One Big Loser may be........

[andalusian]

As for Jerryd, I'm a huge fan, and I think he positively oozes "it factor," but he's raw as hell and really stuggles to get the team into it's sets consistently play to play, night to night. I'm perfectly content with the rookie working his ass off over the next 29 games and then focusing exclusively on his point guard skills over the summer as his off-season homework.

+1 - my opinion as well. I think JB is the future PG of this team (or someone brought in) - but he is not consistent enough or ready enough to take over for a team that is fighting to get into the playoffs. If this makes the coach comfortable not to give him time until someone else screws up or is unavailable - I am perfectly fine with it.

 

[bigbailes]

right now bayless is the 3rd string shooting guard and 3rd string point guard..and neither Sergio or JB is not the long term solution for the Blazers...bayless is a shoot first guard that will always struggle getting others invovled! i cant wait for some of you in a year or so to turn on him and he will become the cancer on the team according to some of you"EXPERTS"!

 

[julius]

It's interesting how some people bitch that Nate doesn't play Sergio enough, while others bitch that he plays him too much.

 

[Tortimer]

right now bayless is the 3rd string shooting guard and 3rd string point guard..and neither Sergio or JB is not the long term solution for the Blazers...bayless is a shoot first guard that will always struggle getting others invovled! i cant wait for some of you in a year or so to turn on him and he will become the cancer on the team according to some of you"EXPERTS"!

I think it will be just the opposite to what your saying. Bayless is going to be a star in this league and I can't wait until he gets a chance to prove it. You just wait and see and I hope your around to man up when your wrong. I know I will admit if I'm wrong in a couple years and Bayless doesn't pan out like I think he will. He has all the tools to be a star and the drive to be the best. I have seen almost every game he has played in college and the NBA and he is the real deal and you being the "expert" doesn't change that view of him for me in the least.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

How many seasons has Bayless played. Oh yeah. This is his first. He's a rookie, guys. He's played meaningful minutes already this season and been around some great teammates. I think some of you are making more of this then there should be. His role will increase, just not this season heading down the stretch.

Evidently I'm blind because I've been pleasantly surprised with how Sergio runs the team.

 

[Tortimer]

How many seasons has Bayless played. Oh yeah. This is his first. He's a rookie, guys. He's played meaningful minutes already this season and been around some great teammates. I think some of you are making more of this then there should be. His role will increase, just not this season heading down the stretch.

Evidently I'm blind because I've been pleasantly surprised with how Sergio runs the team.

I'm not saying Sergio hasn't play well for the most part. I think he has improved over last year. I agree with OP that I wanted Sergio traded to give Bayless a chance to get more PT. I just think Bayless is going to be something special and plays as well or better then Sergio most of the time. IMO Bayless is our starting future PG even as early as next year. I can undertstand why Sergio is geting more minutes right now but I don't agree with it.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Here's my post from another thread that addresses this subject:

I agree with a couple of posters who said we have two primary problems; lack of perimeter defense and a 2nd scoring option (Roy has recently commented on this, basically saying he needs help).


Since we decided not to address those problems by trade, then the problems need to be addressed internally.
Apparently we have been hoping that certain players would become more consistent and more focused and these problems would be resolved. That hasn't worked and I don't think that players like Outlaw will ever get it. I am not sure if Blake or Rodriguez have the physical tools to be better defenders


Since the best that can realistically be hoped for is that we limp into the playoffs and get eliminated in the first round, I propose that we give more playing time to players that still could improve. I think that Batum has the tools to be a great defender and maybe a better than average offensive player. So let's give him 35 minutes a night to develop. Bayless seems to be the only point guard with the quickness and speed to become a great defender, so let's give him the starting job and let him become what he can become. He may also develop into more of a creator. There is not enough time in the regular season for these guys to develop solely during the limited practices. Also you cannot develop always playing against the same guys.

I think we tried to trade Outlaw, Sergio and Frye and nobody really wanted them. Other GM's believe they have already reached their potential. So put them on the bench where they belong.

Also, if we value Rudy so much, then the team needs to figure out how to utilize him more. If Roy wants another creator, he needs to work individually with Rudy and learn to trust him. This should also be given priority over winning games now.

