CNNSI: Camp Position Battles

[Reep]

CNNSI

Nothing really new, but . . .

5. Trail Blazers point guard
• The main candidates: Steve Blake, Jerryd Bayless, Sergio Rodriguez

• The skinny: Blazers coach Nate McMillan already has endorsed Blake, who did a good job as Portland's main setup man last season, for the starter's role again. But Bayless was MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League and is viewed as a potential star if he can learn to be a true NBA point guard, while Rodriguez has shown flashes of brilliance. Also, Portland is said to be considering signing former Clipper Shaun Livingston, who has not played since February 2007 because of a knee injury. Further complicating matters is the arrival of Spanish shooting guard Rudy Fernandez, whom McMillan has said will be a part of the rotation this season. If so, Brandon Roy might have to slide over to the point more often. It should be very interesting to see how it shakes out.

 

[maxiep]

What's interesting to me is that they're three different players. Blake is the solid guy who isn't going to hurt you with mistakes but who isn't going to with the game for you. Bayless is more of a combo guard who can break down defenses with his ability to penetrate. Sergio is the high-beta pure PG. If we get Livingston, that adds a fourth type--the huge, defensive oriented, pass first PG.

 

[mook]

The funny thing thing in that article is how mediocre all the players mentioned throughout it are (aside from Artest and maybe Battier).

The real story here is whether Roy is moved to PG by midseason so that Rudy can start. In my mind, Blake is already out of the long-term picture and it's a competition between Rudy and Bayless for the other starting guard job by midseason.

Rudy seems more seasoned and is a better perimeter complement to Roy, but Bayless is better equipped to guard point guards.

(I don't see Rodriguez or Livingstong doing anything but battling for 3rd/4th string point guard this year. Given how the minutes project, that's probably not a very important job.)

 

[THE HCP]

Bayless starts by XMAS!