If we're going to go with three guards...

by Blazer Guy on Nov 7, 2009 12:04 PM PST Comment 19 comments

I'm glad that Nate went with something different last night, and I'm actually a fan of moving Roy to the 3 for significant stretches. But let's not fool ourselves. The reason that lineup worked was because Miller was running the show at point. Playing Blake at the 2 spot didn't add much and doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Blake is a decent outside shooter, but otherwise he doesn't have any of the skills you'd like to see at the 2 spot. He's too short to be a wing defender and he's not much of a dribble penetrator. If we're going to go with a 3 guard lineup, it makes much more sense to play Rudy at the 2. Rudy is taller, has longer arms, and has some interior passing ability (as we saw when he hit a cutting LMA last night with a perfect bounce pass).

But here's another idea. As long as we're going with 3 guards, why not have Bayless play some minutes at the 2? Bayless is a much better defender than Blake and also a much better dribble-penetrator. The whole point of using a 3 guard lineup is to give the defense matchup problems. The 3 guard lineup that would give defenses the biggest headaches is one with Miller, Bayless, and Roy out their simultaneously. Those three are the three best dribble-penetrators on the team. Indeed, all three are among the better dribble penetrators in the league. I don't care how good a defense is, there is no defense in the league that could stay in front of those three guys simultaneously. One of them would always be able to beat his defender and get to the hoop. That would either get the other team in foul trouble quickly or get some easy buckets for our bigs as their defenders peel off to help. Maybe both.

I've watched the NBA for a long time, and at least off the top of my head, I don't remember seeing a team that fielded three top-flight penetrators at the same time. The closest I've seen is the current incarnation of the Celtics in which Rajon Rondo (excellent penetrator), Paul Pierce (also excellent), and Ray Allen (decent penetrator) are all out on the court at once. And that team is pretty good. Penetrating and dishing is a staple of their offensive attack.

So as long as we're giving Bayless a little run, why not have him play alongside Miller and Roy and encourage him to do what he does best, drive to the hoop.

Poll

Should the Blazers continue utilizing a 3 guard lineup and, if so, which one?

1 recs | Comment 19 comments | Add comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

haha i just made a post very similiar

I didnt even read yours and said almost the exact same thing about blake/rudy. Blake does not need to be in this lineup and it was andre running the show.

by blazermania92983 on Nov 7, 2009 12:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Last Night Bayless Proved Again He is One Dimensional

He drives.

I do not understand the Bayless love demonstrated here. He cannot be a truly relevant player until he at least gets a dependable outside shot.

I like his passion, and I like the fact that he is basically one of the only non-Roy Blazers that attacks the basket — but I was at the game last night and I kept track of the mistakes and good choices he made, and he was -2 last night.

by Anim8rguy on Nov 7, 2009 1:08 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

bayless

does not need an outside shot…he needs to make better decisions so that he can run the offense. miller doesnt have an outside shot, and he can’t drive to the hole as well as bayless, but what he does have is good decision making abilities.

Senior Asian ambassador of Blazers Edge

by Philthyanimal on Nov 7, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's a shooting guard

If he played exactly the same way but was was 2 inches taller, nobody would be wondering if he was a point guard. He’d be a shooting guard and that would be that.

Your confusing thesis has captured my attention. Tell me more.

by terryisntbald on Nov 7, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

But a shooting guard that hasn't proven he can shoot or play defense.

All he has proven so far is that he can drive to the basket. I’m not saying that can’t change, but so far it hasn’t.

I still think in time he could become a reliable backup PG as he learns to make better decisions with the ball and play better defense. But i think his time and patience may run out in Portland before that happens.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 7, 2009 1:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

two things

First, there’s every reason to believe Bayless can shoot. He shot well in college and, apparently, shoots very well in practice. He just hasn’t had enough consistent playing time to get over his jitters and feel comfortable out there shooting. He has all the skills to be a good shooter in the NBA and will be one once he plays more.

