"Is Jerryd Bayless the shot in the arm the Blazers need?" -Oregonian

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/12/is_jerryd_bayless_the_shot_in.html


This is exactly what I (and some others) have been saying!

Looks like Bayless' time may have come, and not a moment too soon... I hope the Quickster is right.

 

Well I have to say, watching that 5'10 no name PG for Dallas win the game untouched going to the basket, makes me think Bayless would have made a huge difference defending him!

 

Hmm,so Sergio is getting the axe for this lack of defense, yet Blake continues to log heavy minutes with his carelessness while handling the ball and decision making skills and his defense is not so hot either.
Whatever though, anything to get our stud rookie on the court.

 

Our PG defense has just been awful. Baron killed us, Rondo, the list is endless. Most uncontested layups and dunks. Bayless will atleast attack the PG!

 

I hope so. This has been a long time coming. I would be prepared for Rudy's production to drop a bit, since he hasn't played with him much so he doesn't have that "connection".

 

5'10" my ass! I've stood next to that guy before and he's more like 5'8"!

 

I hope to God Bayless gets some PT.

 

If he's 5'8 that's got to sting even more....

 

The way the game is called now by the refs, if Bayless "attacks" the opposing point guard on defense, he'll rack up fouls by the minute just like Oden, and they'll be right back to Blake/Sergio.

No, the way to neutralize a PG that is killing you is to attack HIM on your offensive end, and get HIM in foul trouble. This is the nature of today's NBA.

 

I agree. Bayless will struggle for the reason you stated and because of his lack of experience running the team. BUT........it is time. He needs to get some minutes. I watched Rondo last night against the Warriors and I am not sure who can stay with him ,but I know for sure Blake and Sergio can't. So you might as well get him some minutes against Toronto first, because we will need him for the next game.

We really need the finished version of Bayless right now. Unfortunately that won't come over night. But I think we need to work him in somehow. I wouldn't play three point guards in the same game. but I think i would alternate Sergio and Bayless every few games to give Bayless some experience.

 

Blake is far from the end all be all PG, but with a more then 3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio he does take care of the ball. Combined with making over two 3's a game on 43% shooting from deep and dude is a pretty effective offensive PG in my view. His conservative game plays to his strengths and masks his average athleticism. There is no doubt his spot up shooting compliments Roy ability to drive.

I'm all for Bayless getting some more burn as the season moves along and having at least some of those minutes come from Steve. But with two rookies already in the starting lineup, I think it makes sense to play the steady effective vet PG and let the stud youngin watch SB and listen to coach Nate. He is much more athletic then Sergio and Steve and no one is more aware of this then Blazer management... his day is coming.

STOMP

 

Exactly. McMillan is loyal to HIS guys. Jack was the guy last year, now it's Blake. But, if Jared can get more burn with Sergio on the bench, then work his way into the starting lineup, then maybe Sergio could replace Blake in the 2nd unit with Bayless starting.

 

This was my favorite part of the article.


Nate wants more defense so Quick mentions maybe Travis over Nicolas.....LOL

Travis is one of the worst overall defenders on the entire roster and Nicolas is one of the best.

This is the kinda thing that pisses me off about Nate. Blake is a horrible defender, yet Nate never says a word about him.

 

you are exagerating so much it's hard to answer these questions without being sarcastic or condescending. Of course he sets up plays as he and Brandon share ball handling duties... dude doesn't luck into 4+ assists a game. While he does spread the court with his outside threat, comparing his play to Webster is absolutely ridiculous. His shooting from deep far outshines anything MW has ever produced. Martell's career Assist to TO ratio is a negative number not an excellent 3 to 1. Webster has a subpar handle for a Wing let alone a PG. And you really doubt that there are any vet tricks a limited athlete like Blake could teach a young player about guarding some of the best athletes in the game?

I don't know the guy, but here's guessing like most stud youngins he's pretty full of himself and used to taking over/getting his own shot. Sitting and watching should teach some humility and team first values, but SB has some things to impart as well. He keeps the ball moving, spreads the court by staying outside, and defers to other players keeping them in the game. Bayless will probably never be a "pure" point distributer which warts and all Blake is. While I welcome what adding his superior athleticism should bring to the club, I would also like him to retain the team first focus that Blake has... dude is nothing if not professional, smart and scrappy.

STOMP

 

I don't think Blake is a "horrible defender". I think he is a pretty smart defender. Does he have a problem staying in front of the quicker PG's in the league? Sure, but what do you want, do you want Nate to ask Blake to become quicker? Not sure that would do much good. I am guessing that Nate gets a little more frustrated with the players that have mental lapses. I doubt that describes Blake.

 

The idea that Blake does not set up plays is ridiculous - he has 25% assist% which is very respectable for any PG playing next to a ball dominating SG like Roy. The idea that he creates as much as Webster is absurd - because in Webster's best year he had a 7% assist percent. For the record - even Rudy Fernandez who creates very well for a SG - is only at 12% - part of it is probably because he plays so much next to Sergio who dominates the ball - but it is clear that Blake is a prototypical PG and if you can't see it... well, it might be time for a new eye prescription.

Assist percent is the amount of points scored by the other 4 players playing with you because of assists from you.

(For the record, the black hole Travis Outlaw has a higher assist% than Webster - but that's an argument for another thread)

 

So far he is no name, but from what Ive seen of him he wont be no name for long