How do we fix the bench?

I agree. Bayless is the real problem. Unlike many Blazer fans I liked what Blake brought to the team, and wasn't very high on B-Rex. I'd love to bring Blake back as a reserve, but even if we don't bring him back, we need to address the backup PG spot because Bayless is not, and will never be, the answer.

 

I think the bench guys need some sort of fluffer to "build their confidence" before each game.

 

There's not much hope for the bench this season, and that's both unsurprising and relatively unimportant. It's unsurprising because we completely gutted it to fix our starting lineup this year, and it doesn't worry me because a deep bench becomes far less valuable once rotations tighten up in the playoffs anyway. I think it's fairly obvious that management will be looking to restock the waters in the offseason, as well as sign Camby to another deal. Of course, whether they'll be successful remains to be seen.

 

A Kreg Jig is a quick and easy way to fix wobbly furniture.

 

More Cunningham.

We miss Blake and Outlaw so much though.

 

You keep throwing Blake out there... what was he doing for us? He was horrible this season for the Blazers.

 

Did you see him in our win in Phoenix? 20 pts, 12 assists off the bench. He's a better point guard than Bayless and he's a better shooter than Bayless. Didn't you see how well he played against us in the Clippers game?

 

You're throwing out one game, I'm throwing out the whole season. I don't care how he played against us, I only care how he played FOR us.

7.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 40.3% from the field, 75% from the line, 27.4 mpg for the Blazers this season.

8.6 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 rpg, 41.9% from the floor, 1.2 TO per game, 17.5 mpg. Bayless is outplaying Blake.

 

I still think Blake is a better player.

 

At this point, there is nothing wrong with the bench that a good anthrax epidemic wouldn't fix.

 

Better point guard probably, but better player? meh.

 

Replacing Bayless with any real PG, such as Blake, would improve the team. Anthraxing Bayless, Webster, and Rudy would be an improvement if we got 3 experienced replacements, of practically any quality. Getting a coach who likes the fast break would use a lot of unused talent. And we could hire Jerome Kersey as Feather Fluffer.

 

I wonder if Luke Ridnour is available. He's upped his game, has played effectively for Nate, and seems to accept being a very good bench PG this year.

 

Blake isn't a point guard either though. He's a spot-up shooter who plays alongside Brandon Roy.

 

Blake's averaging 5.5 assists in 24 mpg with the Clipps. Miller is averaging 5.4 assists in 31 mpg with the Blazers.

Perhaps Blake isn't a terrible PG, especially on a second unit.