Thorpe with a swing-and-a-miss scouting B-Rex...

"To me, Bayless always looks too cool. That's a problem for a young guy who hasn't performed consistently in the few times he's gotten a chance to play. I'd rather see red-hot passion in someone getting spot minutes. And nobody plays with more passion than Kobe, who is willing to take risks and brings great desire to the court."

"Even though Bayless is in a much different position than Kobe is, he could still emulate those attributes."

I thought this was priceless. I'm worried that Bayless might read this and actively cultivate more intensity. He could become pyschologically unstable. If he's not already.

On the list of things Bayless needs to work on, dialing up the intensity ranks... um... last. Dead. Freaking. Last.

If anything, I'd like to see Bayless do yoga or something and try to calm the heck down. The tension is palpable. He's second only to Oden in his ability to channel his "I need to do well I need to do well I need to well" brain waves straight through the tv at you. Relax, Jeryyd!

I generally like Thorpe, but wow. Just wow.

7 months ago KP Corleone 24 comments 1 recs |

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The other blazer rookies?

Good post I was just looking at ESPN and wondering what Thorpe said about our guys.

I don’t have an insider account any observations that are interesting from the “insider only” group including Fernandez and Oden?

by Whiteviking on Apr 2, 2009 1:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

basically

Rudy needs to slash like Manu, and Oden needs to be a beast like Howard. I felt it interesting that the 3 Portland rookies were “attached” to Kobe, Howard and Manu, not a bad bunch to be in.

by usmcr3049 on Apr 2, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

His other comments were pretty consistent with the ones about Bayless

Oden — Needs to foul more, looks too young.
Rudy — Needs to step up his game with the ladies.
Batum — Not French enough. Should watch Gerard Depardieu and Marcel Marceau, try to emulate their total Frenchness.

by Hawthorne Wingo on Apr 2, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Here are the others

ODEN (Dwight Howard)
Oden should be taking notes from Howard, who is overwhelmingly successful and popular, and whose love for competing is apparent with how much fun he has playing this game.

Oden has a sparkling personality off the floor, but he tends to be quiet and unassuming on it. Imagine Oden playing with the fire and passion of Howard; Portland did when it drafted him.

RUDY (Manu)
Both guys are artists with the ball, in terms of their shot-making talents. But while Ginobili constantly shows his gifts with mad slashes to the rim, Fernandez normally relies just on his perimeter shooting. He does that mostly because that is how Portland has designed his role, but for him to reach another level of production, he needs to be more of a scorer than a shooter.

I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden

by mxpx5678 on Apr 2, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that is some poor insight on Thorpe's part

Bayless’ competitive spirit is definitely his most obvious attribute.

by llublazerfan on Apr 2, 2009 1:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you here, KP

This is pretty bad— unusual for Thorpe.

by jksnake99 on Apr 2, 2009 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bayless does do yoga.

He was doing it on “Gunnin’ for Number one.” Has anyone else seen it? There were these smokin’ cheerleaders that were hitting on him, he just ignored them and said that he needed to concentrate on basketball.

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Apr 2, 2009 1:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

^smokin' as in attractive, not puffing on cigarettes.

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Apr 2, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I saw that movie.

It was just after the Blazers had drafted Bayless too and it only made me happier that we drafted him. He is the epitome of intensity.

Can I get a headband? One for my peeps, one for the fans in the really cheap seats, one for my momma, one for the mayor, and if you wanna get down with the players, YOU GOTTA GET A HEADBAND!

by peseme16 on Apr 2, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hahaha!

the best part about that is I can so clearly picture it happening.

Smokin’ Hot Biddie #1: “Hey *Jerryd”…." (bats eyelashes) “You doin’ YOGA? That’s so hot.”

J-Bay: (Head scanning the area, unblinking) “I sense weakness…but where…”

(eyes land on cheerleader)

SHB: “Uhhh…good luck with your game…” (flees in terror)

The Michael Ruffin of BlazersEdge, cuz Amlmart said so.

by BlazersOrBust on Apr 2, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

for the use of “biddie”

< /war >

by Diesel10 on Apr 2, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about Batum?

I’d say emulate Grant Hill, but others might say Tayshaun Prince. Both great.

by MavetheGreat on Apr 2, 2009 2:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd say he should model his game after young Scottie Pippen.

