Your Perfect Guard Opposite of Brandon Roy

[Crimson the Cat]

We know that Brandon will have the ball at many of Portland's upcoming crucial moments for the next decade-plus. Offensively he does dominate the ball and given the fantastic offensive team stats, it appeared heading into the Playoffs that there really wasn't a need to deviate from this approach. Then we saw how in a 7-game series, a defense can make a Roy-led offense less effective without a more well-rounded cast of perimeter players around him.

- What player in the NBA, past or present, would be Roy's perfect match at point guard?
- What dynamic skills does this player have that makes him such a snug fit?
- Which players currently in the NBA also have these skills, and also fits the team's timeline (nearing their prime or just entered their prime)?

I'm just trying to gauge the majority's picture-perfect point guard for this team.

 

[Minstrel]

If I can stretch the scope of "guard," I'd love to pair Pippen alongside Roy. But then I'm biased...I'd probably place Pippen alongside just about anyone, since I love his game.

I generally like these kinds of thought experiments, but I find myself making arguments in my head for a pretty wide variety of guards. I think Roy's diverse skillset lends itself to playing with a lot of different types of players, from a Reggie Miller catch-and-shoot artist to a play-making point guard like Chris Paul to a slashing scorer like Clyde Drexler.

I think the main attributes needed are someone who can defend a point guard well, can bring the ball up the floor against defensive pressure, can shoot the ball well and has some passing ability.

A player who has already demonstrated these types of abilities at the NBA level is Russell Westbrook. However, I think Portland has a similar type of player and talent in Jerryd Bayless. I think Bayless will make a great complement to Roy, if he pans out. He has the defensive ability to bother point guards, has some passing ability, has been a good shooter through his career and definitely has solid handles.

 

[Wheels]

Mark Price? John Stockton?

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I'll go first. Stockton and Billups, just entering their primes, would be my pick.

We know the ideal guard will need to:

- play well off the ball, as Brandon will have the rock in his hands either the majority or an equal amount of the time.
- be proficient in quarterbacking a squad
- be lethal from downtown to make as expansive of spacing as possible.
- also have either a high-level mid-range game and/or a high-level ability to penetrate to the goal.
- be a better-than-average defender
- be selfless teammate
- have experience with elite-level success, whether in college, international competition, or the NBA.
- be a high-character individual, as this is something management places a huge amount of value on

Stockton and Billups fit these descriptions to a tee!

If I had to pick a current guard in the NBA that would fit our timeline, Deron Williams would be my choice. He's obviously not attainable.

This leads me to who I think Portland should go after to supplant Steve Blake. Kirk Hinrich. I know it's not sexy, but dammit I really believe he would allow Brandon to play at a consistently elite level in the Playoffs. He's already a combo guard and can both play off a playmaker or be the playmaker. He's reliable from downtown to the point that defenders must respect him. He's not going to wow anyone with his ability to drive, but he's considerably better at it then Blake. He's super tough and one of the better defending guards in the league. As a teammate he's an ideal selfless player that has always displayed strong character traits. He's a winner.

I really believe this is the direction Pritchard will head this off season.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Minstrel, I'm so pissed off at myself for not thinking of Pip. That's just terrible. I am ashamed. Seriously.

 

[Tince]

I'd take Jordan. They could figure it out I'm sure.

Currently, I'd go with Paul or Williams

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I generally like these kinds of thought experiments, but I find myself making arguments in my head for a pretty wide variety of guards. I think Roy's diverse skillset lends itself to playing with a lot of different types of players, from a Reggie Miller catch-and-shoot artist to a play-making point guard like Chris Paul to a slashing scorer like Clyde Drexler.

But I'm thinking of THE ideal player. Someone with as few flaws for the opposition to take advantage as possible. Miller's inability to defend smaller guards would be exploited. The same could be said of Paul.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

As far as Bayless goes, I have some major issues with him at this point. First, I found him uninteresting as a prospect at Arizona. Quality stats for a freshman during the regular season, but nothing extraordinary. Where he lost me was in the tourney. He was forgettable during the tournament. Frankly I can't shake these past impressions

He was a pleasant surprise during summer league and in New Orleans with our come-from-behind victory, but I still can't help and think these were more illusionary exceptions to what may be a rather ordinary NBA career. All young players are relatively inconsistent. I understand this. But, Bayless' high points are few and far between. My one light of hope is the high praise he's received from both the team and now his selection to the US Select team.

Still, I see Portland either improving our starting and/or reserve point guard roles this off season. Where will Bayless likely fit? For instance if a move was made for Hinrich, I'd MUCH rather bring Blake off the bench than Bayless at this point.

There are quite a few young NBA guards that have shown me more over their careers than Bayless has. I'm just not nearly ready to include Jerryd in our short term plans.

 

[BTOWN_HUSTLA]

Kbobe.

 

[Miksaid]

The perfect guard alongside Brandon Roy would be another Brandon Roy. Since they're the same person, they would work on the same wavelengths and play almost telepathically. I can just imagine their passes to each other being like the passes I make in basketball video games. Otherwise, maybe Michael Jordan.

 

[THE HCP]

ME!

 

[BalancedMan]

ME!

I thought about declaring for the draft, but now that I'm 23 (I'll be 24 for next year's draft) won't I be automatically eligible?

I didn't even play in high school, but did play for the club at Copenhagen Business School in 2007. Who's down for the 6'1 PF who can guard the 6'5" post players!

In a midget league, I'd be the ideal big man!

