The return of Blake...what does it mean?

[ucatchtrout]

Steve Blake has returned.

What does that mean?

And for who?

Against Cleveland it meant Jerryd Bayless played less. If you look at the playing time breakdown, Blakes seven minutes of PT clearly came at the expense of Jerryd.

Blake will more than likely play more than seven minutes Wednesday and Friday. Does this mean Bayless goes back to the bench?

Personally, I think there are guys who are playing are better than Blake. Jerryd Bayless has responded to the increase in minutes and its time the team gave him an opportunity. But our coach likes Blake, and has proven he will likely play him no matter what the circumstances are.

 

[Blaze01]

The 7 minutes that Steve Blake in the game were 7 minutes of wasted time...he did nothing out there...

 

[BlazersBlood]

Blake is not needed. Sadly McMillan sees Blake as his boy and Blake plays "their" way.

 

[hasoos]

It means bad Ju Ju. Bayless minutes and production already cut in the first game. Nate will go back to his old ways, and we the fans, will end up taking the brunt of it when Bayless and Rudy get pissed off and go play somewhere else, because Nate wanted to play Steve Blake.

 

[Nikolokolus]

KP: "I like our team"

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

KP: "I like our team"

Overvaluing his players as well (AGAIN) , said many NBA GM's

 

[mook]

Blake didn't look healthy out there. I mean, he not only sucked, but he looked kind of scrawny and slow. I was stunned when he nearly air balled that three from the corner. He needs a week or two to get back into shape.

Normally it's almost a tossup between whether Bayless or Blake is better. Right now it's not even close.

 

[BlayZa]

it means very little, hopefully....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Blake didn't look healthy out there. I mean, he not only sucked, but he looked kind of scrawny and slow. I was stunned when he nearly air balled that three from the corner. He needs a week or two to get back into shape.

Normally it's almost a tossup between whether Bayless or Blake is better. Right now it's not even close.

He said he lost seven pounds during his illness, so I can't say I'm all that surprised (especially for a guy without 7 pounds to lose).

 

[craigehlo]

It means less development for Bayless and Mills.

It also means we have a healthy player with an expiring contract. Get well soon TO so we can put a 2-for-1 package together.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

It means less development for Bayless and Mills.

It also means we have a healthy player with an expiring contract. Get well soon TO so we can put a 2-for-1 package together.

You can stop dreaming now, we have been shopping that package for two years now

 

[hasoos]

You can stop dreaming now, we have been shopping that package for two years now

Yea the topper is that Travis foot won't be healed until well after the trade deadline.

The other problem being, I, like many of my friends, have realized KP will never trade those two. I pretty much plan on them being Blazers for life, and being a piece of a team that never makes a finals run during their career here, those two being a major reason for it never manifesting, and of course, causing talented guard after talented guard to leave the team over playing time issues because Nate plays Blake in front of them. We will officially become the development team of the NBA as Rudy, Bayless, and future guards to come, all leave because they can never get minutes here.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I'm sure KP would trade Blake if the right deal presented itself. Up until this season, we've needed Blake. Keeping Blake for this season made a lot of sense. His contract is very reasonable and we didn't know how well Bayless would perform. Now that Miller's fitting in better and Bayless is performing at a consistently higher level, there's little need for Blake, other than for point-guard insurance.

He's got value and so does his contract. KP would be foolish to not get something back if something comes up that's worthwhile. KP's not foolish.

 

[craigehlo]

You can stop dreaming now, we have been shopping that package for two years now

Yea, but this is the year they are finally coming off the books. Blake finally has value to someone other than Nate.

 

[hasoos]

I'm sure KP would trade Blake if the right deal presented itself. Up until this season, we've needed Blake. Keeping Blake for this season made a lot of sense. His contract is very reasonable and we didn't know how well Bayless would perform. Now that Miller's fitting in better and Bayless is performing at a consistently higher level, there's little need for Blake, other than for point-guard insurance.

He's got value and so does his contract. KP would be foolish to not get something back if something comes up that's worthwhile. KP's not foolish.

