My Favorite Nate Quote From Last Night's Game

[ABM]

"I thought he (Jerryd) got the crowd into it. He made some plays. He got the crowd and the team fired up. It seemed like we were flat up to that point."

Yep, I expect to see more and more of Mr. Bayless as the season wears one...........




Furthermore...

As Aldridge ended his third-quarter scoreless stretch, Bayless picked it up with a series of defensive plays that forced the game into a faster tempo more favorable to the Blazers.

The rookie guard’s pressure defense in Portland’s half-court traps — designed to take away Detroit’s pick-and-roll plays that repeatedly burned Portland in the first half — forced two steals and led to a fast-break dunk that pulled the Blazers within 64-62 with 2:03 remaining in the quarter.

Between them, Aldridge and Bayless scored 15 points in a 15-4 run that got Portland back into the game, six of which came on fast breaks after the Blazers managed only two in the first 31 minutes.

“We were struggling a little bit for a second there,” Bayless said. “And everybody got their energy going and started making plays for each other. I think we got them to get a little antsy, and they started making a couple mistakes, and we capitalized on them.”

 

[Mediocre Man]

Really ABM? Why do you expect to see more of Bayless?

When Roy comes back JerryD will go back to thrid string PG.

 

[ABM]

Really ABM? Why do you expect to see more of Bayless?

When Roy comes back JerryD will go back to thrid string PG.

OK, I'll put it this way: I'll expect to see more of Bayless than Sergio. Also, I'll expect too see Nate "experiment" more with the Roy/Bayless show.

You'll see.

 

[Mediocre Man]

OK, I'll put it this way: I'll expect to see more of Bayless than Sergio. Also, I'll expect too see Nate "experiment" more with the Roy/Bayless show.

You'll see.

LOL yes cause Nate always does the right thing with his personel

 

[ABM]

LOL yes cause Nate always does the right thing with his personel

Touche'

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It'll be a tough call. Sergio does certain things better than Bayless and Bayless does things better than Sergio.

 

[blue32]

Bayless REALLY impressed me last night. I like it that one of our rookies is stepping it up almost every game, first Oden, then Batum, then Bayless.......good times are ahead.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Bayless REALLY impressed me last night. I like it that one of our rookies is stepping it up almost every game, first Oden, then Batum, then Bayless.......good times are ahead.

And problems. As our young talent matures a bit we'll have way too many players with similar talent levels fighting for playing time. But then again, so long as we keep our 'big 3' together, the rest can be fluid.

 

[ABM]

It'll be a tough call. Sergio does certain things better than Bayless and Bayless does things better than Sergio.

Sergio = Year Three

Bayless = Year One.

I'd surmise the calculus is in Bayless' favor at this point in time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It'll be a tough call. Sergio does certain things better than Bayless and Bayless does things better than Sergio.

Yep that is the tough part. The only thing I can see is Bayless does things better than Sergio that help our overall performance more.

He plays better defense, and doesn't cause us to have to switch on every damn possession, and he can get to the rim anytime he wants.

I think Sergio has beeter court vision, and actually shoots a little better, but with any sort of consistant minutes Bayless would surpass Sergio in shooting I think.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Yep that is the tough part. The only thing I can see is Bayless does things better than Sergio that help our overall performance more.

He plays better defense, and doesn't cause us to have to switch on every damn possession, and he can get to the rim anytime he wants.

I think Sergio has beeter court vision, and actually shoots a little better, but with any sort of consistant minutes Bayless would surpass Sergio in shooting I think.

I think who plays may end up depending on what Sergio's future is here. It seems to me he's more expendible than Bayless and therefore Nate may try to showcase him a bit.

 

[ABM]

I think who plays may end up depending on what Sergio's future is here. It seems to me he's more expendible than Bayless and therefore Nate may try to showcase him a bit.

Ya THINK?!

You're finally listening to me.

 

[Pinwheel1]

We lose two in a row and we don't have enough talent coming off the bench. We win one game in a row and we potentially have too much talent coming off the bench to the point to where we need to consolidate..............

This is why KP makes the big bucks, and why he will take his time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We lose two in a row and we don't have enough talent coming off the bench. We win one game in a row and we potentially have too much talent coming off the bench to the point to where we need to consolidate..............

This is why KP makes the big bucks, and why he will take his time.

