Blake to have surgery out 6-8 weeks

According to a text from the Blazers and Wheels at Work. Shoulder surgery. KP says " We need to go in, clean a few things up and get it stabilized"

Not a big deal in the middle of summer but makes me wonder if has any bearing on PG decisions.

 

Why couldn't this have happened right before the playoffs started?

 

www.trailblazers.com

 

I've commented on it before . . . but everything seems to point to the fact the Blazers will pick up the remaining 2 years of Blake's contract by June 30th. besides KP saying the Blazers are going to do it, they talk about Blake and Travis like they will be on the team next year.

Doesn't mena they won't be traded if a good deal comes along . . . but I think it is safe to assume both players' options for the next two years will be picked up by the Blazers.

Does this surgery decrease Blake's trade value?

Edit: 1 year option

 

Get well soon Steve!

 

Only 1 year left on each of their contracts, not 2.

 

exactly!

 

Post of the month right there.

 

Cut him.

 

Doh . . . thanks.

 

I think Nate loves him! He is a perfect back-up PG for Nate's system. I think he stays.

 

I've had no doubts Steve would not be brought back. KP and Nate love the guy, and won't just cut him for nothing especially at the price we're paying him at. But dammit Steve, why'd you have to take that 3 in Game 3 if your shoulder is all screwed up!

 

Well I guess you can look at it two ways. Got to respect him for playing in pain, but it had to of hurt his game. Still probably our best option at the time.

 

Does anyone else think it's sad that nate's perfect back up PG is someone who can't create his own shot or shots for others, play any defense and is really just a spot up shooter?

 

I think that Nate loves him because he protects the ball exceptionally well and can play well as a spot-up shooter next to Roy - The first is an important trait for a team of youngsters, the 2nd is important next to Roy. As we go along - the first trait becomes less important and the 2nd will not be all that important if he is a backup instead of a starter.

My thought on this is that for the next year or two - Blake is still very valuable for this team - but going forward - less so.

The real issue to remember is that Nate might have loved him so much because all the other options available were atrocious. Sergio is a running turn-over machine who can not score and makes Blake look like a defensive specialist and JB was erratic as hell - probably because the team gave Sergio all the time after the noise his agent made and trying to help Rudy's transition.

It is pretty clear that Rudy has a spot on this team and will thrive in it even if Sergio is not around - so the entire waste of minutes on Sergio needs to stop. The next step is to ask what kinds of point guards we need?

Playing next to Roy - having someone that can handle the ball, not make mistakes in the half-court and shoot the 3 - is a plus. Playing with out bigs - we want someone that attacks the rim and creates for others.

In theory it looks like a Blake/JB pairing covers both bases - and you play them based on time/need. Of course, someone like Sessions/Blake or Miller/Blake will also work - but in the long term it looks like JB has the tools to be a better defender than Miller or Sessions...

In other words - Blake was our best PG by far - Nate "loved" him for a reason - he was the only one that actually looked like an NBA PG last year. Not a great one - but at least one you can play with...

 

I think this comment is overly harsh an inaccurate.

Within Nate's restrictive half-court set, there is only so much Blake can do. Did you not watch him at Denver, where he had no trouble creating shots for teammates.

His defense is fine. Go back and look at the stats for opposing PGs and you'll see Blake did a pretty good job. He does have some trouble with small, speedy guards. But, who doesn't?

Since his return to Portland, the team improved 10 games the 1st year and 13 the second, finishing tied for the 2nd best record on the West. Not too shabby.

Finally, to make statements like this when a guy's going into surgery is pretty low in my opinion.

 

So nothing but sunshine up Steve's ass while he is having extremely minor surgery. check.

Since Sergio bumped his funny bone last week is it still ok to say he isn't very good? I just don;t want to step on anyone's overly sensitive feelings.

 

I'm curious if there is a better back-up in the league? There might be, but I can't think of it. Next season we could have one of the best back up PG's and centers in the whole league!