Blazers’ Rodriguez back with renewed confidence

TUALATIN, Ore — After all the offseason work to get stronger, improve his jump shot and bolster his weaknesses, the biggest change that Sergio Rodriguez brought into Portland Trail Blazers training camp had little to do with his basketball skills.

Improved confidence made the biggest difference, he said. And a clear mind.

Rodriguez often lacked one or the other during a sophomore season that saw his minutes reduced and his role shoved into the back of the point guard rotation.

He often sounded confused by the situation, discouraged by what he perceived to be the team’s lack of confidence in his abilities, and frustrated that it never changed.

So Rodriguez returned to his native Spain last summer and focused on clearing his mind and developing a new mentality to keep himself from falling into that trap again.

And with incumbent starter Steve Blake sidelined by a strained hamstring, Rodriguez may find himself in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s preseason opener, offering him a chance to show the Blazers that his mind is back on track.

“After two years playing in the NBA, I have to think that the most important thing is you don’t have to worry about anything else. You have to worry about yourself,” Rodriguez said. “And that is what I tried to do during the summer.”

Rodriguez did plenty of worrying last season, and little of it had to do with himself.

Early in the year, it became apparent that Blake and Jarrett Jack would get the majority of playing time at point guard, leaving Rodriguez in the cold.

With minutes tight, Blazers coach Nate McMillan used Rodriguez with the reserve unit during the second quarter, but usually for only 8 to 10 minutes.

McMillan says he was trying to help Rodriguez by giving him playing time that was difficult to find in a tight rotation in order to help his development.

But Rodriguez often slid into a mode of increasing self-doubt, wondering why he was not playing more, and worrying that it would cause him to be bumped off the Spanish National Team for the Olympics — which eventually did occur.

“That was a tough situation for both of us,” McMillan said. “I’m sure it wasn’t what he wanted, but it was best for the team at the time, which is what I was focusing on, and what I will focus on. There’s going to always be players who don’t accept the role.”

But rather than carry the frustration over, Rodriguez returned to his home in the Canary Islands, cleared his mind and focused on himself.

He worked with Blazers shooting coach John Thompson to develop more arc on his shot — one of the biggest weaknesses of his game.

He improved his strength and played with other pro players each day. And when training camp opened last week, that offseason work showed through when Rodriguez posted the third-fastest time in McMillan’s infamous conditioning test.

But through all that work, the biggest change Rodriguez noticed was the return of his confidence, which spread into other parts of his game.

He will now have more opportunity to play this season. McMillan has already said Rodriguez holds the edge over rookie Jerryd Bayless for the reserve point guard spot because of his experience.

And with Blake out, he will have increased opportunity to impress Blazers coaches and solidify his position during the preseason.

But unlike last year, his increased confidence and clear mind may put him in a better position to take advantage of that opportunity.

“I just had to get my confidence back,” Rodriguez said. “I feel I’m stronger now. I can shoot better. And my mind is clear. And I just want to play, I just want to have fun. I just want to win.”