I think we have too much of the same caliber talent coming off the bench.

Sergio is good, but not great and inconsistant
Bayless is good and inconsistant
Outlaw is inconsistant
Rudy is good and inconsistant
Joel is solid
Frye sucks
Ike sucks


Of those players you need to look who has the best chance of being special. Rudy, Bayless and Batum when Martell comes back.

All the other pieces can be moved. You keep Joel around until Greg figures out how to guard without fouling, but then he is expendable as well.

 

[ABM]

Bayless is good and inconsistant

Uhhm....you misspelled not enough playing time - yet - to show his worthiness.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Uhhm....you misspelled not enough playing time - yet - to show his worthiness.

I understand that. I think he is the best option off the bench, and at some point we will see that. Players have different reasons for being inconsistant. His is playing time, Travis ' is his mental makeup, Sergio's is the style we play, Rudy's is his NBA experience.

 

[Ghost Pepper]

Bayless not only looks fearless out there, he looks down right pissed when anyone gets in his way. Hell he's pushing PF out of the way on opposing teams. You take this kids competitive nature, mix it in with Roy's and Batums and WOW!!! That's some killer instinct out there. If we could only feed Greg !!!!!!

I think Sergio will soon be the third option out there if not traded. Sergio doesn't go to the rim like Bayless, play defense or shoot. Bayless just needs to learn how to pass a bit more freely and he's going to be a monster out there!

The thought of trading Bayless or using him as trade bait to me is insane!

 

[ABM]

I understand that. I think he is the best option off the bench, and at some point we will see that. Players have different reasons for being inconsistant. His is playing time, Travis ' is his mental makeup, Sergio's is the style we play, Rudy's is his NBA experience.

So, then, can I conclude from that statement, "Calm waters...let the cake bake."....other than Sergio and perhaps Travis?

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I understand that. I think he is the best option off the bench, and at some point we will see that. Players have different reasons for being inconsistant. His is playing time, Travis ' is his mental makeup, Sergio's is the style we play, Rudy's is his NBA experience.

Indeed, I think Bayless will make both Sergio and Outlaw expendable. After a fast break opportunity where he tried to avoid contact and had his shot blocked, he finally figured out/remembered that he needs to CREATE contact. Good things followed. Hopefully, he'll keep it up.

 

[gatorpops]

I understand that. I think he is the best option off the bench, and at some point we will see that. Players have different reasons for being inconsistant. His is playing time, Travis ' is his mental makeup, Sergio's is the style we play, Rudy's is his NBA experience.

I agree. This is the best conversation on the players I have read here in some time.

 

[Mediocre Man]

So, then, can I conclude from that statement, "Calm waters...let the cake bake."....other than Sergio and perhaps Travis?

No I picked the middle one. We need a few things, but noting major. back up banger PF would be a nice addition. Playoff successful veterans who can help our team know what it takes to get there would be helpful also.

No need to trade Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Batum, Joel, Bayless, or even Blake and Rudy, Everyone else IMO can be dealt without really hurting the team at all. Blake should probably take on a lesser role next year as well, maybe to the point we don't poick up the guarantee on his contract.

 

[ABM]

No I picked the middle one. We need a few things, but noting major. back up banger PF would be a nice addition. Playoff successful veterans who can help our team know what it takes to get there would be helpful also.

No need to trade Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Batum, Joel, Bayless, or even Blake and Rudy, Everyone else IMO can be dealt without really hurting the team at all. Blake should probably take on a lesser role next year as well, maybe to the point we don't poick up the guarantee on his contract.

Good stuff, MM.

I've had debates with BLAZER PROPHET that Frye needs to go. IMO, his particular skills (or lack thereof) are not helping this team. I say it's on him, so trade him already.

To some degree, BP blames Nate for either:

a) Not utilizing Frye correctly or

b) Not giving him enough/meaningful minutes from which he can play himself out of his current funk

Thoughts?

 

[Mediocre Man]

As you know I am the biggest Nate supporter on the internet.

I can't even blame Nate for Frye's perfomance this season. I think some has to do with his ankle a bit, and some due to playing time, but it's not like he has recieved Bayless type minutes.