Note I said the YOUNG version. Not the surly, cynical No Tippin’ Pippen.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on Apr 2, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder how Batum tips

He’s French, so he’ll snap his fingers at waiters and be really rude.

I’m glad I was never a waiter in Europe, because I woulda’ broke someone’s snapping fingers off.

Morty, at your service

by Mortimer on Apr 2, 2009 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

where's my dr. pepper I ordered?

don't draft dEjuan blair...with an e.

by prezofdeath on Apr 2, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That the waiters in France make a good salary so you only tip about max. 10% might have something to do with it…

by Norsktroll on Apr 2, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Take these snails off my plate

and bring the toasted cheese sandwich I ordered!!

"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii

by 92wastheyear on Apr 3, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kobe might be a good example for continually working to improve your game

It’s e.g. likely that he has something to do with LeBron and Wade coming back this season as strong as ever after seeing how hard Kobe trained during the Olympics preparation. He was also not stellar in his rookie season, but has improved and added to his game ever since. So those are things Bayless – or basically any other rookie – can look up to.

As for being more competitive, that’s apparently not what Bayless needs. It rather looks like the trips over himself trying to prove “I’m a real point guard, I set up my teammates” and “I’m a good defender” and “I can score” all at once to coach so he gets him in the game.

For the moment, for example maybe better tell him “be like Monta Ellis, and just drive hard and score”. That’s something Nate could use that no other point guard on the team can give him.

by Norsktroll on Apr 2, 2009 2:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd imagine that he's probably basing

it off very limited viewing of his recent performances, where Bayless has been clearly overthinking some things and too terrified to take a shot, so it comes off as a more cerebral, less intense approach to someone who hasn’t seen him as much as Blazer fans.

It really just seems like Bayless has been kind of stuck in the same spot Sergio was last year. Trying to focus too much on things that won’t get him pulled rather than doing things to force Nate to give him more minutes, so priority one for him these days is more “don’t turn the ball over or take a bad shot” vs. “I’m just going to drive it, regardless”.

by Royster on Apr 2, 2009 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

He should play his game and do the things that would force Nate to play him. I’m still wondering where his jumper went. If he had that, he would likely get much more playing time because teams couldn’t slack off him which is hurting his driving.

by lurtsman on Apr 3, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jerryd has not allowed himself to relax enough to let his talent through

he is looking over his shoulder, thinking too much about not making a mistake, and generally not playing his game with flow and confidence. What allowed him to properly express himself in NJ was that he knew the time was his…

we have stretched his rookie mistakes over an entire season rather than just let them play out in the first 2 months – -AND the irregular treatment/shuffling/analysis from the team has left him unsure and nervous – -

everyone I have spoken to in the NBA tells me 4 times on both side of the ball before you begin to feel right – - less experience = more time – - -

“Potential” = speed, work ethic, vertical leap, strength, size, character = A+ . . .

Bayless doubters please leave e-mails so I can catch up with you in a couple of years…

"Sergio and I obtained chalupas to understand their power. Then Sergio showed that each one has 427 calories and 27 grams of fat. Leaping upwards, we reviled the accursed chalupa and its pressure. – Rudy Fernandez

by LetsBlaze on Apr 3, 2009 9:33 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

My take exactly

Excellent point. He’s playing tight and is not “in the flow”. There’s such a thing as trying too hard. It’s not easy, but when he can learn to relax and STILL be B-Rex, he’s going to be a very, very good player in this league. Can’t wait to see it happen.

Same thing applies to Oden, btw.

Open invitation: all you who are self-proclaimed ping pong experts. If you think you can beat me - or if you just want to see how it's really played: cdd37@yahoo.com. This means you, too, Jerryd.

by TTRocks on Apr 3, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

He’s trying to pay his dues on this team, which is very important to Nate, and he’s trying learn how to play as a pass-first point guard. Otherwise, he’ll just be an undersized 2, which isn’t really a recipe for a winning team or a very successful career.

He needs to find a balance between running the offense in the half court effectively and looking for opportunities to beat his man on the dribble and get out and run. And also become a credible shooting threat.

by Benjamanic on Apr 3, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs