Bayless Actually "Fighting" For Sloppy Seconds?

[ABM]

Perhaps.

From: Bleacher Report

Portland Trail Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless is confident he can assume the duties as the team’s point guard. He was asked before the Summer League began if he could do so, and answered, “Yeah, no question.”

The point of the Summer League is for teams to evaluate young talent and pinpoint their weaknesses and strengths. Many of the players that play are trying to make the roster, hoping that their performance and style is to the team’s liking.

Bayless, unlike a majority of his Summer League teammates, has experience in the NBA, albeit a tumultuous rookie season. He had something to prove, like his comrades, and needed to show Portland that he has the qualities a point guard must possess.

He was a scorer during his lone year in college, at Arizona, with a poor assist-to-turnover ratio. The assist-to-turnover ratio carried over into the NBA, but his scoring did not. When he played, he was aggressive, but also hesitant, and all too often dribbled aimlessly on the perimeter, clearly indecisive.

Though the Blazers would have loved for him to consistently produce, and be pass-first, as a 20-year old in a new environment, his tentative play was expected.

Nonetheless, Blazers fans, many of whom disapproved of Steve Blake’s backup, Sergio Rodriguez, wanted to see him play, to see what he could do. He had a few bright spots, which mainly involved him scoring, predominately on dunks.

But, as his fans knew, for him to be an integral part of Portland’s future, and start for years to come for the Blazers, he had to play as a point guard should. But he didn’t know how to....................

........................Once the 25-year old Jeter stepped on the floor, it was clear that the 5-foot 11-inch guard, with much more experience than Bayless, was entirely the opposite of the rookie season version of Bayless. He was unselfish, and looked to score only when the opportunity presented itself.

With that said, he didn’t dish a single assist in his first game (the blame, like in Bayless’s case, could go on the recipients). Over the final four games, however, he showed his true colors, accumulating 6, 5, 4, and 8 assists................

................Bayless, unphased by Jeter’s emergence, had this to say regarding his role with the Blazers:

“Obviously, Steve [Blake] is the starting point guard but I don’t think Steve would want it any other way [than a battle]. I don’t think he just wants me to come in and just mess around. I’m going to come out there and battle him. You never know what could happen…I’m in a different place… Last year I kind of knew I was bound to be a backup. This year, Coach [Nate McMillan] is giving me an opportunity and it’s up to me.”

I am glad Bayless feels he can give Blake a run, but, he will soon find Jeter breathing down his neck. He may think he’s fighting for first. But, given the doubt surrounding him and the play of Jeter, he may be in a bigger fight for second.

 

[Shooter]

Bayless, unlike a majority of his Summer League teammates, has experience in the NBA, albeit a tumultuous rookie season.

Huh? What was so "tumultuous" about it?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Why is this in the OT forum?

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

Why is this in the OT forum?

I was wondering that too.

 

[ABM]

Why is this in the OT forum?

Because yours truly, the dork, wasn't paying attention................yet again!

 

[Shooter]

Because yours truly, the dork, wasn't paying attention................yet again!

No worries, ABM. We love ya!

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

To be frank, Bayless at this time is easily our #3 "PG", behind Blake and Jeter (if he makes the team). I was greatly disappointed that his PG skills during the summer league have shown zero improvement over last season. Maybe even worse. To think that by virtue of no longer being a rookie that he has earned the role of #2 PG and may challange for the starting job is telling me he certainly believes in the NBA entitlement program.

It also may be that when he's playing in a lot more structured situation with NBA regulars that whatever PG skills he may possess will show better (like a lot of minor league batters hit better in the majors because the pitchers are closer to the plate more often and thereby giving them pitches to hit), but that remains to be seen.

Lastly, I wonder how he'll take it if Jeter assumes the #2 PG role?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

HCP fights me over sloppy seconds with his wife all the time. I'm getting tired of kickin' his ass!

 

[Sheldon Shape]

To be frank, Bayless at this time is easily our #3 "PG", behind Blake and Jeter (if he makes the team). I was greatly disappointed that his PG skills during the summer league have shown zero improvement over last season. Maybe even worse. To think that by virtue of no longer being a rookie that he has earned the role of #2 PG and may challange for the starting job is telling me he certainly believes in the NBA entitlement program.

It also may be that when he's playing in a lot more structured situation with NBA regulars that whatever PG skills he may possess will show better (like a lot of minor league batters hit better in the majors because the pitchers are closer to the plate more often and thereby giving them pitches to hit), but that remains to be seen.

Lastly, I wonder how he'll take it if Jeter assumes the #2 PG role?

Oh don't worry dude, we don't need a real point guard. Brandon Roy is going to single-handedly take care of everything for us. We can't get a real point guard because if we do then Brandon Roy actually gets some relief and can focus more on scoring for him than creating for others. It would be so horrible to have just 1 more player who can create baskets for others. So horrible.

 

[ABM]

HCP fights me over sloppy seconds with his wife all the time.

Then......if you two are fighting over seconds......who, may I ask, gets her first?

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I'd pay to see a Blake vs Bayless fight. Throw in Ha with a pole and you'd sell every damn ticket to that event.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Jeter is not really an NBA player and I will be surprised if he gets a contract (assuming he is offered and accepts a training camp invite) this doesn't really mean Bayless is ready for a regular role in the rotation either so I think we're probably still back to having a messy situation at the point guard spot next year.

I can hardly wait.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Jeter is not really an NBA player and I will be surprised if he gets a contract (assuming he is offered and accepts a training camp invite) this doesn't really mean Bayless is ready for a regular role in the rotation either so I think we're probably still back to having a messy situation at the point guard spot next year.

I can hardly wait.

Yep, a messy situation.

 

[MARIS61]

Easy fix = trade Bayless for Sergio.

 

[Minstrel]

Easy fix = trade Bayless for Sergio.

Sergio's gone and he's never coming back. He's gone to the wonderful point guard farm in the sky, where he'll get to pass and turn the ball over all day long, forever. In time, you'll come to like the new point guard the Blazers have bought you.

 

[barfo]

Sergio's gone and he's never coming back. He's gone to the wonderful point guard farm in the sky, where he'll get to pass and turn the ball over all day long, forever. In time, you'll come to like the new point guard the Blazers have bought you.

No, it's not true, it's not! Sergio will come back, he will! You just have to believe. Now, come on, click your heels together and say "I wish Sergio was back in Portland" "I wish Sergio was back in Portland" "I wish Sergio was back in Portland" ...

barfo

 

[JAFO]

Sergio's gone and he's never coming back. He's gone to the wonderful point guard farm in the sky, where he'll get to pass and turn the ball over all day long, forever. In time, you'll come to like the new point guard the Blazers have bought you.

Yes! I can't wait for Paddy Mills to get over his injury and join the team.

JAFO

 

[Ed O]

Jeter is not really an NBA player and I will be surprised if he gets a contract (assuming he is offered and accepts a training camp invite) this doesn't really mean Bayless is ready for a regular role in the rotation either so I think we're probably still back to having a messy situation at the point guard spot next year.

Well, I agree that Jeter won't be in the NBA next year--let alone ahead of Bayless on the depth chart.

Also I agree that Jeter's lack of a contract doesn't indicate that Bayless is ready for a regular role... but I think that he is. He'll make mistakes, sure, but if he plays 10 or 12 minutes a game he's not going to kill the team and he's going to be able to bring offensive energy off of the bench.

Until and unless we get a more experience PG, I am pretty comfortable using Bayless in the rotation in spite of his less-than-stellar showing this summer.

Ed O.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Easy fix = trade Bayless for Sergio.

Not a bad idea.