I guess what I'm saying is that if Allen and KP have decided we are going to stick with this group and not bring in a veteran who can help now, then let's stop putting an emphasis on winning now (they have already stopped that by their inaction) and put an emphasis on solving our internal problems.

 

[Kulas]

i get it. sitting sergio will degrade his trade value. sitting bayless not so much since he's a rookie. we all know sergio will not be our championship starting pg right? what kp/sarge are doing is not making sergio look worthless by being a 3rd yr guy and 3rd stringer. u see. think outside the box.

 

[MickZagger]

Without Bayless we wouldn't have won that game in New Jersey, the last game we played in New Orleans and the home game against Detroit and its not even a debate. He's the only guy that really plays with fire in his ass when the team needs it.

 

[Tortimer]

Bayless fans need to get their heads out from underneath his jock and pay attention to what the coach says about Bayless, and what he needs to do to earn more PT. Nate is no bullshitter, he does what he says. And he says the team will resume the rotation they had at the beginning of the season now that Blake has returned. He has said that would be the plan all along. And he has said that the primary reason is that while Bayless may be a good individual defender he does not understand the teams defensive schemes and does not know many of the offensive plays. Unless there is an injury, or until Bayless learns that stuff his role will remain the same.

I just a few more questions. You said Nate doesn't think Bayless isn't going to get PT ahead of Sergio and it is because he dosen't understand the defensive schemes or defensive plays why in the hell would Bayless be playing in the 4th for many of the games especially when they were close and in question? Why (if he wasn't in foul trouble) in many of the games did Bayless play more minutes then Sergio? It has nothing to do with what your saying about Bayless or Nate would have used Bayless with the game on the line. I think he just thinks Sergio has earned being the main backup from his improvement from last year and partially from Sergio compalining about PT earlier in the year. Nate knows Bayless won't like not playing but that he will still work hard and won't cause any problems.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Bayless has to earn his time. If Sergio was the rookie and Bayless was in his 3rd year (and they were as good as they are now) Bayless would be playing. Even if they were both rookies, I think Bayless would be playing. Just like Sergio had to sit behind Jack, Bayless has to sit behind Sergio. THing is though, even though he made mistakes it was hard to argue that Sergio desreved PT over Jack. Its not hard to argue that Bayless deserves PT over Sergio as he brings things we need, and also he is the future. Playing him now will pay dividends, and even Portland Blazer writers have been saying to commit to Bayless. Its not really a dropoff at all (And I think better on ball defense and being able to get to the rim helps the team more than what Sergio does well... which is.... pass?) with playing him 15mpg, and it will pay off in the future as he continues to develop at the PG position.

At least that is how I see it. Bayless averaged about 10, 3 and 2 while Blake was out in 20mpg. For a rookie I think that is phenominal considering it was his first stretch of playing guaranteed minutes in his NBA career. Oh well, I just really hope we make the playoffs... we gotta go 17-12 the rest of the way to get to 50 wins, and I think we can def. do it. And I think most of us know that Bayless will be in the rotation next year (possibly even starting even though I doubt Nate would do that even if he is the best PG we have on the team, which I think there will be a good chance he will be)... maybe this is good for him to work even harder at developing his weaknesses.

At the same time, I think Sergio has been playing pretty well. I cringe sometimes, but I think he is a solid backup PG. Overall, I don't think he has improved from his first yearin overall production, but i'm pretty proud of the guy. Its hard for me to think highly of him after he was pouting and his spanish agent asked to be traded, but w/e.

 

[crandc]

I don't see Bayless as a loser at all. We have seen he has talent but needs seasoning. He will probably play summer league. I think that because the Blazers have had some stellar rookies - Roy, Oden, Fernandez - , and because a rookie, Batum, has been forced by injuries into a starting role, that we tend to forget that a rookie is very rarely a starter on a playoff team.

He works hard, keeps learning, his time will come. I think one thing nearly all of us agree on is that the team will not carry 3 point guards forever. We disagree on who will go. But as soon as one of them does, very likely this summer, Bayless will get significant PT.