Sure KP's not foolish..cough...cough...cough...RLEC.....cough...cough.. (Mr. Subliminal strikes again)

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Sure KP's not foolish..cough...cough...cough...RLEC.....cough...cough.. (Mr. Subliminal strikes again)

He didn't find as opportunistic of a way of using RLEC as we hoped, but I wouldn't call that foolish. None of us know what was on the table. I, for one, was not onboard for bringing back many of the rumored deals we heard bantered about (i.e. Vince Carter and his massive contract in and RLEC and a young stud out; Gerald Wallace in and the same out).

Show me a foolish deal he passed up and we can talk. For now, it appears KP knew he was in the driver's seat and found that if we were going to pick up a questionable-fit, it needs to come at a low-risk cost - Andre Miller. Doesn't seem foolish to me.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It means he will help us win a few meaningless games, and cost us a lot more next season by taking developmental minutes away from Bayless.

 

[Ed O]

He didn't find as opportunistic way of using RLEC as we hoped, but I wouldn't call that foolish. None of know what was on the table. I, for one, was not onboard for bringing back many of the rumored deals we heard bantered about (i.e. Vince Carter and his massive contract in and RLEC and a young stud out; Gerald Wallace in and the same out).

I don't know what the offers were, either, but given the Nets didn't get a young stud for Carter, I'm not sure why the Blazers would have. The Nets actually sent a superior prospect (younger, picked ahead of Lee) along with Carter to get the Magic to take Vince.

I think it's likely that the Blazers would have received Carter and picks... and I think that they should have done that deal.

Ed O.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I don't know what the offers were, either, but given the Nets didn't get a young stud for Carter, I'm not sure why the Blazers would have. The Nets actually sent a superior prospect (younger, picked ahead of Lee) along with Carter to get the Magic to take Vince.

I think it's likely that the Blazers would have received Carter and picks... and I think that they should have done that deal.

Ed O.

Courtney Lee seemed like a young stud at the time. I went back and looked at his stats. He's young and that's about it. But, a couple of things. It's reasonable to think that New Jersey did want as good a young player as they could get out of the deal and Lee was that player. RLEC alone likely just wasn't enough. Considering how many good young talented players we have, who would we give up? I wouldn't have given up any.

For sake of argument, assuming they were to bite on only RLEC. Isn't it reasonable that $38M over three additional years (much more if we didn't waive him prior to some point of the third season) for a past-prime veteran is not inline with how Portland wants to spend their money? Maybe not how you would spend it, but you can see where they'd be very cautious. And looking at his PER this season, even as solid as it is, it does show a major decline. I'd rather stick with our quickly improving forwards and guards that come much cheaper and possibly will contribute just as much this season, and hopefully much more in the next.

 

[hasoos]

Courtney Lee seemed like a young stud at the time. I went back and looked at his stats. He's young and that's about it. But, a couple of things. It's reasonable to think that New Jersey did want as good a young player as they could get out of the deal and Lee was that player. RLEC alone likely just wasn't enough. Considering how many good young talented players we have, who would we give up? I wouldn't have given up any.

For sake of argument, assuming they were to bite on only RLEC. Isn't it reasonable that $38M over three additional years (much more if we didn't waive him prior to some point of the third season) for a past-prime veteran is not inline with how Portland wants to spend their money? Maybe not how you would spend it, but you can see where they'd be very cautious. And looking at his PER this season, even as solid as it is, it does show a major decline. I'd rather stick with our quickly improving forwards and guards that come much cheaper and possibly will contribute just as much this season, and hopefully much more in the next.

When your gunning for the Lebron sweepstakes, a expiring contract of the size of Raefs is well more than enough. Don't tell me any talent needs to be coming back. They are gunning for Lebron. They don't give a shit about any players coming back.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

When your gunning for the Lebron sweepstakes, a expiring contract of the size of Raefs is well more than enough. Don't tell me any talent needs to be coming back. They are gunning for Lebron. They don't give a shit about any players coming back.

but ...

