Is Steve Blake part of the Blazers BIG 3?

[DG3]

Because our coaching staff is treating him like he is. 35+ minutes a game? Really??? What does Blake do to justify starting him or even playing him AT ALL?! Then play him significant minutes when we have way more talent sitting on the bench. Is he SOOO valuable to this team that it's better to play him out of position than to keep him off the floor?! I can't take it ANYMORE!!!!

Bayless looked good again tonight, but only got 11 minutes mostly in the first half. He should easily be playing 25-30 minutes a night with Rudy out.

Yes, Miller hasn't looked great so far, but I believe if he was really given the opportunity to be the point guard of this team, he would be more consistent and get back around his career averages. Why won't the coaches give him a chance?! Let him start and let HIM play the 30-35 minutes a night. He clearly does so much more to create scoring opportunities for this team.

Is Blake REALLY this valuable?! What other team does he play this many minutes for?

 

[C_note]

Wait, Steve Blake is being played too much in favor of more deserving talent? This is news to me...

 

[southnc]

If I only had a $1 for everyone of the these threads...

 

[Nikolokolus]

Does anybody really expect Dean to shake up PT and rotations in the middle of a road trip? I'm not saying he should or shouldn't, but I'm not the least bit surprised that Blake plays as much as he has -- no matter what he does on the court, the script is almost certainly not going to be flipped unless Nate is the one doing the flipping.

 

[KingSpeed]

Because our coaching staff is treating him like he is. 35+ minutes a game?

Because Roy likes him and Roy plays well when Blake is on the floor. Period.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Because Roy likes him and Roy plays well when Blake is on the floor. Period.

Whatever will Roy do when Steve is passed his prime? Oh wait that already happened.

 

[KingSpeed]

Whatever will Roy do when Steve is passed his prime? Oh wait that already happened.

This is only Blake's 7th year. I don't see any reason Blake can't continue to play at this level well into his late 30s.

 

[roydezlaw]

Whatever will Roy do when Steve is passed his prime? Oh wait that already happened.

As long as Steve can get down the floor and set up for a 3, that will work. He's only a decoy.

 

[Eastoff]

no. (that is an answer to the thread title)

 

[julius]

This is only Blake's 7th year. I don't see any reason Blake can't continue to play at this level well into his late 30s.

I agree, I don't see why Steve can't, in his late 30's, play like a guy who is in his late 30's, who can't shoot very well anymore, doesn't defend good, can't jump, doesn't go to the free throw line, and peaked last year.

Wait, that seems to suggest that Steve is already playing like a 16 year vet...

 

[Nikolokolus]

This is only Blake's 7th year. I don't see any reason Blake can't continue to play at this level well into his late 30s.

At a PER of 9? Yeah I'm sure he could probably sustain that for a few more years. Now granted his game isn't exactly predicated on elite athleticism, but he completely struggles now to shake even so-so defenders and absolutely should not be allowed to dribble the ball for more than 4 seconds in a half-court set, this isn't going to get better it's probably going to get worse.

My main point is that most player's prime year's are in their mid to late twenties, 30 is usually the benchmark year of a player about to make a steady decline, given that he's roughly back to his career average PER (slightly below actually) it's not unreasonable to expect that last year was probably his high watermark.

Blake's not exactly a team killer, but it has to be plain that he's not really suited to playing 40 minutes a night, even 30 is probably a stretch. My only objection to Blake is that he's generating so little offense, and shooting so poorly, that his main asset -- spacing the floor -- is no longer really getting the job done.

 

[Nikolokolus]

As long as Steve can get down the floor and set up for a 3, that will work. He's only a decoy.

You just described a typical reserve guard.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

Yes! I heard Blazers are going to give him a max contract.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I don't see any reason Blake can't continue to play at this level well into his late 30s.

What level exactly? The guy is shooting 38% from the field for the season, getting 7.5 points per game, 3.9 assists, almost never gets to the free throw line, and repeatedly gets burnt on the defensive end. He's clearly the worst starting point guard in the league, clearly.

 

[KingSpeed]

You guys make me laugh.

 

[Nikolokolus]

You guys make me laugh.

You really think he's good don't you? Besides getting out of Brandon's way what does he do? Make the case.