Whoa, can we calm down a little?
Unsettled times? Uncertainty? Hey, Brandon Roy is out a few games. The schedule, including tonight’s game, has been brutal for the last four games. Let’s relax just a little bit, OK? I mean, the trading deadline is still a full month away and I don’t know if it’s time to panic quite yet.
There seems to be a lot of hand-wringing right now about the Trail Blazers’ bench. Roy’s absence has pushed Rudy Fernandez into the starting lineup and made the second unit a little weaker. OK, so what did you expect?
I take a different approach than most. My feeling about the second unit is “so what?” I mean, the Blazers play only two games this week. And why is it that when Roy is out, it automatically means you have to use your 11th man? For me, with just two games this week, I’d extend the minutes of the starters and simply trim the bench down. There’s no rule that says you have to have a 10-man rotation. Cut it to eight or nine.
And I certainly wouldn’t remove Rudy from the starting lineup. I think with Roy out, I’d try to play Rudy 40 minutes if I could. He could be starting for half the teams in the NBA — let’s give him as many minutes as he can handle. Same with Aldridge, Oden (that may not be possible, obviously) and Blake — keep them on the floor a little longer. I’d extend Batum’s minutes, too.
I’m not sure Jerryd Bayless should automatically play just because Roy isn’t playing. So far, that experiment has been a disappointment and a three-guard rotation is just fine for a few games. For a guy who seems so cocky Bayless has looked very unconfident with the ball in his hands. But tonight the dilemma for the Blazers is that that perhaps the only Piston guard small enough for Bayless to guard is Allen Iverson and if you bring him off the bench he runs into all those guys too tall for him to defend.
So if you’re determined to play Bayless, you may have to start him. If you try to use him on one of those big guards, the Pistons are going to take him right down to the post and punish him, just the way New Orleans did last week.
Rodney Stuckey, who has taken over the point for Detroit, is 6-foot-5 and is going to be a handful for Blake, too. And there’s nobody out there for Oden to guard at all. The Pistons are one of the hottest teams in the league and Portland’s best hope is to try to stay with a big lineup and just pound them on the boards and feed the big men for post-up baskets. Then hope the Pistons are having an off-night with their jumpers.
But again, win or lose tonight, easier games are ahead and it’s no time to panic. Roy should be back soon and I think all teams go through rough stretches. And for all you doomsayers out there who suddenly don’t think the Blazers are a playoff team, sorry — I’m not buying that. Utah may play most of the season without Carlos Boozer and the Rockets are suddenly a mess, with Tracy McGrady a basket case. I’m not sure how long Dallas can continue to play well and can Shaq stay healthy all season for Phoenix?
Sorry to keep repeating this, but perspective is your best friend. Hold on tight to it.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | January 7, 2009
Allen Iverson, Brandon Roy, Carlos Boozer, Detroit Pistons, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Houston Rockets, Jerryd Bayless, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Rodney Stuckey, Shaq, Tracy McGrady, Utah Jazz
I actually think Roy being out for a few games is a good thing. For one, we can’t risk him injuring his hamstring worse. We’re going to need him for the 2nd half of the season. If Roy doesn’t get hurt, we might have kept rolling through teams, and the glaring deficiencies of the team would not be as evident as they are now.
I know the team is a ‘work in progress’ but its apparent that to get to the next level, a move is going to have to be made.
Can this team make the playoffs? Certainly. Can they get past a few of the other playoff teams? I think so. But I have a hard time believing they stand a chance against teams like the Lakers, Hornets, or Spurs in a playoff series.
I don’t think doomsday has arrived, but the Blazers are 8-8 since the start of December. That’s cause for concern if you’re a team with designs on making the playoffs.
I don’t think the “just play the starters more” scenario really works when it’s your best players who’s out, especially when there’s a rather thin line between the quality of the starters and the second unit. No one on the bench is close to Aldridge, and Blake is better than his PG counterparts, but just playing those two more isn’t going to result in wins, especially since what has made those players better this year is the opponents focus on Brandon Roy.
Rudy has played 32, 36, and 36 minutes with Roy out of the lineup, so he’s already playing close to 40, and his worst performance of the three, against Boston, happened to be the game that the Blazers won.
Few things about Bayless. First, he seems cocky? Interesting.
Second, you’re afraid of Bayless getting posted up, so you’d rather play Rudy? That doesn’t make much sense. After Roy, Bayless is the biggest guard the Blazers have. Rudy may be taller, but he’s much, much weaker. I also don’t remember Bayless getting posted up versus NOLA.
His shot has been terrible, but assbackwards as it sounds, that probably makes him more suited to play with the first unit.
