I have no problem with Bayless getting more minutes. With Rudy and Outlaw out, he's going to get 20-28 mpg for the rest of the season, as he should. I feel he's needed off of the bench, for reasons I posted earlier in this thread. The Blazer fans are going to get an extended look at Bayless. I say let him settle into a role, become a contributer, and assess at later points as the season progresses.
Bayless has the worst defensive rating in the entire NBA for players with 500+ minutes based on linear regressed +/- using data since 2005. It's a small sample for him, but doesn't bode well.
I agree with you that Bayless is not ready to start for this team. However, he should be getting more minutes and those minutes should be taken from Blake. Last night was just so frustrating to see Jerryd bring in some energy and defense only to be yanked for Blake after committing one turnover. There is no way Steve Blake should be getting 38 minutes and Jerryd getting only 17 minutes.
Thanks for the stat. Disturbing to some degree, but then again, Bayless has never had a clearly defined role. He'll get one over the next 40-60 games, and I expect that number to improve.
My logic is that, there are two(three) options, based around starting Bayless at PG, since he's doing well, for 10 games. 1 If the team wins more, keep him there. 2 If the team does not improve, package him up and ship him out with Rudy or a first round pick for some talent. (3 KP already has his mind made up and wants to ship him out already.)
If the team goes 2-8, the playoffs become difficult. I'm hoping the team isn't giving up at this point. There is still talent, and Miller and BLANKY are playing about as poorly as they can right now. I expect them both to improve and fill the roles expected of them, and I hope Bayless can be the "Outlaw spark" off of the bench.
No, my suggestion is to define parameters around putting Bayless in, whether starting him (which would be a mistake in my opinion), or putting him 2nd string ahead of Blake. It's just this endless loop that occurs every year with players on the bench, or rookies, etc. where people are convinced that player X (Telfair, Sergio, Bayless?) is the next greatest thing we've ever seen in our entire lives and that the coach is screwing over the player and us by not letting, nay forcing, said player to play 48 minutes out. Either that or the one bright and shining example of Jermaine O'Neal that gets trotted out every time a rookie shows promise. I'm honestly asking of those wishing Bayless to start, at what point do you objectively say "Player X is not living up to potential or should not be starting." And you can't just say "When someone else plays better!" because in that circle-of-life game you'd always be wanting to start the bench player to see if they could do better. Also, briefly, when someone goes "We might as well just play him to get him ready for next season"..to me, that is giving up. It's still very early in the season. Why is it so upsetting to some to wait a little bit before waving the white flag?
Yes, I'd be much more willing to consider it at that point. Lots has happend since Saturday; I'd like to see how the veterans Przy, Miller, and Blake respond for an extended stretch.
fair enough. I understand your point, I guess I just think it won't be as awful as you think; or rather worse than it is now.
I can't wait to see Bayless get some run. I think he's a Vinnie Johnson-type, but with better athleticism. If that's what the Blazers end up getting out of him over the next few years, I'll be thrilled as a fan. If he develops into a starting PG that can lead a team to a title, that's extra gravy.
The thread is "start Bayless", not "give Bayless more minutes". If people got upset over Miller going to the bench, I can't wait to see Miller on the bench behind Bayless. Worried about Bayless jumping ship? You might as well watch Miller mail it in if Bayless is placed ahead of him in the starting lineup.
Well thanks for answering the question..I appreciate it. I think that you'd never be able to trade Bayless and Rudy for talent..at least not the first half of the year. Even after ten games most GMs wouldn't be willing to invest an important draft pick or player for Bayless' value. And Rudy..well..he's going to be a few months before he can even begin to rebuild the value he had from last year (and subsequently lost at the beginning of this year)
Either that or find out once and for all if he can play or not. This is literally a no lose situation.
He's going to get that chance, but it's going to be off of the bench to begin his journey. If people can't handle that, oh well.
