for how often people say Nate wouldn't like Nash...

[Mediocre Man]

We already disagree and know it buddy... What I am trying to point to you is that mathematically, your sample size is way too small and the opposition way too limited to make the interpretations you make with confidence... - while the data I gave you does not have these limitations.

For the record - I have no problems what so ever with anyone taking a knock at my basketball interpretations or knowledge - we disagree on something - no problems. But statistics and understanding their implications I actually do know very well... I have been in the industry for more than 20 years now...

Your basketball intuition might be right based on what you see - and time will tell us if you are right or wrong - but I have very little confidence, mathematically, in the interpretation of the limited opponent 13 games sample you present...

So is Brandon a PG then based on his assists being more per game than Blake's?

 

[andalusian]

So is Brandon a PG then based on his assists being more per game than Blake's?

Wrong question.

The correct question is - can Brandon play an acceptable PG in the NBA on offense based on his stats? The stats tell us he can. What it does not tell us is if this is the optimal position for him. It is pretty clear that he is not a good defender against quick point-guards and it is pretty clear that he is very effective at the SG and even SF positions.

Just like the stats tells us that Blake can play an acceptable PG in NBA. It also tells us that Blake is not a great one.

 

[LittleAlex]

You should also check the list of opponents:

@NJN, @CHA, MIL, CLE, WAS, CHA, UTH, @NOH*, @DAL, @OKC, NYK, OKC, @GSW

CLE, UTH, NOH and DAL are the only winning teams in this group, UTH sucks on the road and the win at NOH comes with a big fat * - since we were whipped until CP3 went down...

Sure, if we played mostly cupcakes or teams that suck on the road at the RG or NOH without CP3 - we would be OK with these guys manning the PG playing time - but let's face it - this is not exactly an elite test so the winning percentage here is highly doubtful.

I am a big believer in stats - as long as you put them in context...

This is a small sample size against mostly easy competition - does not seem like a good way to make these decisions...

And with Blake on the team we kicked ass on the road in the western conference...Oh wait, we only won once against playoff teams when he was a starter.

With Blake as a starter for 69 games, Portland was unable to defeat decent western conference teams on the road. Is that a large enough sample size?

 

[Miksaid]

If we had Lebron instead of Roy we would have won all those games too. I'd prefer an All-Star PG as much as the next guy, but to blame Portland's road record on Blake is not a good argument. We won 54 games, and of the 69 games in the season, Blake was a starter. No one's arguing he's great but he definitely doesn't quite deserve the amount of suck-titude we give him credit for.

 

[shamelessblazer]

He played PG in College

No sir, Juan Dixon did that

he played PG in Washington

He DID NOT PLAY in Washington much at all.

You also forgot another place he DID NOT PLAY (Milwaukee)

he played PG in Denver

No sir, Allen Iverson did that

and he plays PG in Portland.

No sir, Brandon Roy does that

 

[andalusian]

No sir, Juan Dixon did that

Really. Dixon who played 4 years in College and accumulated 371 assists was the PG and Steve Blake that accumulated 972 was not?

No sir, Allen Iverson did that

Well, AI is a combo guard - and he is a much better scoring option than Blake - so when they were both on the court - Blake played PG. You can see it when you look at their A/36 - Blake had 7.1, AI had 6.1 - AI of course played a lot more than Blake - so the assumption is that when Blake was not on - AI ran the offense - but when they were both on at the same time - Blake was the one playing PG, especially when you remember that after Denver failed to extend Blake (trying to run AI as their full-time PG) - they realized they had to trade him and traded him for a... PG... (because AI is not a PG that can run the offense full time).

No sir, Brandon Roy does that

Again, Roy plays a combo-guard for Portland. He most certainly facilitate the offense a lot - but as we have seen - Blake's AST% this year was pretty much identical to Roy's.

The numbers, again, just do not support the claims you guys make. Blake played our PG. The team referred to him as such, the coaches did and the numbers support these claims.

All the arguments you want to make that we need an upgrade at PG are acceptable. When you resort to questionable statements and repeat the claims he is not a PG ignoring the cold, hard facts... it becomes annoying... but honestly, who am I to stop you - you want to keep clicking your heels and hope that pigs will fly - go for it...

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Blake does not resemble a PG. He is an undersized SG. PG's penetrate, and draw people to them for easy baskets. Blake is a spot up shooter, and a good one. I view Sergio and, Bayless especially, as pinch hitters. It is SO much easier to play well when you know you are going to play. I think all three of their stats would be different if rolls were reversed.

So if I understand your position correctly, you think Blake does not resemble a PG, rather he is an undersized SG . . . but Bayless does resemble a PG?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

So if I understand your position correctly, you think Blake does not resemble a PG, rather he is an undersized SG . . . but Bayless does resemble a PG?

PG's penetrate, and draw people to them for easy baskets.

Bayless can penetrate extremely well.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Bayless can penetrate extremely well.

So I guess Roy is a PG

 

[Minstrel]

So I guess Roy is a PG

Not a pure point guard. But he can handle the position to some extent, on offense.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Not a pure point guard. But he can handle the position to some extent, on offense.

Well Blake can handle the position to some extent on offense . . . but it was suggested that what it takes to be a PG is to be able to drive and create for others. I think it takes a lot more than that.

 

[Minstrel]

Well Blake can handle the position to some extent on offense . . . but it was suggested that what it takes to be a PG is to be able to drive and create for others. I think it takes a lot more than that.

I consider Blake a point guard. Just a limited one.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I consider Blake a point guard. Just a limited one.

Do you consider a player who can "penetrate, and draw people to them for easy baskets?"

Anyways . . . I just think Blake is a more proven "PG" than Bayless . . . but that is just my opinion.

 

[Minstrel]

Do you consider a player who can "penetrate, and draw people to them for easy baskets?"

Do I consider such a player what? I think that's one very useful skill for a point guard. It's not the only way for a point guard to play.

Anyways . . . I just think Blake is a more proven "PG" than Bayless . . . but that is just my opinion.

I agree. More proven, but less talented. Hopefully, Bayless earns some more time next season to work on proving himself.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

So I guess Roy is a PG

You asked if Bayless resembles a point guard, and penetrating is one of the best skills a point guard can have. So yeah, he does resemble a point guard and that was the only point I was trying to make.