there. ‘I don’t read what people say about me, but I get calls from my friends and family saying what is being said,’ Felton stated. ‘So from that standpoint, it’s definitely been tough to deal with.’ His numbers are a career-low all across the board from points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and rebounding.”

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  • AD Posted: Feb.17 at 9:36 am
    raymond was fine on the knicks…. jeremy lin is good but that knicks team was fun to watch but……

  • underdog Posted: Feb.17 at 10:02 am
    Dude should drop some weight.

  • hushabomb Posted: Feb.17 at 10:08 am
    Do one thing, play mad D and lock up yo man. You might be having career lows yet defence will get you PT. Get deflections and loose balls and try to spark fast breaks for easy baskets for yourself (Trailblazers usually suck in this dept). While the world may not believe in you, believe in the fact that what I do defensively will spark offence for both you and your team.

  • Chris Posted: Feb.17 at 10:29 am
    Never? Did he already forget how Larry Brown felt about him in Charlotte?

  • north Posted: Feb.17 at 10:43 am
    0-7 FG last night… Ray, EVERYONE has lost confidence in you. Head to the thrift shop so you can see all your jerseys hanging in a row.

  • niQ Posted: Feb.17 at 10:55 am
    Well when you shoot 36%, which is already below your horrid career 41%, how can anyone NOT lose confidence in you? Just be happy they haven’t dedicated a site to your putrid shooting yet.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER Posted: Feb.17 at 11:05 am
    I remember Andre Miller having trouble coexisting with Nate McMillan too.

  • JoeMaMa Posted: Feb.17 at 11:24 am
    The thing is, he was balling for the Knicks. So he CAN be a top player. His coach needs to pump him up. That’s the coach’s job: to get guys playing well. I’m not necessarily blaming Nate, because at the end of the day, Felton’s the one taking the shots…but he needs to set aside some time for a constructive, positive talk.

  • IAMORANGE4EVER Posted: Feb.17 at 11:39 am
    @JoeMaMa agreed. I think it’s a little on Nate, but at the same time Raymond Felton needs to be a professional, and pump himself up.

  • Moe NYC Posted: Feb.17 at 11:42 am
    I agree with (Hushabomb) 100%.Just keep your head up and just remember we in NYC still regard you highly.
    Forget what Underdog said I think you are soooo sexy just the way you are ;)

  • nbk Posted: Feb.17 at 11:43 am
    Wait a second, a PG who routinely takes questionable shots & makes questionable decisions, and isn’t a very good team defender is struggling to find minutes in Portland? Who ever would have thought that?

  • datkid Posted: Feb.17 at 12:06 pm
    damn… as a former unc guy I hope things get better for him.

  • dev0 Posted: Feb.17 at 1:11 pm
    He’s playing poorly because the coach doesn’t believe in him?
    OR the coach doesn’t believe in him because he’s playing poorly?
    Paradox! (or just tough love)

  • bike Posted: Feb.17 at 1:18 pm
    Good god Ray, man up. Telling the media that you are crying to Mama isn’t going to bolster Nate’s confidence in you either.

  • LakeShow Posted: Feb.17 at 2:13 pm
    Haha, Mom’s are dope. Always there for you. Common though Felton, your making me look bad dude, you betta than this.

  • bull22 Posted: Feb.17 at 5:19 pm
    thats what makes greg poppovich and tom thibodeau the best coaches in the league right now, every player knows their role and simply shuts their trap and plays. all season long all i hear is star players and role players complaining about their team or why they are not getting enough shots..
    very tiresome.

  • robb Posted: Feb.17 at 7:30 pm
    ray I trust you go to the Lakers

  • jpm34 Posted: Feb.17 at 7:42 pm
    McMillen is notoriously tough on pgs. BUT 36%. Damn!!!!

  • The Philosopher Posted: Feb.17 at 8:44 pm
    And just think, Felton was held in higher regard than Chris Paul at one time.
    He’s been overrated.
    McMillan is a great coach. He knows when “you have it”, and when you don’t.
    As far as Miller, he was fat coming into camp. Nate treated him as such until he got into shape. After Miller got into shape, things proceeded.
    Again, Nate is not a good coach. He’s a great coach.
    Has seen it all.
    Was an underrated point guard during his playing days, too.

  • Mystic Posted: Feb.19 at 5:59 pm
    Nate McMillan was a shooting guard and small forward. Gary Payton was the point guard during most of Nate’s career. Maybe you’ve heard of him, that Payton guy. He was kinda good.

  • Michael Posted: Mar.31 at 9:16 pm
    Raymond, where is your faith, brother? You were a star in high school. Ranked #1 as a point guard. You came from humble beginnings. You won a National Championship with UNC. You have proven that you deserve this stage. But, once again, fellow Tar Heel, where is your Faith in God and yourself? Don’t allow your down moments to be turned into media dumps. The public will never give you due justice. Trust in God, Raymond. Come on, Bro.

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