Well, if Nate means it, then that answers our question about where Rudy will find more minutes, and have a more creative role: http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/07/rip_city_revival_jerry_bayless.html I think that will make Rudy pretty happy. iWatas
I think a Rudy/Roy starting combo is a good solution, since Roy handles the ball so much, and Rudy moves really well off the ball. Rudy is great 3 point shooter to keep the floor spread for LA and Greg, and he's a more creative playmaker than Blake. Then the second unit can be Blake/Bayless, with Bayless attacking and Blake spotting up for 3s. Rudy/Blake Roy/Bayless Nic/Outlaw/Webster LA/ Milsap? Oden/Joel If we do end up landing that vet PG this offseason, then scramble that lineup so Rudy is paired with Bayless in the 2nd unit.
I actually like our PG situation. If we do get Millsap, I wouldn't mind trying to pry away a vet SF like Prince/Battier and then just stop and let this team play together. I think that would be hot. And yeah, we should def. utilize Rudy more... with Sergio he turned into much more of a spot up shooter, without him I think he can be mroe of the playmaker when he plays, which is gonna be great for everyone.
It'll probably be more like: Blake/Rudy Roy/Bayless considering Roy plays more minutes than Blake, that gives Rudy more PT as a backup, either with Roy or Bayless in the backcourt. I like it and think it solves our backcourt log-jam from last season. the only problem is, we now have a major log-jam in the front-court.
yes, i think that Rudy with Bayless is a lot better idea than Rudy with Roy, somehow those two didn't seem to really mesh last year.
I think with Nate it will work more this way Blake/Rudy/Bayless Roy/Rudy/Bayless Blake 28 minutes Roy 35 minutes including SF Rudy 32 minutes including SF Bayless 8 minutes That is assuming everyone is healthy.
I agree. Rudy creates when he has the ball. He does it naturally. If nothing else, I think it's an experiment worth trying.
Their playing styles may be different, but Brandon and Rudy both like playing the same way. They're both playmakers, who like having the ball in their hand. In that sense, we don't need a traditional point guard. We need someone opposite them in the backcourt who can handle the ball or spot up for a three pointer. I'm going to rip Nate for the way he used Rudy last year, because I don't think he was physically ready to play the same style he did with DKV Joventut. However, this year Nate needs to remove Rudy's restrictor plate. Let him create. Let him trigger the offense. He's a good ballhandler and a good passer. He can also penetrate and either take the ball to the basket (remember, Dwight?) or dish to the open man.
He says he plans to play Rudy at PG with Bayless. This only works because Bayless can defend opposing points.
And bring the ball up under pressure. Really, it's both simple and obvious. I'm glad Nate thought of it. Blake and Roy start. Bayless backs up Blake; Rudy backs up Roy. Who is the point guard is semantics. Obviously, Bayless will bring up the ball and guard the opposing PG. Bayless can then give up the ball to Rudy who can see the court better and run the offense -- as he often did in Spain. Isn't this exactly what Blake and Roy do? Blake gives the ball up to Roy at the top of the key and goes over to the wing and Roy initiates or creates. I don't think that makes Rudy the PG, but we've argued those semantics about Roy in the past already. Even if we don't upgrade Blake, this will improve our backcourt over last season. I'm excited!
Rudy is NOT a PG and no where near a playmaker as Blake is. Rudy does play very well off the ball, imo. I think, assuming his shoulder is healed completely, that Blake will fine at PG. I also think next season will be a great opportunity for Bayless to show what he can do. I would like to see Rudy be more than just a perimeter shooter next season as well.
I like Blake, but he's not a playmaker by any stretch. And that's why Rudy was whining a few weeks ago because he wanted a bigger role in handling the ball and setting other guys up, which KP agreed with.
Rudy is a good passer with good vision, but I don't think he is a good PG. They tried it last season (Rudy at PG next to Roy) and he looked really uncomfortable. Maybe he could learn to do it, but so could Bayless. I have no problem letting the two of them fight it out. However, there are still not enough minutes in a four-guard rotation to keep Rudy and Bayless busy.
These are two separate things. I would mostly agree with the first, but certainly not with the second. Blake is a better ballhandler than Rudy (or at least, I'm not as nervous when Blake's dribbling as I am when Rudy is) and Blake's had a lot more experience running the team. BUT Rudy is clearly superior to Blake when it comes to playmaking. And certainly better at getting the ball to Oden. As does Blake, although Rudy's better at the Rip-Hamilton-running-through-multiple-screens thing. Define "fine". Reliable? Boring? High-assists-to-turnovers-because-he-never-tries-anything-risky? Useless at running a fast break? That cuts both ways. I have a feeling we won't like what he shows. And this is a great way to do it! Rudy's biggest weakness is that he's no penetrator. But then, neither is Blake! But both Roy and Bayless are, and Blake and Rudy will be playing next to one of them. (We still lack somebody who can BOTH penetrate AND see the floor while doing it. Roy's okay, but not stellar at that multi-tasking. But of the guards we have on our roster, I would say Rudy is the most creative passer.)
I have been saying for a long time that I wanted to go big, and go with a 3 guard rotation. When you play 3 guards and they cover all the minutes, you never hear any bitching about playing time. The only possibility to run into is that they don't like the way they are being used on the court. But since they get to play both positions, you hardly hear that often either, unless you have AI the ultimate ballhog on the court. So that, and Rudy saying he wanted to be more of a facilitator, I think this change will happen. I am also a big believer in tall PG, since they can see to pass much easier. If nothing else, just look at the huge wingmen Orlando put on the floor this year and the problems it caused through out the playoffs. And yes, I see no future here for Blake. I think Rudy will actually be a much better PG than him if he knows that is what he is being asked to do. Roy could too.
I think there is a big difference between not being a playmaker, and not being asked to be a playmaker. Rudy was not happy with how he was used last year. Secondly, referring to Blake as a playmaker is a joke. That dude misses more passes to wide open bigs near the rim to make you tear your hair out. It might not be that he misses them, but he is afraid to throw the ball. Either way, it is a fucked up result.
Rudy and Roy can't share a backcourt for any great length of time because neither can defend the opposing point guard. I am interested to see a backcourt of Bayless and Rudy for periods of the game.