Exactly. The sky isn’t falling. The best team in the league is going through a slump too.
Dwight,
Bayless hasn’t been so bad. His stats might not be that great, but he certainly hasn’t been worse than Rodriguez in the last few games.
His defense against New Orleans wasn’t that bad really. It’s funny how someone is suddenly a bad defender when guys make shots over them. Yes he got posted up and guys hit shots but he was right in their face on all of them and some of those were really tough attempts that just happened to go in. With the effort he puts in coupled with his strenth and athletic ability, I would take my chances with Bayless guarding those same guys again.
I think this has been an opportunity to really see what you have and don’t. I think if we are honest we all know that we are not going to win a championship this year. What this injury to Roy has done is to really put other players in a position to see where they are. What you have in Rudy is what you will have the rest of the season. He will get stronger and adjust to the game in the future.
Bayless either needs to go to the D league and play lots of minutes or they should be giving him more than sporadic opportunites. I love his effort on defense. I still do not understand why he was not guarding CP3. What you are seeing on offense is a player afraid to screw up. He hesitates on open looks because I think he is trying to fit into Nates pass first point guard philosophy. Either way he needs to play. Find out what you have in the kid. Yeah he got posted up, but I thought he did a good job. How many times do we see Travis get used on a regular basis? Bayless has it between his ears, he needs time on the floor. If the Blazers know that he is not what they want trade him, I have no problem with that. As far as him being cocky, I see him more as determined. I have a lot of respect for him for how he stood up to KG. He has one of those determined personalities where he wants to succeed at all costs. He might be a bust, but I like the way he gets after it.
No, it is not time to panic, but the lack of play from veterans like Frye and Outlaw has to concern you at least a little. These guys should be stepping up HUGE, but they aren’t. They are playing like the team has a big lead. They aren’t aggressive and they make poor decisions on both ends of the court.
Anyone who thinks that Bayless didn’t get posted up against NOLA or that he has played OK needs to go back and watch those games. He is not ready for significant minutes yet.
To be fair to Bayless look at where they are asking him to play defense, fronting a lot. They are also not giving him help with some bad rotations. Also, why was he guarding guys 7 inches taller? Like I am said be fair and see the whole situation…..again why didn’t they have him on Paul? The coaching staff must see something in his ability to put him on bigger people. And no, I don’t think he is Iverson or anything close. Let’s take everything into account before we pass judgement. He hasn’t had much opportunity, if he gets the opportunity and busts…..then that is on him. All I am saying is defensively he is just as good or better than some other people on this team.
Totally agree with Dwight, the Oregonian has a tendency to be dramatic, we’re right in the hunt with an easier schedule looming.
The Blazers really need Martell Webster back. Last year when this team had James Jones and Martell firing on all cylinders it was beautiful to watch. If Nate has a system…err…it requires those type of gunners.
I put the onus on the coaches to better utilize what we do have on this team. Channing Frye had his moments last year, but this year, when given his opportunities he bumbles them away. Maybe they should sit down with him and look at tapes from last year. That mid-range jumper was money seemingly every time. How was he used, is it mechanical, or mental???
Say what you will about Channing but, folks that is 8-10 points a game languishing on our bench. There is a reason other GM’s want & are asking about Channing because, in theory he should be a 8-10 point & 6 rebound a game player. So there is a major disconnect right now.
Instead, what we have right this moment is a bumbling 7 footer, who is soft and has lost all confidence. Remember the Laker game last year? I bet the Lakers would take a chance on him as a piece in that triangle offense coming off the bench.
Bayless is not cocky he is confident and yah Dwight there is a difference. This IS the time to be playing him because Roy is out and there are only 2 games this week. Give the youngster some real minutes, let the brass have a look at him, and let’s see if he can find his way offensively…
Although he was not a number one pick, Bayless is the pac 10 player of the year who also was the most valuable player in the summer league. The kid has promise and I think eventually be part of a potent starting combo with Roy…
Regarding expectations I think we are about right where we should be. The west is stacked with experienced playoff proven teams. We are still wet behind the years and will go through many more growing pains…it is just the way it is
I am for not making a trade until off-season. I think we need a full season with this team before we make any moves. We will have a good idea what we fully need after a season with this group. Also, history shows that Pritchard makes his best moves in August. His track record is solid around draft time, and I imagine there will be more options to choose from in the off-season
We are steadily gaining experience and learning how to be a winning team. We most likely will end up a 7th or 8th seed and get some playoff experience. I think it is unreasonable to expect much more from this very young team
Here is a solution- trade Bayless, he just does NOT fit in with the Blazers. And also play Frye!