game thread: blazers and warriors

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I don't agree about Bayless. I think he is learning and actually made a few good pass seting up players. He made mistakes but that is what I was expecting trying to learn to be a PG. A good portion of the time tonight he was playing with Sergio and playing the SG. I think eventually he could be the perfect fit for us playing along side Roy. I love his attitude and think with Rudy and Bayless we have a couple guys that this team needs.

Don't get me wrong, I love his attitude and he seems great defensively and intense. However, I really think he is best suited as a shooting guard...attacking the rim, shooting a lot of shots, rolling off the rim. His court vision is not the best nor is his ball handling and passing. He does best to create shots and attack the rim, not quite what I look for in a point guard.

 

[alex42083]

Laker fan checking in.

Just wanted to know, since you guys can watch the game, and I can't....

How was Rudy? I mean judging by the box score he played amazingly. 5 more rebounds, 3 more assists, and 4 more steals and he couldve had a quadruple double...but how was his play?

Looks like Oden did well again. Wait til he is primed and ready for these games, he'll be even better.

Rudy can still change the tempo of the game when he's in there. He even showed glimpses of being able to take over when things slowed up and we got down big.
I think he has an ability to get a triple-double, or fill up the stat sheet big time like Roy can.

 

[DynastYWarrioR6]

Rudy had flashes of brilliance, and is a pure dynamo on the court trying to make things happen, but he had kind of a sloppy night passing the ball, so it was a mixed bag.

As for Oden, he just needs to get his wind, but even without it, he put up some nice numbers in 19 minutes of action (I don't recall if he even took to the court after the half?)

Yeah Rudy was fun to watch in the Olympics....I didn't sleep and just watched all the China (I'm chinese), USA, Argentina, and Spain games. And he was amazing to watch, real fun, and I imagined what he could do in an offense like Golden States or D'Antoni's fastbreaking offense. KP did a great job for your team in terms of drafting and trading in the past 2-3yrs.

I agree with you on Oden. He hasn't gotten back in the NBA game pace shape, but once he does he can get scary. He's more bulked up than I remember him being, that is really nice.

 

[Tortimer]

The two guys I would bash tonight IMO would be Outlaw and Diogu. I thought both of those guys played terrible especially Travis. I'm just hoping Outlaw is a slow starter like last year.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Just an FYI, Jack had 8 turnovers tonight, so only having 5 is an improvement

 

[Nikolokolus]

Don't get me wrong, I love his attitude and he seems great defensively and intense. However, I really think he is best suited as a shooting guard...attacking the rim, shooting a lot of shots, rolling off the rim. His court vision is not the best nor is his ball handling and passing. He does best to create shots and attack the rim, not quite what I look for in a point guard.

I think that's a fair assessment, I just don't think it's fair to assess him yet. Preseason is all about working out the kinks, and getting these rookies and other youngsters used to the NBA game.

Who knows, maybe Jerryd won't work out in the long run for this team, but I think all of our rookies deserve at least until January or February before we get too involved in breaking down their game; of course that won't happen, but in a perfect world ...

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

The two guys I would bash tonight IMO would be Outlaw and Diogu. I thought both of those guys played terrible especially Travis. I'm just hoping Outlaw is a slow starter like last year.

Couldn't agree more, they both suck!

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I think that's a fair assessment, I just don't think it's fair to assess him yet. Preseason is all about working out the kinks, and getting these rookies and other youngsters used to the NBA game.

Who knows, maybe Jerryd won't work out in the long run for this team, but I think all of our rookies deserve at least until January or February before we get too involved in breaking down their game; of course that won't happen, but in a perfect world ...

I can only go with what I've seen. I'm not saying he won't work out, I just don't see any redeemable point guard qualities in him. I think he is the type of player that thrives on scoring and being an offensive threat.

 

[alex42083]

The two guys I would bash tonight IMO would be Outlaw and Diogu. I thought both of those guys played terrible especially Travis. I'm just hoping Outlaw is a slow starter like last year.

I think Diogu would be good in spurts to spell LaMarcus, but playing 16 mins is way too much like he did tonight. Or I'd much rather prefer seeing how Channing fits into this group.

I just want to see this group with a full healthy roster, and see how everyone fits in which won't happen for a few months with Martell out.

 

[MARIS61]

I can only go with what I've seen. I'm not saying he won't work out, I just don't see any redeemable point guard qualities in him. I think he is the type of player that thrives on scoring and being an offensive threat.

Exactly what I've said since we drafted him.

His speed is amazing and he can score at will, but it is unfair and stupid to play him out of position.

Oden isn't a PG either.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Exactly what I've said since we drafted him.

His speed is amazing and he can score at will, but it is unfair and stupid to play him out of position.

Oden isn't a PG either.

Oden has better court vision and can probably run the offense better than Bayless. Not bashing bayless, but I think his ideal position is a SG. Seeing him run the point looked exactly like he did in summer league where the offense was stagnant. Once Bayless became selfish and just played his natural position, he was awesome. IMO, its like asking Iverson to run the point.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I can only go with what I've seen. I'm not saying he won't work out, I just don't see any redeemable point guard qualities in him. I think he is the type of player that thrives on scoring and being an offensive threat.

You might be right about him.

It's funny, despite some of Sergio's turnovers tonight and his defense not being as good as Bayless', I'm actually much more comfortable with him running the offense and being on the court right now; Sergio looks like a completely different player and corrected the flaws in his game that I thought were critical to him having any kind of success in the NBA. (I can't believe I just wrote this sentence, based on the way I felt about El chacho at the end of last year)

It's going to be a bit like Blazers Survivor this season, as we learn who sticks with the team and who gets voted off the island, it's all going to boil down to who fits best with Brandon, LMA and Greg. I say let the chips fall where they may.

