Take a look at Travis' stats for February and March, he's shooting over 50% from the field, averaging 15.5 per game, which is a big improvement over how he did earlier in the season. He's also shooting a better 3pt % than Rudy Fernandez.
Oh please. Outlaw is a late 1st round pick who is working on a budget contract. While he is largely a one-trick-pony, it happens to be an important trick. He isn't a starter, a should-be-all-star, or even a failed lotto pick. What he is, is a cost effective bench player. Doesn't the team have enough REAL problems to keep you busy?
I tend to be an Outlaw basher, but he's had a good two months. You can't complain about 50% from the field. I think he's are most consistent 3pt shooter. When ever he launches it up from the corner, I have more confidence it's going in than when Rudy jacks one up. But the numbers don't exactly back that up. He's shooting 47.5% from 3pt in March, he shot 49% in November (sizzling!! ). The bench unit tends to get really stagnant, and maybe they rely on Outlaw too much to jack up his wild jump shots.
His defense has also improved, as has his rebounding. He averaged 3.5 rebounds over the month of December, which has steadily improved to 5.6 rebounds in March. Keep up the good work, Travis. His shooting was great in November but atrocious (30%) in December. He definitely slumped after that hot start.
Outlaw's problem has never been his shooting. He needs to realize he's long and can jump through the roof and that those gifts should be used for more than 47 feet.
but if Outlaw doesn't suck anymore and Frye is going back to the bench when Greg returns, who are we going to hate on? Blake? STOMP
If Sergio plays, I'll hate on him. And Bayless has played bad enough to actually lose his job back to Sergio "el Toro Score no moro". Failing that, I will hate on Rudy el Bricko unless he starts hitting his shots. He's regressed a long way from the dynamic player who was delivering passes through people's legs in the pre-season. I still like him, I just think he's worn out and playing terribly. And of course, as Mixum said, Travis may revert back to being Travis Outhouse. It's bound to happen sooner or later.
Our backup point guard, whomever it might be, has been a tried-and-true hate target ever since Greg Anthony left. And deservedly so, really. The only two decent backup point guards we've had since then were Damon Stoudamire and Steve Blake. Unfortunately, neither were used much in that role. I'd absolutely love to see Bayless rise to starting-caliber, just so we could end the cycle by benching Blake.
