I picked the last choice, not exactly my sentiments but closest. I don't think there is enough information at this time to make a strong conclusion.
Bayless on the block? http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-millerblazers072109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I think he has improved in many ways, but I think he needs to be matched up with the correct back court mate to be effective. For instance in the Spurs game where he started with Jeter, they tore it up, taking turns at the point. They did great. But when teamed up with some of the other guards, that really sucked, teams could just throw 2 or 3 guys at him. He was getting double teamed just before getting over half court most of the time unless Jeter was out there to take pressure off of him. It would get really bad if Cunningham wasn't on the floor, because he was one of the only other offensive threats out there. That being said, the way I see Bayless working well with the team, is to be teamed with another scoring type guard. Roy or Rudy. That way Roy can handle the ball mostly, which he does anyhow, and Bayless can give him a few posessions off here and there, and be the guy with instant offense available if the shot clock is winding down.
Bayless played PG in summer league, in an offense that gets people jump shots. No one on the summer league team could shoot well, so I thought he did well
Bayless and management can say he's a playmaker all they want. It doesn't change the fact that he never displayed any more than being a scorer at UA, 2008 Summer League, and the regular season. He attempted to play point guard this Summer League and although he wasn't terrible, he wasn't good either. Portland doesn't need a point guard, in the standard sense, next to Roy, but they do need someone that's capable of being a secondary playmaker. Bayless will not be that player next season and I see little proof that he will ever be. Lastly, as far as scorers go, I think Bayless will end up being just barely above average. I'd like to see him moved before his value drops.
Actually management has never said that, you are the one saying that. Every interview I saw in summer league from Nate, from KP, from the Prunty said that they are not trying to turn Bayless into what he isn't, they dont' want that. What they want him to do is increase his court awareness. The only people who are expecting him to be a distribute first PG, are people like you, on this board. Bayless is a scorer. He can make some passes, but isn't great. If you give put him in a chance to succeed, he will. But if you put him in and expect him to be Chris Paul, he won't. He will be like Billups, bounce around, and become successful about his 4th year when he finally finds a home where they expect him to be a scorer first, and distributor second. I would remind you that one of Portlands best PG, was often considered to not be a PG at all. Terry Porter was quite the scorer. The assists just came easy on that team.
Actually I wasn't referring to what the coaching staff said after this Summer League. More what Pritchard and company have publicly said about Bayless in the past.
That's untrue. I never have said that. I don't expect that from him, nor do I feel he has to be a pass-first PG to be successful with this team.
He's still the PG of the future. He's 20 years old and already has demonstrated a plus ability to get to the free throw line. He'll evolve into a better perimeter shooter and a decent defender as he gets older. I think that will make him a more-than-adequate PG to play alongside Roy and Batum. Ed O.
Had Mills not get injured - he'd already be doing dances around BayLESS at PG. If BayLESS cannot play the point - then his days in the NBA are limited. I give him two seasons and out.
Uh. OK. Mills barely played the PG spot in college... I don't think he'd suddenly turn into a capable distributor when he got to the NBA any more than Bayless has. Fortunately you have no say in the matter. Ed O.
I thought he played well. However, I didn't see any improvement at all. He could still score at will but his passing looked as mediocre as it did last summer. He just looked to pass more, which resulted in more turnovers. I don't think it's his willingness as much as it is his average court vision.
Didn't he average more assist this year than he had total last year? I think that's a decent improvement personally. Plus, our offense isn't really built to rack up assists. It is an offense that relies on jump shooters.
Bayless fell for a reason. He can't play PG and will only be a SG in the league. Problem is that he has short arms and his outside shot is questionable. We are over-valuing Bayless, he had a couple good games last year but he is not consistent.
It's difficult for me to say anything bad about his future, when it's obvious he's not comfortable on the court yet. However, after seeing him in summer league, it may take him longer than I thought to get comfortable. I didn't see anything that stopped me from thinking that he could become our PGotF
There are plenty of teams that do not have two pass first point guards on their roster. Bayless is 20 playing the hardest position in the NBA. This team doesn't need a pass first PG on the second team. He will score more then Sergio and put up less assist. That doesn't mean our second team will suffer. He will draw fouls, something we didn't have much of in the second unit. He will play better defense then Sergio. He will be able to play off Rudy. I'm sure he will have turnover problems at times, but in the regular season, he will not get double teamed, or have the defense lean his direction when he has the ball. He will be fine and I am very comfortable with his game for our second unit.
