Official "Start Bayless" thread

[BlazerBenner]

When Bayless came into the game in the first half we were up 4 points, and when he left we were down 5 points. We could easily get that Bayless if we started him.

No. Let him come off the bench, and if he has it going he gets more minutes and if he doesn't he sits and someone else gets the minutes.

Rudy has 10 times more game than Bayless at this point of their careers. Rudy does a million different things that help a team win. You don't see those things on TV, but you do in person at the games.

Rudy's been a bit passive lately, but you keep starting him. He's way too experienced and talented to not be starting for Roy. Even if Roy was here, he should still be getting 26 minutes per game.

Rudy has a lot of dynamics to his game.

And, this is coming from someone who thinks Bayless is his favorite player, and has been since the second he was drafted by Pritchard. This year is Bayless' learning moments in the playoffs with occasional bits of contributions, but just as many, if not more, moments of poor play, like he had in the first half of the game.

Nate will play the right guys at the right time. He doesn't have anyone on the team that he can erroneously give minutes to because he overvalues a style of play that they have, like he did with both Blake and Outlaw. He has the right combination of players for him to work with.

When we get to the end of the 2nd Round and the 3rd Round and Roy comes back, Nate will be able to do an even better job with the players he has. He won't have to stay longer with someone he doesn't think has it going a particular night.

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't start Bayless, but I might start Webster or just stick with Rudy.

"THIS"

Webster might match up really well against Richardson, and it might make Phoenix guard Webster with Richardson, leaving Miller on Nash. Phoenix didn't want Nash on Miller - make 'em do something they don't want to.

You also end up with Bayless giving you some spark off the bench.

Rudy has to show up and play like it's playoff time. Or watch from the end of the bench.

 

[ehizzy3]

Bayless can take advantage of Nash, I'm not sure Martell has the driving ability to..

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bayless seemed to play pretty darn well when he was starting for Roy earlier in the year. Why do some of you think we should stick with Rudy?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Bayless seemed to play pretty darn well when he was starting for Roy earlier in the year. Why do some of you think we should stick with Rudy?

I don't think there's a reason to mess with the starting lineup, because our starters dominated theirs all game. If there's a place where we need a more dynamic scorer, it's in the second unit. Continue hiding Rudy in the starting lineup.

 

[mook]

Yeah, if we start Bayless then we basically have no scoring off the bench. Besides, it simplifies the PG position--you always have either Miller or Bayless out there.

I would like to see Bayless get more minutes, though. The real key right now is the absence of Lopez. Without him, the Suns have a really soft underbelly--just the kind of team Bayless loves playing against. He can hammer his body in there, and the worst that happens is a Suns player gambles on taking a charge. Bayless is so quick that more often than not you can't get in position to take that charge.

 

[hasoos]

I called Kenny Vance on Wheels at Work this past week and said that Bayless was the "X Factor". He scoffed at me, even when I pointed out how Bayless had dominated PHX when Roy was out earlier, and how he'd be able to attack the rim tonight. I posted similar things on this board.

Fuck Kenny Vance. He knows less than I do about the NBA!

It's amazing how it pays to pay attention to history doesn't it?

It's too bad more people don't.

 

[hasoos]

When Bayless came into the game in the first half we were up 4 points, and when he left we were down 5 points. We could easily get that Bayless if we started him.

No. Let him come off the bench, and if he has it going he gets more minutes and if he doesn't he sits and someone else gets the minutes.

Rudy has 10 times more game than Bayless at this point of their careers. Rudy does a million different things that help a team win. You don't see those things on TV, but you do in person at the games.

Rudy's been a bit passive lately, but you keep starting him. He's way too experienced and talented to not be starting for Roy. Even if Roy was here, he should still be getting 26 minutes per game.

Rudy has a lot of dynamics to his game.

And, this is coming from someone who thinks Bayless is his favorite player, and has been since the second he was drafted by Pritchard. This year is Bayless' learning moments in the playoffs with occasional bits of contributions, but just as many, if not more, moments of poor play, like he had in the first half of the game.

Nate will play the right guys at the right time. He doesn't have anyone on the team that he can erroneously give minutes to because he overvalues a style of play that they have, like he did with both Blake and Outlaw. He has the right combination of players for him to work with.

When we get to the end of the 2nd Round and the 3rd Round and Roy comes back, Nate will be able to do an even better job with the players he has. He won't have to stay longer with someone he doesn't think has it going a particular night.

At the same time, the game was pretty much a 5 point swing either way, for the whole game but the beginning. I don't think it had anything to do with one particular player. I just think it was one of the swings of the game. There were several times in the game where PHX tried to gain control, and that just happened to coincide with one of their pushes.

 

[mook]

At the same time, the game was pretty much a 5 point swing either way, for the whole game but the beginning. I don't think it had anything to do with one particular player. I just think it was one of the swings of the game. There were several times in the game where PHX tried to gain control, and that just happened to coincide with one of their pushes.

I think it had more to do with Batum leaving the game than Bayless entering it. I realize +/- isn't much use in individual games, but I'll use it anyway. Batum was by far the highest last night (+15), which pretty much jives with what my eyes were telling me. When he was in there, Phoenix had a much harder time running their offense, and he was spreading the floor on the other end. When he came out, things suddenly got a lot easier for the Suns.

 

[hasoos]

Bayless seemed to play pretty darn well when he was starting for Roy earlier in the year. Why do some of you think we should stick with Rudy?

