Bayless got some minutes last night. It wasn't pretty. He traveled the first time he touched the ball, and committed an unnecessary foul about 5 seconds later. He never got to do the one thing he's good at (clear out and attack the basket) so was reduced to doing what any 3rd string PG can do better - swing the ball. Why isn't he playing D-League? Is he really learning much that he doesn't already know by practicing with the team? Sounds like all he's doing is trying to pick a fight with Sergio. If Paul Allen would just buy a D-League team, we could stipulate that Bayless had to play nothing but PG and have them run the Blazers' sets. Other teams (e.g., the Lakers) do this, and their owners aren't half as rich! Personally, I don't think Bayless is going to be other than a short SG (a la Iverson). I know most people feel differently and want to hang on to him and develop him. So, what do you want? D-League or not?
He is trying to pick a fight with Sergio? I thought they were pingpong buddies... He played fine last night... he got 4 minutes. He is a good scorer and can score in pretty much every way, but that isn't the only thing he does. He played very solid D... IDK what more you were expecting from him in 4 minutes. I thought he did well... would you rather have him jack up shots? LOL that would actually be soo funny... "Its my time to shine! Let it RAIN!!!...Gotta make the most of my time out there"
lol just gonna say...for the guys who want minutes for bayless...buy some tickets for the d-league. hes got a looooong way to go. i think he will be a solid player but hes not the PG of the future. your kidding yourself if you think he is. we have drafted a career backup IMO. maybe a slight upgrade over jack. not the answer.
Dang man, you got all of this in 4 minutes? I don't get what he did wrong... I don't think Nate put him out there to take shots... Let me guess, you were one of the people calling Oden a bust after his 2nd game?
You know that most players who don't play all season long and then get thrown right into the middle of an up tempo game, tend to not play to well until they get a feel for the game and the tempo/speed of what is happening. I would not judge much on this, Nate threw him in there to try and get some rest for some other players, and buy some minutes. It didn't pan out, but it doesn't mean "off to the D-League" or "He has a long way to go". I'll tell you what it does probably mean. It means that Bayless, is probably a lot closer to cracking the rotation than you think, and Nate jumped at the chance to throw them in there, because he thought he was ready. So what if he didn't do good. The whole fucking team didn't do good last night, and turned over the ball a lot.
He looked nervous with the ball, but he did show his ability to stay in front of his man on defense. I sort of think these 4 minutes were a reward for some presumably good play in practice. Hopefully we start blowing teams out so we can see him more.
In 4 minutes he did have one TO - but he is a rookie getting mostly his first minutes of play - but he also did get one steal - so that evens it up for me. The PF he got for being too aggressive - personally, I loved it. Finally one of our point guards was going hard at someone with a dribble. Much better that Sergio's "Oops, let me get out of your way" defense. The kid is trying to stay in front of his man on D - something this team sorely needs.
I remember watching a game where Steve Nash was chewed up and spit out by Marcus Brown in limited minutes. Brown has turned into a pretty good player in Europe, but Nash is... Nash. Nash was also a more experienced player than Bayless is and should have been more advanced. Getting Bayless minutes here and there--even if they don't go well--is great for the team's future. I'm not at all worried that he didn't do very well. Ed O.
Bayless has no confidence right now. It shows. Coach McMillan singlehandedly killed the kids swagger and confidence in his game. We have a crowded rotation but you have to play the kid. Steve F'n Blake, really?!
Bayless was generally regarded as a top-five player coming out of HS. Monta Ellis was regarded much the same. Ellis didn't get drafted till the 40th pick because of concerns about his size. Bayless was drafted 11th with even less concern about his size. They both offer freakish athleticism. They both can shoot well, although Bayless' range extends past the three-point line. They both have or will have an all-star level ability to score. Do you think some teams out there are feeling rather stupid for passing on Ellis? We'd be in the same lot, and probably worse off if we were to so casually dismiss a player of Bayless' ability. What you have seen of Bayless IS not enough. Which I'd guess from your post that you haven't seen much.
No way you can say that. I have watched almost all his college games, summer league and pre-season and IMO is our PG of the future. He is the perfect fit to play with Roy. He is never going to be a pass first true PG but there are very few in the league that are any good and I'm not sure we even need a true pass first PG. You won't remember this but by next year he will be kicking ass and taking names.
why is it that it appears anyone who likes sergio immediately hates all of the other pgs on the team(whether that be blake, bayless, or in the past jack)? you don't have to just pick one guy to like on the team. there are enough minutes for more than one guy to play the pg spot of they are all playing for the same goal.
There's also some of that with Webster and Outlaw. Actually, probably not as much of it as people think, but there's definitely the impression and allegation of "Martell camps" / "Martell haters" and "Outlaw camps" (that sounds cool) / "Outlaw haters." It's very strange. I've never seen such (apparent) fracturing within a fanbase around certain players.
Sergio plays a fun to watch offensive game and the offense flows beautifully when he is in the zone. It is a marvel of motion. Unfortunately, it is not conductive to this team's success given the personnel they have - the players that really flourish in it are not our 2 best players (Roy / Oden) - so people have a tendency to blame the other point guards for Sergio's lack of playing time. Personally, I love Sergio's offensive game when he hits shots and attacks the rim enough to make people guard him. This opens the passing lanes and Sergio is a really unique talent when it comes to finding people open. On the other hand - I hate Sergio's defensive game - he is awful on defense - and to make things worse - does not at least try consistently - sometimes he just does not look as if he cares. It drives me nuts. At the end of the day, for me, it comes to caring about winning - and this means putting role players that complement your stars - not you the other way around - so Sergio who is ineffective without the ball in his hands and can not guard opposing PGs just strikes me as the wrong kind of role player to put next to Roy. Blake and Jack are better complementary players next to Roy - and Bayless, at least on paper - looks like he is a perfect PG next to Roy. Can bring the ball up-court, can be a spot shooter and can guard the opposing point guards. I can't wait for the Bayless/Roy backcourt era...
if bayless was playing for golden state he would be putting up 20 ppg guaranteed. same with outlaw for that matter. and everybody here would be saying that we need to trade for them.
I agree strongly on this count. I've also seen a lot of negativity about players who 15 years ago would still be playing in college. It's happened with Outlaw, Sergio, Batum, Webster, and Oden to name current Blazers. I think a lot of people need a reality check. I see so many castoffs around the league who end up turning into very solid players. Gerald Wallace for example. Rome wasn't built in a day. Patience is a virtue. Pritchard, the team is set for the future. Don't lose sight of that.
Maybe Bayless would. But Stephen Jackson already does and I don't see anyone here saying we should trade for him. So, to recap: both Bayless and Sergio need to go to Golden State. Where can we send Blake?
