I see a thread started on "the perfect PG next to Brandon Roy". This is a common question, also on other Blazer forums. I think it's the wrong one. The right one is "the perfect PG for Greg Oden (and to a lesser extent Aldridge". Roy can take care of himself. There will always be isolations for him in the fourth. He doesn't need accommodating. Oden, on the other hand, besides being a bit psychologically fragile (possibly) is a big man. He can't create his own shot and shouldn't be trying. If he's going to do anything, it's because he gets the ball in a position to score, preferably on the pick and roll (his back to the basket game is Dwight-Howard-esque). That's the PG's job. So screw Brandon (in the nicest possible sense) - we need a PG who'll maximize the potential of our bigs.
I agree that Portland needs to pay attention to the affect of any incoming player on our bigs, but to ignore how it would affect Brandon is irresponsible IMO.
I think you make some good points. The Roy factor cannot be ignored like Crimson points out because he is the most important player at the end of the game and we don't want the other team's PG to help trap him when he has the ball. But like you say we need someone who can set the table for Greg and LMA. I agree that the philosophy that many take that we do not need a true PG is not accuarate. (i.e Ben Gordon) We have Rudy for that role. We do need a true pG. He just has to be an excellent outside shooter ( to spread the floor for Roy) as well as having the ability to create easy shots for the bigs. Williams and Paul are unrealistic to obtain. There are not that many options out there because every team needs one.
Hey we actually agree on something! *falls out the chair* I do think there needs to be some easier offense generated, and part of that is having a point guard who can get the bigs involved, but the fact remains that Brandon is awfully damn good with the ball in his hands. Whomever we get needs to at least have some ability to play off the ball or it becomes something of a problem when you are talking about maximizing your assets. I still maintain that the biggest problem really isn't the offense (sure it could use some tweaks) it's this team's (mostly) porous perimeter defense that really kills Greg, making it impossible for him to stay on the court long enough to be effective -- If Greg had managed to stay on the court for 32+ minutes a game he would have had about 13 points and 9 rebounds a game and all we'd be hearing about is how great it was to have Greg out there getting those putbacks and snaring all of those rebounds.
The only PG we currently have that can run the pick & roll with any effectiveness is Sergio. Blake generally can't and Bayless never will. But aside from the pick & roll, we need a PG that can drive, draw the defense to himself and then feed the bigs. None of our current PG's can do that effectively. That's why I'm high on Lawson. He'll probably be available at #18. We can probably get him with Travis + draft pick. He can learn behind Blake for a season or two and then take over.
Good topic because I agree that BRoy can take care of himself and we really need to help our bigs get better by getting the ball where they need it. Who would be better at getting the ball to the spot where his team mates need it than Jason Kidd. Now granted Ason can't shoot to save his life, but he is a good leader and knows where/how to make his team better. I would be okay with getting Kidd and letting him start for a year or two, until Bayless is ready, but I am not sure Dallas is ready to let him go. Besides that, I am not sure we can wait for some new draft pick to reach that point.
Conley would be fantastic if they (the Griz) take Rubio. Sessions seems like an upgrade on offense. Hinrich seems like an upgrade on defense. Gut feeling is that Conley and Sessions will really help the bigs on offense. Hinrich will reall help the bigs on defense. Bayless could be better than all 3 when all is said and done - so I really hope that whatever changes are made - keep Bayless in the fold until he proves his detractors wrong or right beyond doubt...
How about you reword it to the "best point guard that we have a realistic shot and acquiring"? Otherwise, the answer to any of these questions is Chris Paul......
Seriously... how can you project a particular skill with such confidence when the player is a 20 year-old who's only played 655 career NBA minutes? Ed O.
I watched those OSU games (for Oden). Conley played reasonably well with him, but it was hardly like some Stockton-to-Malone mind-meld. I thought Conley jacked up way too many threes when Oden had great position deep. He was able to enter it into him in the post, though that was at the college level. Blake was also able to throw passes into the post at Maryland...he's not particularly good at it in the NBA.
How good is Andre Miller at making the entry pass? How well did he play with Elton Brand (when they played together)?
I haven't really seen Miller play in Philly, and he never played with a serious low-post threat before that, I don't think. From what I read, Brand didn't fit in well with the team. He played poorly, got hurt and wasn't suited to the fast-paced Philadelphia team. But I think Miller can play well at different paces. He played on some non-fast-paced teams in Cleveland and LA.
When he was on Cleveland he led the league in assists, so I would assume that he would fit in well here.