Exactly. Look at the "good times" we had with Bayless earlier this year. When Bayless was playing well, it was when he was teamed with Miller in the starting lineup. Rudy was no where to be found, because he was hurt back then.

There was a key part of the 4th quarter when Doug Collins said "There is a part of the game where the coach doesn't go with his best lineup in the playoffs. He follows his gut and goes with who he thinks are his toughest guys. That speaks volumes for Jerryd Bayless being out on the floor."

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Bayless played well, but Rudy had several great looks. I think we go back to Rudy in the starting lineup and see if he can hit them next game.

Keep Bayless in the backup PG spot and use him at the backup 2 if he's having a good game... just like Nate did tonight.

Ed O.

Completely agree.

 

[hasoos]

Completely agree.

I think it has to be that way just because somebody has to be a scorer off the bench for the Blazers. Rudy hasn't been hitting jack dick. At least if he is in with the starters, the rest of them can make up for his offensive void, and Camby is there to rebound his misses. It makes more sense for him to start right now with our current team makeup as is.

 

[blazerboy30]

I'm not sure I want to start Bayless, but I definitely want to see Bayless and Miller playing together. When Bayless and Miller are playing together, the Suns they can't hide Nash. He will have to guard either Miller or Bayless, who can both take advantage of Nash's weak defense.

 

[hasoos]

I will freely admit one thing - Marty's defense has been above average.

I actually thought the play where he blocked a shot and them jumped back inbounds to stop another attempt, as one of the biggest momentum changing plays of the game.

I have to say that a certain piece of me yearns for Nate to play Nic and Webster together with Miller. Big lineups that cause defensive havoc are really tough to play against.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I actually thought the play where he blocked a shot and them jumped back inbounds to stop another attempt, as one of the biggest momentum changing plays of the game.

Yeah, but he fouled Dudley. I don't know how that didn't get called.

 

[Natebishop3]

The key here is forcing Phoenix to put Nash on Miller. Keeping Rudy in the starting lineup is playing right into Phoenix's hands in terms of stashing Nash on a weaker player. Rudy hardly did anything last night on offense. He stands around on offense and waits for the ball. That's exactly the kind of thing that Phoenix wants. if Rudy ran off more screens and made Nash work it would be one thing, but he didn't.

In the first quarter we had control because LMA was on fire. Phoenix adjusted and we started to lose control. We regained control in the second half because we kept Bayless in there with Miller. The playoffs are all about matchups. They took away Aldridge so we abused them with our guards. We need to keep this up. It's the key to the series.

 

[hasoos]

Yeah, but he fouled Dudley. I don't know how that didn't get called.

They let more go in the playoffs. Plus the guy is named Dudley. Guys named Dudley don't get many calls.

 

[mook]

The key here is forcing Phoenix to put Nash on Miller. Keeping Rudy in the starting lineup is playing right into Phoenix's hands in terms of stashing Nash on a weaker player. Rudy hardly did anything last night on offense. He stands around on offense and waits for the ball. That's exactly the kind of thing that Phoenix wants. if Rudy ran off more screens and made Nash work it would be one thing, but he didn't.

In the first quarter we had control because LMA was on fire. Phoenix adjusted and we started to lose control. We regained control in the second half because we kept Bayless in there with Miller. The playoffs are all about matchups. They took away Aldridge so we abused them with our guards. We need to keep this up. It's the key to the series.

Spot on.

I'd like to see Rudy start one more game. This is a 7 game series, after all, and maybe he can give us something in game 2 he couldn't in game 1, which could be huge in the long run.

But if he can't put pressure on Nash, he needs to see only about 15 minutes in game 2 (start of first and third quarters) and then move to the bench for game 3.

I think you continue to bring Bayless off the bench at that point and start Webster. Go with defense to set the tone for the evening, leaving Bayless in the Microwave role. We'd have a size advantage at pretty much every position.

If we do eventually start Webster, I think they put Nash on him. Webster isn't the kind of player who does a great job of exploiting mismatches.

The big advantage will be on the other end--with Miller/Webster/Batum/Aldridge/Camby, you've just got a murderer's row of lanky defenders who can switch off repeatedly on whatever Phoenix throws at them.

When Phoenix is at their best, Nash is slicing through the defense creating mismatches as defenses scramble to keep up with him. Mismatches create double teams, which create wide-open three pointers. With the Miller/Webster/Batum/Aldridge/Camby lineup, you can slice and dice it anyway you want, you just aren't going to get many overwhelming mismatches. So guys can stay at home on three point shooters. And the whole Phoenix offense grinds to a halt.

 

[EGame]

Rudy may continue starting, but Bayless, I imagine will see more minutes if Rudy keeps sucking. I imagine unless Rudy is doing well that game, we will finish games with Miller/ one of Bayless or Webster/Batum/Aldridge/Camby. Good combo of defense and offense.

 

[LameR]

Bayless seemed to play pretty darn well when he was starting for Roy earlier in the year. Why do some of you think we should stick with Rudy?

For me it's because our bench has been practically non-existent recently, and if Bayless can bring 3/4 of what he did last night regularly, I think that's huge. If Rudy doesn't get a bunch of points on the first unit, you still have Miller, Aldridge, and hopefully Batum putting up numbers.

 

[KingSpeed]

I started this thread last week:

http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156748&highlight=start+bayless

 

[Wheels]

I'm good without Bayless starting. I like the spark he brings.. but his lack of size wouldnt be very ideal against Richardson. If anything I would be for Martell starting over Bayless.