 

[B-Roy]

Bayless has to earn his time. If Sergio was the rookie and Bayless was in his 3rd year (and they were as good as they are now) Bayless would be playing. Even if they were both rookies, I think Bayless would be playing. Just like Sergio had to sit behind Jack, Bayless has to sit behind Sergio. THing is though, even though he made mistakes it was hard to argue that Sergio desreved PT over Jack. Its not hard to argue that Bayless deserves PT over Sergio as he brings things we need, and also he is the future. Playing him now will pay dividends, and even Portland Blazer writers have been saying to commit to Bayless. Its not really a dropoff at all (And I think better on ball defense and being able to get to the rim helps the team more than what Sergio does well... which is.... pass?) with playing him 15mpg, and it will pay off in the future as he continues to develop at the PG position.

Sergio sat behind Jack because he was clearly the worse player. Bayless is sitting behind Sergio because ???

At the same time, I think Sergio has been playing pretty well. I cringe sometimes, but I think he is a solid backup PG. Overall, I don't think he has improved from his first yearin overall production, but i'm pretty proud of the guy. Its hard for me to think highly of him after he was pouting and his spanish agent asked to be traded, but w/e.

You must not be seeing what I'm seeing.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Sergio sat behind Jack because he was clearly the worse player. Bayless is sitting behind Sergio because ???

Thats exactly what I was saying in my post.

Just like Sergio had to sit behind Jack, Bayless has to sit behind Sergio. THing is though, even though he made mistakes it was hard to argue that Sergio desreved PT over Jack. Its not hard to argue that Bayless deserves PT over Sergio as he brings things we need, and also he is the future.

 

[bigbailes]

I have no problems with Bayless as a Nba player...i just think SR is a better point guard. JB has avery bright future ahead of him. ....but i do not see him as a long term solution to the point guard situation...if so why were many of you wanting Andre Miller??....Ramon Sessions??

 

[Tortimer]

I have no problems with Bayless as a Nba player...i just think SR is a better point guard. JB has avery bright future ahead of him. ....but i do not see him as a long term solution to the point guard situation...if so why were many of you wanting Andre Miller??....Ramon Sessions??

The same reason a lot of people wanted VC or RJ. They thought VC could be a good SF for us until Batum is ready to take over in a couple years. Many people on this forum wanted VC (I didn't) but still wanted to keep Batum. It is the same thing with Bayless. Many people wanted Sergio to be traded for Miller or Bibby thinking Bayless would take over in a couple years. Sessions is a little different and people like Sessions maybe better then Bayless and just wanted to trade for an upgrade. I'm not sure Sessions will be better then Bayless as a PG but I do like Sessions.

 

[mook]

Hopefully Nate uses Sergio as the bench PG in the first half. If Sergio is having (one of his many) off nights, he puts in Bayless as the bench PG in the second half. You defer to the more veteran PG (who, let's face it, is less turnover prone), but you also give Bayless a shot at moving up.

After a few weeks of doing this, you then evaluate if it's time to reverse those roles.

 

[maxiep]

I don't see the PG as a linear progression: 1st string; 2nd string; etc. I see Blake being our steadiest PG, I see Sergio as our best PG with our White Unit (specifically with Rudy, Travis and Joel) and I see Bayless as the future starting PG for this team.

I suspect that when the Blazers feel the time is right, Blake will either get traded or move to the 3rd string. Bayless will become the starter and Sergio will stay as a change-of-pace 2nd string PG.

 

[bigbailes]

I truly believe maxiep is on to it...Blake to me could be the odd man out..renouncing his contract in the off season????

We would have to keep a watch on Mike Barrett tho..he has a huge crush on Steve Blake!

 

[Tortimer]

I truly believe maxiep is on to it...Blake to me could be the odd man out..renouncing his contract in the off season????

We would have to keep a watch on Mike Barrett tho..he has a huge crush on Steve Blake!

I do think there is a good chance even if Nate doesn't want to do this that Bayless will be the starter next year with Blake being renounced or traded. If we only keep Outlaw out of Blake, Frye and Outlaw we should have like 9-10 million in cap space this summer. I would think that should give us enough money in this economy to get almost any FA we want or trade for a player.

 

[bigbailes]

You are right on Tortimer..I truly expect this to happen. Our point guard would be Jbay running with the first unit and SR with the second unit.