As for his style of play, he is what he is. Frye is normally a reliable outside shooter who doesn't really like to mix it up down low. We already have Aldridge who is better than Frye, and has at least shown the ability to get down on the block. He is also pretty successful when he does that. What we don't have is a Jason Maxiel type who will grab rebounds in traffic and throw down on you. Oden is that guy, but he's not consistant enough yet to stay in the game.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Good stuff, MM.

I've had debates with BLAZER PROPHET that Frye needs to go. IMO, his particular skills (or lack thereof) are not helping this team. I say it's on him, so trade him already.

To some degree, BP blames Nate for either:

a) Not utilizing Frye correctly or

b) Not giving him enough/meaningful minutes from which he can play himself out of his current funk

Thoughts?

Agree with MMs post about who to keep and who is expendable 100%.

As for Frye....
he's lost his athleticism. I honestly don't know if he can get it back. If he can't, he'll alway suck.

As for your points,
Does Nate tell Frye to take 20 footers with 2 hands in his face? Is he going to "play himself out of his current funk" by said 20 footers? No and No.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Indeed, I think Bayless will make both Sergio and Outlaw expendable. After a fast break opportunity where he tried to avoid contact and had his shot blocked, he finally figured out/remembered that he needs to CREATE contact. Good things followed. Hopefully, he'll keep it up.

It's not that he didn't figure it out before.The refs just didn't call it before. The first game that he played meaningful minutes Nate put him in to attack the basket. He did. He created contact in the restrictive zone under the basket and got "ROOKIED" two straight times. So they took him out. Like Oden eventually he will get the calls.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Without reviewing the game, didn't Bayless come in and substitute for Rudy?

The problem with hanging on to all this young talent is two of the better prospects play the same psotion as the team's leader and all star.

Nate can mess around with Rudy at SF and Bayless at PG and Roy playing all PG, SG and SF . . . but for these three players to reach their potential, they should be playing their natural position. Their is just too much talent at the SG position . . .

 

[Mediocre Man]

Without reviewing the game, didn't Bayless come in and substitute for Rudy?

The problem with hanging on to all this young talent is two of the better prospects play the same psotion as the team's leader and all star.

Nate can mess around with Rudy at SF and Bayless at PG and Roy playing all PG, SG and SF . . . but for these three players to reach their potential, they should be playing their natural position. Their is just too much talent at the SG position . . .

This is why I think Bayless is a good fit with those two. All three can handle both possitions. Bayless is the only one of the three that can effectively guard the PG possition though.

With a starting back court of Bayless and Roy you could bring in Rudy for either, and only suffer a little bit defensively (if it's Rudy and Roy) as long as other players swarmed to the ball. Then bring Bayless or Roy back in for the other and run your normal defensive sets.


Great 3 guard rotation. Blake can be there in case of foul trouble or injury too because he can pretty much play both posstions too.

 

[ABM]

With a starting back court of Bayless and Roy you could bring in Rudy for either....

That's my personal long-term $64,000 question. Time will tell.

As it relates to these three, though, calm waters all the way.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

This is why I think Bayless is a good fit with those two. All three can handle both possitions. Bayless is the only one of the three that can effectively guard the PG possition though.

With a starting back court of Bayless and Roy you could bring in Rudy for either, and only suffer a little bit defensively (if it's Rudy and Roy) as long as other players swarmed to the ball. Then bring Bayless or Roy back in for the other and run your normal defensive sets.


Great 3 guard rotation. Blake can be there in case of foul trouble or injury too because he can pretty much play both posstions too.

I hope Bayless and Roy can work. I've gone on the record since summer league that I don't think it will. But if it can work out, that could make a tough back court for opponenets to deal with.

Also for the record, there was a lot of hype about Telfair, Webster and Sergio that I didn't buy into. I'm just not buying the Bayless hype right now being sent out by Blazer crew . . . I think that is why I am so hard on Greg . . . I bought into the hype about Oden without really seeing him do anything yet.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Doesn't Bayless usually play PG when he goes in there, though? He is subbed in for the SG, but a lot of the time he takes the PG responsibilities until Sergio comes in, but Sergio isn't too great at playing off the ball.

But either way, what Bayless does now is really what he would do with Roy. Defend the Pg, bring the ball up, and play off the ball as Roy isn't to great and effective at playing off the ball.

I think that Bayless can become a good PG. He is a willing passer, and he does get a pretty good amount of assists for the minutes he plays... even though he is put out there to attack the basket.