 

[alex42083]

You might be right about him.

It's funny, despite some of Sergio's turnovers tonight and his defense not being as good as Bayless', I'm actually much more comfortable with him running the offense and being on the court right now; Sergio looks like a completely different player and corrected the flaws in his game that I thought were critical to him having any kind of success in the NBA. (I can't believe I just wrote this sentence, based on the way I felt about El chacho at the end of last year)

It's going to be a bit like Blazers Survivor this season, as we learn who sticks with the team and who gets voted off the island, it's all going to boil down to who fits best with Brandon, LMA and Greg. I say let the chips fall where they may.

I agree about Sergio. I love the way he's playing and running the team. 8 points and 10 assists in 29 mins. He's racking up the assists like he did his rookie year but he's playing a lot more controlled, and I don't go 'OH NO' if he shoots it.
I would give him the backup PG minutes over Jerryd at this point.

 

[Tortimer]

I still say it is way to early to be picking on Bayless after only 2 games. I still say he looks like he can learn to be a PG IMO. I think eventually if not soon will be better playing PG with Roy then Sergio. I do think Sergio has improved his game from last year. That really isn't saying much I thought he was terrinle last year. I still predict by the all star game Bayless will be our starting PG unless we decide that Roy and Rudy can start together in the backcourt. I also would like to see how Blake plays with Oden and Rudy. Maybe Blake is a good enough PG with his hard work this off season.

 

[noknobs]

ahh, the manic-depressive message board, I've missed you. Welcome back.

About the only thing I'm worried about right now is the injuries.

Bayless' assist total would have been higher (the only way is up) if players like Aldridge and Outlaw would have hit a few more jumpers. I remember a few instances were he set them up with open shots, but he doesn't get an assist if it doesn't go in. Still, I've already said I think it's obvious Sergio has been the better PG. But both (and Rudy) turned it over way too much, and most were of the God-awful variety. Anyone who thought the team wouldn't have growing pains in the regular season, much less the second pre-season game, are delusional. Bayless is quick, he pushes the ball and gets to the rim, and he can hit the outside shot. Plus, he has the attitude and ability that will make him a good defensive gaurd. Rookies get better, players get better, just like Sergio, give him some time!

Maybe the one thing other than injuries that does bother me is that Travis and Batum are just about our only SF's now, and Travis doesn't play well with the starters (like, at all), so I wonder what'll happen there.

Considering we didn't have Webster, Frye, Blake, Roy, Oden, Joel, or Aldridge playing for most of the fourth, I'm not surprised at how we looked on either end.

 

[alex42083]

Ugh... dumb Katy Brown question...
To Greg:
"You were stuck on nine rebounds in the game for a long time, were you disappointed not to get a double double?"

Geez... it's preseason there Katy...

 

[alex42083]

ahh, the manic-depressive message board, I've missed you. Welcome back.

About the only thing I'm worried about right now is the injuries.

I think that's one thing I love about it... there are several people from OLive, the old forum and here and BlazersEdge who can and want to dissect every thing about every game even in the preseason... it's fun. Though it gets ridiculous sometimes with trading people already, I'm glad we have the fanbase that we do.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Rudy with what McMillan is deeming a "non-serious sprained left ankle" per the Oregonian's Joe Freeman. Probably won't play Friday.

-Pop

 

[BrianFromWA]

My internet went down near the end of the fourth, and since it doesn't seem like I missed any miracle comebacks, I wanted to clarify a bit.

I agree with everyone that 2 games is not enough to label a guy a bust or hero. I'm not saying Bayless is Jack Revisited, or that Batum will be a Great Golden Deity at the SF position. But 2 games (and a FanFest) ARE enough to see where the players are RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW, can anyone say legitimately that you've seen any inkling of Travis working this summer on defense or court vision or improving his court awareness? Has he added anything to his offensive arsenal? Has he, to put it bluntly, looked like he's worked on ANYTHING remotely associated with KP/Nate's directive that the starting 3 be a defensive stopper that can hopefully shoot the 3? Maybe he's been waiting to unveil it on K*be...I don't know. But you practice how you play, and I'm not seeing anything to tell me he warrants the starting position, or any other position than a me-first gunner. If that doesn't change quickly, he will be exposed, his minutes will drop, and his value right with it. If he's not a part of the Long Great Championship Future, it behooves us to sell high on Travis and acquire the Mystical Missing Piece.

Bayless seems to have the skills to be a great scorer, but we knew that when he was drafted. It was confirmed at Summer League. Is he also hiding improvement he's made over the summer and training camp? Just about everyone says "oooh, look at the strides Batum's made since we saw him last" and "Sergio got bigger, got a jumper and looks like a pro running the offense" and "Rudy seems to have integrated quickly". How come no one's saying (or maybe you are, and I'm not listening) "look how much better JB is at running the offense"? Or "I thought he'd be a gunner like Jack, but he's really a better facilitator than I thought he'd be". Because he isn't, and he isn't.

That being said, both still probably have a ton of value. Trading them now doesn't wait until the stigma festers, the questions start arriving, they (in Outlaw's case) get exposed, and the value is low. If we can get one of the finishing touches (veteran defensive SF or stud, pass-first PG) using either of these two pieces (or both), I put them in the "you have to give talent to get talent" category and go on my way.

I'm not trying to flame or make doom-and-gloom predictions. But to say that we're hunky-dory b/c it's just preseason and the kids are young seems short-sighted to me.