Two, if he’s playing in this particular 3 guard lineup, we can afford for him to be more or less one-dimensional. The point of this lineup would be to wear down the opposing team by relentlessly penetrating to the hoop.

by UDUB on Nov 7, 2009 1:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was rather upset at his defense

He got another of those mid-court fouls (although it was a pretty lousy call, from my perspective… but he’s earned it w/ his reputation).

He got torched twice off of the dribble.

I seem to also recall he had a couple of near turnovers when trying to run the offense last night.

His drives and scores were welcome but I can’t see him contributing more than about 5 points in five minutes.

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Nov 7, 2009 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

A point a min. great, and that foul was a very bad call as he did not touch the other player but was just keeping in front.

by prof.mike on Nov 7, 2009 2:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Tony Parker

Argument over

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Nov 7, 2009 2:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

in a 3-guard lineup with Miller and Roy the other guard needs to setup outside and spread the floor

i.e. the 3rd guard needs to be able to hit the 3-pt shot – therefore Rudy or Blake. Otherwise the defense just packs the middle so Roy, Miller, and Bayless can’t drive effectively and it’s harder for Oden to work down low.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Nov 7, 2009 1:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's not quite that simple

First, I think Bayless probably can hit the open three. By all accounts he’s money in practice. A little time on the court and he may well be capable of hitting the open three with enough consistency to spread the defense.

Second, this particular three guard lineup could really push the tempo and get ahead of the defense.

Look, it could be a bust. That’s entirely possible. But I’d really like to see it at least tried. I have a feeling it would give the defense real problems. I certainly think having Bayless out there at the two is a step up from Steve Blake, both offensively and defensively.

by UDUB on Nov 7, 2009 2:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yet Steve scored 8 of the first points in the game, gave Parker fits and spread the floor.

by prof.mike on Nov 7, 2009 2:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You need a true shooter with 2 guys who can penetrate.

Roy can shoot, but when he’s driving the lane it does no good to have an unproven shooter on the perimeter. A lot of guys make shots in practice.

Rudy may have worked, but he hasn’t been shooting that well. I think a lot of it had to do with getting experienced veterans out there. Rudy is a veteran in a way, but I don’t think Bayless can be trusted to not turn the ball over. If you don’t like turnovers, Steve Blake wins hands down over Bayless.

by Benjamanic on Nov 7, 2009 3:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Shooters need some practice to warmup

A guy who goes into the game cold for a 2-3 minutes at a stretch is going to have a hell of a time getting any rhythm going. Bayless just needs some time on the court to get hot and get his shot falling.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Nov 8, 2009 12:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm Glad to See Poll Reults are Heavily Rudy

He seems to be taking an awful lot of heat merely for missing some shots in the early season. I still sense that there is some friction between Roy and Rudy that may be driving some of the diminishing minutes (and that they very, very seldom share the court).

But on paper, I agree with this post. Blake is nice but Rudy adds quite a bit more to this lineup IMO.

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Nov 7, 2009 2:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Reults = Results

Buck Williams for the hall of fame

by Phizbin on Nov 7, 2009 2:04 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Blake took a lot of heat for poor shooting too.

They’re both primarily three point specialists on this team. Not to say that Rudy doesn’t have the ability to do much more, but that’s the way he’s used for the most part.

by Benjamanic on Nov 7, 2009 3:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Because Bayless=pound, pound, pound

can’t figure out a way to pass the ball might as well take it to the hole…man I can’t believe how much Blake hate there is going on here…I’m all for starting Miller but from what I’ve seen and the thing I think everyone tends to forget is that hoops is a team sport. Steve Blake has shown the ability at all levels (HS, NCAA, NBA) to make the other players around him better. The only thing I have ever seen out of Bayless is that he makes himself look really good. I may be wrong here but at Arizona he was a one man show and the team wasn’t that good. I saw the same in summer league from him…I certainly don’t hate the guy but until he can figure out a way to make the other players around him better he is trade bait to me.

by j dubya on Nov 7, 2009 2:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs