Blake: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

by mslivkoff on Nov 21, 2009 1:50 AM PST

As fun as a 6-game win streak is, I'm not sure beating up on teams with a combined record of 17-42 (.288 win percentage!) is really validation for your 3-guard line-up.

Blake as a starter is like the relationship where both people know their best days are passed, and things aren't ultimately going to work out. Heck, they've even met some new people who are a better fit, but because they're both nice, and want to honor the good times they had, neither will actually do the break-up. So they muddle along, trying to make it work, while things continue to grow more strained and awkward.

Blake is headed to the pine. Let's just get on with it.

This team seems like it is still trying to figure out roles, and there's awkwardness and inconsistency accompanying that. This wouldn't be so bad if they look to be temporary bumps on the way to finding a great long-term winning groove/system. Trouble is, it's not likely to get better with this group. I think everyone (including the players) realize this 3-guard deal is not sustainable in the long term.

If we're going to spend time with awkwardness and inconsistency (I'm looking at you Martell), let's at least spend that time with a group that might turn out to be a sustainable starting 5: Roy/Aldridge/Miller/Webster/Oden. It's RAMWO! It sells itself and absorbs 12 times its weight in liquid ! :)

I also *like* the stability of Blake in the 2nd unit, the energy and creativity of Rudy, the glass-eating Pryzbilla, and would love to see Cunningham get some run at the 3. Not sure Juwan is the answer at the 4, but LaMarcus would probably spend some time with this unit, too, for the time being.

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Yeah and its alright for

Blake to go 0-4 from 3, please. Miller had a bad, bad game but Blake is having a bad, bad year. He played 36 minutes to Miller’s 19 and didn’t start the second half. It looks like stupid Nate is going to drop Miller and promote Rudy. We sure got ourselves one crazy innovative coach now don’t we? Man I don’t think that there is a worse starting backcourt in the NBA than ours.

by VinnyB on Nov 21, 2009 3:24 AM PST reply actions

So Miller should start?

He’s horrible.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Nov 21, 2009 4:16 AM PST reply actions

better than blake

Trade for Luis Amundson!!Do it KP!!

by CroRupt on Nov 21, 2009 9:08 AM PST up reply actions

better than blake

it’s got a ring to it :)

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Nov 21, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions

The way this team looks

I can’t put it on Blake or Miller. I have to question Nate. I’ve never seen a team with this kind of talent look so scatterbrained.

"I been ridin' the midnight train, got ice water in my veins." -Bob Dylan
"Sasha? That's a sissy name." -Mike Rice

by koyote on Nov 21, 2009 4:18 AM PST reply actions

It's funny

I have often defended Blake, but it’s primarily because I’m playing Devil’s advocate. The truth is that I don’t like Miller or Blake as starting PG for this team. I’d love a do-over at the PG position, but it’s not happening, so my only recourse as a fan is to hope and pray that they improve.

by PoliSam on Nov 21, 2009 7:02 AM PST reply actions

Blake would grow on a lot of people if he had a little more of that drive to the hoop finger roll he did tonight.

Romance me with that Roy rainbow shot which took flight from way beyond the arc and sailed so high that before it came back down to earth sealing the victory, it kissed the rafters and said "You're mine baby."

by Blazer1342 on Nov 21, 2009 7:24 AM PST up reply actions

Roy's the best PG we have.

But if you play him there, what are you going to do with Andre?

Signing Miller was a mistake.

If this Blazer team doesn't light your fire, then your wood is wet!

by TwoDeep on Nov 21, 2009 10:14 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

it pains me to think that dumping martell may have been a good idea too.

now I’m going to go take a bath and feel dirty.

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Nov 21, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions

My method for dealing with this

I’d love a do-over at the PG position, but it’s not happening, so my only recourse as a fan is to hope and pray that they improve.

30 minutes per day on trade machine making Kirk Hinrich deals

"man, steve blake is clutch *dead*" - Ben Golliver on Twitter

by blazeraddict on Nov 21, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions

Blake had a career year last year.

He’s shooting only 36% from both 2 and 3 this year. He’s on the downhill side now.

by TallTimber on Nov 21, 2009 7:51 AM PST reply actions

This ^

Hollinger predicted this like a year ago, that Blake would come back to earth

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Nov 21, 2009 7:58 AM PST up reply actions

Makes sense.

by dario argento on Nov 21, 2009 8:45 AM PST up reply actions

I'm pretty tired of Blake playing so many minutes. I like him as a player, but just do not understand how Nate thinks he is better than Dre.

Seriously. It’s not even close. Yes, Dre starts. But there have been several games where Blake is out there in crunch time, and Dre is riding the pine. I just don’t get it.

by dario argento on Nov 21, 2009 8:47 AM PST reply actions

Miller is the crapy one.

Not Blake.

But Rudy is certainly better than either.

*Unless KP has a secret plan that makes this statement incorrect.
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by staylost on Nov 21, 2009 9:22 AM PST reply actions

Really?

Miller has ten years of really, really, solid PG play. Blake had ONE season where he looked like a starter. I’m not saying Miller hasn’t been bad, but he always starts out slow and he’s still doing better than Blake in most categories. His direction on defense has been pretty key to our success I think. It’s a shame that he’s having such a hard time integrating with Roy, but I imagine they’ll figure it out.

Anyway, I’m not sure it’s possible to argue statistically that Blake has been outperforming Miller thus far, even if Miller is not his usual bad-ass self.

Blake: 425 minutes, 114 points, 108 shots, 53 assists, 23 turnovers, 36 rebounds, 16 free throws
Miller: 399 minutes, 153 points, 128 shots, 71 assists, 34 turnovers, 47 rebounds, 58 free throws

by Nick Van Excellent on Nov 21, 2009 10:50 AM PST up reply actions