For sake of argument, assuming they were to bite on only RLEC. Isn't it reasonable that $38M over three additional years (much more if we didn't waive him prior to some point of the third season) for a past-prime veteran is not inline with how Portland wants to spend their money? Maybe not how you would spend it, but you can see where they'd be very cautious. And looking at his PER this season, even as solid as it is, it does show a major decline. I'd rather stick with our quickly improving forwards and guards that come much cheaper and possibly will contribute just as much this season, and hopefully much more in the next.

 

[hasoos]

but ...

I don't know, what do you think, was Raef worth every last cent of his contract?

Give me a break. That was one of the biggest waste of Paul Allens cash, ever.

 

[yakbladder]

Ahh look, they're out again!

The same people who said "I don't mind Blake,as long as he comes off the bench" are now calling him a total waste when he comes off the bench for a mere 7 minutes after suffering through weeks of pneumonia.

Fabulous.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

That was one of the biggest waste of Paul Allens cash, ever.

How was it wasted? Andre Miller is a waste? What could come from a Miller-deal is a waste? Sounds like you had too high of expectations for RLEC. It's a business and it takes two to tango. Just because we have the asset doesn't mean we should use it if it doesn't make sense for both the present and the future.

 

[hasoos]

Ahh look, they're out again!

The same people who said "I don't mind Blake,as long as he comes off the bench" are now calling him a total waste when he comes off the bench for a mere 7 minutes after suffering through weeks of pneumonia.

Fabulous.

I said I wouldn't mind Blake if he sat on the bench, STFU and never played a minute unless it was some sort of dire injury/foul situation.

 

[Blaze01]

The same people who said "I don't mind Blake,as long as he comes off the bench" are now calling him a total waste when he comes off the bench for a mere 7 minutes after suffering through weeks of pneumonia.

he looked bad...perhaps the team should have waited another week or so before they threw him in there?

 

[LittleAlex]

Nate has already admitted he could very well have trouble with playing time in very near future in this article http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/bl...s-mcmillan-said-questions-about-roles-and-mi/.

Having Blake and Rudy come back to the team will be a test of Nate's ability to distribute minutes and handle his players.

If the past is any indecation, he is going to have a real tough go of it.

 

[mook]

Our roster is so out of whack right now. A ton of decent guards and nothing of real worth in our front line beyond Aldridge.

We really, really need to make a consolidation move soon for a 4/5. Even in the unlikely event Oden and Przybilla come back next year at 100%, we could still use a quality backup 4.

 

[southnc]

Steve Blake brings the intangibles - professionalism, high BB IQ, plays well with everyone (including Miller), works well with coaches, makes good passes and can throw the ball long-range, very good at finding other shooters, selfless player in a league of selfish players, excellent 3pt shooter, and will make sure the coach's wishes are carried out according to plan.

That said, I agree that either Miller or Blake has to go. Blake's presence alone is a "threat" to Miller. What we've seen is Miller / Webs playing 1st & 3rd qtrs, with Blake / Bayless playing 2nd, 4th, AND crunch time. For the most part, Blake & Bayless have done a decent job. However, this is clearly driving Miller bananas and he will not likely put up with it much longer. I'm going to presume that, assuming Roy wants the ball in crunch time, that Blake with be with him - and he should. After all, if Miller does NOT have the ball, what is the point of him being on the court? Blake makes more sense, since he can shoot IF Roy defers to him. And Blake has hit some timely 3s in the 4th.

Now, if the team is willing to do a major paradigm shift and let Miller (not Roy) have the ball in crunch time, then you don't need Blake. In order for this to happen, you have to trade Blake to "force" Roy to accept that he cannot run the show near the end. That would be a very difficult argument to win if Blake is available.

Either way, neither is the long-term PG and I do not believe we have actually seen who that is yet.

Definitely a tough call, but clearly Miller or Blake must go.

 

[shamelessblazer]

This miller cannot play w/o the ball stuff is overhyped bullshit. Sure he's better with the ball (because he's a PG), but he cuts off the ball and posts up 100X better than Blake and gets a lot of sneaker tips for offensive rebounds too.