As anyone who keeps tabs knows that I still enjoy watching Sergio play, unlike most on here. I think in Nate's system he is wasted, as Nate either doesn't know how to utilize him or refuses to allow him to play. I would rather watch him play for another team rather than watch him waste away on the bench in Portland. I'm not saying he is the greatest thing out there or even that he could be a starter some day, but we'll never know in Portland, at least as long as Nate is the coach.
The biggest issue I have with sergio is that he can't shoot. He might be the best passer on the team, but if he can't knock down a mid-range jumper consistently, how can you have him in the game? Teams are going to sag off him, and then what?
I want him traded but not because of the reasons the OP cites, I want him traded because he's just not that good.
Sergio is still an enigma.. you never know what you're going to get from him each night. Some games, he's just on and Nate will play him heavily into the fourth quarter. And then other games, he just sucks and either helps give up the lead that the starters made, or lets the other team extend its lead. That's when Nate has had enough of him. And his jumpshot is still broke, and seems like he's going back to the old Sergio. It's unfortunate because his shot looked so promising in the preseason, and it's gotten progressively worse. I want him to succeed since he brings us a different dimension than the grind-it-out offense led by Blake, but he just hasn't earned the PT lately.
Sergio plays no DEFENSE and letting Bayless sit when we need someone who will body up good PG's gives me a headache! Bayless, Oden, Roy and LA is to much for any one team to contend with if they are on. Throw in Outlaw coming off the bench and Portland is a nightmare to prep for. Bayless need minutes, it's that simple. He could be our Rondo. Blake will be a good teacher for the next two years but that should be our PG rotation hence forth.
Ok I'll get right on that trading him thing. First of all, KP is going to have to quit and the Blazers will need to hire me as GM though.
What has really perplexed me is that I haven't seen the same chemistry between Sergio and Rudy for the last ten or so games.
I don't even think he's the best passer on the team anymore. That honor goes to Rudy before him IMHO. He reminds me of Jason Williams after he got traded from Sactown and had to play for a stricter coach. Take the fancy passing out of his game and you have a below average PG.
Have you noticed the fancy passing has disappeared from Rudy's game too? I think MB mentioned that Nate was on his ass about the pass to Outlaw as well. Nate drives me nuts sometimes. Let a guy be comfortable. Let him be himself. I felt that Nate caused Telfair to take a step back too.
I really see Webster, Raef, Sergio, Ike, Frye and Shavlick on their way out with some sort of package. Non of these guys will be around next year. Webster will be here long enough to get trade value but he's not panned out, and Batum, Rudy and Roy should have his minutes.
I think Nate knows he wont be the coach of this team when the championships come around. He lacks vision and we can all see that!
I'm kinda thinking Rudy is also hitting the rookie/American game wall a bit. But there's no question that a couple bad turnovers will get you the quick hook to the bench from Nate. With Rudy, he can still knock down shots and run the break if he isn't passing. When Sergio isn't passing well he's as big a liability as Frye for this team.
To Nate's credit, Turiaf almost caught up to Travis and could have easily disrupted the play. That's not saying a guy can't be "himself" that's called holding guys accountable.
I know, but it's just a public example of Nate getting on Rudy about passing. I'm just wondering if he has curtailed Rudy's creative passing a bit. I haven't seen as many of the through-the-leg passes.
With regard to your Webster comment, I am slapping my forehead in disgust. He turned 22 on Dec 4th, 2008. You are in for a rude awakening.
There's no doubt in my mind that he has. But is it really such a bad thing? I mean, I love watching some of the sick things Fernandez pulls off too, but is it really appropriate on a team that's trying to play sound, fundamental basketball? When Fernandez pulls off one of those crazy passes, does it inspire guys like Bayless or Aldridge or Batum to also play a little undisciplined? The Spurs play an extremely boring, yet effective, offense. Watching Oden dismantle the Bulls the other night, you could almost swear he was Tim Duncan, Blake was Tony Parker and Roy/Rudy/Batum were the three point specialists the Spurs have in surplus just destroying them from the corners. Particularly with Roy and Oden, we really have some great pieces for a methodical, boring, effective half court offense. If it means sacrificing some of Rudy's creativity, well, I think we have to live with it.
