Back Up Point Guard "Battle" - Hollinger Weighs In...

"One interesting position battle I'm watching is for the Blazers' backup point guard position, which is rapidly degenerating into the battle of which young guard can be the most disappointing. Sergio Rodriguez held down the job much of the year but lost it a few weeks ago with lackluster shooting and a series of horrid defensive performances, most notably a five-minute matador impersonation in the Indiana game two weeks ago.

But since then, rookie Jerryd Bayless has done little to claim the spot handed to him. Bayless played double-figure minutes for four straight games this past week, but by the end, all he had to show for it was four points, two assists … and six turnovers.

With neither player making much of an impression, coach Nate McMillan used both last night and again got little from either, leaving open the question of who will be the backup point guard once the playoffs start.

However, my money is on none of the above. In the postseason I'm thinking that Brandon Roy will be the point guard whenever Steve Blake checks out, that Rodriguez won't play at all, and that Bayless will be used only in end-of-quarter defensive situations.

All of which is fine as long as Blake is healthy and doesn't pick up fouls. And if he does? It's an area where Portland suddenly looks very vulnerable, despite having two promising young players at the position."