via Joe Freeman http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/blazers_jerryd_bayless_takes_p.html STOMP
I read this article last night and mentioned it in another Jerryd thread, and while it is encouraging that he's finally letting the game come to him a little bit more rather than forcing things I just don't see how it's going to matter all that much in the end. Unless one of the 4 other guards misses extensive time due to injury I don't think it's going to matter how well he's playing. Nate's going to trust Miller and Blake more regardless of recent performance and unless Rudy is completely crapping the bed for games in a row Jerryd won't be able to get any minutes at off guard either. I used to be pretty high on Jerryd, but at this point I think he's a perfect case of "right player, wrong time, wrong team." Best case scenario for Jerryd as a Blazer is he becomes so dominant in practice that KP and Nate have no choice but to carve time for him, which probably means Blake or Rudy are packing their bags looking for a new apartment in a new city as part of some kind of consolidation trade.
I know what you are saying. Nate trust certain players. But here is my thing. The last several games it has become fairly evident that when Blake and Miller on the floor together it really doesn't work that well. I assume that Rudy will be able to play this year, but there has been a history in this league of player who play in international competition getting worn out and broken down because they don't get any rest in the off season. Last year, Rudy hit the rookie wall. Rudy never took any time off to let his body rest. Rudy may have an international basketball hangover for the whole season. I have seen it happen before, and I would not be surprised to see it happen again. If that happens, Bayless is the guy to play backup SG. Not Blake.
agreed that he's mostly looking at spot and garbage minutes when available as the season starts. If he performs well in those limited roles and shows off the money jumper he was supposed to have coming out of college, dude may work his way into a more regular role. Blake is a solid enough player but JB is a cut above athletically. Dude was just terrible from the perimeter last season. If he bumps his percentages up to a respectable level I bet he starts carving out a role for himself as they could use an above average athlete at his size. Nate is aware that the club has to make a call on Blake following this year... I doubt he has a man crush on SB as many here insist. I still hold considerable hope for Bayless's development and like how he projects with the core talents. The quotes of letting the game come to him and how he's been working on his J at least show he is focusing on the right stuff. STOMP
I also agree that Nate probably doesn't have a man-crush on Blake, but I also think he values veteran know-how and efficient, low mistake basketball more than flash and dash -- something Steve provides a steady dose of -- and I don't blame him for wanting to play Blake, because it makes it easier to control the flow of the game if your guards aren't giving away possessions. Nate (like all coaches) after all is in the winning games business, with development taking a back seat to this mandate. My best hope for Jerryd is that Miller can help mentor the hell out of him and from the sound of the article maybe Jerryd has developed a little bit of required patience which bodes well that he's receptive to acting as an apprentice until he's a little more seasoned and a little bit better at actually managing the flow of a game and setting up his teammates ... I hope it happens for him, because it would sure solve a lot of problems in a couple of years if Jerryd can at least become an average starting quality point guard in the league. Andre aint getting any younger.
