A more appropriate question

[Fez Hammersticks]

Bayless or Rudy?

A month ago this wasn't even close but now that Bayless is hitting his jumper he's impossible to guard. He also has shown he can also create.

Rudy, when healthy, is a starter on most teams but is stuck behind Roy. Will we ever get to see Rudy reach his full potential in Portland?

 

[Luther]

I think Bayless is better now and has far more potential than Rudy. I really don't think Rudy would start for most teams in the NBA but I've learned I'm somewhat alone with that opinion. How much better do you think Rudy is going to get?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Bayless is better now and has far more potential than Rudy. I really don't think Rudy would start for most teams in the NBA but I've learned I'm somewhat alone with that opinion. How much better do you think Rudy is going to get?

You are not alone. Rudy is very good, but still would not start at a position int he NBA where there are a lot of good players.

But as many have suggested, a three guard rotation of Bayless, Roy and Rudy allows Rudy to reach his full potential. It may be next year though.

 

[cdub503]

bayless fully especially now that his shot is falling. If! we were to do a trade i personally would like to use rudy outlaw and blake to get a servaciable PF/C just in case joel isnt all too ready next year.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'd look at Philly packaging Rudy with others for Thad Young and Dalembert.

 

[EGame]

I have to go Bayless just because I think he has more potential than Rudy and I think is an overall better player than Rudy. I am not trying to talk bad about Rudy or deny how good he can be, but from what we have seen from Bayless he brings more to the table, that includes driving to the rim fearlessly, getting consistent with his jumper and nailing the 3 ball. He also gets to the foul line much better than Rudy with his agreesive play and can get opposing bigs into foul trouble. Most improtantly, and I may be the only one who thinks this, but Roy and Bayless seem to mesh so much better than Rudy and Roy. Rudy and Roy would play a lot in the 4th quarter like last year, but I never got the feeling they meshed well together, while Bayless and Roy seem to at least from a small sample size (Sacramento, Phoenix). It may take awhile for them to fully get comfortable, but I think it can be achieved after seeing them both together recently. Bayless can start at PG whereas I don't think Rudy can as his handles are not that great IMO and a main reason I prefer Bayless is he has the potential to at least try and slow down the likes of Paul, Williams, Parker, etc whereas Rudy I don't think can do that IMO. And also, if Roy is hurt like now we have someone in Bayless who can step up and take pressure shots and make plays whereas I don't think Rudy could do so well because he just doesn't attack the rim like Bayless does. The only way Rudy could step up IMO is if he is on with his jumper and knocking down everything.

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Bayless was still struggling with defensive assignments (especially weakside and off-the-ball defense) then I think it would a lot messier. Now? it's increasingly looking like Rudy could be the odd man out.

I think Rudy has better intangibles and hoops IQ than Bayless, and his penchant for the big shot is pretty attractive, but when you get right down to it, he plays the wrong position for this team. He just feels like this decade's Drazen -- There's no way he'll reach his full potential (salary and production) on this team.

If you can get a quality three or a big man for him (whether that means 1 for 1 or a multi-player deal) then I think KP would be foolish not to explore his opportunities.

 

[Sean.ivity]

I think both and run a 3 guard rotation with Bayless and Roy starting and Rudy getting all the back up guard minutes. let Blake walk this off season and trade Miller... with the way Bayless is playing, if he keeps it up I would fell comfortable with that line up next year.

 

[julius]

keep em both.

 

[LameR]

Bayless/Roy/Rudy seems like a pretty good 3-guard rotation to me.

 

[BenDavis503]

I think Bayless has shown he can do more in the NBA in a FAR less amount of time. A gun to my head, I pick Bayless.

BUT then again, when Bayless played his best game (Spurs) it was when he was allowed to do whatever he wanted to do. If Rudy had that same leash, what would he do?

Still tho, I take Bayless. He has that killer instinct that we need.

 

[EGame]

It is hard to tell what Rudy could have done with 42 minutes, but if I had to guess, I would imagine not do as well as Bayless and I think he would have had similar assists numbers and probably a couple of turnovers, he just isn't the ball handler Bayless is. I would hope Rudy can do well in that role, but he is strictly a jump shooter or what we have seen from him he is.

 

[BenDavis503]

It is hard to tell what Rudy could have done with 42 minutes, but if I had to guess, I would imagine not do as well as Bayless and I think he would have had similar assists numbers and probably a couple of turnovers, he just isn't the ball handler Bayless is. I would hope Rudy can do well in that role, but he is strictly a jump shooter or what we have seen from him he is.

I agree with this.

 

[drexlersdad]

We haven't really seen what Rudy can do from the lead guard spot, initiating the offense every time down.

 

[EGame]

He doesn't really have the handles to initiate TBH.

 

[Nikolokolus]

We haven't really seen what Rudy can do from the lead guard spot, initiating the offense every time down.

We kind of have. Nate was putting the ball in his hands quite a bit more at the top of the key this season and it was kind of a mixed bag -- an assist rate of 16% and a turnover rate of 20% -- he's a very creative and flashy passer, but he can't dribble left and pressing him really seemed to frustrate him. Secondly, I'm not really sure he can guard from the one; he's great at getting steals, but in terms of bottling people up, or playing solid possession defense he leaves a lot to be desired. Who knows though maybe this team is headed for a three guard lineup with Bayless, Roy and Rudy, but something tells me that there's just not enough defense in that bunch (mostly from Roy and Rudy) to make it viable.

I guess for my money, I prefer defensive specialists with some shooting skill as my backups vs. offensively gifted reserves with spotty D.

 

[EGame]

Maybe I am wrong, but I feel Bayless is more offensively gifted (I guess it depends on what we are talking about) than Rudy? Rudy is a better shoother thus far, but Bayless can create well mainly because of his penetration.

 

[Sinobas]

-Bayless' defense MUCH better than Rudy's.
-There's no comparison in their driving abilities. Bayless is great at it Rudy never does it
- Rudy's passing ability may be over-rated because he sure does not wrack up many assits


I actually see this question more as Rudy vs Blake. Rudy should take Blakes spot in the 3 guard lineup. He can hit 3s the same as Blake, but has a little more game overall.

 

[STOMP]

keep em both.

yup, why is this an "or" situation? There should be plenty of minutes to go around with Bayless Rudy Roy and Batum as the primary options at 1, 2 & 3. I also think any 3 of those guys should be able to play well together.

STOMP

 

[EGame]

I think the problem here is one may want to start and whoever isn't won't get 30 + minutes most likely (probably Batum out of those 4) and that is where the potential problem can arise. Jerryd may or may not start next year and if it isn't him it will most likely be Miller again which means one of Rudy or Bayless will get the backup minutes there and the other may get stuck behind Roy unless he just moves to SF again. Maybe it can work, we shall see. I think we all knew this could potentially be a problem we will see how Nate handles it and how the players handle it.

 

[KingSpeed]

Great question. And I say Both.

 

[alex42083]

Bayless/Roy/Rudy seems like a pretty good 3-guard rotation to me.

This. Each can play PG/SG and are young combo-type guards. And even keep Blake around if he can play like he did tonight. Unfortunately, that leaves Andre out of the mix.

 

[blue32]

Both, Bayless will be our future 1, and Rudy will always be our backup star-> unless he gets grumpy about that.