I don't think Nate would put him in as the starter... unless he strings together 4 or 5 games with 20+ pts, a few boards, and a few assists... and we win.
I think that remains to be seen. Bayless had one great game, and he's got several more to prove that wasn't an aberation. If he plays even fairly well - Sergio fades off into oblibion. If he stinks it up - it will be back to what it was before Blake/Rudy/Roy got hurt (when JB played Sparringly) I think he'll play okay - well enough to take Sergio's minutes . . . with a caviat. They may not bench Sergio if they want to showcase him a little. In that case, Bayless could go back to the bench again too. I think they would love to trade Sergio at this point, but who values him? **Note: Remember when Jerry West (working in the Memphis Grizz front office) fell in love with Sergio in his rookie year? Reportedly, they offered Gasol for LA and Sergio back then and we said no thanks. At the time, we thought Sergio might blossom into a Steve Nash-Light. Wow, even the great Jerry West is wrong sometimes**
I think it's all up to Jerryd at this point. I tend to think he'll have more up and down games, but you can tell Nate loves his effort on defense and he does provide another weapon as far as attacking the basket goes. My guess is that he'll probably earn the right to play, but Blake is still going to be the steady hand on the wheel that Nate wants so he'll probably get more backup minutes.
Heavily depends on how he plays until Blake comes back. If he can average around 12, 3 and 3 in Blake's absense in around 25ish mpg, then I think it would be foolish to keep him out of the rotation. He is off to a pretty good start, as last game was the first game Blake missed. So he is at 23, 3 and 3.
You are all leaving out the most important ingredient, how the team does with him in, and how the team does with Sergio in. That's the bottom line. From Nate's statements it sounds like the targeted long-term solution (maybe not this year 'cause we're still baking) is a pairing of Roy/Bayless and a pairing of Rudy/Sergio, leaving Blake as trade bait. If Steve was big enough to play SF we might be already have that situation. Pairing Sergio with Rudy sets Sergio loose to play his style of basketball, and takes the mannacles off. I'm looking forward to some exciting basketball from these lineups while Blake is out, but when he's well I think we'll be trying to play them all again, unless Steve is traded. Bayless would have to be a star overnight for that to happen this year. Meant to be a bandaid all along, Blake has a knack for succeeding above all expectations. He has been Bayless's obstacle all along, not Sergio. If Steve sucked, Bayless would have had more PT earlier, but probably not as he obviously wasn't ready for more than he got at the time.
Except that Sergio isn't very good, therefor eliminating the theory that he is the long term solution as the backup point guard.
If Jerryd can put together a few more solid games, he will be taking most of the backup minutes. Blake is the starter for the time being. All the blind love for Sergio from certain posters boggles my mind. I don't hate the guy, I just don't feel his effect on the team's overall play is a net positive- thus we are better off the less he plays.
IMO, Bayless/Roy/Batum/Aldridge/Oden will be the starting lineup that wins us our first couple titles. If Bayless shows us over the next couple games that his NJ performance wasn't an aberration, then I think it's time to start him. The point has been made before that Oden starting over Przybilla--even though Joel was outplaying him--was the right move because Oden was the future at the center position. If Bayless continues to prove himself competent in the backcourt, then the same logic should apply.
Uh... until Sergio can hit game changing threes and shoot above 40% from the outside like Blake this isn't even a conversation. Blake plays well with the starters and they have good chemistry. Sergio plays well with Rudy and that's it! He dribbles to much, his shot is flat, and he turns the ball over as much as he makes fancy passes. I'd trade him right now if it wouldn't put Rudy into a mental funk! Jason Kidd or Steve Nash, Sergio will not be. Let's move on. Bayless needs his minutes!
