.....to me, it makes the PG situation a bit more complicated. That said, if you were KP, right now would you lean towards: a) Just keep Blake as our starter for the unforeseeable future b) Trade for a starting PG before next season or c) Sign the team option on Blake for one more year, then go after a FA in 2010?
I really like Blake, but unfortunately in time I think he will be pushed out because of Bayless. And I know its an unpopular opinion but I think Sergio is a good PG for 15-18 min a night, he just needs to see that his coach has confidence in him. I think however this will be after next season... so I could see Blake being here one more year.. maybe we can talk him into a coach/sometimes player role.
b) Trade for a better defensive PG and keep grooming JB for the future. I like Blake and would love him as a backup, but I can't see him being demoted easily. With LA, Nic, Oden, Joel, we should continue becoming an elite defensive team. PG is a serious hole.
...and if I hear that we need to trade for a vet one more time I think I'm going to PUKE! That opinion is so over-played it's ridiculous.
I agree with that. Which brings to mind Freeland. Could he effectively replace the Frye/Ruffin/Randolph combo? (or, just draft one in the latter 1st Round? Also, back on topic, I didn't mention Petteri Koponen. I wonder what the skinny is on him these days?
Blake isn't improving. I have seen him play this well before in stretches. Pretty typical. Then it's back to playing like Blake again.
I think the comparisons between Jack and Bayless are very good comparisons. Neither are natural PG's and have both good and bad nights. Both have some size, energy and enthusiasm. However, it seems that either you are a good passer or you are not. To me, Bayless struggles at PG largely because running a team is not natural for him and I just don't see that becoming natural to him. If Bayless is to be a PG, I see him becoming a Steve Blake type PG - adequate but not great. Sergio, IMO, is a much better PG but he has holes in other parts of his game but to me, the team runs better under Sergio than under Bayless. I don't think our search for a PG to replace Blake is at an end. That said, I think it is a lower priority than finding a good backup for LMA (unless Martell comes back healthy and good and we move Outlaw there). Gramps...
How can a good starting PG be less of a priority than a backup PF? Outlaw plays his best minutes at the backup 4. I'm not asking for a vet PG, but we certainly need a defensive upgrade at PG. Since Roy is good at initiating the offense, being a good defender and a good 3-point shooter are the 2 biggest qualities we should be looking for in a starting PG. Blake is only 1/2 the package.
I think Blake does a fine job at starting PG for this team. He's unselfish and can stick the 3 pointer when he's open. I don't think a "star-quality" point guard would fit with this team. Brandon needs the ball in his hands.
I agree with ABM. Blake has had a good season and will probably have his option picked up by the team. Even though a rookie, I think Bayless hasn't made any improvement and he could end up being a failed experiment (turning a SG into an NBA PG). While we do need to consider a back-up PF, if we can move up in the draft to get a top PG I think we will.
Nah, I don't see that happening. This draft doesn't have any PG's that are better than Sergio or Bayless.
I don't think Blake has just recently improved. He has been having a career year and been an integral part of the Blazer success before he got hurt. He got hurt, had a child . . . so it took him a while to get back to where he was. But he has been playing solid for most of the season.
Actually, this is supposed to be a PG draft with several good ones. It would not surprise me if KP traded up for one. They could play behind Blake for a year or two and then possibly take over.
Perhaps ... there may not be the sure thing in this draft that everybody said Derrick Rose was/is, but out of Ricky Rubio, Ty Lawson, Johnny Flynn, Jeff Teague, Tyreke Evans, Patty Mills, Steph Curry, Willie Warren, Brandon Jennings, Eric Maynor, et. al. I'm guessing there are probably at least 1 or 2 NBA caliber players at that position in this draft. But, yeah I agree that finding a long term solution to the position for this team is almost certainly not going to happen through the draft this year, but neither am I convinced that the long term solution already resides on the roster.
Brandon Jennings speed and skills impressed me in the McD's game. Obviously he could physically mature a bit, but I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be better then Sergio and Bayless [video=youtube;NGWaLR-aQ1I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGWaLR-aQ1I&feature=player_embedded[/video] STOMP
I like Blake in the Steve Kerr combo guard role. Blake is a good passer (and solid ball handler) but a better shooter. I think he could thrive in that role off the bench if we had a higher impact starting PG.
