Steve Blake turning heads....

[Fez Hammersticks]

I’d been repeatedly hearing the same name from team officials, who said without hesitation that he was the most impressive player during the Portland Trail Blazers’ workouts this month. But with all the big names joining the team, it was far from the name I expected to hear.

“He seems like a different player,” Pritchard said. “He’s definitely taken his game to a new level. And he’s just so competitive right now. I mean, he’s out there playing in pickup games like it’s the NBA Finals. And I love it.”

Link

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

did you see him dribbling at home!

 

[KingSpeed]

He must read the writing on the wall, that Bayless will be the starter by midseason.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

Doubt it, Bayless needs to learn how to run an offense. Slow and steady will win the PG race.

 

[drexlersdad]

i think whomever can shoot the best three ball will the get the majority of the pg minutes.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Blake's wife turns heads also!

 

[Nikolokolus]

He must read the writing on the wall, that Bayless will be the starter by midseason.

I keep hearing that, but I'm not buying it. Almost all rookies struggle in their consistency, and especially rookie point guards. My feeling is that Bayless is going to be far more valuable to Nate as a "microwave" guy off the bench, who can score in bunches and simultaneously lock down his opponent ... this isn't to say that we won't find nights where Jerryd is the best option to be closing out games alongside Brandon and co. I just think Nate values the steadiness of a vet like Blake who isn't going to mind taking a secondary or tertiary scoring role, while being an unselfish setup man.

 

[Jurassic]

Blake's wife turns heads also!

Not true without pics .

Blake was amazing at Maryland if I remember right, but he hasn't done nearly as much in the L as I expected. He got lost in Washington and now he really has a chance to shine. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do. I don't agree that the best trey shooter with get the starting spot, I think that whoever is the best at keeping everybody happy will (as far as getting everyone their touches). He can play like Tony Parker or Andre Miller (not great shooters, but great pgs) and get the nod to start.

 

[THE HCP]

Not true without pics .

Blake was amazing at Maryland if I remember right, but he hasn't done nearly as much in the L as I expected. He got lost in Washington and now he really has a chance to shine. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do. I don't agree that the best trey shooter with get the starting spot, I think that whoever is the best at keeping everybody happy will (as far as getting everyone their touches). He can play like Tony Parker or Andre Miller (not great shooters, but great pgs) and get the nod to start.

I have no pics, but YES she is hot!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

It's good to hear Blake coming in so focused. I'm not surprised because Blake comes across as a gym rat and those players tend to be competitive even during pick up games.

A different take (not so much when Bayless will take over) is how valuable Blake is to this team rignt now. If something was to happen to Blake, what would become of the PG position.

All of a sudden a combo rookie gaurd would be starting and trying to guide this young team into the playoffs?

 

[BBert]

What, HCP doesn't have the pics? I find that hard to believe.

Who wrote that quote, Barrett? Tomorrow it will be another player who is the best player in practice/scrimmage/pickup games. Then another. Then another.

I can't wait for the season.

 

[THE HCP]

She always makes me turn the lights off. What can I do?

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

rookies.

 

[Masbee]

I like it.

I hope Blake is an improved player.

A better than last season Blake would be good enough to be an acceptable starter. Especially if Blake is able to take advantage of the anticipated extra open looks from playing with Oden.

If Bayless could deliver a solid rookie campaign where he concentrates on pesky defense and aggressive offense; If Roy gets a few extra minutes at the 1 this season (depending on matchups) to pair up with Rudy more often; then I think our overall point guard play would be better than last season with the Blake/Jack tandem.

Blake sees the threat from Bayless. Blake sees the way he is the forgotten guy in discussions about the future of the team, despite being the starter last season. I am thrilled that he is working his ass off to try to keep that starting spot and to try to earn the notice of the team so they want to keep him. No matter how it all plays out in the end, it should help the team.

 

[julius]

I just wonder if he makes them cough first.

 

[Ed O]

He's 28. The odds of him taking a big step up seem very remote to me.

I'll root for him, but I'll see it when I believe it.

Ed O.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He's 28. The odds of him taking a big step up seem very remote to me.

I'll root for him, but I'll see it when I believe it.

Ed O.

Don't you mean I'll believe it when I see it?

 

[Minstrel]

Don't you mean I'll believe it when I see it?

Ed creates reality with his mind.

If he stopped believing in you, you'd cease to exist.

 

[Ed O]

Ed creates reality with his mind.

If he stopped believing in you, you'd cease to exist.

I moderate life.

Also, I was up really REALLY late last night.



Ed O.

 

[tlongII]

If Mike Barrett says it's true then that's good enough for me...

 

[Nikolokolus]

If Mike Barrett says it's true then that's good enough for me...

Unbiased source that he is ...

 

[THE HCP]

Unbiased source that he is ...

Here we go again!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Here we go again!

Hehe

 

[BlazersBlood]

With all the guard acquisitions and Livingston on the radar, if I were Blake I wouldn't feel very secure.

Of course KP wants to stockpile talent like crazy and never has an idle mind, but Blake doesn't seem to be in the long-term plans. Maybe as the 3rd PG? But even there we've got Koppenen waiting in the wings. Blake will have to turn heads all year to get KP to exercise his team option when it comes due.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Blake doesn't get enough props. He is a team player, has a good basketball IQ, decent to good defender, shows heart and fits the culture of the team.

