Bayless leads Blazers in assists

[Shooter]

In addition to his 7 points tonight, Bayless dished out 6 assists in only 22 minutes to lead the team in that category. This is a very good sign. The Clippers' announcers were saying they envision Bayless as a point guard down the road, and so do I. Once he gets his outside shot going, he will be very hard to deal with.

 

[hasoos]

I noticed tonight he wasn't just being a guard out there, he was running the offense. He was up top, telling people when to move, and looking for cutters, which he found several times with some nifty bounce passes. I still say the assist he got to Oden was a shot though. It doesn't matter though, the nba definition of an assist is having a player catch the ball from you and not take a dribble before shooting...so it is still an assist.

 

[Minstrel]

Bayless is a fairly talented chap.

 

[alex42083]

I love it about Bayless. The guy just wants to be out there playing and helping the team win. He hasn't given me the impression that he cares how many shots he gets. He's always supporting his teammates no matter what. Love it Jerryd

 

[Shooter]

I noticed tonight he wasn't just being a guard out there, he was running the offense. He was up top, telling people when to move, and looking for cutters, which he found several times with some nifty bounce passes.

He's learning. I would like to see him make fewer risky passes. He threw away the ball twice tonight while trying to thread an impossible needle, but he'll get better. He's got the quickness and aggressiveness to be a very good point guard, in the Derrick Rose mold.

 

[HailBlazers]

In addition to his 7 points tonight, Bayless dished out 6 assists in only 22 minutes to lead the team in that category. This is a very good sign. Once he gets his outside shot going, he will be very hard to deal with.

Agreed. But just for comparison's sake Serg Rodriquez played only 17 minutes and had 5 assists, 7 points. Unlike many others I like his game but you can start to tell who Nate is favoring...

But how could you not!?

 

[KingSpeed]

Bayless played more minutes because he EARNED more minutes with his play. Where's MARIS now?

Sergio +7
Bayless +25

Checkmate.

Learn the game, then post.

 

[Shooter]

Agreed. But just for comparison's sake Serg Rodriquez played only 17 minutes and had 5 assists, 7 points.

Sergio had a good game, too. I loved that backward, no-look tap to Oden for the dunk. Priceless!

By the way, love your moniker.

 

[hasoos]

Man I still feel in my gut that Blake is the odd guy out. I feel both of the young guys coming on, and we are starting to reap the rewards of them getting minutes. The reason why I think it works is both Sergio and Bayless are penetrating, attacking guards, Sergio has always been able to drive and dish, Bayless is showing signs he is picking it up. Tonight, both of them were finding an open shooter..who happened to be Brandon Roy because they had penetrated and broke down the defense. Lets face it. Roy is a pretty good 3 point shooter, especially when wide open. You just don't get a lot of those looks when Blake is the point.

In 258 minutes of playing time, Bayless has shot 57 free throws.

In 650 minutes of playing time, Sergio Rodriguez has shot 40 free throws.

In 1,175 minutes of playing time, Steve Blake has shot 49 free throws.

Now you look at those numbers, and tell me which guards are attacking the lane with penetration, putting pressure on the defense? Sergio is getting to the line twice as much as Blake. Bayless is almost 5 times as much.

You win the game in the paint. Not on the perimeter.

 

[AhLian]

Man I still feel in my gut that Blake is the odd guy out. I feel both of the young guys coming on, and we are starting to reap the rewards of them getting minutes. The reason why I think it works is both Sergio and Bayless are penetrating, attacking guards, Sergio has always been able to drive and dish, Bayless is showing signs he is picking it up. Tonight, both of them were finding an open shooter..who happened to be Brandon Roy because they had penetrated and broke down the defense. Lets face it. Roy is a pretty good 3 point shooter, especially when wide open. You just don't get a lot of those looks when Blake is the point.

In 258 minutes of playing time, Bayless has shot 57 free throws.

In 650 minutes of playing time, Sergio Rodriguez has shot 40 free throws.

In 1,175 minutes of playing time, Steve Blake has shot 49 free throws.

Now you look at those numbers, and tell me which guards are attacking the lane with penetration, putting pressure on the defense? Sergio is getting to the line twice as much as Blake. Bayless is almost 5 times as much.

You win the game in the paint. Not on the perimeter.

Blake is strictly a 3 point shooting point guard, so you can't blame him on that. Let's not expect Blake to penetrate and shoot.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Bayless played more minutes because he EARNED more minutes with his play. Where's MARIS now?

Sergio +7
Bayless +25

Checkmate.

Learn the game, then post.

Yes, Eric, because we know your game is so legendary, you have every right to pass judgement on Sergio. Hell, they should put you out there so you can drop 25 dimes a game on any team in the league. I bow to your greatness.

 

[hasoos]

Blake is strictly a 3 point shooting point guard, so you can't blame him on that. Let's not expect Blake to penetrate and shoot.

