http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/02/jerryd_bayless_learning_how_to.html#preview Interesting article by Joe Freeman on J-Bay. This part jumped out at me in particular I think it's going to be awhile if you're expecting B-Rex to be running the show ... and that's OK; the payoff will hopefully be worth the wait.
Bayless's approach is straight out of the Jarrett Jack playbook, ala bringing an apple for the teacher to become his pet. But more than most first-year players, Bayless is stretching his comfort zone and forging a bond with his coach. Almost daily, Bayless randomly taps McMillan on the shoulder on the team plane, knocks on his hotel room door on the road or pops into McMillan's office to watch film or talk about schemes. Even when Bayless wasn't playing -- he did not play in 20 of the Blazers' first 31 games -- the inquisitive 20 year-old was a sponge for knowledge and insight. If he wasn't begging coaches to watch game film, he was text-messaging McMillan with questions or simply calling for advice. Where's Jarrett now?
Awesome. He seems to have the perfect personality for someone who will be the floor general in a couple years. That makes me happy (the article).
All I have to say is, "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" ... now I'm not trying to make a dig on your boy Sergio, but it's been a poorly kept secret that Sergio's practice and workout habits haven't exactly endeared him to the coaching staff in his 2 1/2 years with the team (although he seemed to make some strides this summer when he sought out John Townsend to help him with his shot). All I'm saying is that everyone of these guys possess oodles of talent, but the line of demarcation between them realizing their potential and flaming out often has more to do with the willingness to sacrifice and put in the time. You call that being the teacher's pet, I call that paying the price.
