It's a way too small sample size to automatically make that conclusion. I agree that he doesn't deserve the backup PG minutes yet, but to discount him based on the game against Boston is short-sighted. To send him to the D League is an even worse idea. The only way he's going to become that "quality player one day" is not by sitting on the bench. I fully expect him to return to the bench full-time when Brandon comes back, but to call this guy Mr. Turnover and basically a liability on the court and not doing anything well, is a harsh criticism on the guy for his first meaningful action, comparing it again to how people reacted to Greg's first game back against Miami.
Sounds like a lot of the people in this thread only looked up the box score other than actually watching the game. The only way he can get better is if he plays. I'm not saying to take away Sergio's minutes but Bayless should be getting more opportunities especially with his upside and the fact that we traded up to get him. The kid's shot wasn't falling but he was hustling out there and playing good defense. The mistakes are also something that will go down with more playing time.
I agree with that, but for me the biggest problem about his performance against the Celtics was the traveling, the stupid pass out of bounds, things like that. It's completely understandable that, given that he's been on the bench for while, but maybe a couple of D League games could get him back into game shape, and give his confidence a boost as well (not that there's really any problems there).
That's a myth. And a lousy one at that. He gets better in practice. If he proves in practice that he is our #3 PG and #3 SG, then why would putting him on the floor to suck and help us lose games the right thing to do? Also, I've either been at or watched every game. He does a pretty poor job when he plays. So, help me out here- how does that earn him more playing time?
man some of you guys are really clueless. It was his first MEANINGFUL action all year long. Do you actually realize how hard it is to just get thrown in the game? He has well over 20 DNP's this year. he just needs time. Greg looked terrible his 1st couple of outings too, but we saw flashes..I saw those same flashes with Bayless. He is a big time player and will be as long as we don't go Jermaine O'Neal on him. The DLeague would be a terrible idea. Like Bishop said, it would be the same as summer league. He needs run against the NBA!
Sorry ABM, but IMO Bayless is NOT ready for Sergio's minutes. He has shown me nothing to indicate he deserves more minutes when Brandon comes back. His defense is overall pretty good, but his offense and ability to run the team like a PG is not. I believe he'll get there soon enough, but he's not there now. I think Nate should keep him on a short leash until then, and really make him fight for it. I think some patience for a 20-year-old rookie is in order.
The difference is that the guys ahead of Jerm (Sheed, BGrant) were way better players than Blake and Sergio. Jermaine was stuck. Bayless isn't - he can earn his way out. He doesn't have to be an all-star to get time, he just has to be better than Blake and Sergio. Since Nate pretty much hates Sergio, I have to think Bayless just hasn't earned it yet. barfo
I'd rank this as Bayless's worst game defensively, and besides a very nice drive and dish while playing SG he was completely absent at the PG position. The team fell apart when he came in ahead of Sergio and immediately got it back together when Sergio took over at PG and Bayless moved to SG. He's a friggin' SG so get a clue. He doesn't talk to the team and direct them, he doesn't set picks and screens for them. For him to get PT that will help us it will have to come out of Roy or Rudy or Blake or TO's pocket. Is he good enough for that? No evidence so far. As for getting in Pierce's face, which happened only once and because Bayless erred and switched on a pick, Pierce drilled a shot right over him. I never saw him anywhere near Allen or Rondo when it counted. I think Bayless will be a very good to great SG in a few years, but he's nowhere near understanding the NBA game yet. And with Roy and Rudy here I never see him as a starter except maybe in one of Nate's "smallball" attempts, which usually fail.
That is not always true. You can't learn certain things and nuances in practice that you can learn in real playing time. I said he shouldn't be taken Sergio's minutes but he should be getting a handful of minutes a game. When he plays? You mean the 4 minutes every other five games. I'm glad you can assess a player so well, your scouting abilities are remarkable. Sarcasm aside, he does fine, looks like a rookie, experience is what he needs.
Maris, he's a SG in a PG's body, we know, you keep beating a dead horse. They are trying to get him make the transition to PG, it's definitely not impossible to think he can do that.
You mean like how Sergio earned his way out? If Jarrett Jack was still here, Sergio would be riding pine instead of Bayless. Last season we saw the same theories with Sergio as we're seeing with Bayless. He'd go in, he'd make a few mistakes, and Nate would pull him out. Jermaine O'Neal was the same way. Dunleavy would put him in (mostly because Trader Bob told him to) and then Jermaine would make a couple mistakes and Dunleavy would pull him out. O'Neal would dominate the summer leagues, but every time he'd see actual PT he'd screw up. I remember how much he used to drive me nuts. He'd turn the ball over. He'd commit fouls. He'd take bad shots. Sound familiar? Regardless of who was playing in front of him, the situation is the same. Nate, in his mind, can't afford to have someone out on the floor who is going through the learning process of the NBA. Last season it was Sergio, this season it's Bayless. We can't bench Blake because he's our best three-point shooter, but Blake is currently filling the role that Bayless should be. He's a scorer who plays alongside Roy. Blake doesn't average many assists. He isn't a very good passer. He just dpesn't make many turnovers. The thing is, Bayless wasn't making a lot of bad passes, but he was doing rookie mistakes like traveling and palming, etc. The kid needs to get some real pt before we can judge him.
If Sergio got hit by a bus tonight you'd see Koponnen wearing a Blazers uni before the Allstar break. If Sergio AND Koponnen both got hit by a bus, Bayless might get some more minutes at PG. If nothing else has come from his PT it is that Nate has started to see how bad he is at PG and has given him some time at SG. A step in the right direction. As for deserving more PT, check his stats and get back to me. He's played in 12 games, averaging 7:05 mins a game. He's got totals of 7-25 (28%FG), 1-3 3(pt), 10-13ft, 11rbs, 10ast, 14to, 3stl, 9pf.
You and I would have said the same thing about Jermaine O'Neal years ago, and we would have been wrong.
Sorry, in his limited opportunities, Bayless hasn't shown me enough to make me believe that he can run an offense better than Sergio. And Sergio hasn't played poorly enough to deserve to lose his minutes. And I think it would be a mistake, chemistry wise, to make that move right now.
Sure, and if Sergio gets traded for something other than a PG, then I'd expect Bayless to get some run. But that hasn't happened (yet?). barfo
Of course it is. It's the most absurdly ridiculous thing in the world. Even if it weren't, he is probably the worst player in the league to try it with. He will never reach the level of past failures of this silly experiment like Jarrett Jack, Damon Stoudamire, Allen Iverson... He has said he's an SG, he has said he wants to play at the SG spot, he has said he wants to be an SG in the NBA. PG's are born, not transitioned, and it's been tried so many times before unsuccessfully that the rest of the league can only hope and pray that we waste a season or 2 trying it anyway. If THAT isn't beating a dead horse I don't know what is.
