The Steve Blake Paradox

A quick disclaimer-- this post is not about who should start.  I could care less who the starters are.  It's also not debating rotation.  The "first unit" "second unit" conversation is something I have a hard time getting into.  Championship teams simply play 8 man rotations in the playoffs.   So really, the rotation becomes almost irrelevant late in the year.


Ok- now that I've started a totally random debate... Here's my point: The Steve Blake discussion has almost universally surrounded his ability to spread the floor at hit 3's vs Andre Miller's inability.  The Steve Blake supporters point to his past clutch 3's (against Toronto- late against the Pistons), the doubters point to the fact that he has shot poorly this season or that his defense is more of a liability than his offense.

Here's the problem with this debate.  I will concede that Blake is a far superior shooter than Miller.  How about I even concede that Blake is "clutch" (this pains me but I will give up for argument's sake).  Now, there's 4 minutes left in the game and the Blazers are down 1.  Steve Blake dribbles the ball up.  Roy get's the pass at half court with 12 seconds on the shot clock.  Blake runs to the corner.  The opposition immediately runs a second defender at Roy at half court.  Who does he pass to now?  Oden at the top of the key?  Webster on the wing?  Aldridge?  Rudy standing next to him??  He can't even see Blake anymore.. So if Blake is our big clutch shooter, how is he going to get the ball?  He needs someone else to break down the defense for him.  So he's left standing in the corner, essentially able to do nothing.  The only player on the team able to break down the defense at this point is Miller (I suppose Bayless if you want to go there, but he's just not getting in the game). 

So now you say-- let's put the 3 guard line-up out there.  To that I say simply: I want a championship some day.  Don't you?  History repeats itself for a reason.  It's hard to find a championship team in modern history playing 3 pt guards late in games (and Roy is in many ways a pt guard).  I believe the Rockets had Sam Cassell and Kenny Smith on the floor together at times, but that's the closest instance I can remember..