Looking at this team, I get why there is such a strong thought to upgrade at the PG position (the others positions are soild or have potential), but don't underestimate Blake as being a good fit to balance this team and getting them to gel.

-your residential Blake homer fan

 

[Nikolokolus]

With all the guard acquisitions and Livingston on the radar, if I were Blake I wouldn't feel very secure.

Of course KP wants to stockpile talent like crazy and never has an idle mind, but Blake doesn't seem to be in the long-term plans. Maybe as the 3rd PG? But even there we've got Koppenen waiting in the wings. Blake will have to turn heads all year to get KP to exercise his team option when it comes due.

Considering Blake's hyper-competitive nature I wouldn't be surprised if the acquisition of these other guards only drove him harder; there's two ways to react as an athlete: elevate your game and rise to the challenge, or roll over and pout about it. From the sounds of things Blake chose the former route versus the latter... which is great for him and great for the team. Now we wait and see if this translates to success on the court.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

My problem is I think we need more experience on the 2nd unit. Presuming Bayless can hit his shots he's a nice fit with Roy on the starting unit. Bayless can also supply some pressure defense on the first unit something we haven't been able to do in the past. Moving Blake to the 2nd unit gives us someone who can control the offense and settle down the 2nd unit.

If Blake stays as starter here's our 2nd unit.....Bayless, Rudy, Travis, Frye and Pryz. Nice lineup but your two guards are rookies. Maybe they'll be alright but I would feel a lot better if they had an experienced guard running the 2nd unit.

 

[Nikolokolus]

My problem is I think we need more experience on the 2nd unit. Presuming Bayless can hit his shots he's a nice fit with Roy on the starting unit. Bayless can also supply some pressure defense on the first unit something we haven't been able to do in the past. Moving Blake to the 2nd unit gives us someone who can control the offense and settle down the 2nd unit.

If Blake stays as starter here's our 2nd unit.....Bayless, Rudy, Travis, Frye and Pryz. Nice lineup but your two guards are rookies. Maybe they'll be alright but I would feel a lot better if they had an experienced guard running the 2nd unit.

The problem is that substitution patterns in the NBA aren't like a hockey line change -- you don't swap out 5 for 5; so there are undoubtedly going to be starters on the floor at all times. The reason Blake is probably a better fit on the starting unit is that he's proven that he knows how to run the offense and set people up and with the potentially dominate frontcourt that we possess you want, need and should be feeding Greg and LaMarcus as often as possible.

IF Bayless can show that he's capable of running the offense and setting other people up, then it's possible that in time he'll move into that starter's role, but for all his summer league heroics, he's still just a rookie, and it's almost a given that rookie point guards struggle in the NBA -- look at Chris Paul and Deron Williams rookie seasons; those guys weren't exactly world beaters out of the gate.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

The problem is that substitution patterns in the NBA aren't like a hockey line change -- you don't swap out 5 for 5; so there are undoubtedly going to be starters on the floor at all times. The reason Blake is probably a better fit on the starting unit is that he's proven that he knows how to run the offense and set people up and with the potentially dominate frontcourt that we possess you want, need and should be feeding Greg and LaMarcus as often as possible.

IF Bayless can show that he's capable of running the offense and setting other people up, then it's possible that in time he'll move into that starter's role, but for all his summer league heroics, he's still just a rookie, and it's almost a given that rookie point guards struggle in the NBA -- look at Chris Paul and Deron Williams rookie seasons; those guys weren't exactly world beaters out of the gate.

I agree, it may not be all five guys out but there are going to be plenty of times that you are sitting both Roy and Blake so Rudy and Bayless will be playing together.

Roy is running the show on the 1st unit so Blake will spend most of his time being a spot up shooter. I'm not saying Bayless is better than Blake, I'm just making the argument if Bayless is the better shooter he should be the starter allowing us to move Blake to run the 2nd unit. Also from the sounds of it Bayless is going to be a very good defender so he can concentrate on defense and spot up shooting in the first unit. Just my opinion.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I agree, it may not be all five guys out but there are going to be plenty of times that you are sitting both Roy and Blake so Rudy and Bayless will be playing together.

Roy is running the show on the 1st unit so Blake will spend most of his time being a spot up shooter. I'm not saying Bayless is better than Blake, I'm just making the argument if Bayless is the better shooter he should be the starter allowing us to move Blake to run the 2nd unit. Also from the sounds of it Bayless is going to be a very good defender so he can concentrate on defense and spot up shooting in the first unit. Just my opinion.

I understand what you're trying to say, but the fact is Roy has never been the team's point guard for the whole game; typically he's slid over to that role in the fourth quarter ... in which case I can see a good argument for Bayless (or Rudy?) to be on the floor with him at the same time. But our "vanilla" starting unit is going to need to be able to get into its half-court sets, protect possessions, and try to convert at a high rate. Don't forget that the second unit guys are frequently going to be paired off against the other teams' bench guys, which means burners like Jerryd, and slashers like Rudy should theoretically be able to get by their man, and will have more opportunities against second string bigs.

As for who is the better shooter between Bayless and Blake that remains to be seen, but based on last year's performance Blake's mark of 40% from 3 is going to be pretty tough for Jerryd to top -- he's still going to have to adjust to the NBA line.

In any case, I think we'll all agree that the season can't start soon enough so we don't have to keep talking about all this stuff on an academic level, and instead can over-analyze and pick apart game performances and start debating who should get the bulk of PT.