 

[Da_O]

As far as Bayless goes, I have some major issues with him at this point. First, I found him uninteresting as a prospect at Arizona. Quality stats for a freshman during the regular season, but nothing extraordinary. Where he lost me was in the tourney. He was forgettable during the tournament. Frankly I can't shake these past impressions

He was a pleasant surprise during summer league and in New Orleans with our come-from-behind victory, but I still can't help and think these were more illusionary exceptions to what may be a rather ordinary NBA career. All young players are relatively inconsistent. I understand this. But, Bayless' high points are few and far between. My one light of hope is the high praise he's received from both the team and now his selection to the US Select team.

Still, I see Portland either improving our starting and/or reserve point guard roles this off season. Where will Bayless likely fit? For instance if a move was made for Hinrich, I'd MUCH rather bring Blake off the bench than Bayless at this point.

There are quite a few young NBA guards that have shown me more over their careers than Bayless has. I'm just not nearly ready to include Jerryd in our short term plans.

Arizona has been forgettable in the tourney the last few years now. They were down that whole game. He didn't play great but neither did the whole team. I can't see where that should be held against him.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[Mediocre Man]

Brandon does not want to be the ONLY guy who is capable of getting to the rim. Any PG who is capable of that would be the perfect guy. What we don't need is someone who needs to dominate the ball. like Damon. Instead, someone who can bring the ball up, and either.

A. Get the team into an offense.
B. Get to the rim when he recieves the ball back.
C. Have the ability to get the ball to an open player off of the dribble.
D. Defend PG's.

 

[hasoos]

+1.

Tony Parker would be the ultimate PG for this team alongside Roy. He has everything we need, at an elite level. I think it's funny because I was just talking about this with a buddy the other day and we both agree'd that Tony Parker would be the ultimate PG for this team.

1. Unselfish, although still a shooter.
2. Fast, fast, fast.
3. Knows how to play defense.
4. Experience all the way through the finals, more than once.
5. Penetrates the paint.
6. Can hit all the way out to the 3 point line.
7. Ability to take over games when needed.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Aldridge/Bayless/Webster for Parker/Splitter

It'd take a lot for Parker but pairing him up with Roy would soften the blow of losing Aldridge. A Roy/Parker backcourt would be the best in the League.

Also, Splitter is the best big in the world not in the NBA. He's putting up big numbers in the Euro playoffs right now. A 7-footer who'll make an impact from day-1 in the NBA.

 

[hasoos]

Aldridge/Bayless/Webster for Parker/Splitter

It'd take a lot for Parker but pairing him up with Roy would soften the blow of losing Aldridge.

Also, Splitter is the best big in the world not in the NBA. He's putting up big numbers in the Euro playoffs right now. A 7-footer who'll make an impact from day-1 in the NBA.

No, because part of the reason you are bringing Parker over is so that Aldridge can benefit from it. There was a reason you wanted the guard experienced in passing to the 6'11" PF/center type.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I agree but I just can't imagine the Spurs trading their 26 year old Superstar for spare pieces. They'd obviously want a big building block in return.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

How about a package featuring rudy and bayless instead?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

There is a player out there in this draft who can get to the rim at will and finish. He shot poor but has very good form. He should improve on that.

Given the way that NBA rules are currently structured to give an advantage to speed on the perimeter, I consider Brandon Jennings to be the no. 3 prospect in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Jennings is extremely quick with the ball, he can finish at the basket in traffic at 6-2, and also has excellent court vision. He is reminiscent of a Tony Parker- or Aaron Brooks-type player in terms of speed with the ball, though I would say Jennings is a better passer than those players, but not as good of a shooter. Outside shooting is a big weakness for Jennings right now (he made just 23% of his three-pointers on the season), but I do think he has a pretty good stroke to work with.

Every time I saw Jennings, he really competed on the defensive end - his quickness allowed him to be a pest even if his inexperience caused him to struggle in the pick-and-roll. As much as anything, I was impressed at how professional the kid was, at how mature he looked - there was no pouting, no self-indulgent individualism on display.

Statistically, Jennings certainly does not look good - John Hollinger has a formula for translating Euroleague stats to the NBA and the translated numbers for Jennings in the NBA, per-40 minutes, look like this: 11.5 pts, 3.9 reb, 4.3 ast, .341 FG%.

Pretty ugly, especially that shooting percentage, and Hollinger's formula usually works pretty well, but look back at the link above - one big miss he had was with Nicolas Batum, who was just 19 in the Euroleague, like Jennings. Hollinger projected a dismal 8.89 PER for Batum's rookie campaign in the NBA, and the young Frenchman ended up significantly better, at a 12.92 PER as a starter for a 54-win team. That leads me to believe that Hollinger's formula may underestimate the significant natural improvement that a player achieves at such a young age - from 19 to 20 - so I'm not terribly concerned about Jennings in this regard.

LINK

 

[SteelBlaze1]

I really like Parker and would love to see him here, but I really doubt KP would part with any of the big 3 and I doubt we would get him without including one of the big three.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

How about a package featuring rudy and bayless instead?

Rudy/Bayless/Webster/Freeland...

I don't know about that...

 

[Crimson the Cat]

ME!

You are a defensive liability. Sorry.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Arizona has been forgettable in the tourney the last few years now. They were down that whole game. He didn't play great but neither did the whole team. I can't see where that should be held against him.

I cant think of any quality guys who struggled in the tourney and then became studs in the pros. Im sure there are some examples but its not a positive sign.

 

[alex42083]

 

[KingSpeed]

Steve Blake.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Steve Blake.

Sarcasm, much?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Nate McMillan

 

[SteelBlaze1]

The problem with Nate is he couldn't score. I read the other day is career average was 5.9 points per game...really weak.