http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/.../188/EntryID/388/BroadcasterID/4/Default.aspx We all know Jerryd is probably destined for another year buried on the bench and he's turned into quite the polarizing figure (not a lot of lukewarm feelings either way), but I thought this write-up by Casey Holdahl was at least a decent read. take it or leave it.
I was going to post something about the Glove speaking to Jerryd. I think that is a good thing myself. Kobe picked Garys brain and Kobe improved defensively because of it. Let' see if he can have a similar effect on Jerryd.
Man, Payton has to be one of the top5 point guards of all time. He was unstoppable on offense, and quite possibly the best defensive point guard in history. I would go: Magic Oscar Robertson Stockton Kidd Payton
In the discussion of best points of all time, I agree I think GP is underrated. He was pretty, effin awesome. Especially that full court defense. MmmmMmmm.
Well yes, and no. Obviously he beat them in 96, but that was the only year that they actually made it to the finals. They should have gone more than once.
No kidding. I always wanted to see them play against Portland back when they had Kemp, Payton, Schrempf, Hawkins, McMillan and Perkins. That was a sweet team. Jerryd's gonna be fine. I just hope he develops here and not somewhere else.
Do you feel if they would have went to the championship in 97 and 98, they would have got over on MJ?
Probably not, but you never know. They also blew it when they got knocked out by the Nuggets in the first round one year.
Payton's right; he's got the basic quickness and selfconfidence, but he's got some things to learn. And as Payton says, he's got the time, approximately two years (the length of Miller's guaranteed contract). D-league might be a good idea
Yeah, I have the same two at the top. Number three for me would be between Stockton and Payton. I thought Payton was the better player at his peak/prime, but Stockton was so good for so long. So it comes down to a classic "prime value versus career value" debate to me. I do think Payton is very underrated...he rarely gets mentioned when discussion of the greatest point guards of all-time come up. As for his comments on Bayless, it's nice that he likes Bayless but the comments are ultimately unenlightening. We knew Bayless is aggressive and has the confidence to succeed. We need to know whether he'll develop the tools he has into the skillset to be a good or great NBA player. I think he's a great but raw prospect. He's the equivalent of a 19 year old pitcher in A ball with electric stuff but lacking command. If he develops it, he'll be great. If not, he'll be inconsistent with bursts of impressive play but generally not a very good player.
Isiah Thomas? Walt Frazier? Bob Cousy? Steve Nash? I'd argue that all of the above are ahead of Payton on the list. I won't argue that Payton is not Top 10, though.
Payton was better than Nash ever was. I never really got to watch Cousy or Frazier though. I know they were both amazing. I just think Payton's ability to defend, score, and pass were all top notch. He was one of those guys that you hated to see on another team when you only had a couple point lead. I never felt we were safe when Payton was on the floor.
I don't feel I can really comment on Walt or Cousy as they were before my time. But I would put Thomas ahead and Nash behind in my list.
[Channeling Maris] “I just told Sergio I like the aggressiveness that he’s got now,” said Payton. “Last year he was a little bit passive, thinking ‘If I take a shot I’m going to come out of the game.’ or whatever. Now he’s shown these guys he’s coming in here and he’s aggressive. His jump shot is getting a lot better. He’s getting aggressive, more confident. I just told him that’s the way he has to do it. Don’t think about coming out of the game. If you take a shot and you miss, think about getting a steal, show coach you’re going to do other things. I see he’s trying hard on the defensive end, and that’s going to take time too. Everybody got to take time. Take time to become a better basketball player. And he’s got a lot of time.”
Hah! Nice. There's certainly a parallel, but let's be frank, if Sergio had been able to demonstrate the physicality/athleticism/smarts to play solid D he'd probably still be a Blazer instead of fighting for scraps on what will probably be the worst team in the association.
