I hope it doesn't get to the point that we have to look toward S-Bo, who was just fighting for an NBA contract with Steven Hill (Steven Hill!), to provide a lift off the bench...
Sergio took a crap early in the game and showed that he couldn't keep any of the Denver guards in front of him. I can't fault Nate too badly with the short leash on him tonight, but putting Bayless in crunch time was certainly questionable. I'd rather see Rudy run the point in that tight a game.
I'd hate to bang on the players... but I think Blake's reaction pretty much told the story of how Roy played tonight. I still love Brandon though, but this was a funny photo.. Brandon: "What's wrong Blake?" Steve: "Geezus, you stink tonight Brandon"
I'm tired of hearing about Sergio's assist numbers. His three assist tonight were balls he threw out to Rudy and Travis at the 3 point line. Big deal. He can't make a lay-up so he kicks it out all of the time. When the shots fall, he ends up with a few assists. How often do his passes end up in easy buckets? And his defense is just awful. I see no reason to continue playing him. He is what he is. A trajically flawed novelty that can't make a lay-up, can't defend, can't shoot, and can't take care of the ball. Do people realize he's shooting 33% from the floor? Or that his assist to t/o is barely over 2 to 1? Oh yeah, about once or twice a week he throws a beautiful alley-oop (usually to Rudy) and for every one he throws, 3 of them end up going the other way. And every once in a while he'll pile up assist, but over half of them are on jumpers. I'm no board with giving Bayless a chance. He seriously can't be any worse than Sergio. I know Bayless played bad tonight. He missed a lay-up and got called for traveling at start of the 4th quarter. I'd like to see him eased into the rotation a little bit, prerferably early (2nd quarter) to start with. He's going to struggle, and maybe we're taking a half step back . . . but Sergio has been the same for 3 years. Plus, Bayless might be able to help us in the area we desperately need help - a playmaker who can get to/finish at the basket - something Sergio can only dream about. Roy can't pull a "Phoenix 52" every night - maybe Bayless can help.
no, there is no speculation. frye and diogu have both proven to be much better nba players than randolph.
I'm sorry, but saying that Ike Diogu is "much better" than anything with a pulse is a stretch. The only reason he's getting a chance to play is b/c Frye isn't a good fit with the 2nd unit - he floats around the perimeter (no post game at all) and just isn't physical enough. He's a 6'10" SF and we need a b/u PF.
Agreed. Also: McMuffin could be outcoached by a chimp. I like Nate, and have given him the benefit of the doubt, but enough is enough. This team will be held back, until they have someone competent to guide/coach them, and another high caliber player emerges/is traded for to share the load with Roy. Roy will truly shine as a complimentary, glue type player, when the pressure is not soley on his shoulders.
I have a feeling we could pluck a few guys from the NBADL that will give more production than either Frye or Ike. Those two are making me miss the "good old days" of Brian Skinner.
Let's not sell Brandon Roy Short here. He's no complimentary player. He's the real deal. He's our #1 option and will be for years, and I'm great with that. What we DO NEED is a complimentary player to go with HIM. Not visa versa. Remember, one guy can't do it on his own. Kobe's Lakers were jacked up before Gasol and the emergence of Bynum. D-Wade's Heat were terrible last year (even at the beginning of the year when he was healthy) Labron's Cavs have looked mediocre much of his career. Brandon Roy is one of the best 10 players in the league right now. Denver did a good job on him tonight, but foul trouble was his real nemesis.
Do you think that PER is such a flawed stat that Ike's solid career PER is a fluke? Diogu hits the offensive glass and gets to the free throw line on a consistent basis. Even in limited minutes, he's demonstrated that this year. Assuming his FG% comes up from the 30% he's been at this year to the 50% he is on his career, I think that it would be hard to argue he'd not be an asset for Portland. Ed O.
Nearly always. He's near the top of the league in passing skills, screening and picking to get his teammates OPEN shots. Keep perpetuating the lie. You probably believe there were WMD's too. He's our best defender at the point, and the only PG on this team who disrupt's his opponent's game. Use your fingers next time and your counting might be more accurate. And it appears you don't understand what an assist is. An assist is an assist is an assist. It's what real PG's do, the most important thing that real PG's do, and Sergio is the only PG that does it for us.
it isn't a stretch at all. diogu isn't good, but he doesn't have to be good to be a much better player than shavlik randolph. all three of them are in their 4th season in the league(though randolph did have an ankle injury). and in that time, diogu and frye have proven to be much better than randolph.
Shavlick has at least been in the playoffs, something Frye and Ike can't say. He might not be better, but he deserves the chance to prove himself.
And people accuse me of giving Sergio too much credit for his potential? I'd like to hear your other nine so I'll know who you're putting Roy above. Top 10?
sweet jesus i hope nate never puts randolph in..... ever hes complete garbage and how he even got a chance to warm a bench is beyond me
you're making a joke about the playoffs, right? he has played 4 total playoff minutes over the course of 2 games. when hasn't he gotten the chance to prove himself? this is his 4th year in the league. it's not like he's a rookie like bayless and actually hasn't had much of a chance to prove he deserves minutes.
Okay, let's do this. How many wins do the Blazers have w/o Roy? I'll give you my list. Kobe, Labron, Wade, Amare, Duncan, Howard, Paul . . . actually those are about the only guys I'd consider over Roy if I were starting a team (No, I don't think Dirk belongs on that list) Ability, clutch play/guy who hits big shots in the 4th quarter, and all the intangibles like leadership, good teamate - things that do matter. There are a few others we could go back and forth on like Bosh, T. Parker, Paul Pierce, etc. How many clear cut guys would you take over Roy? Name 10 guys that you think give the Blazers a better record than 17-11 if you exchange that player for B-Roy. Seriously, it's tough to do.
Do you honestly feel confident with Sergio in the game? I mean, when we aren't playing a weak sister like Sacramento? The guy can't make a lay-up, and he's careless with the ball. Are you honestly saying he isn't? It seems like he's going for style points - he rarely just makes the easy pass. His defense is bad - that's no lie. Arguing over who is a better defender between him and Blake is like arguing over a Joel Pryz vs Shaq three point contest. I've watched Sergio for 3 years. And still - I have no confidence in him, especially in a grind-it-out type game with a team like Denver, or LA, or San Antonio, New Orleans, Utah, etc. As much as I dispise Blake, I find myself (when Sergio is in) just counting the seconds until Blake returns. NOW THAT'S BAD.
