I'm not entirely panicking about our horrid start but I need me some Bayless! Blake is very one dimensional out there, because all he can do is shoot the ball. He cant pass, has no court vision, cant penetrate, cant defend, and he's slow. He's a backup at best. Give Bayless some time and who says he cant be a good shooter? He can stay in front of his man better than Blake. He's also athletic and penetrates the defense with the best of them. He's not a very good passer yet, but Blake isn't either. I cringe everytime I see Blake run a fastbreak. Today for example, 3 on 2 Blazers advantage and we end up with nothing. This also leads to my issue with Miller. He knows how to run a fastbreak but he cant shoot worth a damn. I now understand why he's such a horrible shooter, his shooting form is downright ugly. Maybe the critics were right, Miller may not be a good fit after all. Note to Mcmillan, let the centers foul out at least if your not going to let them play
I agree. At least test the guy versus Atlanta for a change with their fast pace offense. Poor Bayless has had no playing time in the first 5 games. He looked somber leaving the loading dock at the RG and skipped signing autographs.
By the way, I've noticed that Oden never argues with the refs. Have you guys noticed that as well? He always has this, "Ok whatever," look to him when he gets whistled for a foul.
Good or bad, that's on Nate. He tells his players to not get into a confrontation with the refs. That would be a great things if he did it instead, but he doesn't. Someone has to stand up for the team.
With the amount of ticky-tacky fouls thrown at us we really should be throwing tantrums at the refs like the Lakers and Spurs.
I agree. Major problems right now are team energy, points in the paint, and defense. All 3 of those are Bayless major strengths. He played well in the pre season. Blake, well he has been playing like Blake. Trying to do too much when he should be trying to be Steve Kerr.
Well the sky isnt falling (yet anyway) but I will tell you this, if we keep this winning percentage up I would much rather see what Bayless can do and be done with Blake. Bayless may or may not be a good player in the making but I would at least like to know rather lose him because we are wasting time on Blake.
If the team is below .500 at the all-star break I get the feeling we'll see a lot more Bayless ... then again if Nate is still coaching ... forget it, Bayless is never going to see the floor.
I agree. Let Bayless try and ignite the second unit. Andre Miller is the worst player on the team in terms of +/-, and it isn't even close. Sit his ass for a few games until he decides to play some defense.
and Patty Mills as well, we have two slow and lousy D guards right now, may as well try the two very quick ones if we are going nowhere later in the year
Mills is not even going to be available to begin practice until about game 50, and I'd wager it will be about game 70 before he'd even be in enough game shape to play ... plus he's the fifteenth man, he'll probably be wearing a suit even when his available.
I'd take Bayless in Miller's place for sure, and the team would be stronger for it. This team would collapse right now without Blake out there though. Neither Miller nor Bayless has the shooting range to spread the defense, and our bigs struggle each time they are on the floor.
I remember on courtside a few weeks ago, Mike Rice rambled something about Nate closing out games with Miller, Bayless, Roy, LA, and Oden. To put as much pressure of Roy as possible. I would really like to see that lineup in action. Because the "small" lineup we finished with yesterday was atrocious. It took no pressure of Roy at all, the defining play of the game Roy takes to the rim and gets annihilated, only for Outlaw to hesitate like an idiot.
Who are the shooters that keep the post from being clogged? How can Roy, Bayless or Miller attach the post when it is so clogged?
The problem is, he doesn't get into it with the refs either. So the refs don't hear from anyone. That ain't going to help your cause.
You couldn't have Miller and Bayless in the lineup, you're right there would be no room to operate in the paint in a half-court set ... unless this team adopted a motion offense that employed more screening, movement and backcuts. As it is now you'd probably be better off with Bayless, Rudy, Roy, LMA, Oden. over Miller, Bayless, Roy, etc. My only question is whether or not Jerryd has rediscovered his shooting touch from distance since his days at AZ. We sure as hell didn't see it last year, but maybe after a summer of work he's improved? We'll probably never know.
I think you have touched on what may be the solution to the Miller issue here - for this team to be successful with Roy and Miller playing a lot of time - we need a very different half-court offense than the one we have had so far - which comes back to the reason I thought Hinrich was tailor made for this team and Miller is much harder to integrate. This team needs to play very differently to be successful with both Roy and Miller playing extended minutes - and quite frankly - I question if Miller is a good enough player to change the entire offense for his sake. Maybe it is worth it - but we have not seen it so far. Maybe Nate and crew have to figure it out and understand that one of the two needs to happen - play a very different kind of offense when Miller is in hoping it is worth it - and taking their lumps while they learn it - or limiting Miller's minutes with Roy.
