But it's been bantered about in here how Blake's a great PG to have next to Roy b/c all he does is bring the ball up, pass to someone else, and spot up for 3. It's working well b/c he's making ~45% or so of them. He doesn't create a lot of openings for other to get easy baskets, he doesn't rebound, he stays generally outside of the 3 pt line, and he doesn't play average defense. The thought that popped into my head was this...what does Blake do that JJ Redick doesn't (or someone like him)? I mean, I think many would agree (this year's stats don't bear it out), that Redick is a better spot-up 3pt shooter than just about anyone. He also is good at coming off of screens and firing away. He also is only 24. You could probably find better examples, but instead of "PG", if you named the starting 1 position for the Blazers the "Spot Up Guy" (a la Ron Harper, Kerr, Paxson, Fisher, etc) then you could put a few different folks in there.
You are one of those guys that want to make a trade just to make one, aren't you? No matter if its a lateral or backward move.
I'm not a huge Blake supporter, but I think he's the best fit right now as the starting PG. He just doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he doesn't turn the ball over, he can bring the ball up and make the right decisions against full-court pressure, and he's got the respect of his teammates and Nate that he won't screw things up royally. You can depend on him unlike someone like Redick who is probably up and down each game. You know exactly what you're going to get from Blake every night. He's consistent, which can sometimes be overlooked in the NBA. Kind of like what James Jones brought last year, just a guy who knows how to play the game and won't get rattled too much.
That's not really a fair example of what he does. He handles the ball way more than you're giving him credit for, and he hardly ever makes a mistake with the ball. Ever. He's a natural leader and a great locker room guy. He's a scrappy player that never gives up. What he doesn't have in talent, size, or quickness, he makes up for with heart. It'll take a special player to knock him out of the line up or off the team.
Blake was a very successful PG in college... and even if he's not a dominant playmaker in the NBA, I think that to think that someone with NO PG skills at either end of the floor (like JJ Redick) can just come in and help the team more than Blake seems... off. Ed O.
I really like Blake's offense. I think he's improved a lot as a shooter, and he's really accepting a leadership role on this team. The problem with Blake is his defense. I have not been impressed with how Duhon and Rondo shredded him. Chris Paul I can understand, but Duhon? With how many good point guards there are in the league right now, I really think we need a stopper at the 1. Maybe Bayless can be that guy. I also have been disappointed with how our point guards do at making the entry pass into the post. I think that needs a lot of work.
Did I make a trade idea? I asked about the philosophy of those who think Blake's the perfect PG next to Roy. For the record, I want a trade where Travis and/or Webster is no longer on our team. I want a trade where we get a PG that makes our number of "easy baskets" (fastbreak, those in the paint, open 3's) go up. "lateral" or "backward" in terms of what? Is taking on salary for talent "backward"? Is trading talent for future picks "backward"? It's way past the time that we should be looking at tactical trade moves. Unfortunately, some have the inability to think strategically (chess, not checkers) over the next 5-10 years.
Look at the top teams in the league, and the difference you will see is PG speed. Blake would be a great PG if he had the speed to match up with some of the guys he faces. But he doesn't. That is why I believe one day, Bayless will be in the lineup. It is just a matter of time, and he will bring more to the table than Blake.
Fair enough. I don't give him credit for handling the ball much, because I don't see him do it. Maybe there's a stat for how much he does or not...but I don't see it. He brings it up and maybe initiates a play. He makes as many turnovers per game (though in double the minutes) as Sergio at 1.4 per. He has the same A/TO as Sergio. So he's a good PG for us right now, I won't disagree, b/c it's working. But he's not creating anything. He's not rebounding anything. He's not playing defense. Could we, for instance, put last year's James Jones as our PG? Could Webster? That's why I brought up Redick. I was specifically picking someone who's a good shooter, who didn't play PG.
JJ Redick is horrible. With all the injuries in Orlando, he got some playing time this season and completely stunk it up. He's shooting 30% from the three point line and 34% overall. I'll take Blake over him every day of the week.
