Bayless just yet. Don’t forget, this guy CAN play defense. He just doesn’t know how to setup the offense and make PG type decisions. But I agree that we need to trade Travis as soon as possible, before other teams see how limited he really is. How about Outlaw for Landry and Brooks? We are going to need a third center next season!

I’m with you. I’m ready to send Travis to the bench.

But I’m comfortable with Batum or Rudy starting.

As I said in a few other spots… I’m dealing with an amazing Outlaw-Fatigue headache. I can’t watch the guy anymore.

Something seems a bit off with that so far though, I don’t know where it is but Roy seems to almost not trust him or at least not see him quite a bit. If they can get a little more fluid chemistry between them then yeah I like it.

Hard not to want to start Batum….he looks pretty congruent with whatever other players are out on the court.

I’m not ready to give up totally on catfish yet, but he certainly has some things to figure out if he wants to stay

I also totally agree about Sergio though…hopefuly as Nate’s relationship with Rudy gets better he will leave it more up to Rudy to manage Sergio (I think Rudy will do this better than Nate could ever do)

He is taking it to the rack more and passing more. He is being unfairly criticized.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2008/11/2/652157/suns-2nd-unit-a-work-in-pr

Second quarter. Diaw gets double teamed, Rudy shields Barbosa (well he stands in the open space, but at least between Barbosa and the basket/potential pass), and when Diaw gets desperate and tries to throw a lob to Dragic Nic quickly gets in between, steals and breaks away for the dunk. Good work guys.

I’d rather keep Rudy coming off the bench.

1) He provides that scoring punch in the 2nd quarter that the team clearly needed against the Suns and the Spurs.

2) Having him on the court seems to inspire/encourage Sergio to play better.

Batum should start, though, and Rudy should come off the bench. He’s playing 30+ per game, but he’s better as a spark. Open the game with Blake, even though Rudy’s obviously (far, far) “better.”

(As an aside – I love Rudy as a basketball player. He scored, what, 6 points against the Spurs, and I still thought he contributed a TON with movement/energy/unselfishness/aggressiveness/etc. He just knows how to play ball. What a find.)

Batum over Trout in the starting line up is an obvious call. Trout fits with the starting unit like that time you tried on your wife’s high heels. Pull the trigger, Nate. You’ve known all along it’s the right play.

As for the trade ideas, I’m going to have to go ahead and sort of disagree with you there. You would give up Bayless AND Channing AND Blake for somebody like (my boy) Conley? Look, as an OSU fan, I love Conley. He’s a great kid. But there’s no way he’s worth anything close to that. I’m not so sure he’s better than Bayless RIGHT NOW.

As others have said, if you’re at all tempted to write off a 19-year-old rookie PG with a nice three point stroke who can touch the top of the box AFTER THREE GAMES, please take a deep breath.

Bayless is a STUD. He’s going to be great. If he were playing for the Thunder or the Grizzlies, he’d be dropping 20 per game. It just so happens this isn’t a team that can give him that much rope just yet.

But, good god, can we give the kid maybe two weeks before writing him off?

…while it has taken TO 5 years and he still struggles to do any of this? Travis is a dynamic scorer at times and you gotta love her personality for this team but it seems that Batum will be lightyears ahead of him in a few seasons. Its early but sometimes you can just see the potential shining through in a rookie (see Broy, LMA). Personally, I think its the experience he has playing the international game which stresses team play and contribution in more ways than just scoring. The flip flop he and bayless have had from summer league to regular season play is a perfect example of this. of course bayless won mvp in a game that highlights individual play whereas Batum faded into the background and barely got noticed besides playing some decent D (I totally admit that I was one of those fans that fell for this trap).

I agree that Boom Boom needs to be a starter. I have seen improvement in Travis’ game in that he is passing that ball and beginning to show signs that he can play within the offense. However, he still can not defend as well or move without the ball as well as Nic, which is what the starting unit needs in my opinion. Nicolas is a role player. Catfish is a scorer. Plus, Batum has some decent handles and can handle himself on the break. Travis??? Yet to be determined there. Having Trout in the second unit allows him to score and get his looks because LMA and Roy aren’t in and the 1 and 2 scoring options.

Having Roy and Rudy on the court at the same time is fun to watch but not ideal for the 3/4 of the game. They are both playmakers but taking Rudy out of the second unit really deprives its scoring ability because he keeps the motion flowing. Without Rudy, I think you would see the unit of Outlaw, Sergio, Frye and Pryz (other) get stagnant on the court. Going down the stretch in a close game, I would want Rudy in there along with Roy, but just not for the whole game.

Rudy should come off the bench but should be in the closing lineup, especially if we are behind and need offense.

he’s got a great situational awareness on that court and I’d rather have him guarding speedy PG like Tony Parker than Blake. Batum needs to be on the court for the same reason, high basketball IQ. The kid makes plays.

Chris Paul would own them to the woodshed.

Batum should start now, just start building that confidence up.

Rudy, I am not sure… Him and Serg coming off the bench is when they are both most effective.

That he’s been using Rudy with the starters as well, thinking about it.

      I think Rudy and TO are a good one-two punch
off the bench because Rudy will set up other guys,
then cut to the hoop or open spot. TO is a good one
on one player who can beat most 2nd unit guys. He
has the ability to rise over most defenders and the
step back is a weapon. Now if he would concentrate
on driving to the hoop every 3rd or 4th posession
and hammer the boards, he’d make me happier.
     Rudy, he’s a poor man’s Pistol Pete and just needs
experience in the NBA to round out his game. Perhaps
7-10 lbs of muscle in the weight room over the summer.

     DOWN WITH COINCAST !! GO BLAZERS !!!!

Blake is being abused, he seems to have lost a step. And Sergio never could guard anybody. Both PG’s are undersized and neither are scoring threats. You can’t even say that either guy is solid at getting the offense going anymore.

Bayless is 6’3", 204 and allegedly plays defense. Helloooooooooooooo??

need to be packaged together to get the starting PG for this team. Batum and Webster can anchor the three, Blake is a good backup, and Channing can play PF backup. What is Bayless and Outlaw, with a pick, worth in this league?

might be a better player than Brandon Roy is right now. When I saw Brandon out there shook, Rudy was fearless and played like it was nothing. Rudy has played under far greater pressure in a European league where if you mess up you got fans in the parking lot threatening to kick you a*#. This guy is a super star and his passing ability and just heads up play is amazing.

Sometimes you just see him bring the ball up and he just doesn’t know what to do when his only options are Ike Diogu and Pryzbilla. He does great when you put him with other talented players. He needs to be in the starting line up.

Look at this Batum guy, what the hell coach doesn’t want to use him…

I want Rudy+Roy+88+LMA+? starting =PLAYOFFS