I wasn't expecting anything of him.. I was saying he is the odd man out because of the fact he doesn't attack the paint, and IMO is actually fairly incapable of it due to lack of foot speed and or body strength.

 

[B-Roy]

Sergio had a good game, too. I loved that backward, no-look tap to Oden for the dunk. Priceless!

By the way, love your moniker.

Bayless was playing defense though, which was why Nate went with him down the stretch.

 

[hasoos]

Bayless was playing defense though, which was why Nate went with him down the stretch.

Exactly. All of the sudden it was like Freddie Jones remember that he was...Freddie Jones.

 

[Minstrel]

I wasn't expecting anything of him.. I was saying he is the odd man out because of the fact he doesn't attack the paint, and IMO is actually fairly incapable of it due to lack of foot speed and or body strength.

But Blake is capable of shooting from the perimeter, which Sergio isn't, and Blake plays better defense. Even when it comes to play-making, Blake makes up for his lesser passing skill by being less mistake- and turnover-prone than Sergio.

Ultimately, I think Sergio is the odd man out. Bayless seems pretty certain to me to be the inevitable long-term starter for the team and Blake seems like the perfect backup. A decent, steady player who can lead the second unit and distribute to second unit scorers like Rudy and Outlaw.

If Sergio does play well, he increases his trade value, which would be great.

 

[HailBlazers]

Exactly. All of the sudden it was like Freddie Jones remember that he was...Freddie Jones.

LOL

 

[hasoos]

But Blake is capable of shooting from the perimeter, which Sergio isn't, and Blake plays better defense. Even when it comes to play-making, Blake makes up for his lesser passing skill by being less mistake- and turnover-prone than Sergio.

Ultimately, I think Sergio is the odd man out. Bayless seems pretty certain to me to be the inevitable long-term starter for the team and Blake seems like the perfect backup. A decent, steady player who can lead the second unit and distribute to second unit scorers like Rudy and Outlaw.

If Sergio does play well, he increases his trade value, which would be great.

Hereis how I would put it. Would you rather have Blake taking a 3 pointer, or Sergio throwing it to Greg Oden in the paint? The route through the paint is the route to the future. The route to Blake at the 3 point line, is the route back to the team that was here 2 years ago, that lost a lot of games.

 

[Minstrel]

Hereis how I would put it. Would you rather have Blake taking a 3 pointer, or Sergio throwing it to Greg Oden in the paint?

Another way to put it is, when Oden is double-teamed and kicks out to an open shooter, would you rather have Blake taking that shot, or Sergio?

The route through the paint is the route to the future.

As with all championship-level teams, the route on offense is attacking the hoop and knocking down open jumpers.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yes, Eric, because we know your game is so legendary, you have every right to pass judgement on Sergio. Hell, they should put you out there so you can drop 25 dimes a game on any team in the league. I bow to your greatness.

When did I claim to be a good basketball player? When did I claim to be better than another basketball player? Never.

Learn the game, then post.

 

[KingSpeed]

Another way to put it is, when Oden is double-teamed and kicks out to an open shooter, would you rather have Blake taking that shot, or Sergio?
.

If our PG is left wide open, he should shoot the three. And once he proves he can hit that three (something Blake can do), it then gives more room for Oden to operate.

 

[hasoos]

Another way to put it is, when Oden is double-teamed and kicks out to an open shooter, would you rather have Blake taking that shot, or Sergio?



As with all championship-level teams, the route on offense is attacking the hoop and knocking down open jumpers.

Then look at what you just said. The route to the championship is by attacking the hoop and knocking down open jumpers. At what point with Steve Blake is the hoop ever attacked? Both of the other guards attack the rim. Both of them have shown that by being agressive to the rim, they get other people open looks from the 3 point line, players who are better shooters then they would be. I would much rather have Roy or Rudy taking 3's than any of the rest of our guards. The highest percentage shots are in the paint. Live by the 3, die by the 3, you will mostly die.

 

[Minstrel]

Then look at what you just said. The route to the championship is by attacking the hoop and knocking down open jumpers. At what point with Steve Blake is the hoop ever attacked?

And at what point does Sergio knock down open jumpers? Both Sergio and Blake are flawed players. I don't think every player on the floor needs to be able to attack the hoop. It's helpful, though, for everyone to have a shot that the defense has to respect. I'm hardly advocating that Blake should be a top option on offense, so Blake being able to shoot threes doesn't in any way represent a "jump-shooting offense."

The question is what do you want from your backup point guard? Since he'll always be on the floor with scorers and he'll be a backup on a team that expects to have a great starting unit, I think risk-aversion is a pretty good trait in the backup point guard. We'll be expecting our starting units to beat the other teams...a player who's more likely to keep things on an even keel when he's in makes a better backup to a great starting unit than a player who can as easily help blow a lead as build a lead. Blake is good at not making silly mistakes, getting the ball to better scorers and shooting open jumpers. That's not dynamic enough for a starter, but seems pretty useful out of the backup point guard.

 

[gatorpops]

But Blake is capable of shooting from the perimeter, which Sergio isn't, and Blake plays better defense. Even when it comes to play-making, Blake makes up for his lesser passing skill by being less mistake- and turnover-prone than Sergio.

Ultimately, I think Sergio is the odd man out. Bayless seems pretty certain to me to be the inevitable long-term starter for the team and Blake seems like the perfect backup. A decent, steady player who can lead the second unit and distribute to second unit scorers like Rudy and Outlaw.

If Sergio does play well, he increases his trade value, which would be great.

Of the three guards, the better question is "who is the easiest to defend by a quality team?"

 

[KingSpeed]

Of the three guards, the better question is "who is the easiest to defend by a quality team?"

Answer: Sergio

 

[BalancedMan]

The best players are the ones that can drive to the hoop, draw fouls, and make free throws. LeBron. Kobe. Pierce. Wade. Roy.

Those are the elite swingmen in the game. Usually they are in the best position to finish at the rim due to their size and athleticism (not to mention their ability to shoot as well). Unless you can shoot as well as someone like Reggie Miller or Ray Allen, you need to be able to drive, which creates for yourself, makes the defense adjust, and thus creating opportunities for others to get open as well.

If you have a DOMINATING big man, you can dump in inside and play inside outside, like how the Rockets won back in the 90's with the gunners like Maxwell on the outside.

We're in a pretty good position. We have good shooters, multiple people who have shown or proven the ability to create and finish at the rim (Roy, Outlaw, Bayless), a bruising big man in training (Oden), and a finesse PF who can shoot the jumper, score on hte block and play solid defense. Add a few solid pieces like good shooters (Rudy, Webster) and a backup bigman as solid as they come (Pryzbilla). Pretty good core if you ask me.

 

[Minstrel]

Of the three guards, the better question is "who is the easiest to defend by a quality team?"

Ultimately, I think the question is: who contributes the most, including defense?

IMO, between Blake and Rodriguez, it's Blake. And I'm no great Blake fan. Sergio reminds me of Telfair...he can look so brilliant that you can envision him running an amazing offense for years, and then spends the next five games missing shots, turning the ball over and being exploited on defense.

Blake is no great shakes, either, but he produces more and in steadier fashion.

 

[KingSpeed]

The best players are the ones that can drive to the hoop, draw fouls, and make free throws. LeBron. Kobe. Pierce. Wade. Roy.

Those are the elite swingmen in the game. Usually they are in the best position to finish at the rim due to their size and athleticism (not to mention their ability to shoot as well). Unless you can shoot as well as someone like Reggie Miller or Ray Allen, you need to be able to drive, which creates for yourself, makes the defense adjust, and thus creating opportunities for others to get open as well.

If you have a DOMINATING big man, you can dump in inside and play inside outside, like how the Rockets won back in the 90's with the gunners like Maxwell on the outside.

We're in a pretty good position. We have good shooters, multiple people who have shown or proven the ability to create and finish at the rim (Roy, Outlaw, Bayless), a bruising big man in training (Oden), and a finesse PF who can shoot the jumper, score on hte block and play solid defense. Add a few solid pieces like good shooters (Rudy, Webster) and a backup bigman as solid as they come (Pryzbilla). Pretty good core if you ask me.

Amen.

 

[Shooter]

Hereis how I would put it. Would you rather have Blake taking a 3 pointer, or Sergio throwing it to Greg Oden in the paint? The route through the paint is the route to the future. The route to Blake at the 3 point line, is the route back to the team that was here 2 years ago, that lost a lot of games.

You're making a lot of sense, hasoos, both in the above post and the one you made earlier. Getting to the rim, or to the free-throw line, is crucial to the team's success. That's why I love Bayless' aggressive style.

 

[MARIS61]

Bayless played more minutes because he EARNED more minutes with his play. Where's MARIS now?

Sergio +7
Bayless +25

Checkmate.

Learn the game, then post.

As you and all Bayless lovers claim +/- means NOTHING>

Bayless sucked the 1st half, absolutely horrible, and therefore played in the 2nd half purely because Nate-loves-short-SG's-who remind him of him.

He had an okay game, half of his lazy passes got tipped, 4 stupid fouls, and still can't shoot at all. Typical rookie trying hard but getting schooled by the competition.

He was credited an assist for his woefully short shot, and also for a pass Joel threw to Rudy at the end of a quarter.

But he'll improve eventually, with PT, which he will get from Nate despite not earning it yet.

He'll never be a PG though.

Sergio had a much better game, BTW, and the difference in poise, confidence, and execution is obvious. Every minute Sergio sits is a wasted minute in our quest for a dynasty.

 

[DaRizzle]

He makes really funny faces while playing...always squinting or eyes getting really excited